The New York epicenter for socialites and the story of a Los Angeles publicist invasion to the big apple. Come with me on my adventures.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
10021 ny socialites now has a sister blog
If you want me to create a website for you, or if you want a writer aka blogger to produce content for your site, get in touch with me, or if you want to buy the word press software that I use to set up sites within minutes, the choice is yours.
You know that I am multi-talented, if you have been reading any one of my 50-100 blogs I write for, and that I am a socialite publicist and a sober companion and a doctor to add to my list of talents. Wouldn't it be great to have someone so talented as Rob Tencer on retainer?
In the world of the internet, servers and hosts sometimes crash leaving only google and blogger as the backup. For that reason, I will be keeping this blog 10021 NY Socialites up as my backup.
Rob Tencer
1. 10021 NY SOCIALITES new wordpress version
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Tuesday, November 20, 2007
how to stop leaks in confidentiality. celebrities and socialites must have loyalty in their staff and friends.
Now that you know what your up against, the only thing you can do to thwart the stench, is to gain loyalty from whom you hire. With loyalty, it would not matter how big the carrot dangled in front of them.
The following is a reprint from a law journal on the very real problem you face no matter who you are.
last note: rob tencer is a very loyal publicist and sober companion, and is available for consultation. kindly send your request for assistance to: rob tencer
ISSN 1748-944X
Celebrity/Employee Confidentiality Agreements: How to Make Them Work
Paul Nicholas Boylan
Attorney at Law, California; Visiting Professor, University Of Poitiers, France
Abstract
It has come to light in recent years that confidentiality agreements between celebrities and their employees do not effectively protect celebrity privacy. Even celebrities as rich and powerful as David and Victoria Beckham and Michael Jackson have been unable to use confidentiality agreements to stop the publication of embarrassing information. This essay first examines the problem and highlights the danger of focusing on privacy as the controlling interest motivating confidentiality agreements. This conceptual framework is applied to the confidentiality agreements drafted by representatives for David Beckham, Tom Cruise, Michael Jackson and Aaron Spelling. Mechanisms that might discourage employees from breaching confidentiality agreements, or to contain it should a breach occur, are discussed.
Introduction | |
It is a popular truism that with great power comes great responsibility. In the world of sports and entertainment law, it is equally accepted that with great celebrity comes the likelihood of great scandal. Sport and entertainment are businesses, and business solutions have been applied to prevent the release of scandalous or potentially damaging information. Confidentiality and non-competition agreements are standard in virtually every business transaction. They are particularly effective as between businesses and their employees (Radack, 1994; Pollick, 2006) | 1 |
However, unlike other business transactions, confidentiality clauses have not been effective vis-à-vis celebrities and their employees. Footballer David Beckham’ s nanny signed four confidentiality agreements, but still revealed – with a judge’s blessing – salacious details of the Beckhams' private life to a notorious English tabloid,The News of the World. The late Hollywood producer Aaron Spelling’s personal aide attempted to sue him for sexual harassment, and the Spellings then countersued her for violating a confidentiality agreement – the details of which have now become public record (Richards v. Spelling (2006) Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. BC 346 448; (2005) Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. BC 343 518). | 2 |
Even the secretive and thoroughly lawyered Michael Jackson could not rely on a confidentiality agreement to prevent his former wife, Deborah Rowe, from revealing details about his private life (Jackson v. Jackson, (1999) Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BD 310 267). Rowe was less Jackson’s wife than she was his employee. She was essentially hired to provide Jackson with children and, once her work was done, her employment was terminated and any details of Jackson’s life she might have learned while in close proximity with the King of Pop were subject to a confidentiality agreement. | 3 |
Why is this happening? Why are confidentiality agreements seemingly breached at will and with court approval? Is there any way to protect celebrities from employees who attempt to profit at their expense? | 4 |
The answer to the final question is yes, there is a solution. But to understand the solution, it is necessary to first understand the subtle nature of the problem. It is important to realize that confidentiality agreements used within the sports and entertainment industries can be, and have been, successfully breached because those responsible for drafting confidentiality agreements make fundamental conceptual errors that lead to potentially devastating drafting errors. This essay outlines a conceptual frameworkfor confidentiality agreements and applies it to actual celebrity confidentiality agreements. In light of the offered analysis, this essay makes some suggestions for the development of effective drafting techniques. | 5 |
Conceptual Framework | |
Before an attorney, an agent or anyone hubristic enough to believe they can draft a confidentiality agreement for a celebrity puts pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, it is important for the drafter to know why some agreements are effective and others fail. This knowledge is achieved by understanding the nature of the relationship between, on the one hand, the characterization of the interests the agreement is meant to protect, and on the other, recognizing the kinds of interests courts are likely to protect versus those that courts are not likely to protect. | 6 |
Contracts are the natural product and fundamentally necessary building blocks of any endeavours concerned with business and commerce. It is fair to observe that the world is increasingly business oriented, and business relations are regulated and defined by contracts. In relation to the Western perspective, contract law has been a part of Western Civilization for a very long time. The Emperor Justinian’s Law Books – dating from the 6th Century A.D. - show that the Romans had a long familiarity with contract law. Present day Anglo-American contract law – which is spreading across the globe through such institutions as the World Trade Organization and world-spanning treaties such as the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (aka TRIPs) has its roots in 12th Century England (Vynior's Case (1609) 77 Eng. Rep. 597 (K.B)). | 7 |
Confidentiality and non-competition agreements use standard, contractual devices to protect an employer’ s financial interests (such as trade secrets, client lists, intellectual property, the list is endless) from being taken/misappropriated by an employee or former employee for their own, or a successor-employer’s profit (Radack, 1994). ‘ Misappropriation’ is the conceptual foundation underlying virtually all non-celebrity confidentiality agreements, with such agreements designed to prevent the minor party from misappropriating something of immediate or ultimate value that the major party wants to keep for itself (Finch, n.d). | 8 |
Unlike contract law, privacy law is comparatively new. Privacy as a right is a modern idea, often implied from other rights and, at least in the United States, created by judicial activism. The very notion that people have a right of privacy is credited as beginning with a law review article written by Samuel D. Warren and Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis more than 100 years ago (Warren and Brandeis, 1890). The concept has been hotly debated in common law jurisdictions ever since. In Wainright v. Home Office [2003] 4 All ER 969 Lord Hoffman extensively analyzes the convolutions of modern privacy law. | 9 |
