In October 2014, Sivero initiated a $250 million lawsuit against Fox Television Studios. The lawsuit alleges that in 1989 Sivero was living next door to Writers from The Simpsons and the Writers knew he was working on his Goodfellas character. It alleges the Writers "were aware the entire character of 'Frankie Carbone' was created and developed by Sivero, who based this character on his own personality." A short time later, a character named Louie began appearing on The Simpsons. Louie has been described as a mafioso character, second in command to Fat Tony, and similar in appearance and mannerisms to Sivero, and his "likeness is being infringed in violation of California's publicity rights law." The case was dismissed in August 2015, with the judge asserting it was a parody of several Mob characters.