Celebrity Justice
Birkhead to Rita -- Say That and I'll Sue You

Larry Birkhead tells TMZ he will go after Rita Cosby with a vengeance if the rumors about her upcoming book are true.

Cosby, formerly an anchor with MSNBC, has written what she says is a tell-all on the death of Anna Nicole Smith and the subsequent custody battle over Dannielynn.

Rumors are swirling about the book, Blond Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith's Death, due out next week. TMZ has heard Cosby will say she has documents that prove Larry Birkhead essentially bought the baby from Howard K. Stern. The publisher is mum until next Tuesday.

Today, Birkhead told TMZ, "If that's what's in her book, then she'll be sued. And on top of that, there will be other individuals sued over confidential information in my custody case."

Birkhead has said that Cosby is the one who hooked him up with his former lawyer, Debra Opri. In Birkhead's lawsuit against Opri over fees, he says Opri told him, "she had supplied the reporter with confidential information as 'payback' for the client referral." Opri could not be reached for comment.

Birkhead tells us that Cosby never once came to him to ask for his comments re the book.

OK! magazine will preview the tome next week. Birkhead says, "OK! is on notice those allegations are false, and if they print them as truth, they will be sued as well." Birkhead adds, "I'll go after any media outlet that prints those lies from that book."

Birkhead seems serious. He's already lawyered up.



Reader Comments

(Page 7 of 69) Previous 15 Comments | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

91. Who gives a crap???????

Posted at 2:33PM on Aug 31st 2007 by the Count

92.

The situation has Larry Birkhead — the photographer who says that he, not Stern, is the baby’s father — “outraged” and “disgusted.”

“I’m outraged that they’re trying to pimp my daughter,” Birkhead tells The Scoop. “If Anna wants to sell pictures of herself, that’s one thing, but to conveniently put my daughter in every single photo to up the ante is sick and disgusting


Posted at 2:32PM on Aug 31st 2007 by Time WILL Tell

93. So, Larry Birkhead's 'all lawyered up', that's nothing new!

What's all this commotion over rumours? A reaction like that to rumours, Larry Birkhead, spells 'guilt written all over you'. And, who's the other source you're going after? DEBRA OPRI. Well, that's nothing new either! We've heard it all before!

You're in WAY OVER YOUR HEAD!!! Best be headed back to Kentucky for good!

You are ONE BIG FOOL!!!

Howard K. $tern never liked the popularity you enjoyed here in the Bahamas! They 'booed' him & clapped for you, Howard K. $tern took care of that popularity for you too, Larry. Your popularity has evaporated thanks to your association with Howard K. $tern.

BACK ROOM DEAL - PLAIN & SIMPLE!!! IT'S OBVIOUS!!!

Posted at 2:33PM on Aug 31st 2007 by Bahama Nana

94. Good for Birkhead, what a gold diggin bag. Create your own saga, lady!!! This story belongs to her and her Fathers, no one else.

Posted at 3:52PM on Aug 31st 2007 by Tik

95.
47. I don't blame him for suing people. Unfortunately, that is the way the legal system works and they only way to STOP people from spreading lies NONSTOP. Hit them where it hurts. In the pockets!

He can obtain an injunction, but the book will already be shipped around, so the harm will be done.

He has so many legal battles in the past year and NONE of them were his fault. He is protecting Anna, Dannielynn and himself from money hungry media vultures that will say anything for a piece of the pie.

SUE THEM LARRY!

Posted at 1:55PM on Aug 31st 2007 by butterfly


Anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) laws can be applied in an attempt to curb alleged abuses of the legal system by individuals or corporations who utilize the courts as a weapon to retaliate against whistle blowers, victims, or to silence another's speech. RICO could be alleged if it can be shown that lawyers and/or their clients conspired and collaborated to concoct fictitious legal complaints solely in retribution and retaliation for themselves having been brought before the courts.

Posted at 2:34PM on Aug 31st 2007 by SLAPP! SLAPP! SLAPP!

96. My pet name for Larry was "the one inch wonder". He used to make me wear a Sylvester Stallone mask and he always like to do it from behind. I never understood that.

Posted at 2:35PM on Aug 31st 2007 by Larry's Ex

97. The Anna Nicole soap opera lives on!
Money is the root of all evil!

Posted at 2:35PM on Aug 31st 2007 by CJ

98. Some thoughts:

ANS and HKS appeared together on LKL years ago. She told Larry King, quite bluntly, that she wanted another baby and was going to have as many one-night stands as necessary to conceive. ANS made it very clear that the man with whom she became pregnant was not going to have any part of her baby's life.

HKS fought LB to the bitter end regarding DL's parentage, but when the DNA became known, he remarkably placed animosity aside and supported LB. He and LB have had a cordial relationship ever since to secure the financial future, security and well-being of the girl they both love.

