'Griselda' co-creator responds to lawsuit against Netflix, Sofía Vergara: 'Comes with the territory'

The estate of Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco, who's the subject of Netflix's new miniseries starring Sofía Vergara, sued the streaming service and the actor/producer in an attempt to halt the show's release.

Blanco's son, Michael Corleone Blanco, and his wife, Marie Blanco — identified in the complaint as Michael Sepulvedablanco and Marie Sepulvedablanco — filed a lawsuit Jan. 17 in Florida's Miami-Dade County court, which was obtained by USA TODAY on Friday.

TMZ was first to report the news.

Michael Corleone Blanco, who is releasing a book about his mother, accuses the show's creators of using his unreleased "artistic literary work" and his likeness "to depict the life story of himself and his mother, Griselda Blanco De Trujillo" without permission or credit, according to his lawsuit.

In a statement issued Friday on behalf of the family, Elysa Galloway, a lawyer for the Blancos, told USA TODAY, "Michael Blanco was more than willing to share his hard work and the nonpublic details of his mother's life with Latin World Entertainment/Netflix if he was to be fairly compensated."

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"However, in the case of Netflix/Latin World Entertainment, the defendants approached Michael Blanco to gain his work, perspective and insight to only turn around and act like he does not exist, in an apparent attempt to reap their own profits," the statement continues. "It is disappointing that Latin World Entertainment/Netflix would pretend that it is acceptable to use Michael Blanco's commercial work without his permission."

USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Latin World Entertainment, Netflix and Vergara for comment.

'Griselda' co-creator Eric Newman, Sofia Vergara address Michael Blanco's lawsuit

Eric Newman, who has worked on Netflix's widely successful "Narcos: Mexico" and "Narocs," addressed the lawsuit to TODAY in an interview ahead of the "Griselda" premiere.

"I dealt with similar suits from Pablo Escobar, his family, during the making of 'Narcos,'" Newman said. "I tend not to think much about them. It just feels a little bit unsurprising and kind of comes with the territory."

In a separate interview with Telemundo, Vergara said she was "not very aware" of the lawsuit because she has been on a press tour for the show. She added that she plans to read Blanco's book about his mother Griselda.

Michael Blanco claims Netflix declined to consult him

Blanco "has devoted several years to meticulously documenting the private narratives of his, as well as his mother’s life, with the intention of publishing a book and developing a Spanish soap opera," the lawsuit states. He seeks a temporary injunction against Netflix to stop the streamer from releasing the limited series on Jan. 25 and from allegedly using his artistic literary work; he also claims at least $100,000 in damages.

Blanco alleges that two of the defendants in the case, Andres Hernando Lopez and Rafael Alfredo Rojas Vega, had agreed in 2009 to help him publish a book and develop a Spanish soap opera. He also accuses Lopez of meeting with Netflix to discuss Blanco's family story, but Netflix declined to use Blanco's consultation or literary work.

Blanco believes Lopez and Rojas Vega "proceeded to actively sell and/or provide by expectation of compensation (Blanco's) unreleased, private artistic literary work."

"'Griselda' is a fictionalized dramatization inspired by the life of the savvy and ambitious Griselda Blanco, who created one of the most powerful cartels in history," reads Netflix's description of the six-episode drama series.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Griselda Blanco's family sues Netflix, Sofia Vergara over new show