The debate concerning the existence and application of privacy rights intensified when, as recently as 1973, the United States Supreme Court affirmed a woman’s right to abortion by implying a constitutional right to privacy between a woman and her doctor by examining the ‘penumbra of the Bill of Rights’ - despite a frank acknowledgment that the U.S. Constitution does not mention privacy as a right (Roe v. Wade (1973) 410 U.S. 113). Roe depended in part on a dissenting opinion by Brandeis in Olmstead v. United States (1928) 277 U.S. 438, 478. Ironically, Roe’s ‘penumbra’ conceptualization was borrowed from Justice Holmes’ majority opinion - which disagreed with Brandeis’ analysis. | 10 |
The state of privacy law in England is even more recent and uncertain than it is in America. This is best illustrated by comparing and contrasting Campbell v. Mirror Group Newspapers[2003] EMLR 2 with Douglas v. Hello! Ltd [2005] All ER (D) 280. Both case struggle with English privacy law in relation to privacy claims made by different internationally recognized celebrities. Although the law applied is the same, the results are quite different. | 11 |
Campbell v. MGN | |
On 1 February 2001, The Mirror – a newspaper owned by MGN, Ltd. - published a front-page story with a headline reading ‘Naomi: I am a drug addict’ . The article detailed Campbell’s private attempt to rehabilitate from drug use and featured photos of her attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Campbell sued for breach of confidence and received £3,500 in damages (Campbell v. MGN Ltd [2002] EWHC 499 (QB)). MGN appealed, and the appellate court discharged the trial judge's order on the grounds that the publication was within the public interest (Campbell v. MGN, Ltd [2002] EWCA Civ 1373, [2003] QB 633). Campbell appealed to the House of Lords (Campbell v. MGN Ltd [2004] UKHL 22). | 12 |
The House of Lords agreed with the appellate court’s reasoning and held for the newspaper. Delivering the court’s opinion, Lord Nicholls of Birkenhead first noted that, unlike American law, English law does not recognize ‘an all-embracing’ tort for invasion of privacy, but English law has utilized equitable principles influenced by the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to spawn a privacy-related cause of action for ‘ breach of confidence.’ Lord Nicholls went on to recognize that everyone has the right to a private personal life, but also noted that ‘…the touchstone of private life is whether in respect of the disclosed facts the person in question had a reasonable expectation of privacy.’ The Court went on to hold that Ms. Campbell did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy because she affirmatively sought out press coverage on the issue of her alleged drug use, and therefore did not have a viable cause of action for breach of confidence. The court essentially pointed out that Campbell lost her reasonable expectation of privacy – and therefore whatever privacy rights she had, if any – when she voluntarily thrust herself into ‘the vortex of public opinion (Boylan, 2005). | 13 |
Douglas v. Hello! | |
On 18 November 2000, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones married at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. OK! Magazine licensed the exclusive right to all wedding photos, with the Douglases maintaining control over which photos were published. Security for the wedding was extraordinarily tight – to the point of being described as ‘paranoid’ - but an unauthorized photographer gained unauthorized entry into the wedding location. He took photos and sold them to OK!’s rival, Hello! Magazine. The Douglases obtained an injunction preventing publication pending a trial on the issues, claiming both privacy and economic interests that required injunctive protection. | 14 |
On appeal, the court independently applied the same reasoning used by the Campbell court, first stating that there was no concrete privacy right under English law but recognizing that English equitable principles have combined with the Human Rights Act 1998 to create a ‘breach of confidence’ cause of action to ‘fill the gap’ in English law which is filled by privacy law in other developed countries. Similar to Campbell, the Douglas court opined that privacy is due where it can be reasonably expected. | 15 |
But the Douglases did something that Naomi Campbell did not do: in addition to alleging the violation of their privacy interests, the Douglases claimed that their economic interests were at risk – which the appellate court acknowledged by noting that the ‘intrusion was by uncontrolled photography for profit of a wedding which was to be the subject of controlled photography for profit’ and that ‘the major part of the claimants' privacy rights have become the subject of a commercial transaction.’ The court discharged the injunction on the grounds that the Douglases could be compensated for their primarily monetary injuries through monetary damages. | 16 |
The case tried in 2003. The trial judge, Mr. Justice Lindsay - attempting to reconcile English tort law, contract law and the ECHR- entered judgment in favor of the Douglases and granted a perpetual injunction on their breach of confidence claim; but he ruled against the Douglases on their breach of privacy claim (Douglas v Hello! Ltd [2003] 3 All ER 996). Justice Lindsay repeated that even though there is no English right of privacy, privacy is nevertheless granted where it is reasonably expected. | 17 |
Hello! appealed the trial court’s judgment. Citing Campbell v. MGN Ltd, the appellate court, in a per curiam decision, repeated Justice Lindsay’s observation that the controlling principle was ‘whether there is a reasonable or legitimate expectation of confidentiality or privacy,’ then dismissed the appeal and reinstated the injunction against Hello! on the grounds that ‘[o]nly by the grant of an interlocutory injunction could [the Douglases] rights have been satisfactorily protected’(Douglas v. Hello! Ltd [2006] QB 125). The court of appeal also specifically recognized that the Douglases had taken steps that amounted to creating a ‘trade secret’ that Hello! had violated. | 18 |
It is instructive to note that the steps the Douglases took to protect their privacy essentially created a trade secret as defined by TRIPs because their wedding pictures 1) were not ‘generally known among or readily accessible’ to any publication; 2) had commercial value because they were secret; and 3) were subject to reasonable steps by the Douglases to keep them secret (TRIPs, Section Seven, Article 39, Protection of Undisclosed Information http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/t_agm3_e.htm). | 19 |
Comparing Douglas v. Hello! and Campbell v. MGN, Ltd. shows the confused state of English privacy law. Due in large measure to the impact of Convention rights on English law, ‘privacy law’ mixes tort, contract, equity and regulatory law, thus boot-strapping a privacy tort out of breach of confidence theory and seemingly indicating that contract rights can take precedent over rights to freedom of expression. However, for the purposes of this essay, the Douglas decisions vis-à-vis Campbell are important because they show that i) English courts are uncomfortable when dealing with privacy issues; ii) the outcome of a case can depend on whether the interest being protected is privacy or money; and iii) that even within the jumbled state of English privacy law, it is universally recognized that the level of privacy afforded is proportionally related to a celebrity’s reasonable expectation of privacy. | 20 |
