All of the characters in that crowd, play by a different set of rules. I realized that I haven't seen James Neavitt in a while, who did the talk show rounds right after her death. I wonder if he's still working for him.
Just getting to my pings now, sorry so late answering - Neavitt was on Nancy Grace's show, hosted by Pat Lalama, last night - some snippets to help us sort out the CA proceedings from today and forward:
[Nancy Grace - 2/20]
LALAMA: Well, while we`re on the subject, because you were in the California court...
NEAVITT: Yes.
LALAMA: ... explain to us -- now, I understand the California judge said, I`m not going to give up the paternity issue. And at the same time, I understand that Larry Birkhead, the former lover, has got a -- served Mr. Stern today in Florida. Explain all that for us today.
NEAVITT: Well, first of all, we were in court today on several issues. One was whether or not the California court would assert jurisdiction over the custody of Dannielynn. And the court for, like, the third or fourth time said, No, it`s not a California issue, it should be dealt with in the Bahamas. And that`s how he ruled on that issue.
The other issue was whether or not there would be any kind of change in the order for paternity testing, and he did not change his order. He basically requested the Florida jurisdiction to allow Larry Birkhead`s expert to go and obtain the DNA that they need to do the testing -- for the DNA testing.
And the third issue that was before the court today was whether or not the court would grant their request that there be contempt against my client for allegedly lying in a declaration, and the court dismissed that contempt.
LALAMA: All right. So basically, where we stand now is that the court said, No, you`re not going to go after Mr. Stern for claiming he`s the father, that just doesn`t hold water, good-bye. Number two, it is Larry Birkhead`s attorney who wants the paternity issues heard in Florida, and that`s sort of still hanging now?
NEAVITT: No.
LALAMA: That`s not been resolved?
NEAVITT: No, the court didn`t get into my client`s involvement in terms of having jurisdiction over...
LALAMA: Well, not in California, but she tried to have him served today in Florida on that matter, in terms of the testing.
NEAVITT: Actually, they sent me the paperwork.
LALAMA: OK.
NEAVITT: I had the paperwork as of Friday, and so I know what it is. They`re attempting to join Howard to the California proceeding.
LALAMA: OK.
NEAVITT: There`s a process to do that, and that process starts, and there`s a hearing on that in, I believe, the first part of March of this year.
.....
I want to go back to James Neavitt who represents Howard K. Stern in the California paternity matter. Just to clarify -- I don`t know if I asked you this clearly enough -- I want the viewers to understand that tomorrow was to be a deadline for DNA sampling, correct me if I`m wrong, from Anna and from the baby. Now that Anna has passed, where do we stand now?
JAMES NEAVITT, HOWARD K. STERN`S ATTORNEY: Well, that`s an interesting question. The court did not change that order; that order still exists. But the question is, you know, who is the order directed to? And the court specifically said that he wasn`t going to answer that question.
LALAMA: So what happens now? So what do we do?
NEAVITT: I mean, somebody has to take the order and enforce it. I assume that Mr. Birkhead`s attorney`s going to go and get the sample of DNA from the coroner which, under this order, they have a right to.
LALAMA: But what about the baby?
NEAVITT: The baby? You know, the baby has to be presented. Howard`s going to follow any court order made. And right now, there`s been no court order made to have him do anything. And that`s one of the issues of why California even -- we can question why California even has jurisdiction of this issue. This matter should be in the Bahamas so that a proper order could be made.
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