Entertainment's Finest Subpoenaed in $900 Million Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
What do Paris Hilton, Oprah Winfrey and Mick Jagger have in common, besides celebrity status?
Hilton, Winfrey, Jagger and more than three dozen other high profile celebrities have been subpoenaed to appear in a Detroit courtroom on September 22nd.
The obvious question here is an incredulous, "What?".
No, it's not that Paris Hilton is in more legal trouble, nor is the superbly wealthy Oprah Winfrey being sued. The round up of celebrities are being called to testify in a $900 million federal lawsuit brought by a Detroit record producer who alleges that he has been racially discriminated against on many occasions by Canadian border officials.
A total of 41 entertainment figures including Mick Jagger, Paris Hilton and Oprah Winfrey were served with subpoenas. While a subpoena is a court order to appear and not simply a request, it's unlikely that the entertainers will be required to show up.
Jerome Almon, 42, is the head of the rap label "Murdercap Records". He filed a racial discrimination lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Detroit during January. His lawsuit alleges that he, as well as other African Americans in the music industry, are unfairly harassed and detained by officials at the Canadian border.
Canadian border officials have denied Almon's allegations and say that they absolutely do not discriminate against anyone based on their race.
So why has Almon subpoenaed African American celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Oprah Winfrey and Spike Lee as well as white celebrities such as Paris Hilton and Martha Stewart?
Almon has stated that he wants black celebrities like Lee, Winfrey and Snoop Dogg to testify about problems that they have experienced as African Americans at the Canadian border.
He has said that he wants Paris Hilton and Martha Stewart, who have both done time behind bars, to testify as to how easy it is for them to cross the border into Canada without harassment from border officials. Almon claims that white celebrities are given the royal treatment by the Canadian border officials, regardless of criminal history, and that their testimony will strengthen his claim of racial discrimination.
Almon is completely serious about his allegations and the need for top name celebrities like Hilton and Winfrey to testify in his case. He says that he has been repeatedly harassed and detained by officials at the Canadian border since 1992, and he completely believes it is because he is black.
In 2003, Almon was indefinitely banned from entering Canada, despite providing officials with proof and documentation that he has no criminal history.
Paris Hilton plans to be in Toronto on September 5th, but not in connection with this lawsuit. Hilton will be in Canada to shoot a film. Almon cites Hilton as an example, saying that she has been recently been released from prison and yet will likely have no hassles from the Canadian border officials upon her entry into Canada.
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law Professor, Lawrence A. Dubin, said that although a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit can subpoena anyone they wish, those receiving the subpoenas can seek court orders to have them overturned.
It is unlikely that Mick Jagger, Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, Paris Hilton or any of the other 41 celebrities who have received Almon's subpoenas will be required to appear. Paparazzi and celebrity autograph seekers need not book their tickets to Detroit just yet. The celebrity fest lawsuit is unlikely to have star witnesses.