Anna-Nicole with Stern ‘The Gossip Is Over’
Updated: 17:55, Monday April 09, 2007
A man claiming to be the father of Anna-Nicole Smith’s daughter has hired a lawyer to end his “trial by media”.
Howard K Stern, the former Playboy Playmate’s partner at the time of her death, feels he has been falsely implicated in her death.
He has now retained Lin Wood to represent him in possible legal action against media companies.
Stern, himself a lawyer, is one of three men claiming paternity of Dannielynn.
Wood has handled a number of high profile cases, including representing the family of slain child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey.
He said: “My representation of Mr Stern will focus on those individuals and entities guilty of making false accusations of criminal conduct against him related to the tragic deaths of Anna Nicole Smith and her son, Daniel.
“Mr Stern is an innocent individual who has never been charged with any crime but finds himself on trial in the media.
“The nightly television, tabloid and Internet trial of Mr Stern in the court of public opinion based on sensational lies, speculation, rumour and gossip is over.”
Stern, who lived in the Bahamas with Anna-Nicole, is listed on Dannielynn’s birth certificate as her father.
But two other men - former boyfriend Larry Birkhead and Frederic Von Anhalt, Zsa Zsa Gabor’s husband - also claim to be the father.
Police medical experts say Anna-Nicole died of an accidental drugs overdose and there was no criminal involvement.
Daniel Smith, her 20-year-old son, died in his mum’s hospital room from a reaction caused by drugs.
However, foul play has not been ruled out.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1259842,00.html
HKS testified before Judge Seidlin that he made about $12,000 per year while a practicing attorney. Since then he has lived off ANS, and lived pretty damned well if you look at where he has lived, and look at the suits and ties he has worn to court and the funeral! If the house in the Bahamas does belong to Ben Thompson (and I think it does), HKS is a squatter. There should be a financial accounting of where all the money he is spending is coming from.
I'll be careful to preface what I say, so LLW can't come after me, but I'm not afraid he will...I'm not important enough.:) I've done nothing to smear HKS' name...he's taken care of that job all by himself. He's responsible for being seen as a leech and squatter. I would like the attorneys for HKS to explain to me why HKS and his co-horts - attorneys included - can say and do as they please, but those who disagree with their actions are being intimidated with threats they will be sued for 'damages'. Sue HKS...he's the one responsible for any damage he may have incurred. I'm not sure these attorneys are not threatening our First Amendment Right to free speech. To have a negative opinion about HKS does not damage him. I know O'Quinn has called him a 'murderer', but he's the only one I know of who has publicly stated that. He may want them to sue him, and then he can demand an investigation of HKS. By the same token, why can't Virgie sue the hell out of HKS, Bonnie Stern, and even Ron Rale...hasn't he demeaned her also?
I have lost respect for LLW for getting involved in this tawdry case! There can be only one reason, and it has to be money, because HKS is his own worst enemy IMO. Wouldn't it be funny if Wood sued some of us; only to discover you can't get blood from a turnip? It would serve some of these money hungry attorneys right if they did lose money on some of these frivolous lawsuits. Has anyone ever turned the table on attorneys and sued them for intimidation and violation of a person's First Amendment Rights?