San Jose Mercury News

EST FOUNDER'S DAUGHTER SUES MERCURY NEWS OVER ARTICLES

May 29, 1999, Mercury News Staff Reporter

The daughter of est founder Werner Erhard filed a $2 million lawsuit Wednesday against the Mercury News and staff writer John Hubner, charging that she was defrauded and her privacy was invaded during interviews for two articles in the paper's West magazine.

Hubner wrote two investigative articles about Erhard, who founded the controversial self-improvement program known as est, that were published in November 1990.

The suit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, charges that Hubner promised Celeste Erhard that they would co-author a book on her life that would bring her $2 million.

Because of that promise, Celeste Erhard contends, she was tricked into exaggerating spicy details about her father's life for the magazine articles. She claimed that the articles and her appearance on CBS television's “60 Minutes” were to get publicity for a book.

"It's a frivolous lawsuit,” said Mercury News attorney Edward P. Davis, Jr. “The claim itself is inherently ridiculous...(and) unsupported by any facts at all."

Celeste Erhard also charged that Hubner took advantage of the fact that she was taking prescription medications and under the care of mental health professionals.