Reese Witherspoon sued for 5 million US dollars

London - Actress turned fashion designer Reese Witherspoon has been hit with a 5 million US dollar lawsuit as she stand accused of copying a design from jeweller Jordann Weingartner.

Witherspoon’s own fashion label, known as Draper James, is being accused of copyright and trademark infringement due to the similarities between a logo featured on a Draper James tote bag and several items in Weingartner’s ‘Magnolia’ Collection. The design in question is a magnolia flower featuring a calligraphic D in the centre. "I drew the design for my Magnolia Collection back in 2008," said Weingartner to Page Six. "The flower isn't a traditional magnolia flower, it is my artistic take on a magnolia. My design actually looks nothing like a magnolia and Draper James not only took the design, but also decided to call it a magnolia."

Weingartner’s company, known as I Love Jewelry, features the magnolia design on all its branded materials. In addition, the jewellery designer stresses that Witherspoon keen her design as the jeweller’s publicist sent a necklace from the ‘Magnolia’ collection to the Oscar-winning actress as a gift. She adds that she previously reached out to Witherspoon to try and settle the case out of court, but was initially ignored, which cause her to file the lawsuit in a federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida last week.

“They basically ignored us,” Weingartner said. “So, we’re ready to fight.” According to Page Six, Witherspoon’s lawyers, after seeing a draft of the lawsuit before it was filed, responded: “Out of precedent, she doesn’t settle.”

Photo: Actress Reese Witherspoon at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival