QVC Sues Andrew Lessman

Andrew Lessman has a new opponent.

Last year, when HSN decided to start selling the weightloss sprinkles, Sensa, Andrew pulled all his weight management products from HSN. He adamantly refused to sell his items on the same network that sold what he considered to be a complete scam. Andrew wrote at length about the issue on his blog and stood his ground. And it worked. You can read all about the infamous Lessman-Sensa Feud here, here, and here.

Now Andrew has set his sites on the Nature's Code vitamins and supplements sold on QVC. Last year, Dr. Taub stepped down as spokesperson for the brand and was replaced by Dr. Rouse. At the time, Queen Bea did some digging and had quite a bit to say about Dr. Rouse (check it out here).

This is what Andrew had to say:

"Question: When is a "Doctor" not a Doctor? Answer: When they appear with Nature's Code vitamins on QVC. When QVCs on-air doctor discusses health on TV, the public reasonably assumes he is a Medical Doctor (MD), but he is not, which unfortunately makes these broadcasts inherently misleading."

Andrew continued to toss calm and measured barbs at the new Nature's Code spokesperson and products throughout the video. And then he goes on to make two more videos. The first one denounces the Nature's Code Hair, Skin, and Nails supplement as being "bad," "ridiculous," and made of "99% additives." The video gave another thorough dressing down to their Nature's Code Resveratrol supplement.

How did QVC respond?

By suing.

Here is the quote from Andrew Lessman's blog:

Who would have thought that events that began just a few weeks ago with QVC’s use of my most popular product’s name (Healthy Hair Skin and Nails) would end with them suing me?! I took no legal action against QVC for their use of my product’s name and when I exercised my constitutionally protected right to free speech, QVC responded with a lawsuit. It is a disturbing and unfortunate turn of events, but I am grateful for all your words of support and please don’t worry about us. My company and I are in the hands of extremely experienced lawyers who will capably protect my interests against QVC’s meritless and unwarranted attack. As you might expect, there is much I could say at this time, but instead, I will let my lawyers’ soon-to-be-filed documents speak for themselves.

Rumor has it that the court papers that were filed state that QVC approached Andrew about coming back to the Q after Dr. Taub retired (in case you didn't know, Andrew started with the Q years ago before moving to HSN). I haven't actually seen the papers, so I don't know that for a fact. However, it sure appears as though QVC is at least trying to imitate Andrew with their revamped Nature's code line.

Since Andrew is a lawyer and is well aware of what you can and can not legally say or claim, I'm certain that he worded his blogs and videos in such a way as to provide himself sufficient legal cover ... unless he was trying to pick a fight. A lawsuit brings publicity and sheds light. Maybe he believes that the Nature's Code products will be revealed to be objectively inferior to his? Regardless, this should be interesting! Clash of the Home Shopping Titans!