Mass. man sues 'Apprentice' for rejection

BOSTON, July 6 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts man claims a TV producer unfairly kept him off the Donald Trump reality show "The Apprentice."

In court papers, Nicholas Christakis of Billerica accused Trump and producer Mark Burnett of using unfair business practices, the Boston Herald reports. He said Burnett "defamed, slandered and libeled" him during final casting for the show's first season.

Christakis has been in court before. He and his mother and brother sued the Billerica Board of Health in 2002 for shutting down their restaurant, the newspaper said.

Christakis has also been through Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

The federal lawsuit, which names both Trump and Burnett as defendants, seeks $250 million in damages.