HKS and LB united to protect DL from VA, whom ANS despised, and whose former Lawyer was trying to gain control of DL's major inheritance for himself. Cynics call this a "backroom deal" but I call it common sense. Most Americans have experienced the 'estranged' relatives coming out of the woodwork when someone dies, demanding part of the deceased's Estate.

Opri tried to have LB sign contracts that would have taken the bulk of his money from every media deal he had, in perpetuity, depriving DL of financial security. Opri was silenced and marginalized and her Law License is in jeopardy. Opri also had a 'relationship' with Rita Cosby that was pivotal to Opri's media-whoring activities.

O'Quinn slandered HKS and now claims to forget everything that ever happened in FL. O'Quinn is only certain now that people like Don Clark, his investigator, never worked for him personally, but for his 'Law Firm'. O'Quinn can only settle with HKS because no Jury will believe the stupid/forgetful/other guy did it, defense.

HKS and LB are unique. Two former adversaries now united for the benefit of a baby. Such a story has never been publicized before. So, in the midst of such an uplifting story we see bloggers with massive conspiracy theories, allegations of a gay relationship between HKS and LB and nasty comments like 'pimping a baby'.

Rita Cosby's book will say the same as I, but in a negative light. She expected to be the Queen Bee of the media, reporting the biggest news story in a decade (with confidential information from Opri), but, instead, was shown the door by HKS himself. She's now unemployable on TV.

Cosby will be safe from a lawsuit if she uses language like "it was being said" or "people were speculating" rather than appearing to state facts. We already know Opri was feeding her confidential Attorney-Client information from the time Cosby first interviewed LB.

OK! Magazine has made a major error in smearing LB, whom the vast majority of Americans hold in high regard as the loving Father of DL. OK! never had an exclusive contract with LB and it needs to get over itself.

Posted at 2:39PM on Aug 31st 2007 by Only swim in the Ocean

99. "the only people who cares about the Birkhead story is TMZ and bunch of fat lonely women living in the heartland of america" this is posted by BORING...

Well, I guess you're one of them "Boring" because you had to take the time to read over and make your post a comment about it...

Posted at 3:37PM on Aug 31st 2007 by Junieya

100. OK for hks to SELL the funeral to ET, but not OK for Rita Cosby to simply ATTEND the funeral as Virgie's guest! Was hks angry because RC did not pay to get into the services? Geez! Go Rita!

Posted at 2:43PM on Aug 31st 2007 by OK as long as you say it's OK

101. 98. The Anna Nicole soap opera lives on!
Money is the root of all evil!

Posted at 2:35PM on Aug 31st 2007 by CJ


I don't know ... I think SEX ranks right up there

Posted at 2:44PM on Aug 31st 2007 by media darlin'

102. I can't decide which one of them I hate more... Rita or Larry. I wasn't aware that Rita was fired from CNN and MSNBC 'cuz I don't watch her on TV (that VOICE!) -- can somebody fill me in on that???

LOL to the poster who said Rita Cosby should be sued for impersonating a woman!

Posted at 2:44PM on Aug 31st 2007 by ...

103. Larrys ex seems a bit JEALOUS
Don't be so full of hate, its bad for your health

Posted at 2:45PM on Aug 31st 2007 by peacenlove

104. Is there a video of larry, anna and uncle howie adding their finger prints to the baby book---------preparing for another reality show?

Posted at 2:46PM on Aug 31st 2007 by more reality

105.
Anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) laws can be applied in an attempt to curb alleged abuses of the legal system by individuals or corporations who utilize the courts as a weapon to retaliate against whistle blowers, victims, or to silence another's speech. RICO could be alleged if it can be shown that lawyers and/or their clients conspired and collaborated to concoct fictitious legal complaints solely in retribution and retaliation for themselves having been brought before the courts.

101. I hope he sues the crap out of Rita and Jackie Hatten. I also hope that by the time he is through with Opri she gets disbarred and everyone can see what an incompetent attorney she is. I can't imagine anyone wanting to hire her as she could not ever be trusted to keep their info or cases confidential. I know I would never hire her and this will be a big kick in the ass for her.

Posted at 2:40PM on Aug 31st 2007 by ritas book is hearsay

Anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation) laws can be applied in an attempt to curb alleged abuses of the legal system by individuals or corporations who utilize the courts as a weapon to retaliate against whistle blowers, victims, or to silence another's speech. RICO could be alleged if it can be shown that lawyers and/or their clients conspired and collaborated to concoct fictitious legal complaints solely in retribution and retaliation for themselves having been brought before the courts.


Posted at 2:55PM on Aug 31st 2007 by SLAPP! SLAPP! SLAPP!

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