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Posted on 04/07/2007 3:14:35 PM PDT by mom4kittys
OH that is SCARY!!!
Statement of L. Lin Wood Regarding Defamation Suit Filed Against John O’Quinn
ATLANTA, April 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ —
A lawsuit for defamation
was filed today on behalf of Howard K. Stern against John O’Quinn, the
attorney for Virgie Arthur, Anna Nicole Smith’s mother. The lawsuit seeks
compensatory and punitive damages for slander and invasion of privacy. The
lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of Florida (West Palm Beach Division) and has been denominated
Civil Action No. 07-60534.
The lawsuit focuses on Mr. O’Quinn’s recent appearances on a number of
national television shows in which he has made public accusations of murder
and other misconduct against Mr. Stern in connection with the Anna Nicole
Smith case, including his accusations in a February 21, 2007 interview of
Mr. O’Quinn from Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the Fox News show, On the
Record with Greta Van Susteren. As stated in the complaint filed today, Mr.
O’Quinn’s accusations against Mr. Stern are false and Mr. Stern seeks to
hold him accountable through the civil justice system.
The country is presently engaged in a debate over the proper use of
public airwaves by members of the broadcast media. In addition to the
issues being presently debated, the filing of this lawsuit should serve as
a reminder that the public airwaves should never be used to make false
accusations of murder against a citizen who has not been charged with any
crime. The public airwaves should never be used to promote personal agendas
or vendettas. And the national television networks should never provide
airtime to facilitate the broadcast of such statements to enhance the
networks’ desire for higher ratings and greater profits from sensational,
false accusations in a high profile case. While we all cherish the First
Amendment right of free speech, there is no value in false, accusatory
speech.
L. Lin Wood is a partner at Powell Goldstein LLP in Atlanta, Georgia.
M. Krista Barth of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida serves as co-counsel with
Powell Goldstein in this litigation.
SOURCE Powell Goldstein LLP
In other words, Howard is not going to be part of any agreement between them and they don't need his approval or disapproval and or signature.
Apparently, Larry and Virgie meeting like this is something new because they got the approval of the court to do it.
Whatever Howard did in that court, it didn't break up Virgie and Larry like he planned.
Dannielynn Custody On Hold Amid Settlement Talks
by Gina Serpe
Fri, 13 Apr 2007 02:01:14 PM PDT
Friday the 13th may not have brought bad luck to Larry Birkhead, but it didn’t bring him good luck either.
Despite expectations that Birkhead would leave a closed-door hearing in the Bahamas Friday with sole custody of seven-month-old daughter Dannielynn, the court adjourned for the day without rendering a decision.
Birkhead scored a major victory in court Tuesday, when DNA tests confirmed he, not Howard K. Stern, was the biological father of Anna Nicole Smith’s much-disputed daughter. Since then, the Kentucky-born photographer has been attempting to work out a private custody arrangement with Smith’s mother, Virgie Arthur. The judge decided to give Birkhead and Arthur time to work out a compromise before handing down a ruling.
The girl cannot be taken out of the Bahamas until the matter is resolved.
Birkhead, Stern and Arthur all appeared for Friday’s brief hearing at the Nassau courthouse. The proceedings began at 2:30 p.m. local time and lasted just over a half-hour before Stern emerged.
“If it were up to me, the formal order in terms of giving Larry full custody would have occurred today,” Stern said. “At least informally, the transition period has already begun.”
Stern added that Birkhead, who left the courthouse without speaking to the press, has visited Dannielynn throughout the week, “changing diapers, feeding her, playing with her...he’s doing a great job.” The child has been with Stern, who had been listed on the birth certificate as the father, since Smith’s Feb. 8 death.
While Stern did not give a reason as to the adjournment, he said that “people can draw their own conclusions.”
John O’Quinn, Arthur’s lawyer, was next to exit the courthouse. He said that his client and Birkhead would meet privately Saturday with “no lawyers, no press, nothing but two human beings to figure out what’s in the best interest of the child.”
Birkhead, who announced Wednesday that he was not willing to split or in any way share custody of the child, initially met with Arthur, and their respective attorneys, on Thursday evening at her request.
A week ago, before the paternity issue was settled, Arthur mounted her own seemingly long-shot bid for legal custody of Dannielynn as the girl’s last remaining blood relative. After Tuesday’s paternity announcement, Arthur said she was relieved at the outcome and referred to Birkhead as “a good guy,” but refused to discuss her pending motion.
Thursday’s meeting focused on the legal maneuvering and potential visitation rights.
“I’d just like to listen I guess,” Birkhead told Access Hollywood prior to the get-together. “I don’t know what anybody wants to say to me. I don’t know really what there is to talk about, but I’m glad to sit down and have a discussion.”