As shown earlier in this essay, American privacy law is more settled than English privacy law. This is especially true in the various state jurisdictions within the United States, where – unlike the United States Federal Constitution - privacy is often, but not always, expressly enumerated as a state constitutional right, For example, California Constitution, Art I, s. 1 guarantees the constitutional right to privacy http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.constwhereas the New York State Constitution does not include privacy as an enumerated right http://www.senate.state.ny.us/lbdcinfo/senconstitution.html. However, the differences between American and English privacy law, for purposes of drafting confidentiality agreements, are distinctions without any practical differences. Regardless of how privacy law has developed in any particular Anglo-American legal jurisdiction, one universal rule stands out: non-‘public figures’ have a higher expectation of privacy – and therefore more rights to privacy – than public figures (Boylan, 2005). In pragmatic terms, this means that the more famous someone is – i.e., the more they thrust themselves into the vortex of public opinion - the less likely it is that a judge will protect their privacy because the more famous a celebrity, the lower his or her reasonable expectation of privacy. Consequently, confidentiality agreements that focus on protecting a celebrity’s privacy rights are very likely to fail if and when judicially tested. | 21 |
Application of the Conceptual Framework | |
Failing to recognize the difference between monetary interests and privacy interests is the reason confidentiality agreements drafted on behalf of celebrities are rarely worth the paper they are written on. An analysis of celebrity confidentiality agreements shows that the failure to properly characterize the interest protected is a common mistake. | 22 |
Beckham v. Gibson | |
In August 2003, international footballer David Beckham and his former Spice Girl wife, Victoria, hired Abbie Gibson as nanny for their children. During her employment, Gibson executed four confidentiality agreements promising to keep secret the Beckhams' private lives. In April 2005, Gibson left her employment with the Beckhams ‘after an argument’. Despite her four confidentiality agreements, Gibson toldthe News of the World – a tabloid publication – that the Beckhams fought often about David’s infidelities and that the couple were close to divorce; the News of the World paid Gibson £300,000 for this information. The Beckhams attempted, but failed, to enjoin the News of The World and to enforce the confidentiality agreement. | 23 |
The confidentiality agreements between David Beckham and his former nanny, Abbie Gibson, are not yet part of the public domain, but collateral sources show that the Beckhams’ attorneys, in an attempt to enforce the confidentiality agreement, made the tactical and strategic error of attempting to justify injunctive relief as the means necessary to protect the Beckham family's privacy. Comparing the Beckham v. Gibson results with the Douglas v. Hello! results places the pragmatic differences between privacy and economic interests into sharp relief: the Beckhams’ request for injunctive relief to protect privacy interests was denied; the Douglases' request for injunctive relief to protect contractual monetary interests was granted. The News of the World argued that disclosure of the information was within the public interest because the Beckhams intentionally sought publicity and ‘made millions’ projecting the image of a perfect, happily married couple, when that was not the truth, Naomi Campbell v. Mirror Group Newspapers [2003] EMLR 2 holding in part that, when a public figure lies, a newspaper may publish private information about the celebrity ‘to put the record straight’. | 24 |
Rowe v. Jackson | |
In 1999, Michael Jackson and his wife, Deborah Rowe, entered into a stipulated divorce agreement wherein Rowe gave up her rights to child custody of the couple’s two children (Jackson v. Jackson (1999) Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BD 310 267; In re Marriage of Jackson (2006) 136 Cal.App.4th 980, 984-985. In 2001, Rowe gave up all parental rights. As part of the stipulated divorce agreement, Jackson and Rowe also executed a confidentiality agreement designed to prevent Rowe from disclosing damaging details about Michael Jackson. Afterwards, when Michael Jackson was prosecuted criminally for child abuse, Rowe petitioned the Los Angeles Superior Court to modify the stipulated judgment to award her custody of her children on the grounds that Jackson endangered the children’s welfare and was at risk of leaving the country with the children (Jackson v. Jackson (1999) Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BD 310 267). | 25 |
Jackson successfully sealed all files associated with the custody dispute. TMC.com and the television program Celebrity Justice moved the court to unseal the files. The court agreed. Rowe claimed that she did not have possession of various documents in the case, including the confidentiality agreement between the parties. On March 27, 2006, the court ordered Jackson to file duplicates of the missing documents. On April 26, 2006, Jackson’s attorney filed duplicates of the missing documents, including the confidentiality agreement, specifically stating in an accompanying declaration that Jackson ‘… does not request that the Court consider any of these documents for filing under seal. Respondent does not file any of these documents in redacted form’ (Declaration re: Filing of Duplicate Original Documents, Jackson v. Jackson, Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BD 310 267). Despite the aforementioned order and affirming declaration, the confidentiality agreement is missing from the court file (Case Filing Docket, Jackson v. Jackson (1999) Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BD 310 267). While details of the agreement can be found (Declaration of Iris Joan Finsilver re: Respondent’s Request to Seal Record, Jackson v. Jackson (1999) Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BD 310 267), it remains the case that despite records showing that a duplicate of the Jackson/Rowe confidentiality agreement was filed, the agreement is mysteriously missing from the court record. | 26 |
However, like the Beckham case, collateral sources show that Jackson argued that privacy interests justified enforcing the confidentiality agreement. Iris Joan Finsilver (Rowe’s attorney throughout her marriage and subsequent disputes with Jackson) filed a declaration opposing Jackson’s attempt to seal the court files, stating that Jackson’s attorneys argued that the confidentiality agreement should remain secret because the parties wanted to protect the privacy of their children (Declaration of Iris Joan Finsilver, Jackson v. Jackson (1999) Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. BD 310 267). In light of the observations and analysis presented in this essay, it should be no surprise that the court ultimately unsealed the case files. | 27 |
Gomez v. Cruise | |
In 1993, Tom Cruise and Nichol Kidman hired Judita Gomez to serve as nanny for their children. Ms. Gomez signed the first of two confidentiality agreements, in which Gomez acknowledged that breaching the agreement would ‘result in an invasion of the privacy of Cruise, which I acknowledge they are entitled to maintain.’ This confidentiality agreement is problematic for a number of reasons. In addition to focusing on privacy as the interest protected by the agreement, the agreement itself contains no provision identifying consideration, which renders the agreement unenforceable in most common law jurisdictions. This agreement is nothing more than an unenforceable promise that can be breached at any time without consequence to Gomez. | 28 |
A little less than a year later, Gomez executed a second, vastly improved confidentiality agreement. Unlike the first agreement, the second agreement is expressly supported by consideration. The second agreement also attempts to characterize the Cruises' interests in maintaining confidentiality in terms of monetary and proprietary interests and includes a liquidated damages clause. The second agreement nevertheless muddies the conceptual waters by also focusing on protecting privacy interests, specifically stating on the first page that ‘[e]mployee shall at all times, during and after the Employment, respect and preserve the privacy of each member of the Cruise Family’. Including a privacy emphasis in the confidentiality agreement only serves to tempt an attorney to argue privacy as the basis for enforcement at a hearing or trial. It also opens the door to the court’s sua sponte application of privacy law to resolve the dispute against the celebrity’s interests. The better practice is to refrain from mentioning privacy in a confidentiality agreement and thereby avoid opening the door to those possibilities. | 29 |
