Bristol Palin Heckler Lawsuit Tossed From Court

BY IBTimes Staff Reports | November 04 2012 3:39 PM

Bristol Palin, daughter of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, has won a lawsuit filed against her by a California man who claims he was featured in Palins reality TV show without his express written permission.

(Photo: Reuters)Bristol Palins new reality show Bristol Palin: Lifes a Tripp, is off to a rocky start even before the premiere. Palin was reportedly slapped with a lawsuit by the man who was caught on camera exchanging a war of words last fall.

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Palins reality show Bristol Palin: Lifes a Tripp revolves around the 22-year-old politicians daughter following her recent move to Los Angeles with her three-year-old son, Tripp. Palin shares custody of Tripp with her ex-fianc Levi Johnston.

Bristol Palin: Lifes a Tripp debuted on A&E in June.

The lawsuit against Palin was filed by Stephen Hanks, who appeared in an episode of the series after an altercation with Palin at a Hollywood bar. During the altercation, Hanks repeatedly yelled obscenities at Palin about her and her mother.

Hanks filed the lawsuit because he claims he never signed a waiver to appear on the show. He also! argued that the episode damaged his reputation by publicly outing him as a gay man.

At one point, Hanks referred to Bristols mother as a whore and the f*cking devil

The altercation as depicted in the episode of Bristol Palin: Lifes a Tripp occurred as Palin was heckled while rode a mechanical bull at the Saddle Ranch in Los Angeles.

Hanks yelled out at Palin, Do you ride [ex-fianc] Levi [Johnson] that way? and Your mothers a whore.

Later, after Palin had finished her ride on the mechanical bull, she confronted Hanks.

You're mother's the f**king devil, dude, Hanks told Palin. If there is a hell, which I don't believe there is, she will be there.

Palin then accused Hanks of being gay, which he confirmed, before Palin left the club in tears.

According to TMZ, a judge in the lawsuit ruled in Palins favor, stating that her reality show was protected under the first amendment. The judge also stated that Hanks was not outed by the show because his social media accounts openly list him as homosexual.

Watch the scene from Bristol Palin: Lifes a Tripp featuring the altercation between her and Hanks below.