Celebrity Justice
Opri Fires Back

Posted Apr 2nd 2007 2:47PM by TMZ Staff

Debra OpriDebra Opri has just issued the following statement regarding the legal fees she charged Larry Birkhead:

"One can only imagine from whom and for what purposes these stories were started. I cannot comment on unauthenticated documents which were disseminated to the media under suspicious circumstances, and which are covered by the attorney-client privilege. I can assure you, however, that all of the fees and expenses incurred on behalf of Mr. Birkhead were reasonable, necessary, and appropriate, given the complexity and magnitude of this very high profile case that was litigated in two different states and a foreign country. Out of respect for Mr. Birkhead, I cannot comment further at this time."

Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Anna Nicole Smith


Tags: DEBRA OPRI, DebraOpri

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1. I support you Larry
do what you have to do for your daughter

Posted at 2:50PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by what ashame

2. Translation: I don't overbill my clients any more than any other lawyer.

Posted at 2:50PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by La Reina

3. She can't comment because there is little to say when you are caught with your hand in the till.

Posted at 2:51PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by Maureen

4. I can't believe she sleeps well at night.

Posted at 2:51PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by samik

5. translation
I took advantage of the situation and went shopping and ate at expensvie restaurants
and in some ways I am no better the HK$.

Posted at 2:52PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by what ashame

6. BUSTED!!!!

Posted at 2:53PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by me me me

7. respect?????? come on!

Posted at 2:53PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by B.

8. Translation:
All this negative publicity is killing me and my future business. I need to put some spin on this now....Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

Posted at 2:54PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by Obsessed

9. Bull crap... she knows she is greedy and wrong and caught by the entire public now and she does not know what to do or say to cover her over charging arrrrrrrssssss if u ask me.... go Larry GO Larry... U go GUY Go get your baby....... oh she wants to get paid to go to a funeral and out to eat numerous expensive meals etc etc.. she is a rip off....

Posted at 2:55PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by SOFL

10. Like I said earlier, "given the complexity and magnitude of this very high profile case that was litigated in two different states and a foreign country, Mr Birkhead should invoice me at a rate of $6000 an hour, $100 a minute, for all the network and cable prime time publicity that I was so fortunate to garner". That is such bargain. Any company, firm or individual would take that deal all day long. It's safe to say that network airtime in prime time is way more expensive than $100 a minute.

Posted at 2:56PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by mowglidude

11. DEBRA-
I work with a well-known defense attorney & YOU are WAY out of line!! You just added more fuel to the fire about attorneys with you ridiculous over-billing!! I'm embarrassed for you!

Posted at 2:56PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by Tami

12. Geeze, she is one fugly lookin bitch.
She's a lawyer.
She's a liar.
She's a lawyer.

That's all folks.

Posted at 2:57PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by swhite

13. Also, she should quit while she's ahead and make a deal with Larry that makes her look better. Otherwise, her reputation will continue to erode.

She's in trouble and just keeps making it worse. She's probably used to suing, but that would be a really bad idea on her part. She has a nerve talking about atty.-client privilege after what she said when she was dropped from the case. I guess the privilege only extends to her.

Posted at 2:57PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by Maureen

14. I just read Debra Opri's statement regarding the statement she sent to Larry Birkhead. She states that since this was a high profile case in 2 states and 1 foreign country, the expenses incurred were applicable. This is not an exact quote but I have to beg to differ with Ms. Opri, reasonable is not charging for her husband's dry cleaning or dinners in which Larry was not in attendance. Shame on you Debra. Whether this was a high profile case or not, your charges are out of this world. And, the biggest problem I have is that you didn't stick it out to the very end. So you didn't do your job. Larry's atty in the Bahama's finished the job for you but even now, the paternity suit is not settled.

Posted at 2:58PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by Linda

15. OPRI could have been on top of the world! But first, her BIG MOUTH and now her greed, have brought her down.

Posted at 2:59PM on Apr 2nd 2007 by Jenny Justice

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