Barrett & Farahany has filed a breach of agreement complaint in Chatham County Superior Court against Paula Deen, along with a motion seeking declaratory relief to prevent further disparaging remarks. The legal action follows comments Deen made during interviews promoting a new documentary about her career and controversies, which premiered earlier this month. In one interview, Deen referred to the plaintiff in the original 2013 lawsuit as “a known liar,” reigniting tensions over the case that disrupted her media empire.
Managing Partner Amanda Farahany responded to Deen’s remarks, stating, “We don’t know what all the documentary says. We only know what is being said about what the documentary says and what we know, specifically, from the interviews that Ms. Deen has given…we do know what Ms. Deen herself has been saying.” Farahany also clarified that the original lawsuit was “amicably resolved,” though the terms of the settlement remain confidential.
The documentary’s release has also brought renewed scrutiny to the case’s history. A webpage promoting the film initially misrepresented the outcome of the 2013 lawsuit, claiming it had been entirely dismissed. Farahany confirmed that the site was corrected to reflect that only the racial discrimination claims were dismissed, while the sexual harassment claims were dismissed with prejudice. On the same day, Deen filed a motion to dismiss the new complaint, citing jurisdictional issues tied to the original settlement.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the public narrative surrounding Deen’s comments and the documentary continues to evolve. For now, the focus remains on ensuring that the terms of the original resolution are upheld.