Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld Sued Over the Book "Deceptively Delicious"

Jessica Seinfeld, author of "Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Getting Your Kids Eating Good Food," and wife of famed comedian Jerry Seinfeld has recently been sued by Missy Chase Lapine for supposed plagiarism. Jerry Seinfeld was also sued by Ms. Lapine for defamation after he made public remarks on the David Letterman show calling her a "nut job."

The lawsuit was filed on Monday, January 8, 2008 in a Manhattan Federal Court. According to the civil suit, Ms. Lapine, author of "The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals, claims that Mrs. Seinfeld plagiarized her book in concept, cover art -- including a similar picture showing hidden carrots -- style and structure. Ms. Seinfeld's book was published just a few months after hers.

Both books are aimed at parents and teaching them how to secretly include healthy foods into their children's diets. The strategy for both authors was to hide vegetable and fruit purees in favorite foods.

According to the New York Times, the two books do share some remarkably similar aspects such as very similar recipes, writing style and wording. Some of the similarities in the wording is regarding the expression of the deception and inspiration for creating the book.

"The Sneaky Chef"
Missy Chase Lapine

Peanut butter and jelly muffins
Popeye's Eggs (which are ... green)
Macaroni and cheese with pureed cauliflower and zucchini
Brownies with pureed spinach and blueberry
Mashed potatoes with pureed cauliflower and zucchini
Grilled cheese, pureed sweet potato or butternut squash Grilled cheese, pureed sweet potato or carrot
Lasagna with pureed cauliflower and zucchini
Pureed cauliflower, zucchini and mashed potatoes stuffed back into potato skins, with sour cream and cheddar cheese
Tuna fish mixed with pureed cauliflower and zucchini
Hot cocoa with cherry juice

"Deceptively Delicious"
Jessica Seinfeld