Wolf of Wall Street triggers $25m legal action

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26285832

Wolf of Wall Street triggers $25m legal action

The producers of Oscar-nominated film Wolf of Wall Street are being sued for $25m (£15m) by a former stockbroker who claims he has been depicted as a "depraved" drug-fuelled criminal.

Andrew Greene has filed court papers in New York claiming the character Nicky "Rugrat" Koskoff is based on him.

Mr Greene worked at Stratton Oakmont, the brokerage house founded by Jordan Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Paramount and Red Granite Pictures have not commented on the case.

Mr Greene said his name was used in Belfort's memoir, on which the film is based.

In the movie, Rugrat Koskoff - nicknamed for the toupee he wears - assumes significant control at Stratton Oakmont following Belfort's resignation.

The role is played by actor PJ Byrne in the motion picture.

In the claim, Mr Greene said he worked at Stratton Oakmont between 1993 and 1996 as the head of the firm's corporate finance department and a member of the board of directors.

He alleges the film-makers - including director Martin Scorsese - changed the character's name from "Wigwam" to "Rugrat".

(continued, we've all got a double somewhere?)