Empire State Building Sues Photographer Over Topless Photos (NSFW)

Last summer, photographer Allen Henson and model Shelby Carter decided to put a court ruling that allows women to be topless in public places to the test. Henson photographed Carter topless in several places including the Empire State Building. Cops trailed the pair in Central Park and they were kicked out of an East Village restaurant, but no arrests were made.

The Empire State Building’s management has filed a 1.1 million dollar lawsuit against Henson charging that his topless photos of Carter atop the observatory damaged the landmark’s “reputation as a safe and secure family friendly tourist attraction.” Management also claimed that they had to ‘divert management time, resources and attention to deal with the inappropriate objectionable conduct and potentially dangerous situation the defendant created.” In addition, they charge that children were present when the shoot took place and that Henson did not seek permission from them to shoot pictures for what they claim were for Henson’s ‘own commercial purpose’.

Henson responded by saying that it was not a professional shoot, the building’s guards had no reaction to Carter baring her assets and they fully complied with the law.

Click here to view more of the photos at the center of the lawsuit.