FAMILY SUING HOME SHOW BROKEN PROMISES CLAIMED.Byline: Dan Laidman Staff Writer Five orphaned siblings whose sad story got a Hollywood ending on a reality TV show filed a lawsuit Wednesday that aims to rip the happy facade off the popular genre. Months after losing both parents, the Higgins siblings were showered with gifts and presented with a new mansion on the ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. hit ``Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.'' ABC is continuing to air the episode, the lawsuit alleges, even though the siblings - who range in age from 15 to 22 - have been forced from the house and are effectively homeless. ``What we're really seeing is the collision between reality TV and the perception reality TV seeks to create in the minds of the general public,'' said Patrick Mesisca, the Higginses' lawyer. Ultimately, the lawsuit stems from a break in the relationship between the siblings and the couple that took them in after the death of their parents. When relations soured, the siblings left the couple's home - which viewers saw constructed on television. Filed in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Superior Court, the lawsuit targets ABC, the program's production companies, the firm that built the house, and the couple who helped the siblings, Phil and Loki Leomiti. ``We were promised a home,'' said Charles Higgins II, 22. ``They broke that promise.'' ABC said it does not comment on litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. and referred queries to the production companies. However, the network issued a statement saying, ``It is important to note that the episode was about the rebuilding of the Leomiti family's existing home to accommodate the inclusion of the five Higgins siblings, whom the Leomitis had invited into their lives following the death of their parents.'' The Higgins family lived together in an apartment in Downey until April 2004 when their mother, Charis Higgins, died of breast cancer. Their father, Charles Higgins Sr., died 10 weeks later of heart failure. The plight of the siblings drew media attention, as well as overtures of help from the Leomitis, who knew the Higginses from church. The Leomitis took the Higgins siblings into their Santa Fe Springs Santa Fe Springs, city (1990 pop. 15,520), Los Angeles co., SW Calif., inc. 1957. The city lies in an oil and natural gas region and has diversified manufacturing. house in July 2004, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the lawsuit. Meanwhile, producers of ``Extreme Makeover'' - a prime-time show that sends designers and builders to renovate needy families' houses - learned of the Higgins siblings' situation from a television newscast newscast Radio or television broadcast of news events. News gathering and broadcasting by the radio networks began in the mid-1930s and increased significantly during World War II. The television newscast began in 1948 with 15-minute programs that resembled movie newsreels. and expressed interest in doing an episode about them. Crews traveled to Santa Fe Springs in February and demolished de·mol·ish tr.v. de·mol·ished, de·mol·ish·ing, de·mol·ish·es 1. To tear down completely; raze. 2. To do away with completely; put an end to. 3. the Leomitis' house. In its place, Pardee Homes Not to be confused with Pardee Home. Pardee Homes is a residential real-estate developer originally founded in 1921 by George Pardee Sr. He was joined by his three sons in the Los Angeles housing boom after World War II. built a nine-bedroom home while show producers arranged for the siblings to receive cars, groceries, computers, stereos, and gifts tailored to their interests, such as a globe, an atlas, a massage table and art supplies. Pardee paid off the mortgage on the new house, according to the lawsuit, while the Leomitis retained the title. ``Pardee Homes built a house that ABC and the show's producers asked us to build and it was a positive experience for us as a team,'' Mike McGee Mike McGee may be:
Those difficulties emerged around the time the episode aired, March 27. The complaint alleges that the Leomitis engaged in ``an orchestrated or·ches·trate tr.v. or·ches·trat·ed, or·ches·trat·ing, or·ches·trates 1. To compose or arrange (music) for performance by an orchestra. 2. campaign'' to drive the siblings from the house with insults and poor treatment. A relative who answered the phone at the Leomiti residence declined to give her name but said ``they don't have any comment at this time.'' A person who picked up the phone at the Leomiti house later in the day referred questions to ABC and to Endemol USA, the production company for ``Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.'' Melissa Armstrong, a publicist pub·li·cist n. One who publicizes, especially a press or publicity agent. publicist Noun a person, such as a press agent or journalist, who publicizes something publicist for Endemol, said the company had not yet reviewed the claim. The lawsuit alleges fraud and breach of contract, among other things, although attorney Mesisca acknowledged Wednesday that the siblings were never promised a house in writing. The lawyer contends, though, that the network's statements and actions could be considered a promise for legal purposes. The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages Monetary compensation awarded to an injured party that goes beyond that which is necessary to compensate the individual for losses and that is intended to punish the wrongdoer. . Standing in front of his siblings at a press conference Wednesday, Charles Higgins II said the most important thing for them is to have a place to live together. ``These guys are living in separate homes with their friends right now and that's not right,'' he said. ``They should be together as one.'' Dan Laidman, (213) 978-0390 dan.laidman(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: From left, Sina and Loki Leomiti, Charis Higgins, Phil Leomiti, Joshua and Jeremiah Higgins, and Joshua Leomiti stand at the home remodeled for ``Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.' Stephen Carr/Staff Photographer |
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