'Reality Steve' sued by Bachelor' Producers Over New Spoilers again

"Bachelor" producers sue "Reality Steve" for a second time after he agreed last year to refrain from contacting personnel on the series.

NZK Productions and Horizon Alternative Television, a division of Warner Bros., first sued Carbone in December, 2011, alleging that to gain spoilers, he was attempting to induce contestants into breaching their confidentiality pledges. The lawsuit settled in June, with Warners expressing satisfaction that he had agreed to have no further contact whatsoever with any of the cast, crew or employees of The Bachelor. Carbone pledged at the time to continue spoiling the show, but to abide by the settlement so as not to "to give them an alleged excuse to file another (lawsuit)."

The producers don't go into any detail about who was contacted, or what was offered. That will likely be information sought in discovery. For now, the plaintiffs just say that the information that Carbone has posted is "non-public information" in "increasingly vivid details," including scene-by-scene, shot-by-shot descriptions. The producers also note that Carbone has promised to reveal "everything" about the forthcoming season -- the show's 17th.

At the time of the announcement of the settlement of the first lawsuit, Carbone admitted that he had offered compensation to three women on the last season of the show for information. He denied ever actually paying them.

The settlement agreement stipulated that he would refrain from attempting to contact those involved in the production of The Bachelor. According to the new lawsuit, the settlement also provided a $10,000-per-violation penalty should he breach the pledge.

Carbone is now being sued for both tortious interference as well as breach of the settlement agreement. The producers, represented by attorney Michael J. O'Connor, are asking for a permanent injunction and monetary damages.

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