Don't Hassle The Hag: Merle Haggard Will Sue You
Posted Friday 01/09/2009 11:23 AM in
Blender Blog
by
Sara Schaefer
Country singer Merle Haggard loves the environment, but don't go using
his name to save it. Haggard has sued an environmental awareness
group who he claims has illegally used his name and likeness to raise
money. The group, Green Train, produces a concert-and-train tour whose
aim is to educate the public about environmental issues. Haggard had
donated $20,000 and agreed to perform, but apparently Green Train took
it a little too far and made it seem like this was a Merle Haggard
joint; according to the lawsuit, they plastered his name and image all over their materials, and
even forged his signature on solicitation materials and "personal
letters." The letters apparently went to big names and friends in the
entertainment industry, including Dolly Parton, Jewel, Vince Gill, and
Amy Grant. Oooops! But wait a minute, if it was all for a good cause, what's the big deal? Well, it gets worse: Haggard's suit also claims that the group's founder, Robert K. Wolf, used "substantial amounts" of money it raised for his own personal use. Imagine how angry Dolly Parton is going to be when she finds out about this! She'll probably head over to Wolf's house and give him a firm talking-to, and then slap him upside the head with one of her gigantic boobs.