Spelling v. Richards | |
Aaron Spelling was a well-known television and film producer. In November 2004, the Spelling family hired Charlene Richards to act as Mr. Spelling’s nurse. One year later, Richards hired a law firm to sue Spelling for sexual harassment. In order to prepare this lawsuit, the law firm sent letters to hundreds of women – including numerous publicists and talent managers - asking them if Spelling had sexually harassed them as well. On November 30, 2005, Spelling filed a lawsuit for defamation and breach of contract/ breach of the confidentiality agreement (see Spelling v. Richards (2005) Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. BC 343 518). Per the requirements of California law, a copy of the confidentiality agreement was filed along with the complaint. The agreement between Spelling and Richards is one of the finer examples of a celebrity confidentiality agreement. It attempts to characterize the interest to be protected as monetary and proprietary. Even so, the drafter could not resist the temptation to include privacy as one of the interests protected by the agreement. | 30 |
Explanation: Confusion and the Attorney-Client Relationship | |
One would expect that rich and famous celebrities such as Beckham, Cruise, Jackson and Spelling could and would hire attorneys who know better than to draft confidentiality agreements that focus on their clients’ interests in protecting privacy. One would expect that such attorneys would know that it is virtually impossible to successfully argue that ultra-famous celebrities have any expectation of privacy and that they have a better chance of prevailing on monetary claims. So what is going on? | 31 |
There are two apparent answers to this question. First, even the very best attorneys and experts inexplicably do not understand the problem. After the Beckham ruling allowing the News of The World to publish Gibson’s allegations, David Hooper – one of Britain’s leading authorities on privacy and defamation – proclaimed the Beckham ruling ‘a dramatic change in the law’ (BBC News, 2005). In light of the analysis and discussion contained in this essay, Mr. Hooper’s observation is clearly incorrect. At the time of the Beckham ruling, the Douglas and Campbell decisions had already been rendered. The Beckham ruling created nothing new; it merely reflected the easily recognized and long standing judicial reluctance to enforce public figure privacy rights. The Beckhams’ attempt to enforce Gibson’s confidentiality agreement to protect their privacy was doomed from its inception. | 32 |
The second reason for attorney failure to specify a celebrity’s monetary interests as the key interest to be protected by confidentiality agreements is based in the natural relationship between an attorney and his client. Attorneys are hired to advance the interests of their clients. And here, the true interest of a celebrity is to maintain as much privacy as possible. A good attorney will be able to identify these true interests. It is then a natural jump to reflect those interests in whatever document the attorney has been hired to draft. | 33 |
But, as we have seen, when the confidentiality agreement is breached and the celebrity attempts to enforce the agreement, this turns out to be a fatal mistake if document focuses on protecting the celebrity’s privacy interests. And, as we have seen, even the best attorneys can fall into this relational trap. The better practice is to educate a celebrity client that the best way to protect their privacy is to characterize their interest as economic. Privacy is still the goal, but basing the confidentiality agreement between the celebrity and their employee(s) on an economic/proprietary interest foundation is, it seems, the only effective way to achieve the privacy the celebrity desires. | 34 |
It is not difficult to make the economic/proprietary information characterization. All information about celebrities is valuable – the more famous a celebrity, the more valuable information about him becomes. This is especially true for the kinds of embarrassing, salacious, negative (i.e., ‘bad’ ) information that celebrities want to suppress (Boylan, 2005). The argument that flows naturally from such an economic characterization is that, when the employee reveals bad information, it not only harms the celebrity economically by tarnishing the image that is the means by which they earn money, but it also misappropriates information that they could sell to media for potentially huge amounts of money. For example, Victoria Beckham was offered £5 million for information pertaining to alleged affairs between David Beckham and his three supposed mistresses. This shows the potential economic value of salacious information. As discussed above, courts are more likely to protect economic/proprietary interests than privacy interests. | 35 |
Additional Protective Mechanisms | |
An effective celebrity/employee confidentiality agreement does not end with an economic/proprietary characterization of the interest intended to be protected by the agreement. Although it is true that emphasizing the confidential nature of the employee’s responsibility and focusing on an economic/proprietary interest characterization can maximize the chances that a judge will enforce the confidentiality agreement should the issue ever come before a judge, it is important to remember that this is not the only aim of confidentiality agreements between celebrities and their employees. | 36 |
The confidentiality agreement drafter has to fully understand that, in order to enforce a confidentiality agreement, it is necessary to disclose the terms of the confidentiality agreement now breached. This alone can reveal embarrassing and possibly damaging information. As illustrated by the confidentiality agreements discussed and analyzed in this essay, once a confidentiality breach dispute between a celebrity and an employee gets into the civil court systems, it is virtually impossible to seal the files to prevent the breach from becoming part of the public record. | 37 |
The best example of embarrassment resulting from the disclosure of a confidentiality agreement during civil litigation is Rowe v. Jackson. Even though the file does not contain a copy of the confidentiality agreement, Rowe’s attorney – in a declaration - revealed that the agreement specifically defined ‘confidential information’ as ‘information related to paternity, Michael’s mental or physical condition, purported drug use [and] sexual behavior.’ Each of these specific examples is loaded with implied salacious meaning, from questions of the paternity of his children to allegations that he is a drug-usingpaedophile. | 38 |
Jackson most certainly would have preferred that these terms remain private. However, the moment the dispute entered the civil justice system, the odds were strong that this information would enter the public domain. The handling of the Jackson-Rowe dispute bristles with irony, but perhaps the most ironic fact is that Jackson himself prompted the civil action that resulted in the release of this information – and will inevitably result in the release of the entire confidentiality agreement. Another term of the confidentiality agreement between Jackson and Rowe was the arrangement that, in exchange for Rowe’s agreement to cooperate with Jackson’s desire to remove her from her children’s lives and for Rowe to say nice things about Jackson, Jackson would pay Rowe $5,000,000, give her a Beverly Hills mansion and pay her $900,000 each year for an undisclosed number of years. But Jackson stopped paying this money and claimed that he stopped paying because Rowe breached the confidentiality agreement and would not continue to pay until there was a ‘judicial determination of the issue’. | 39 |
