Eight days after she sued Lauren Sanchez, the television personality’s former yoga instructor has dropped her suit alleging the idea behind Sanchez’s new children’s book was taken from a concept pitched to her by the plaintiff.
Plaintiff Alanna Zabel maintained that Sanchez’s “The Fly Who Flew To Space,” published Sept. 15, was very similar to her own children’s book, “Dharma Kitty Goes To Mars,” released for purchase in March, according to the Santa Monica Superior Court lawsuit filed Sept. 17.
Zabel alleged theft of intellectual property and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She sought unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
“The betrayal and theft caused plaintiff severe emotional harm, impacting plaintiff’s personal and professional objectives, reputation and well-being,” wrote Zabel, who brought the suit on her own behalf against Jeff Bezos’ fiancee.
On Wednesday, Zabel filed court papers with Judge Mark Young asking that the case be dismissed “without prejudice,” meaning it can be refiled later. Zabel does not indicate if a settlement was reached or if she is not pursuing the case for other reasons.
According to the suit, the 54-year-old Sanchez’s book contains more than 60% of similar content as the book idea Zabel talked about with the ex-journalist and which the plaintiff had published in her own book.