Parents sue Urban Outfitters for $28million after 'salacious' image of daughter, 15, used on T-shirts



Clothes store Urban Outfitters is being sued for using sexually suggestive pictures of a 15-year-old model on some of its merchandise.



The 'salacious' images, taken in March 2010, showed the girl - named this morning in the New York Post as Hailey Clauson - with her legs spread in a provocative pose.



Her parents are suing photographer Jason Lee Parry, Urban and two other stores for $28million damages, claiming they did not give permission for the photographs to be used on T-shirts and other apparel.

Hailey Clauson's parents say they did not give permission for the use of this image on the T-shirt, which we have cropped for decency

Court papers: The suit says '... making her crotch area the focal point of the image may portray a child in a sexually suggestive manner and may be in violation of one or more federal and/or state laws'

Hailey is now 16 and has worked in New York and Paris for designers including Gucci, Donna Karan and Oscar de la Renta.

The photo shoot was conducted with the parents approval.

Filed in Manhattan on Thursday, the lawsuit alleges: 'She is posed in a blatantly salacious manner with her legs spread, without a bra, revealing portions of her breasts.

'The image of Teen in a spread eagle position making her crotch area the focal point of the image may portray a child in a sexually suggestive manner and may be in violation of one or more federal and/or state laws.'

Hailey Clauson, now 16, has worked in New York and Paris for designers including Gucci, Donna Karan and Oscar de la Renta

It accuses Mr Parry of making 'her crotch area the focal point of the image', adding that it also appears to reveal 'what some observers believe to be pubic hair.'

The portrayal 'forces' Clauson, now 16, 'to be the object of prurient interests and provides wallpaper for the likes of paedophiles,' the lawsuit says.

The T-shirt is not available in UK branches of Urban Outfitters.

Court: Urban Outfitters, photographer Jason Lee Parry and two other stores are being sued for $28 million by the parents of the under-age model

It is also claimed that Mr Parry - who specialises in topless shots - agreed never to release the image after a complaint from the girl's agent at the time.

According to the New York Daily News, other pictures also show her with beer and riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

Her agent declined to issue comment about the lawsuit.

Underage: Hailey Clauson was 15 when she modelled for Diane von Furstenberg in February despite a CFDA rule

Hailey hit headlines earlier this year, walking in three top designer catwalk shows during New York Fashion Week in February - flouting industry guidelines that require designers not to use models under 16.



Casting directors for Diane von Furstenberg, DKNY and Oscar de la Renta apparently ignored the age limit set by the Council of Fashion Designers of America by casting the schoolgirl, who turned 16 the following month.



Calvin Klein also disregarded the rule when he cast the teenager in his New York show the previous season, where she made her catwalk debut.



But the fact that Ms von Furstenberg is President of the CFDA made it even more remarkable that such a young girl appeared in her show.



The designer later expressed her embarrassment about the situation, in a letter to CFDA members, admitting that she had no idea the model was so young, and was horrified and terribly embarrassed' casting directors hired her.



The CFDA launched its health initiative at the height of an international debate about underweight models in 2007.



The guidelines have since been expanded to keep girls younger than 16 off the catwalk entirely and ban girls younger than 18 from working past midnight at fittings or photo shoots.



The body's guidelines are merely recommendations, however, not an outright ban.



CFDA spokesman Karen Peterson told MailOnline: 'It’s up to the designers, casting agents, and modelling agents themselves whether they choose to follow the guidelines.'





