Sounds like something was lost in translation.
A $10 million lawsuit charges that a Brooklyn model became the face of a New School ad campaign - without permission or payment - after she was photographed during an Italian class.
Christine James Walker, 27, charged the Manhattan school's wrongful use of her image blocked her from landing modeling jobs with any other universities or schools.
'Photographs of Ms. Walker were viewed by hundreds of thousands of people as a result of the New School's unauthorized use ... of (her) image,' the 21-page lawsuit charged.
The Manhattan Supreme Court filing seeks $10 million for punitive damages, $250,000 for emotional distress and another $125,000 for compensatory damages - along with coverage of her legal expenses.
The 5-foot-9, 125-pound brunette with the 34-24-36 figure said her 'face and body was readily and easily identifiable' in New School ads featured on its website and summer school advertising, a local newspaper and throughout the city subway system.
Walker's lawsuit charges the school, where she graduated with a 2012 degree in musical theater, continued using her photos even after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from her lawyer.
New School spokesman Sam Biederman said they would not comment on pending litigation.
According to the lawsuit, Walker was in her Italian language class in November 2011 when a school shutterbug arrived and began snapping pictures.
'To avoid being photographed, Ms. Walker intentionally looked down at her notes and papers while the photographer was photographing her class,' the lawsuit charged.
It wasn't until the spring of 2013 that Walker learned about her likeness appearing in ads for her alma mater, the lawsuit charged.
Even worse, Walker said, the photos failed to show her in prime modeling form.
'Ms. Walker was dressed for attending class rather than for a photo shoot, and she did not receive pre-photo shoot makeup treatment and/or hair-care treatment,' the lawsuit charged.
The result: 'Sub-optimal photographs of Ms. Walker.'
In addition to the money, the lawsuit demands a permanent ban on New School use of Walker's image and a recall of all advertising currently using the picture.
bross@nydailynews.com
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