Lauren Sánchez is suing over a new children’s book by the former yoga instructor

“This is the best children’s book my fiancée has ever written,” he wrote in Wednesday’s review.

Bezos’ praise for “The Flight That Flew into Space” came a day after Sánchez’s former yoga instructor filed a lawsuit against her in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The instructor, Alanna Zabel, said in the complaint that Sánchez stole her intellectual property and used it as the basis for her book.

“Defendant Lauren Sánchez, who had previously expressed verbal and written interest in collaborating with Plaintiff, subsequently used Plaintiff’s book concept without Plaintiff’s consent or authorization,” the complaint states.

Zabel is suing Sánchez for intentional infliction of emotional distress

The complaint said Zabel is a private yoga instructor in California who worked with Sánchez from 2007 to 2010. Zabel has written children’s books that are available for purchase on Amazon.

The two women engaged in verbal and written discussions “over a period of 16 years” about a “potential partnership to write a children’s book,” according to the complaint.

“In 2022, Plaintiff contacted Defendant directly via email, text, and Instagram, sharing with Defendant a specific book concept about a cat flying to Mars, reopening previous discussions (from 2007-2010) and confiding in it. intellectual property and concept,” the complaint says.

The complaint said the email also revitalized conversations about a partnership between the two, including promoting Zabel’s children’s book, “Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars,” which would involve giving the proceeds to the Bezos Earth Fund and the Bezos Academy.

The complaint said Zabel published “Dharma Kitty Goes to Mars” in 2022 and made it available for purchase on Amazon in 2023. Sánchez discussed plans to write a children’s book about a fly that goes into space during in a 2023 interview with The Wall Street Journal.

“Defendant Lauren Sánchez, who had previously expressed verbal and written interest in collaborating with Plaintiff, subsequently used Plaintiff’s book concept without Plaintiff’s consent or authorization. This theft of intellectual property occurred after years of discussion,” the complaint states.

Zabel said in the court filing that he stopped working with Sànchez in 2010 and Sánchez’s actions are in retaliation.

“Defendant’s actions stemmed from her relationship with Plaintiff, who was her private yoga instructor and friend, which Defendant exploited to gain an advantage in her creative and professional business,” the complaint states.

Zabel — who court documents said issued two cease-and-desist letters before filing the complaint — is seeking a jury trial.

“As a self-funded entrepreneur who has worked tirelessly to build my business, it is deeply disheartening to imagine someone in a position of privilege and influence – publicly advocating for social issues, equality and women’s empowerment – without of dedication, creativity and value of a person who generously shared his ideas, innovations and projects,” Zabel said in a statement to Business Insider via email.

Sánchez’s representatives declined to comment.