Uma Thurman must be getting pretty sick of courtrooms. After testifying in the trial of her stalker last week, you’d think she’d want to keep away from anything having to do with the legal system for as long as possible. Unfortunately for Uma, she’s being countersued by French cosmetics company Lancome, and will probably spend a good deal of time continuing to deal with lawyers for the foreseeable future.

Uma sued Lancome for continuing to use her name and image after her contract with them expired. Instead of just saying “Oops, our bad,” Lancome said they didn’t knowingly use it. Which would still make you think the error is theirs. But instead of just owning up to it, they’re countersuing Thurman.

You don’t use Uma Thurman’s face without paying for it, as cosmetics giant Lancôme is discovering. Uma was the former face of the beauty company and reportedly wants $1 million for the alleged use of her picture in foreign ads after her contract expired in 2005. Lancôme is hitting back with a lawsuit, maintaining that it never “knowingly or intentionally” continued to use her pictures and looking to have a judge preemptively rule that the company didn’t wrongfully use her image.

However, Uma’s attorney, Burt Fields, counters, “Look at the huge free benefit Lancôme gets from using her. The French want to accept that benefit without paying for it. Obviously, the French have decided they won’t even try to resolve this amicably. So they have filed this sneak attack.” Lancôme’s lawyers do say they’re open to a settlement.

[From In Touch]

I think wherever Burt Fields says “the French” he really means Lancome. I’m assuming the guy isn’t actually accusing an entire nation of “sneak attacks” and not paying for stuff. I find the lawsuit a little confusing. It sounds like Lancome is admitting that Thurman’s image was used, they’re just saying they didn’t do it on purpose. So… they’re suing her WHY?

People reports that Uma’s picture was used on websites in Asia and some Canadian billboards. Lancome is arguing that third parties did it, so it’s not their fault. To me, that sounds like a nice defense in Uma Thurman’s lawsuit… but it still doesn’t explain the need to countersue her.

Here’s Uma with Arpad Busson at the 2008 Wings Worldquest Women of Discovery Awards Gala in New York City on March 5th. Images thanks to PR Photos.