“Ugly Betty” star Ashley Jensen and her husband, Terrence Beesley, filed a lawsuit against Bravo’s “Flipping Out” stars Jeff Lewis and his associate Ryan Brown on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, according to court papers acquired by Access Hollywood.
The lawsuit includes a complaint against alleged trespass and encroachment as well as assault, and asks for a temporary restraining order and permanent injunctions with regard to both complaints.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Reality Stars
The suit alleges that Jeff and his company, Vicious Investments, Inc., were making improvements to a neighboring property “without obtaining the required building permits,” leaving a deck encroaching onto the couple’s property.
Jeff allegedly asked for an easement — the right to leave the encroachment — first for free, and then offering $10,000. In response, the couple claim they asked for $100,000 for the easement on December 5. That night, an allegedly “irate” Jeff entered Ashley’s property and threatened the couple, the papers claim, asking for an easement for $30,000.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Mug Shot Mania
According to the papers, Jeff threatened to reveal private information about the couple on “Flipping Out” and would “cast [them] in a negative light.” He allegedly stated he would move into the property to make the couple’s lives “miserable” — “Your wife won’t like this,” he allegedly told Terrence.
U.S. & World
Stories that affect your life across the U.S. and around the world.
Jeff responded to the claims in a statement to Access on Friday.
“Actress Ashley Jensen (Ugly Betty) and her husband Terry Beesley and I have a simple encroachment dispute that should have been resolved informally,” Jeff said in the statement. “Having apparently watched my reality show, they now feel they can exploit my personality to increase their media exposure and their alleged damages.
“I have never threatened either of them with physical harm, nor was I abusive or verbally threatening to either of them,” he added. “In fact I have never even met Ms. Jensen. The court will decide how much the easement is worth and Ms. Jensen and Mr. Beesley will then be left having to earn media coverage on their talent alone.”
A rep for Ashley told Access, “No comment,” regarding Jeff’s statement.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: ‘Ugly Betty’ Season Three Premiere Party
PLAY IT NOW: Access Extended: Lindsay Lohan Talks ‘Ugly Betty’ Cameo
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Reality TV - Courts - Ugly Betty - TV - Celebrities
