Dupre Drops Suit Against Francis

Call-girl ASHLEY DUPRE has withdrawn her $10 million (GBP5 million) lawsuit against GIRLS GONE WILD founder JOE FRANCIS.

Dupre, who was the woman at the centre of the New York Governor Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal earlier this year (08), filed the suit against Francis in April (08).

In it, she accused him of exploiting her name and image for profit.

Dupre alleged that Girls Gone Wild representatives approached her while she was on holiday in Florida in 2003, plied her with alcohol and encouraged her to expose her breasts on camera when she was just 17.

However, Dupre dropped the suit against Francis and his film company on Thursday (03Jul08), insisting she wants to move on with her life.

Her lawyer Richard C. Wolfe says, "Ms. Dupre wants to eliminate all negativity from her life and focus on the positive.

"She has prospects for many exciting new projects and is looking forward to starting a new chapter."

After hearing the news of the suit in April, Francis offered Dupre $1 million (GBP500,000) to settle out-of-court, despite claiming she had "zero" chance of winning - and even offered the aspiring singer a job.