Alan Dershowitz, the high-profile attorney known for representing former US President Donald Trump and the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, is reportedly considering legal action against a New York pierogi stand that bears his name.
The stand, cheekily named 'Dershowitz Pierogis', has drawn the ire of the 85-year-old lawyer, who claims the business is using his name without permission. Dershowitz, no stranger to controversy, has hinted at potential defamation claims, arguing the association could harm his reputation.
'This is an unauthorised use of my name and likeness,' Dershowitz told reporters. 'I have nothing to do with this establishment, and I don't want people thinking I endorse it.'
The small food vendor, operating in Manhattan, specialises in traditional Eastern European dumplings. Its owners appear to have chosen the name as a tongue-in-cheek reference to Dershowitz's polarising public image.
Legal experts suggest the case could hinge on whether the pierogi stand's use of Dershowitz's name constitutes parody or commercial exploitation. Under US law, public figures have limited protection against satire, but commercial use of their identity without consent may violate publicity rights.
This isn't the first time Dershowitz has threatened legal action over his name. The Harvard Law professor emeritus has previously sued media outlets for their coverage of his involvement in the Epstein scandal, though many cases were dismissed.
The pierogi stand's owners have yet to comment publicly on the potential lawsuit. Food industry observers note the controversy has already boosted the stall's profile, with curious customers flocking to try 'the dumplings too hot for Dershowitz'.
