LaJollaLight.com | Prejean, pageant officials settle lawsuit

Prejean, pageant officials settle lawsuit

Nov 3, 2009
By City News Service

Former Miss California USA Carrie Prejean and pageant officials announced Tuesday they settled dueling lawsuits in which the San Diego native alleged she was stripped of her crown because of her religious beliefs.

The 22-year-old beauty queen sued the pageant's co-executive directors, Keith Lewis and former Miss USA Shanna Moakler, as well as pageant publicist Roger Neal, on allegations of libel, slander and religious discrimination in Los Angeles Superior Court in August.

The pageant then countersued Prejean in October, asking to be reimbursed for her breast implants.

"Carrie Prejean, Keith Lewis and K2 Productions have dropped their claim against each other and wish each other the best in their future endeavors," a joint statement announcing the end of the litigation reads.

No details on the terms were divulged.

Prejean was fired in June for allegedly missing scheduled appearances and for showing up at ones that were not approved by pageant officials.

But Prejean maintained she was removed because of controversial remarks she made in April during the Miss USA pageant after being questioned by celebrity blogger Perez Hilton about gay marriage.

Prejean responded that she believed marriage should only be between men and women.

"No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised," Prejean said.

The suit was the second in 16 months to be filed against Lewis by a former Miss California. In April 2008, Christina Silva sued him after she was stripped of her title due to a vote-tabulation error by pageant officials.

Silva, a Latina, maintained she was the victim of racial bias. She dropped her suit in February.

City News Service

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