Jon Gosselin Sued By TLC over "Jon & Kate"

Network Says Controversial Reality Dad Breached Contract

(CBS/AP)  The TLC network has sued Jon Gosselin for breaching his contract as a star of the hit reality show "Jon & Kate Plus 8."

The lawsuit, filed Friday in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Md., alleges that Gosselin has failed to meet his obligations as an exclusive employee of the network, while appearing on rival networks' programs for pay and making unauthorized public disclosures about the show.

Gosselin has starred since 2007 on the weekly "Jon & Kate Plus 8," a ratings hit for the network that has been rocked in recent months by marital turmoil as Gosselin and his wife, Kate, feuded, then filed for divorce.

Photos: The Gosselins

Gosselin, like his estranged wife, became mainstays on tabloid TV shows and magazine covers as Jon Gosselin was seen in the company of other women.

The couple are the parents of young twins and sextuplets whose family home is in Wernersville, Penn.

The suit is seeking from Gosselin unspecified compensatory damages and demanding he return income gained as a result of his breaches of the agreement, as well as to refrain from future violations of his contractual agreement.

"The network has been trying privately and patiently for months to get Jon to honor the contract he signed and to comply with his obligations relating to public appearances and statements," said TLC in a statement on Friday. "Those efforts have been unsuccessful."

Gosselin's lawyer, Mark Jay Heller, said he had not yet read the filing and had no immediate comment.

The lawsuit says that, last June, in recognition of "the Gosselins' difficult personal circumstances, TLC asked both parents to refrain from making public statements about each other, the divorce, or the program, and negotiated an agreed 'cooling off' period with respect to media communications" for 45 days.

Nonetheless, the suit alleges that Gosselin "in violation of his contractual exclusivity" to his own show, "entered a lucrative arrangement to appear regularly on 'Entertainment Tonight' and its companion show, 'The Insider,' to discuss his family and the problems he was having with Mrs. Gosselin, and he routinely sold photographic rights to various media outlets ...."

The lawsuit also claims that on Sept. 18, TLC requested that Gosselin be present for filming six days hence. He didn't respond to the request, and no filming took place on Sept. 24, the lawsuit says.

"This guy's out of control - he was out there everywhere but on TLC," said a person with knowledge of Gosselin's behavior who spoke on condition of anonymity because the suit is pending.

In light of Gosselin's alleged "erratic public behavior, unprofessional conduct and serial disregard for his contractual obligations," TLC on Sept. 29 announced the program would be relaunched in November as "Kate Plus Eight," with Jon Gosselin taking a back seat role to single mother Kate and the eight kids.

The lawsuit claims that he responded with a request to be released from his exclusive arrangement to pursue other paying opportunities while continuing to be compensated by TLC.

When TLC declined to comply with such a release, Gosselin notified TLC that he would attempt to bar TLC's access to the family property and filming of his children, the suit says, "on the grounds that it is purportedly detrimental to the children."

A few days later, Gosselin told CNN's "Larry King Live" that it's "not healthy" for his kids to continue appearing on the TLC reality show. He said he had had "an epiphany one day" and realized his 5-year-old sextuplets and 9-year-old twins shouldn't be filmed at the family's Pennsylvania home while their parents are going through a divorce.

TLC has since granted a judge's request that filming of the eight children be suspended.

TLC spokeswoman Laurie Goldberg said that, while both Kate and Jon Gosselin remain under exclusive contract to the network, the show's longtime future remains in question.

Meanwhile, Gosselin was been embroiled in a separate legal matter. Earlier this week, he was ordered to return $180,000 in marital funds by Oct. 26, according to a lawyer for his estranged wife. Kate Gosselin, meanwhile, must provide an accounting of past expenses by the same date, lawyer Mark Momjian said. And an arbitrator will review another $55,000 she says she spent on household and child-related expenses.

TLC is owned by Discovery Communications, LLC.

[sheila1346]

I enjoyed the show with the kids and I actually understand why this couple decided to do this as it would be almost impossible to make enough money to support their family. They were caught in an ethical and difficult dilemma when She was pregnant and felt they needed to make the decision to have all the kids rather then abort. I can respect their decision as well as understand the situation that led to the development of the TV show. I also understand that most families with multiples have major difficulties, even if you work out the financial problems. The press never let up on the couple and the on line gossip was relentless. Every part of this couple's lives was intruded on which only aggravated the normal martial difficulties that come with being the parents of multiples. Then when it was obvious things were not well in the marriage they became tabloid fodder and their kids were effected. Divorce happens in the best of families but this tragedy was purely a ratings boom for all the networks as well as the fringe media. Leave this poor family alone to work on their own problems as the rest of us have no business interfering in their private lives.

