Furniture Today,
LOS ANGELES — The estate of actor Marlon Brando has filed suit against Palliser, claiming one of the company’s

home theater chairs is illegally using the name of the late actor.

The Los Angeles County Superior Court suit says Palliser, which introduced the Brando home theater chair in 2004, has “callously and willfully” disregarded the family’s rights to Brando’s name and likeness. It specifically accuses the company of misappropriation of the name of a deceased celebrity, which is a violation of the state’s civil code.

The Brando estate is seeking an injunction prohibiting Palliser from selling the Brando chair, as well as other unspecified damages and legal fees.

The suit includes a copy of a letter Palliser sent to representatives of the estate in January. In the letter, the company denied the chair was named for the late actor. It said Brando was chosen because it is the name of a popular tourist area on the island of Corsica.

“Palliser does not see the need for any license as it does not associate its name with the Brando name and personality,” the letter said.