Hendrix may sue Hendrix over image usage

SEATTLE, March 7 (UPI) -- The brother of the late Jimi Hendrix and a Seattle businessman say they may countersue Hendrix's stepsister for damages caused by her public statements.

Leon Hendrix and Craig Dieffenbach, co-owners of Electric Hendrix LLC, also said in a news release that they would fight Janie Hendrix's federal lawsuit seeking to prevent the marketing and sale of Hendrix Electric Vodka.

Janie Hendrix controls two companies, Experience Hendrix, LLC and Authentic Hendrix, LLC.

According to Electric Hendrix, the lawsuit by Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix was assigned to the same judge who ruled against Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix and in favor of Leon Hendrix and Craig Dieffenbach on similar claims in a 2003 lawsuit.

Electric Hendrix officials said they believed that the court again will rule that Janie Hendrix and the companies she controls do not have exclusive rights "to control the name or likeness of Jimi Hendrix" and can't prevent the marketing of Hendrix Electric Vodka.

Dieffenbach said Electric Hendrix plans to sue for damages caused by "the gross misrepresentations Janie Hendrix, Authentic Hendrix and Experience Hendrix continue to make" about their ability to control the use of the rock icon's name and likeness.