Big Rich Legal Drama
Defamation case dismissed against Big Rich Texas star Bon Blossman
After more than a year of wild accusations, including stripping and gold-digging, the real-life legal drama of reality television show Big Rich Texas has come to an end. Dallas co-stars Bonnie Blossman and Pamela Martin-Duarte had been engaged in a bitter defamation lawsuit since April 2012, when Martin-Duarte sued Blossman for allegedly making disparaging comments about her.
Dallas County district judge Carl Ginsberg has dismissed all the claims against Blossman "with prejudice," meaning they cannot be refiled. Martin–Duarte sued Blossman for libel and slander, business disparagement, tortious interference with contract, and conspiracy. Specifically, Martin-Duarte took issue with statements that she was a stripper, a drunk, a sociopath and a gold digger.
Blossman, represented by attorney Bob Latham of Jackson Walker, moved to have the claims dismissed on multiple grounds, including the context in which the alleged statements were made. Ginsberg granted the motion August 26.
"I am very pleased with the outcome of this case," Latham says. "Reality TV thrives on confrontation and controversy, and if cases based on those exchanges were allowed to proliferate, the courts would be very busy indeed."
Big Rich Texas debuted on the Style Network in 2011 and has run for three seasons. The reality television show focuses on the life and drama of wealthy Dallas women and their daughters.
Martin-Duarte had also originally named Park Cities residents Dena Miller and Merritt Patterson as defendants. They were later dropped from the case.
Although none of the original defendants remain, Martin-Duarte is now pursuing the case against Houston-based author Carl Henegan, with whom she co-authored the book Hard Whispers in 2011. Martin-Duarte's lawsuit against Henegan is set to go before a Dallas jury on October 22. He is representing himself.
