Anna Nicole Smith’s former lawyer Howard K. Stern has filed a $60 million libel lawsuit against the author who claims Larry Birkhead was his lover.
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Stern is demanding $10 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages from Rita Cosby, the author of ‘Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith’s Death’ and her publisher Hachette Book Group USA Inc.
The 65-page lawsuit, filed at a New York federal court on Tuesday (02.10.07), says the book “exploits” Smith’s memory by making “false allegations” about Stern and Birkhead – the father of Smith’s baby daughter Dannielynn – having a homosexual relationship and plotting to get the late Playboy Playmate’s estate.
Among the disputed accusations are claims Stern was involved in criminal lewd acts, homosexual acts, illegal possession and use of cocaine, conspiring to commit murder and kidnapping for ransom.
Stern’s lawyer Lin Wood said: “This book purports to be a ‘tell-all’ book, but it can only be accurately described as a ‘tell-all-lies’ book. And I am sure Howard and the estate and everyone else involved is going to sue her, too. This is just nonsense – none of it is true.”
Cosby, a former MSNBC correspondent, claims there is a sex tape of Stern and Birkhead engaged in a sexual act.
She also suggests Stern handed over custody of 13-month-old Dannielynn in exchange for becoming post executor of Smith’s will.
Birkhead’s lawyer, Michael Trope, said it was only a “matter of time” before his client filed his own lawsuit against Cosby.