At the very least, the lesson learned here is that the prudent drafter of a celebrity/employee confidentiality agreement anticipates what would happen if the terms of the agreement became public, and consider using general definitions instead of specific examples – especially if those specific examples paint the celebrity client as a drug abusing sexual deviant. The goal of any drafter is to maximize the odds that the agreement will never be breached at all, and if breach is threatened, that all efforts to enforce the agreement to prevent the breach will not become public. Effective celebrity/employee confidentiality agreements provide, therefore, mechanisms to discourage breaches and also additional mechanisms to contain breaches should they occur. | 40 |
Mechanisms to Discourage Breach | |
The key to discouraging breach is to maximize the cost potential to anyone contemplating violation of a confidentiality agreement. Mechanisms that increase cost and discourage breach include, but are not limited to, liquidated damage clauses, attorney fee clauses and defense financing clauses (Boylan, 2005). The drafter is reminded that, if the agreement contains the right to seek injunctive relief – which is the ultimate goal of any celebrity facing a breach of confidentiality – then a liquidated damages clause in the same agreement may be unenforceable, depending on the jurisdiction, because many jurisdictions will not enforce a liquidated damage clause if the agreement contains an ‘election of remedies’. However, it doesn’t matter. A liquidated damages clause serves as a warning and as a deterrent, not as a damage recovery mechanism. This should be explained to the client so as to avoid future misunderstandings. | 41 |
The drafter must also keep in mind that, as the Beckham case painfully illustrates, a third party, such as a newspaper, may attempt to entice a celebrity’s employee to breach their confidentiality agreement. Therefore, provisions should be added to the agreement that discourage third party involvement by notifying those third parties of the liability and costs they are likely to incur should they conspire to entice the employee to breach their contract with the celebrity and otherwise interfere with the celebrity’s expected economic advantage in selling the information themselves. | 42 |
The drafter should add provisions that will increase non-monetary costs. The true value of information is often dependent on its immediacy. The fresher the information, the more valuable the information is to a publisher. Conversely, the older information gets, the less value it has to a publisher. Therefore, adding provisions that slow down the eventual release of the information will discourage breach because the longer it takes to publish information the less valuable it becomes. There are many mechanisms that slow down the process, including but not limited to choice of law clauses, forum selection clauses and clauses containing agreements that, if disputes arise between the parties, all matters related to such disputes shall remain private and the files sealed. | 43 |
Mechanisms to Contain Breaches Should They Occur | |
Despite all of the mechanisms available to discourage breach, it is always possible that breaches will occur anyway. The drafter must include language that prevents breaches from entering the public record in order to adequately protect the privacy the celebrity desires. | 44 |
As discussed above, once a dispute transitions from negotiation to litigation, it is unlikely that a celebrity will be able to prevent disclosures. This is especially true for civil proceedings before judges. This is not true when using alternate dispute resolution mechanisms such as arbitration. Arbitrators are more likely than judges to uphold and enforce the written agreement between the parties because the arbitrator gets his or her authority from the contract itself (Milton School Directors v. Milton Staff Assn. (1994) 163 Vt 240; 656 A.2d 993 (observing that an ‘arbitrator's authority is no broader than the power granted by contract’); Niblett, 1994(observing ‘ the arbitration agreement is the source of the arbitrator's authority and of the parties' rights in the arbitration’)). Therefore, every confidentiality agreement between a celebrity and the celebrity’s employee should not only properly characterize the interest to be protected as monetary/proprietary and include mechanisms to discourage disclosure, an effective celebrity/employee confidentiality agreement should also contain an agreement that any dispute between the parties shall be subject to arbitration where the proceedings themselves are sealed and confidential. | 45 |
The reader should note that none of the confidentiality agreements discussed in this essay included an arbitration clause – a serious drafting error. There are many advantages to arbitration, including but not limited to the opportunity of the parties to dictate how the arbitrator(s) will decide the dispute and what kinds of evidence they will consider. At a minimum, a confidentiality agreement should specify the following:
| 46 |
Caveat: Unconscionability Risk | |
It should be apparent to the reader that an effective celebrity/employee confidentiality agreement is going to be a more complex document than the one page original agreement between Tom Cruise and Judita Gomez. The person drafting the agreement will inevitably work for the celebrity. The employee is most likely to be unrepresented and willing to sign anything just for the thrill and opportunity of working for a celebrity. This situation creates the possibility that the employee will eventually challenge the agreement on the grounds that it is an unconscionable adhesion contract. | 47 |
To avoid this possible defence, it is strongly recommended that the celebrity insist that the employee consult with independent counsel prior to signing the agreement – and even pay the prospective employee’s attorney’s fees needed to get independent advice. | 48 |
Conclusion | |
There is never any guarantee that a celebrity’s employee will be faithful to their promise to keep confidential all matters they learn during their employment – especially the salacious details about the celebrity’s private life. However, those drafting confidentiality agreements need to recognize that the conventional wisdom and practices pertaining to celebrity confidentiality agreements aren’t helping to protect celebrity privacy. In order to better serve celebrity clients, those drafting confidentiality agreements must realize that such agreements are currently being drafted so as to actually preclude enforcement if and when a breach is threatened or occurs. Finally, the drafter needs to focus on the goal of all confidentiality agreements – i.e., to prevent information from entering the pubic record. | 49 |
Once these points are understood, then a drafter will utilize readily available, standard drafting tools to write better, more effective confidentiality agreements. Properly characterizing the interest protected as economic/proprietary, avoiding including privacy concerns in the agreement, and incorporating mechanisms to both discourage and contain breaches will better serve celebrity clients – who only want to hire people to work for them without worrying that their employees will violate privacy considerations the celebrity rightfully expects. | 50 |
References
BBC News (2005) ‘Does Beckham Judgment Change Rules?’ 29 April http://News.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_News/4482073.stm
Boylan (2005) ‘ Reconciling Artist's Moral Rights with Economic Principles and the Problem of Parody: Some Modest Proposals’ Journal of Law and Communications http://www.uclan.ac.uk/facs/class/legalstu/JoLaw&Comms/2005_1/boylan-2.htm
Finch, ‘Confidentiality Agreements’ <http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:yhjRR1dDzSUJ:www.michaelbest.com/resources/
publications/1844.doc+Misappropriation+confidentiality&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1&ie=UTF-8
Law Center (2005) ‘Ex Wife set to Testify in Jackson Trial’ 27 April <http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/04/26/jackson.rowe/index.html>
Niblett (1994) ‘The Arbitration of Intellectual Property Disputes’ Worldwide Forum on the Arbitration of Intellectual Property Disputes, Geneva, Switzerland <http://arbiter.wipo.int/events/conferences/1994/niblett.html>
