Nerves Dampen Botox Trial

News   ·   October 7, 2004

New York Post – New York, N.Y.
October 7, 2004

THE Botox trial of the decade – which pitted Hollywood wife Irina Medavoy vs. “dermatologist to the stars” Dr. Arnie Klein – reached such a crescendo during closing arguments this week that the defendant lost control of his bladder.

Medavoy, 45-year-old wife of producer Mike Medavoy, has accused Klein of overdosing her with Botox while trying to treat her migraines. Instead of curing the headaches, Medavoy claims that Klein, 59, made them even worse. Allergen, the maker of Botox, is a co-defendant in the L.A. case.

Elizabeth Taylor led a contingent of patients who stood up for Klein throughout the five-week trial, but the pressure apparently got to him. According to courtroom witnesses, Klein was so nervous before the case went to the jury late Tuesday, he lost control of his bladder while in his chair.

“Yes, it’s true,” said one observer.” Klein was temporarily whisked outside.

A court press officer said, “I cannot confirm or deny the event.” Calls to Medavoy, her lawyer Jeff Benice, Klein and his lawyer Howard Weissman were not returned.

But Klein isn’t the only one who seems to have excretory issues. During the trial, Medavoy was called to the stand by Weissman, who tried to portray her as a hypochondriac. The former model/actress admitted she suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome, vertigo, anorexia and a spastic bowel – conceding, “I go to doctors a lot.”

Medavoy’s supporters include Arianna Huffington – who said Medavoy was “incredibly brave” for taking on a drug maker – and Cheryl Saban, the wife of “Power Rangers” media magnate Haim Saban.

Medavoy’s lawyers tried to prove Klein didn’t warn her of the known risks of Botox, or disclose that he was a paid consultant for Allergen. She testified that after one treatment in March 2002, she got a headache “like somebody put a three-sizes-too-small helmet on you.”

The leggy blonde said she was incapacitated for four months. She told Vanity Fair last year that she could not be in the light and could not have sex with her husband.

Medavoy’s lawyer said that when she called Klein to complain, the doctor said, “I did too much.” Benice added: “Our position is that she was overdosed.”