Well, this probably isn’t the type of publicity Elisabeth Hasselbeck was hoping to garner for her new book. Citing copyright infringement, author Susan Hassett is suing the co-host of The View in federal court.
Hassett claims Hasselbeck’s book about celiac disease, The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide (published in May by Hachette Book Group), is too similar to her own, Living With Celiac Disease (published in April by Xlibris Corporation).
AccessHollywood.com says the suit claims Hassett sent Hasselbeck a copy of her book in April 2008, along with a cooking video, note, her business card and a newspaper article.
Hasselbeck, 32, recently told press she had celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder linked to gluten proteins in wheat, barley and rye. The genetic disorder can cause chronic diarrhea and fatigue, and damage the small intestine.
According to the American Celiac Disease Alliance, about 100,000 Americans (or, one per cent of the population) have been diagnosed with celiac disease.
The View co-host said she realized she had celiac disease when she appeared on Survivor: The Australian Outback in 2001. She is currently expecting her third child.
Thoughts? melissa@tvguide.ca
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