Pollick (2006) ‘What is a Confidentiality Clause?’ WiseGeek <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-confidentiality-clause.htm>
Radack (1994) ‘Understanding Confidentiality Agreements’ 64 JOM 46 (5) <http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/matters/matters-9405.html>
Teeven (1990) ‘A History of Anglo American Common Law of Contract’ (New York: Greenwood Pres)
Warren and Brandeis (1890) 'The Right to Privacy’ 4 Harvard LR 193 <http://www.lawrence.edu/fast/boardmaw/Privacy_brand_warr2.html>
Links
BBC News (2002) ‘Model: ‘I abused illegal drugs’’" 11 February http://News.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1813925.stm
BBC News (2003) ‘‘Paranoid’ Security for Zeta-Jones Wedding’ 19 February http://News.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/2749561.stm
BBC News (2003) ‘Douglas Defends ‘Trivial’ Hello! Case’ 19 February http://News.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/2743675.stm
BBC News (2005) ‘Beckham nanny to stop new stories’ 29 April http://News.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_News/4496301.stm
Business Coach (2006) ‘Confidentiality Agreement (Sample)’ http://www.1000ventures.com/doc/legal/agr_conf_sample_byvk.html
Female First (2005) ‘Beckham Nanny Abbie Gibson Slams Soccer Star’ http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/celebrity/38852004.htm29 April
IDA Singapore ‘Proposed Model Confidentiality Agreement’ http://www.ida.gov.sg/idaweb/pnr/infopage.jsp?infopagecategory=consultpapers:pnr&versionid=1&infopageid=I223
IPR Helpdesk (2002) ‘Confidentiality Agreements’ 1 May http://www.ipr-helpdesk.org/documentos/docsPublicacion/
html_xml/8_ConfidentialityAgreements%5B0000000200_00%5D.html
New York State Senatehttp://www.senate.state.ny.us/
Official California Legislative Information http://www.leginfo.ca.gov
Vermont Automated Libraries System, the Vermont Department of Libraries http://dol.state.vt.us/gopher_root1/000000/supct/163/milton_schl_dirctrs_v_milton_staff_assn.94-162
World Intellectual Property Organization (2006) ‘ Protecting the Trade Secrets of Your SME’ http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/ipr/sme_guide_trade_secrets_bywipo.html
World Trade Organization , Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, Part II – Standards concerning the availability, scope and use of intellectual property rights http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/t_agm3_e.htm
Yahoo News, UK and Ireland (2006) ‘ Jackson/Rowe Hush Money Settlement Revealed’ 17 February http://uk.News.yahoo.com/17022006/364/jackson-rowe-hush-money-settlement-revealed.html
Boylan, Paul Nicholas, "Celebrity/Employee Confidentiality Agreements: How to Make Them Work", Entertainment and Sports Law Journal, ISSN 1748-944X, October 2006,
Monday, November 19, 2007
sober companion with a doctor patient confidentiality
On this subject, I must point out that Sober Companion Rob Tencer, unlike other sober companions, is a licensed doctor and that he must abide by a strict patient doctor confidentiality.
As a licensed Doctor, Rob Tencer would never release any doctor patient records. I am bound to confidentiality between patient and doctor privilege. Only with patients written consent, could I ever release information. Unlike non medical professionals, who are not bound by any statutes or presidencies. I am not allowed to release patient information.
Friday, November 9, 2007
britney spears and others that have no confidentiality
If you read through past posts, Rob Tencer have stated full instructions for getting staff to keep confidentiality agreements, and letters they signed in contracts to start work.
Of course I also mentioned how to treat staff and how to gain trust and loyalty.
It saddens me to see that young assistants of britney spears felt it so important to destroy her relationship with her children. This goes beyond trying to straighten out a clients problems by informing on her, this is purely about no loyalty, no trust and big money payouts. What a shame.
This is some appalling things written by former staff with letters of confidentiality:
Spears's former assistant Kalie Machado has told how the 25-year-old set up a shrine to Kevin Federline after they split and also revealed Britney would regularly walk around her home naked.
Kalie reveals that Britney struggled to cope with the breakdown of her marriage, and as well as keeping her wedding dress in a case in the entrance of the home, also held on to Kevin's possessions.
She revealed: "Britney kept all Kevin's clothes and she would wander into his wardrobe and look at them. You could say it was a shrine to him - or to their marriage at least."
Kalie claims that during her marriage, Kevin was hardly ever home, leaving Britney alone with her sons and while she eventually filed for divorce, she was still desperate to win back his affection.
Kalie said: "She felt so unwanted and she's already insecure. It just made her crazy and depressed.
"She was incredibly sad and lonely while I was with her. I could tell she desperately wanted him back. She'd burst into tears when he wouldn't return her calls."
rob tencer is a public relations expert, and a sober companion. rob tencer understands confidentiality and loyalty.
how do you know when you have no handlers worth paying? Just ask Lindsay Lohan.
This video of lindsay lohan, shows what happens when you don't have any handlers or anyone to save you from the paparazzi and public scrutiny. This is what happens when you don't a sober companion like rob tencer.
why didn't promises treatment center in malibu work for britney spears?
Britney continued to hire enablers that partied with her, and were freightened of losing their jobs if they spoke out against her. They were terrible employee's, terrible friends, terrible surroundings and not one sober companion to rely on for help. Yes their are pressures in being a mother to two children, but their is a lot of satisfaction and joy and happiness from being a mother as well. most of all it gives a reason, a purpose to clean yourself up. She needs to move away from her surroundings, change her lifestyle, become a workaholic and hire a sober companion like rob tencer.
while britney spears was at promises treatment center in malibu, ca. her program included 24 hour detox, individual treatment and experimental therapy. the cost might be around $49,000 for 30 days. Activities included art therapy, drama classes, horseback riding.
Did the girl in this video think that doing drugs and drinking made her more popular?
why didn't Wonderland center work for Lindsay Lohan?
When you get so messed up and high that you don't know the crimes you just commited, you know you are in trouble. take a look at this dramatization, of someone who got high .
Even though you have a career in hollywood, you must get away from the comfort zone, and distance yourself from your enablers. Getting a good Sober Companion like rob tencer can save your life, save your career, and make life worth saving.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
celebrities with tattoos. tattoos after they become famous and intoxicated.
What kind of ghetto friends are you hanging out with, to want to do that to their bodies?
What were you on when you thought it was a good idea to get a tattoo? Where you on prescription drugs, illegal drugs, marijuana, heroin, vicodin, oxycontin, or were you drinking? Are you an alcoholic? Did you learn it at alcoholics anonymous? are you drunk all the time?
I was watching this video of amy winehouse not rehab, but a 2006 british video, before amy had her heroin chic style. before the swing inspired look of classic America. but most of all, before the trademark tattoo's. Its obvious to me and to everyone, that she got the tattoos when she was drunk or on drugs, and that she got them after she became famous.
I saw a girl dressed for haloween in a amy winehouse costume, complete with the big hair, mole, and arms full of tattoos. What you have to remember is that when you are that talented, that people want to be just like you, dress like you, and get all the tattoos like you. How could you want to do that to children? Besides amy winehouse most pro athletes in basketball's NBA have tattoo's. Really, How can you do that to your fans?
