Spencer Elden, who famously appeared on the cover of Nirvana’s landmark 1991 album Nevermind as a baby, is suing the band and other parties on child pornography charges.
In documents filed in the United States District Court in the Central District of California, Elden’s lawsuit also lists as defendants Universal Music Group, Geffen Records, Nevermind photographer Kirk Weddle, Courtney Love (who’s the executor of Kurt Cobain’s estate), and Chad Channing, who was Nirvana’s original drummer that was initially uncredited for playing cymbals on the track “Polly.”
The lawsuit states, in part, “Defendants knowingly produced, possessed, and advertised commercial child pornography depicting Spencer, and they knowingly received value in exchange for doing so…Despite this knowledge, Defendants failed to take reasonable steps to protect Spencer and prevent his widespread sexual exploitation and image trafficking.”
Elden is being represented by Robert Y. Lewis, who lists child pornography as one of his primary practice areas on his firm’s website.
Among the relief requested in the lawsuit include damages of $150,000 from each of the 15 defendants listed in the documents, “punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish each of the Defendants,” attorney’s fees and “other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.”
At the time of publishing, the surviving members of Nirvana, Courtney Love or any of the other defendants have not issued any statement in response to the lawsuit.