NFR cowboy sues hotel over use of photo

Friday, May 4, 2001 | 10:13 a.m.

A champion team-roping rodeo cowboy sued a downtown Las Vegas hotel-casino for allegedly using his photograph without authorization for an advertisement for National Finals Rodeo tickets.

Speed Williams, Llano, Texas, and the Oklahoma-based Cowboy Sports Agents Inc., filed suit Wednesday in Clark County District Court against the Las Vegas Club hotel-casino.

The advertisement, which ran under the tagline "Got National Finals Rodeo Tickets?" appeared in the Nov. 1 and Nov. 15 editions of ProRodeo Sports News.

Williams, who teamed to win his fourth consecutive team roping championship at the NFR in December, said the photo used in the ad was cropped to eliminate his roping partner, Rich Skelton. Williams, who seeks unspecified damages, said the hotel casino unfairly exploited his right to publicity.

A representative of the Las Vegas Club could not be reached for comment on the allegations.

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