Lawsuit claims 'Storage Wars' show is rigged
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Some of the valuables found hidden in abandoned lockers on A&E's "Storage Wars" have been added by producers to deceive viewers, a former cast member of the show claims in a lawsuit filed Tuesday.
David Hester's suit claims producers have added a BMW Mini and newspapers chronicling Elvis Presley's death to lockers in order to build drama for the show and that his complaints about the practices led to his firing.
Hester is seeking more than $750,000 in his wrongful termination, breach of contract and unfair business practices lawsuit. A&E Television Network declined comment, citing the pending lawsuit.
"Storage Wars" follows buyers who bid for abandoned storage lockers hoping to find valuables tucked inside.
"A&E regularly plants valuable items or memorabilia," the lawsuit states. Hester's suit claims he was fired from participating in the series' fourth season after expressing concerns that manipulating the storage lockers for the sake of the show was illegal.
He claims that producers stopped adding items to his units after his initial complaints but continued the practice for other series participants. The lawsuit alleges entire units have been staged and the practice may violate a federal law intended to prevent viewers from being deceived when watching a show involving intellectual skills.
"Storage Wars" depicts buyers having only a few moments to look into an abandoned unit before deciding on whether to bid on it at auction. The lawsuit claims some of the auction footage on the show is staged.
Hester, known as "The Mogul" on the show, has been buying abandoned storage units and re-selling their contents for 26 years, according to the suit.
Nielsen Co. has ranked "Storage Wars" among cable television's top-ranked shows several times since its 2010 debut.
David Hester's suit claims producers have added a BMW Mini and newspapers chronicling Elvis Presley's death to lockers in order to build drama for the show and that his complaints about the practices led to his firing.
Hester is seeking more than $750,000 in his wrongful termination, breach of contract and unfair business practices lawsuit. A&E Television Network declined comment, citing the pending lawsuit.
"Storage Wars" follows buyers who bid for abandoned storage lockers hoping to find valuables tucked inside.
"A&E regularly plants valuable items or memorabilia," the lawsuit states. Hester's suit claims he was fired from participating in the series' fourth season after expressing concerns that manipulating the storage lockers for the sake of the show was illegal.
He claims that producers stopped adding items to his units after his initial complaints but continued the practice for other series participants. The lawsuit alleges entire units have been staged and the practice may violate a federal law intended to prevent viewers from being deceived when watching a show involving intellectual skills.
"Storage Wars" depicts buyers having only a few moments to look into an abandoned unit before deciding on whether to bid on it at auction. The lawsuit claims some of the auction footage on the show is staged.
Hester, known as "The Mogul" on the show, has been buying abandoned storage units and re-selling their contents for 26 years, according to the suit.
Nielsen Co. has ranked "Storage Wars" among cable television's top-ranked shows several times since its 2010 debut.
Hesters a d-bag anyway.
No skill involved in this business. Have cash, buy junk, get lucky once in a while.
Only real money maker is the network.
Hester is shooting for his next big payday.
From the 'Gee...no $h!t' file. ALL of the shows designed to part people with their money are rigged. House flippers, Gold Rush etc.
Dave was misnamed at birth should be Dick Hester
"...suit claims producers have added a BMW Mini and newspapers chronicling Elvis Presley's death to lockers in order to build drama..."
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God knows it needs something. Same thing every show...they need to get some REAL people in there instead of the same creeps every week.
I don't see how this is something that warrants a lawsuit. Â Is there anything illegal about this? Â I doubt it. Â He's just being a big baby about the whole thing. Â How much more business does he have at his thrift store now because of the publicity from the show? Â I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn the show's producers were rigging the lockers. Â Although it does kind of dampen my dream of becoming a storage locker bidder. Â haha
A poor loser? If they are rigged, that would mean everybody would at least get a locker with some good stuff.
As I recall, David Hester found some ivory pieces in a unit he won. They were valued at over $7000. Sure didn't hear him complain about that.
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Next thing you'll tell me is that Brandi's breasts are fake.
 @Kushfan No, but David Hester's sure are! :-)
I have no doubt that many of these sales were rigged. TV producers will do anything to sell a program.
How could anyone watch this show and not be able to tell it is sooo staged, What, are these actors, the only people with money in L.A.? . It seems awfully private, how many auctions only have 20 people show up? They seldom ever let a stranger bid, and it is early on when they do, and only the cast members get to "win" the bidding. There have been pictures posted online, they show a locker, and then in the next scene.The boxes went from smashed to brand new? I also read that the auctioneer is actually producer of the show, It also said that he really does do storage unit auctions and since the release of this series, the attendance numbers have skyrocketed. (admit it, you thought about it after watching). More people + more bidding + more money= Pretty smart Ol' boy.
The most horrifying "reality" is that people are stupid enough to equate "reality TV" to reality.
I realized from the first episode I watched that it was all bogus and I haven't watched since.  The likelihood of finding the particular items they found seemed really really low.  I mean, I could believe the very rare occurrence of somebody dying and then the rare occurrence of that locker having something worthwhile that the owner would have felt wasn't worth 2 square feet in his/her current residence.  But to find something unique and valuable on every show (rare guns?  As if!)  BS.
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Now I'm glad I didn't waste my time watching it.
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I like the show, but I tend to agree with Mr Yupp. Seems suspect.
I think most of these shows on A&E are fake including the Pawn Shop show to the towing show.I hate to admit that I have participated in the dumbing down of America by watching these lame shows.Time to cut the cable and open a book.
 @noneofyourbizzness There is a whole world to discover out there in books. Have fun! : )
Shocked. Absolutely shocked I tell you. gasp.
I love the show but I'd be real disappointed to find out that they planted items in the lockers. They make it seem like it's hard to lose but in reality it's very hard to win.
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Barry is the best character on the show, I should be so lucky to have an attitude like his when I get to his age.
Yeah, you gotta love his 'tude. I wouldn't trust him to watch my dog for five minutes, though.
 @deejm2112 Always looks so tempting to fall on a giant storage locker jackpot....and then I see what people have stored in storage units near mine....faded toddlers Big Wheel, dirty play pen....sure looks like some big wins if bidding on storage units.
 @pdxd  @deejm2112 BED BUGS x 1000! Beware of storage units. People shove bedbug infested  tsuff in there to "kill them off" which doesn't work AND infests the other units. Pesticides don't kill bedbugs either. Storage lockers: Just. Say. NO.
I wish someone would start adding valuable finds to the PBS show "Market Warriors".....probably the most disappointing show of this genre on television
Yeeep................
 @russell.stephens LOL Russell! I don't know about you but I've come to loathe Dave Hester and his arrogance, pompous attitude. I say to the producers 'good riddance". It was obvious that Hester had issues with all of the other cast members as well.
 @GeauxOSU  @russell.stephens Agreed part II
Agreed.