[andie52]

no matter how this mess turns out the show's rating will never climb and the children are the victims here;not Jon or Kate.

[yjshimabukuro]

I think that it does not matter what have been happened so far for Jon & Kate & the 8 Kids if the family get together.

For 8 Kids and Kate who is the 8 Kids mom, Jon should be back to them, which means people should let them get together. The ***** is the 22 years old girl who made the problem with Jon. Life is hard. Specially, as a Mom and Dad for 8 Kids. They just made mistake like many people.However, I believe that ...

Hey, Jon! Kate was waiting for you to come back home with 8 Kids. Don't you know that she did not take out the ring. Now you turn to show people your love for Kate.


I believe that many people will happy with you if you are back to Kate.
So many people including me have been making mistake in marrige life. Anyway, I never see that you went church in your show or reading Bible. For me, Bible and Praying to God that has been the answer for me to be strong my stand for my family and to find myself right things to do.

You and Kate and 8 Kids have had difficult time so far. However, you can make that bad situation simply finish off, if you make your own decision to be back home, to Kate . I hope you, Jon and Kate can go to Church together with 8 Kids.

I just prayed to God. Jon can make Kate's sadness go away and that is for the 8 Kids. Thanks God. I have saw so many time Kate was crying when she talk. I just want to say or ask to people. Kate and Jon need to be together for 8 Kids.


Sincerely
Young S.
Alaska

[stace34-2009]

Seeing Jon's behavior explains why Kate had to be in such control in that family. When left on this own he is out of control and puts no thought into the consequences of his actions.

The reason that they are suing is not either of their appearances on Larry King, The View, or news shows. They were not paid for those appearances. Jon knew his contract was exclusive with TLC, but he chose to get paid for his appearances on Entertainment Tonight and The Insider. He knew that it was not allowed and he did it anyway. Entertainment Tonight paid for the twins birthday cake, they also paid Jon to film him picking up the cake and picking up the twins from school.

A contract is a contract and one doesn't just forget it exists. There are penalties for doing that. I hope he gets what he deserves - loss of the monies made through the breach and required payment to TLC for the damages he caused. We need to get people to understand that they must keep the contracts they make or they will have a penalty to pay. Enlough of the kiddie play. He is an adult - at least he is supposed to be.

[jahlaj]

I don't think Jon is looking at the whole picture...As long as Kate and the kids are doing the show he won't have to pay child support for eight kids(big dummy!) however, if he doesn't let them continue filming he will have to pay child support and the kids will suffer because right now he doesn't have a job. When and if he does get a job he is probably going to hit and miss with the payments like all the other dead-beats!

I understand he may be hurt by the way Kate dogged him on the show, but he is going to have to find a more mature way to handle this than making the children suffer!

[differnet]

In addition to the Larry King show, Jon also took payment for being filmed WITH HIS CHILDREN by ET. This was after he had forbidden to let TLC film with the children. The specific event was the twin's birthday. So, not only did he violate his exclusivity clause for himself, he violated the exclusivity clause for the children after filing for an injunction against TLC filming them. So, I'm pretty sure that Jon has really fouled up here. By the way, you are confusing law with "fair." Even if Kate got paid for doing the View, TLC is under no obligation to sue everyone. If you want the world to be ordered like a Kindergarten class, where everyone is treated equally because it's fair, I think you must spend a great deal of your life frustrated.

[CompletelyFrustrated]

"TLC spokeswoman Laurie Goldberg said that, while both Kate and Jon Gosselin remain under exclusive contract to the network, the show's longtime future remains in question.
"

If they are chrging Jon for talking to Larry King - why aren't they charging Kate for her appearances on The View. TLC is a bunch of hypocrites and greedy POS's for risking these kids like this!!

