Does Howard K. Stern ever find time to sleep? The latest on his laundry list of “to do” items is a continuation of a September 2008 defamation suit against his deceased’s girlfriend’s (Anna Nicole Smith) daughter’s (Dannielynn) daddy’s (Larry Birkhead) former bodyguard (Mark Speer). (Yes, feel free to take a re-read).
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mary H. Strobel ruled that a jury could find Speer and actress Jackie Hatten made incriminating statements about him in Rita Cosby’s tell-all 2007 book, Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith’s Death. Hatten, the sister of Mark Hatten, a former boyfriend of Smith, has not responded to the complaint and no formal judgment has yet been signed.
Stern, 40, asserts the allegations in the book are patently false and emphatically stated, “I never facilitated or promoted any type of drug use, prescription or otherwise. Anna was an intelligent, strong-willed individual who made her own decisions and was not controlled by anyone or anything.”
Cosby is being sued separately for publishing allegations that Stern and Birkhead were gay lovers.
Speer’s lawyer, Mark Kane, said Stern’s lawsuit would have a negative impact on both his client and on Cosby if it moves forward, and that he may appeal the judge’s ruling. Kane also claimed eventual victory because material facts supporting Speer’s case have not yet been brought to the court’s attention.
One of Stern’s many lawyers, David N. Tarlow, said he was pleased with the decision and argued that much of what Speer said about Stern was based on what he claimed to have overheard from Birkhead. But Birkhead has denied making the remarks and also says Speer was not present when the former bodyguard claims to have overheard them, Tarlow said.
Judge Strobel set a trial date for next Jan. 25th, but both sides have agreed to see if they can resolve the case with the help of a court mediation team.
April 17th, 2009
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