Retired Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher is seeking at least $200,000 in damages from a Florida hair restoration company he alleges has used his name and image without his permission. But the transplant surgeon’s attorney refuted the claims made in the lawsuit, which was filed Monday in Cook County Court.
The story was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Urlacher surprised fans in January 2016 when the formerly bald Bear showed off a full head of hair during a national media blitz. Oak Brook-based Restore by Katona performed the transplant after reaching an endorsement agreement with Urlacher in 2014.
The suit alleges that Boca Raton, Fla., hair transplant surgeon Dr. Glenn Charles and his Charles Medical Group "have attempted to illegally steal and cash in on this success" by using Urlacher’s name and likeness in its own advertising and marketing without asking for his permission.
In one example, the suit contains a blog post written by Charles dated Jan. 11, 2016. "The growing popularity of Follicular Unit Extraction, also known as FUE hair transplant, reached new heights recently when former All-Pro NFL linebacker Brian Urlacher revealed how he came by his full head of hair." On Tuesday, the post did not appear on the company’s website.
Charles’ lawyer, Gary Ostrow, wrote Tuesday in an email to the Tribune that "the blog at issue is purely informational, and is not a per se ‘advertisement.’" Ostrow also disputes that Charles used any images of Urlacher.
Restore
Brian Urlacher shows his hair (pictured here in December 2015) after having a hair transplant procedure by Oak Brook-based Restore by Katona in November 2014.
Brian Urlacher shows his hair (pictured here in December 2015) after having a hair transplant procedure by Oak Brook-based Restore by Katona in November 2014.
(Restore)
"Doctor Charles at no time took credit for the procedures elected by Urlacher, in fact to the contrary. There is a link to an Esquire magazine article, reflecting the procedure being undertaken by the doctor who performed the advanced procedure on Urlacher," Ostrow said via email. "Consequently, we believe that the lawsuit lacks merit and the case will be defended accordingly."
Urlacher’s suit also accuses Charles Medical Group of embedding "source code" with his name to intercept customers searching for hair restoration information online, as well as marketing to Illinois residents and using testimonials from Chicago-area clients.
Urlacher’s attorney said his client wasn’t available for comment.
plthompson@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @_phil_thompson
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