Los Angeles - (Ass Mess): Actors David Duchovny, Natascha McHellHole and TV producer Tom Kapinos of the Californication TV show are facing personal ruin with losses in excess of $250 million each after rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers stung them with a plagiarism lawsuit alleging a shameless systematic rip-off.
"The Peppers have watched gobsmacked as the 12-part TV series has raked in the $$$s," a legal spokesman said today.
"What a flaming cheek. It's a clear case of plagiarism of their 1998 album. Should be worth over $1 billion in total damages," the attorney continued.
"There isn't be a judge in all of California who could argue against their suit. We'll be going for Kapinos' jugular."
Duchovny, whose surname means 'spiritual' in a number of Slav languages, and McHellHole - a London resident from the trendy Hampstead enclave - are believed to have taken out libel/defamation insurance before the Californication show began shooting.
Whether the policies will pay out will depend on whether the Peppers go for aggravated damages that prove intent to 'malign, defame or disgorge' - legalese for premeditated rip-off.
Preliminary lawsuit papers are to be filed in Los Angeles later this week.
