'Borat' legal case thrown out

A New York judge has thrown out a legal case filed against the makers of Borat from a man who briefly appeared in the film, reports say.

Jeffrey Lemerond featured in promotional trailers and appeared for 13 seconds in the film. He sued 20th Century Fox last summer claiming the studio used his image illegally.

Lemerond was shown yelling "go away" to Borat as he tried to hug strangers in New York.

US District Judge Loretta Preska said the film appealed to "the most childish and vulgar in its viewers" but attempted "an ironic commentary of 'modern' American culture".

Lemerand will appeal the ruling, with his lawyer Eric Heckler saying: "We think New York law is clear that a corporation like 20th Century Fox is not entitled to pluck an otherwise anonymous citizen out of a crowd and subject him to public humiliation in order to make a buck."

Borat's Sacha Baron Cohen is currently filming Bruno, a mockumentary featuring his gay Austrian TV presenter character.