Author Terri Donald filed suit in a federal court in Philadelphia on Tuesday against actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry for allegedly stealing her story from his movie "Good Deeds."
Donald claims that the plot of the 2012 movie was takes straight from her book "Bad Apples Can be Good Fruit," which she wrote in 2007 under her pen-name, TLO Red'ness. Donald claims that she sent a copy of her book to Perry long before the movie was in production.
Donald is seeking $225,000 and an injunction that would require the movie to add a "Based on the book" tag line during the credits at the beginning of the film.
Donald is also suing the label, which released the film, Lions Gate Entertainment. Neither Perry nor the label could be reached for comment.
The movie "Good Deeds" released in February. It stars Perry, who is also the writer and director of the film. Gabrielle Union and Thandie Newton also star in the film. The movie is a romantic drama, which revolves around a businessman by the name Weseley Deeds. It earned approximately $35 million at the box office according to Reuters.
The book "Bad Apples Can be Good Fruit" is a story about a woman who is trying to move away from her past which is tainted with tragedy and murder, while she tries to make a new life with her fiance, who also has a mysterious past.
Perry, 43, is a prolific filmmaker. He is noted for writing, directing and acting in most of his productions. He is mostly remembered for his role as Madea, an elderly feisty woman. In 2011, he was named as the highest paid man in entertainment earning more than $130 million that year by Forbes Magazine.
Watch Video of the "Good Deeds" trailor here.