[jonisaputz]

Kate may not have taken compensation for her appearances whereas Jon is selling himself like a hot ***** to anyone that is willing to pay. Also, Kate is keeping the bargain with TLC in that she is NOT saying anything bad about Jon and is keeping this a private matter as much as possible. Jon may have had a morals clause in his contract with TLC as well, and if he did, he has most certainly broken that part of the contract many times over. Afterall, the Jon and Kate plus Eight show is or was a family hour show. I'm not saying there was a morals clause, but then again there may be one in Jon's contract. Also, Kate would have signed a separate contract and they both would have signed a contract as parents and guardians on behalf of the children. The whole thing is going to get a lot more complicated before it is all settled. It appears to me that if there was a morals clause in Jon's contract, he appears to be deliberately (and has since this mess began) trying to get fired.

[ekucrew]

Jon Gosselin's attempt ( gel spike & growing an around the head hedge hairstyle) to cover his bald head looks ridiculous.

[frogger581]

First I find it funny how many people who took the effort to read this article also take the effort to comment with "big deal." Second, how can anyone not see that Jon is trying to stop all the craziness surrounding his children Kate just seems to thrive on it. As I've said since this tabloid war began take the children off the air and let them live as close to normal lives as they can from now on.

[toldyouso21]

If that guy was really trying to stop the craziness, then why did he allow ET to film the kids b-day and his interaction on that day and get paid for it? TV that gets Jon bucks is okay but any that would help Kate and the kids is not? Taking pics of the kids and filming activities is okay if Jon is to get paid. The man is immature and extremely ugly--inside and out. I've never watched that show, but since the split up, Jon has behaved like an out of control train wreck and male w.ho.rrrre who only just now discovered that money can buy him women and that he can be an azzzhole and still have defenders. He appears ready and willing to market his children when it suits him and yet, he is enough of a female beeyatch to not want anyone to benefit or make money except him. What a jerk. Hope they win the lawsuit.

[carefulobserver]

Shame! shame! shame! 4 merican soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan this morning and what the media does is bringing us this "BIG NEWS" about Jon & Kate? for real? have you no shame? Do you think the families of the dead soldiers care about this little Jon & Kate spectacle? When British soldiers die, England comes to a standstill as live TV coverage runs continuously on the dead.

[Rohanite]

Just don't watch it and maybe it will go away...

[goffredo29]

Only in America.

[all_father]

This is all so passe. Who cares about Jon and Kate (and clearly, nobody cares about those eight children)? Now we have Balloon Boy... er, Attic Boy! The future is upon us! Now, where's that remote?

[donna-pittsburgh]

Everyone forgets how they were against Kate for the way she treated Jon a few years ago! He finally stood up for his sanity, and this is how he gets treated?????? Also, what about a few months ago, when EVERYONE wanted the show pulled??? Now Jon is doing exactly that and the public is STILL against him! Make up your minds people. Such hipocrites!!!!

[credibility2]

I hope Jon gets cleaned out of everything and won't be able to impress his new little hotties with anything, not even his so-called charm and intelligence.

[docpeter1953]

Ok, lets leave Jon and Kate behind. It is time to move on to "Octomom", another worthless video shoot and waste of time.

The govt. needs to make anyone who watches these "reality" shows pay a "carbon footprint tax".

[koko98-2009]

Mr. Complelely is totally right. TLC says it's all about the kids, until they are in danger of losing this cash cow for the network and then they are looking out for themselves.

[CompletelyFrustrated]

Seems like TLC was the dishonest ones!

They renamed the show and he found out when it was announced to the public!

TLC you have proven beyond any doubt that you are a greedy bully and will sacrifice anything including 8 innocent children for money.

I think this is all a huge publicity stunt to attract viewers. I neber watched this and quite frankly I never will.

It is clear that Jon talking to other media about the corrupt methods TLC is using to broadcast the show - they are upset about the negative press??? Please what about the negative press they have put Jon through - I guess they can dish it out but cannot take it!

[kobbleur]

I agree completely. TLC is "learnin' us all real good" - about them. They are demonstrating the evil, litigious nature that governs all large Corporations. They are no different from all the other psychopaths (e.g. Wall Street) that run America Inc.

[jefleshman]

I do not usually read this garbage but I could not help myself.

Can I sue TLC for taking advantage of failed family values?

I have always like TLC programs. I am ashamed of TLC for trying to keep it running under the circumstances the family was in. Shame on you TLC for making this a circus event!

[get_down]

Sooooo - big deal! Go away!