David Stern made the players dress better, but why can't he do something about the ghetto look or prison style tattoos? Its really odd, because theses are multi million dollar men, that look like tall ghetto people.
If you look at self destructive people like Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears who went to rehab to try and save their lives, and who also have tattoo's. Lindsay it looked, tried to have a laser remove some of them on her body, becuase she realized the mistakes she made while intoxicated by drugs and drinking.
please don't make these mistakes, and please don't use the celebrity as your role model. They are around the wrong people in their life who are giving them the wrong advice, and not looking after them in the way they deserve.
Rob Tencer is a PR expert and a sober companion, and has no tattoo's.
celebrity drivers follow up. 3 reasons why celebrities want to drive?
why do celebrities want to drive themselves?
1. As I had previously mentioned, a car company gives an extremely large promotional fee, sometimes give the celebrity the car to drive for free for a minimum of 6 months.
2. Another thought was for New Yorkers who hit it big. They never had a car before. They never needed a car before. Now that they live in LA, one of the first indulgence is to buy a car, even before they start buying properties.
3. Independence is another reason. The young celebrity finally became old enough to have some independence in life. Driving themselves is similar to the concept of being potty trained. You no longer need a helping hand, or someone to do everything for you. You got your independence and you can finally get away from everyone. Please resist the urge to have your independence without considering a driver. I am trying to save your life.
You must resist the desire to drive yourself. You can still buy the car, but please get a driver.
Rob Tencer is a PR expert and a sober companion. He can be reached at ayepublicrelations@gmail.com
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
I was horrified to see zac efron driving right at me.

Can someone please tell me why zac efron was driving his own car?
Sober companion and PR expert Rob Tencer, recommends to all of his clients on the same level as zac efron, to NEVER drive yourself. Even if you are not addicted to drugs, or alcohol, or men, you should never ever ever drive yourself.
The paparazzi alone should be enough deterrent from wanting to drive. With all the flashes, cutting you off, and also the crazy fans who want a look, and will drive side by side, recklessly trying to follow you.
Do you really want to still drive?
I was horrified to see zac efron driving a car on his birthday.
Happy 20th birthday high school musical star zac efron, and next time, don't let me catch you in the drivers seat, or any other celebrity. Its not worth the money that the car companies pay you to drive your own car. Is it worth losing your life?
Rob Tencer is a sober companion, and a PR expert. You can reach him at ayepublicrelations@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
what if amy winehouse went to rehab?
In this video for the BBC, her voice was dubbed for what looked like a live show. The announcer ended the song by saying "lets give it up for the wine-etts"
Is this really just an act, to gain attention, or does amy winehouse really have a drug and alcohol addiction?
If she really had a drug and alcohol addiction, and she continued her career without doing anything about it, it would be a short career ending in death.
If this was a publicity stunt, to create a persona of a billy holiday style singer with addictive lifestyle, who flaunts it by singing songs about it, then she has won the world over with this public character she created. But it might still end in seeing her name in the obituaries as a young person who became famous and died to early.
drugs and alcohol is no laughing matter, and is a serious health condition, usually ending in loss of work, family, marriage and life.
if amy winehouse went to rehab, would it really help her, or would she return to her addictions once she was released? What kind of people is amy winehouse hanging out with?
When amy winehouse was in the usa, was amy hanging out with sober people, or with drunks and addicts?
did she hang out with known alcoholics anonymous member lindsay lohan, or did she stay away from other drunks and addicts?
the best method is to hire a sober companion like rob tencer and to stay away from drugs, prescription drugs, people who have problems with drug abuse, anyone who can get prescription drugs, illegal drugs, alcoholics, bars, and anyone with a drinking problem.
Don't worry about not getting press or paparazzi, because we have seen that they still get lindsay lohan rehab pictures, and you can't stop them.
Here is amy winehouse rehab video:
Sunday, October 28, 2007
drugs of choice is to smoke marijuana
The addictions could have started in the music you listen to. Let me explain:
A band called the doobie brothers, exploited the use of narcotics and drugs by not only naming themselves after a drug, but using narcotic images on their album artwork. the cover and inside sleeve and middle of a vinyl record had pictures of joints on them.
Why use the highly addictive drugs to symbolize their band, when with the music and talent that the doobie brothers have, they could have been called anything?
here is a couple music videos of their popular hits.
Listen to the music - the doobie brothers
What a fool believes - the doobie brothers
Long Train Running - the doobie brothers
Black Water - doobie brothers
The doobie brothers may have not have influenced the new generation into smoking marijuana, and it may not be as glamorized as it once once, but it is highly addictive, and once you start, it is very hard to stop. Peer pressure might be a leading cause of why young people start using pot, and then after they are hooked, they find others who are like themselves. Addicted to drugs of their choice.
If you find it hard to stop, and find it hard to seperate yourself from your enablers, then you need to call a sober companion immediately.
Rob Tencer is a sober companion.
eric clapton cocaine lover writes in about a lie.
"The song cocaine was written and originally recorded by Oklahoma blues guitarist J.J. Cale. eric clapton recorded his version a year after Cale's was released."
eric clapton has recorded several songs written by Cale, including "After Midnight" and "Travelin' Light." In 2006, eric clapton and Cale recorded an album together called The Road To Escondido.
Cocaine is a song written by Oklahoma singer-songwriter J. J. Cale, and most notably covered by Eric Clapton on his 1977 album Slowhand.
This person sure know his cocaine. I think he was in the music business. Go figure.
He added: "Greatful Dead also had a cocaine song, that sold over a million records."
My oh my, it is such a pity and waste of life, that cocaine got transfered into the psyche of a whole generation. Most people in that generation, know all the words to the songs as well. Why do they know the words to drugs and narcotics songs?
I think we are going to get a lesson next about the doobie brothers and their influence on pot smoking. marijuana aka mary jane. Maybe add to that rick james.
Remember if you need help from overwhelming peer pressure, that it is important to reach rob tencer, the sober companion who cares about you. The sooner the better.
don't be an obituary, choose life.
Rob Tencer - Sober Companion
Friday, October 26, 2007
eric clapton cocaine - glamorizing drug use in rock and roll
Which came first? eric clapton singing about cocaine or the use of cocaine? Well thats obvious that the use of cocaine came first. But do you think if he had not glamorized the use and sung about it, and created a strong connection between rock and roll and cocaine that it would not be as popular?
