Zooey Deschanel Sues Shoemaker Over $2 Mil Endorsement Deal

Actress/singer Zooey Deschanel sued shoemaker Steve Madden Friday claiming she’s owed $2 million from an August endorsement deal she signed with the company.

In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Deschanel (500 Days of Summer, the indie band She and Him) claims her CAA agent Christian Carino negotiated an oral $2 million deal with Madden for the company to use the actress’s name and likeness in connection with shoes and accessories. When the company later tried to re-negotiate the deal down to $1.5 million, Deschanel agreed but the company allegedly never paid her. She claims she’s owed her fee plus up to 5% of profits.

We’ve reached out to Steve Madden for comment. The suit for breach of oral contract was filed by Beverly Hills attorney Joe Schleimer.