As for splitting custody with Arthur, Birkhead said, “I’ve never even heard of that. Custody for a grandparent? I’ve never heard that when there is a fit parent that’s totally capable. I mean, it’s like if that is what her attorneys are saying is her position then maybe my parents need to come for custody, too. It just doesn’t make sense.”
Surprisingly, Stern sees it that way, too. After coming out on the losing end of Tuesday’s paternity ruling, Smith’s lawyer/companion told reporters that he would do “whatever I can to make sure he gets sole custody.”
While Stern is formally in charge of Smith’s estate, it’s Dannielynn who will likely receive any inheritance that Smith had coming from her marriage to oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II, whose fortune topped $500 million.
Not that Birkhead is relying on that money to keep Dannielynn in diapers.
He told Access Hollywood that he was toying with the idea of releasing an official photo of him and his daughter to head off the paparazzi headhunting that would inevitably follow his trip back to the U.S. Birkhead said that any proceeds from the photo would go into a trust for Dannielynn.
Fox News aslo reported that Birkhead has inked signed a “high six-figure deal” with NBC-owned Bravo for exclusive access to his baby-daddy saga. The cable news net reported that NBC would simply repurpose Birkhead’s exclusives with Access for use on their artsy cable offshoot. NBC, however, has denied the report.
In any event, Birkhead and Stern say they planned to transition the girl between the two men over the course of the next two to four weeks.
http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=04e99388-1f76-429b-9a80-1662d8080389
Stupid of HKS.
I agree! I did not hear from ANY of the Birkheads an intention to shut her out as a grandmother. Judy specifically stated how important family is to them when asked about Virgie.
Virgie, by extending the HKS custody, is not acting in DL’s best interests. DELAY has been his best friend throughout.
See post #4562. Statement of L. Lin Wood Regarding Defamation Suit Filed Against John O’Quinn
Maybe, they probably figured they had to step in so that HKS would keep his nose out. Hopefully they make a decison. It’s just a shame it is another week that Larry and Dannielynn have to have their every moved watched by HKS.
I have not followed the case today, but could it be that Virgie wants to make sure HKS gets no say in the care of the baby? There was no reason to have included HKS in todays hearings as far as I can see.
HKS seems to have a problem with everything. Look at Daniel’s inquest, he has appealed this and that. Now he has his 2cents in the custody. I guess i can see why the court had to set up the meeting between Larry and Virgie.
“I hope he’s not eating or drinking anything! I am NOT joking.I hope he’s not eating or drinking anything! I am NOT joking.”
Let’s face it, if something happens to Larry, Virgie gets Dannielynn, and HKS knows this. It’s in his best interest to do everything he can now for Larry.
Well, isn’t Lin stupid.
Bring on the depositions, you dimbulb.
I also like how HKS talks about Larry bonding, he is feeding her and changing diapers and seems to be doing a good job...What does HKS know about changing diapers, how many nannies does that child have? IMO he “hammed” it up for the camera’s, but i just wonder how much he really takes care of that child?!?!?!?
When I heard OQ make that statement, I wondered if this is exactly what he was hoping. Who knows what he has on HKS.
It makes me suspicious that they are about to reopen the Florida case.
This probably has some bearing on Danny's inquest being moved way into May. and goes "to the prejudice of the jurors" at the inquest...because that might be the stimulous to re-open the Florida Case.
Howard wants that Inquest NOT TO BE BROADCAST and with no jury. The Seidlin Court broadcast killed him.
Howard likes everything to be a secret...the baby's father, the coming SECRET wedding, her monetary holdings, her physical holdings....but the big friggin' secret was KE and her medicine "motherlode".
Why would that be a given? Dannielynn has TWO sets of grandparents, and though Larry’s parents are divorced, his family )by me being on the outside looking in) appears much more functional.
Precisely.
“Then why would a grandmother want custody of a grandchild when there is a sweet, capable father?”
She doesn’t want custody....her strategy is to ask for custody. It gives her leverage until she’s certain she’s going to at least get visitation!!!
HKS is playing a different strategy. IMO, he’s basically blackmailing LB....Publicly he says he won’t fight Larry...Privately...he’s telling LB if he gives Virgie visitation, he WILL fight him for custody.
And as long as there is a chance that HKS will fight LB for custody, then Vergie MUST continue to keep her dog in the fight and ask for custody too! Yes, it appears to be she’s against Larry, but it’s really HKS she’s up against!
If the courts had given Virgie temporary guardianship today...HKS’s strategy against both LB and VA would have been NEUTRALIZED and IMO, that’s what they should have done.
so Larry...go out to eat all your meals and bring in your own drinks while you are there and keep an eye on HOWIE
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