Lesson: Don't do what the celebrities and rock and roll stars do. Don't be a follower. Enjoy the music, but don't always take the words to seriously, unless of course your friend or family member died of cocaine.
rob tencer is a sober companion that will allow you to enjoy your life without peer pressure.
kelly clarkson sober
Why is kelly clarkson singing about being sober? Is three months a big accomplishment?
She sings about losing everything, losing her significant other.
rob tencer is a sober companion that you can depend on for more than 3 months.
Evanescence - Call Me When You're Sober
The message is not that bad:
I want nothing to do with you. Call me when you're sober.
Did you learn something from evanescence and rob tencer today?
Thursday, October 11, 2007
What do Alcoholics like Owen Wilson, Drew Barrymore and Lindsay Lohan have in common with us?
If Alcoholism is genetic, it may not be the fault of the celebrities and ourselves, but our genetics.
While there are plenty of treatments, there is no cure.
As you have read in my blog, a sober companion like Rob Tencer might be your solution.
The most recognizable treatment for alcoholism is AA or alcoholics anonymous. While I don't need this AA treatment, I attend with my clients. Support, caring, nurturing is one of the ways I help my clients with the disease of alcoholism.
Rob Tencer - Sober Companion
This sober companion can help Owen Wilson, Lindsay Lohan, Drew Barrymore, Keifer Sutherland, and YOU.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
How to choose the right Sober Companion for you
click here for sober companion website
If you look around, you will not find many qualified sober companions, and even less that are
available that have the experience to deal with famous people.
or worse, they may be asked and join in the infectious drunkenness with power and the
seemingly ability to get anything they want, if they only stop enforcing their sobriety on them.
employer, or might leave on sexual harassment charges being brought up against the employer.
enforce and keep sobriety in his employer. The person with unique skills and experience is Rob
Tencer. Rob Tencer is strong mentally, verbally and physically and most of all, he is beyond
reproach.
Rob Tencer has written many articles on the perils of employee's who can't keep contracts of
confidentiality, and the agreements that go along with them. He has summarized the key point .
2. Build a bond of trust and loyalty through treating your employee's with respect.
3. Trusting your employees is built slowly, while loyalty lasts a lifetime.
Read Part 1 of “How to stop the leak in confidentiality”
Part 1 (TRUST)
Read Part 2 of “How to stop the leak in confidentiality”
Part 2 (LOYALTY)
Read Part 3 of “How to stop the leak in confidentiality”
Part 3 (TRIAL PERIOD)
Read Part 4 of “How to stop the leak in confidentiality”
Part 4 (GREED AND ADDICTIONS)
Read Part 5 of “How to stop the leak in confidentiality”
Part 5 (HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR STAFF)
Read Part 6
Part 6 (sample confidentiality agreements)
Read Part 7
Part 7 (planning a leak to the press)
Read the final part
Part 8 (How to deal with fame)
lack of productivity, lack of health, bad relationships built on toxic lifestyles.
If this is your lifestyle, something needs to change now. You need to reinvent yourself,
beginning with a change that will turn your life around. By hiring a sober companion like Rob
Tencer, you will have begun the proper changes required in your life.
The new changes in your life will replace the toxic lifestyle, and you begin to accomplish and
achieve goals, dreams and wishes that are very important in your life.
You will avoid the pain of near death experiences when you stop abusing your body.
Rob Tencer will help you kick the bad habits, quit the toxic lifestyle and the toxic people in
your life. You will change, because you know this change is necessary in your life.
Click here for sober companion website
Friday, October 5, 2007
What makes Rob Tencer a great Sober Companion - Sober Coach - Sober Escort
We can be our own worst enemies and our worst nightmares, but it does not have to be like that. A Sober Companion like Dr. Rob Tencer can help you.
How much willpower do you have to not eat bad things that will make you fat or make you sick? Do you have the same willpower for naughty things that will not only make you sick, but may kill you. Now think how little it takes for the bad influences to take part in you succumbing to temptation. A Sober Companion like Dr. Rob Tencer can help you.
Now think: "But if I only had someone there to stop me from the first bite. I could have never started."
Think about this as well: "If only I had someone there to stop me from the first hit, shot, drink, snort, than I could have stopped myself."
You can always hide it from the sober companion, but sooner than later, your sober companion will know and he will have the power to do something about it, before it gets out of hand.
Here is a list of articles I have written for you protection, on my many websites and blogs.
I am here to help you, and I want you to never forget it!
2. How to deal with fame, and surround yourself with good people.
3. Doctor can tell the difference from a malingering patient and abuser.
4. I could have saved Chris Benoit's life.
5. An important word about peer pressure and handlers.
6. How to stop yourself from getting a tattoo.
7. Someone to keep you looking good and happy.
8. Stopping leaked photos by not drinking or using drugs.
9. No need to write apology letters to fans if you don't screw up.
10. Controlling bad press starts before you leave the house.
11. Controlling leaks in confidentiality (extensive info)
12. Your reputation starts with the company you keep and getting a driver.
13. What good is fame and beauty when you die young?
14. Fame can come at an early age. Are you prepared?
15. Class and reputation is easy to lose if your name is Paris Hilton.
16. If I have a sober companion, do I need an assistant and a bodyguard?
17. What if I mistreat or disrespect my Sober Companion.
18. Protecting your reputation on Myspace and Facebook.
19. Radio interview
20. Building your team starts with a driver 24/7
21. Teens need a good team
Always remember that I can be your Sober Companion, and that there is a sober companion out there that can help you.
Dr. Rob Tencer DC BSc - Sober Companion
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Lessons from watching the Gossip Girl
Not having enough time to completely reflect on watching "Gossip Girl" did "Dirty Sexy (old) Money" start. I don't have TIVO, because that would require a lot more time in front of the TV. (YouTube videos are addictive enough.) I would also prefer not to be chained to the notebook computer either, regardless of how portable it is. That just means the chains follow me.
We all like to be moved with emotions, and Gossip Girl tonight had me all choked up. By pulling on our heartstrings they build a fan base not only for the geography of the show, but for the strong emotional bonding that is created. We feel an attachment to the characters, that is much stronger than we ever felt for "Sex in the city" characters. This is only the third episode, yet we feel like we have watched much more.
Back to reality:
Unlike the made up world of adult actors playing teens, I deal in reality and building strong public persona's for my clients. Building a strong and unique character that people can feel they are connected with. People, who will never meet you in person, yet feel attached to, is what I strive to accomplish, and what I do best.
I am not your buddy,but I will always be there for you. I will never share drinking or drugs with you (or without you). I will be your sober companion, and help you, when you can't help yourself. Drinking and drugs does not build character, and sometimes is related to the company you keep. Are they really your friends, or your true enemies in life? Are they helping you with your dreams?
Did the lesser known characters really rub ice on her leg, like servants?