Debra Opri is filing a lawsuit against Larry Birkhead for defamation, fraud and breach of contract.
In the lawsuit, filed this afternoon in L.A. County Superior Court, Opri claims Birkhead slandered her during a recent appearance on "Larry King Live," during which Birkhead said Opri had leaked confidential documents in his paternity case to Rita Cosby. Cosby wrote a book about the Anna Nicole saga.
In her lawsuit, Opri claims Birkhead " ... impugned both Opri's ethics and her professional reputation." Opri says Birkhead's allegation that Opri was a source for Cosby's book is untrue -- "Birkhead never witnessed Opri handing confidential and private documents to Rita Cosby because it never occurred." Opri claims she was not a source in the Cosby book.
Opri cites an interview Birkhead gave to TMZ in which he said he fired her. Opri says in her lawsuit that she was the one who withdrew from the case, claiming Birkhead's statements were "planned and malicious."
Opri goes on to allege, "Birkhead personally leaked a confidential document, Opri's attorney billing within hours of receiving it, to TMZ.com."
Opri says she has paid damage control gurus Sitrick and Company around $200,000 to blunt "defamatory attacks made by Birkhead."
Opri also claims Birkhead knew her fee in the paternity case could exceed $500,000 from the get-go. And she claims he screwed her out of a commission she was entitled to receive on a $1.7 million Dannielynn photo deal.
The suit seeks unspecified damages.
In a statement issued this afternoon, Opri said, "My message today to Larry Birkhead is ... I have had enough."
Birkhead could not immediately be reached for comment.
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This is Opri fighting back! I gotta give it to the girl! She will not allow these grifters to get away with it! She is top drawer in my book! Go get em Deb!
I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS DRAMA ALSO
AND CHEEKY......DO YOU GET OUT MUCH??????
Opri, you don't need Larry Birkhead to ruin your reputation. You do a very good job of that on your own!
Get him Deb. Enough is enough. We see his true colors. He fooled us all.
GET HIM DEB. I use to like larry but now i think he is a low life..You will win deb. We are all behind you.
Way to go Debbie. It is time someone puts an end to the Mr. Sadsacks routine.
I'm with BItchie. Ms. Opri does an excellent job of besmirching her own reputation.
SHE WANTED TO SLEEP WITH HIM AND HE TOLD HER NO SO NOW SHES GIVING HIM HELL OVER IT.
she is a crazy nut!!! she is a WANNA BE Gloria Allred without any talent. She talks and talks and talks and never says anything. I am not a Birkhead fan but it is obvious what she does. Billing her clients hundreds of thousands of dollars (Pamela Bach, James Brown, Birkhead) and running her mouth on tv to try and get more clients. Johnnie Cohcran you are not. Go back to school and take a class on public speaking. She is so annoying on Larry King that it is laughable. She tries to get her 2 cents in by interupting him "LARRY, LARRY, LARRY.... then when she does speak she makes no sense. Just because you attach yourself to wealthy people does not mean you can bill them any amount you want. I hope she gets dis barred!!! She is a disgrace to female lawyers!!!
Go Opri and make him accountable for all the slanderous things he has said and done
Sick of this guy pimping out a baby so he can be a wanna be star
I have also had enough of Larry's slander of other people on TV and in the News and on ET. He is dispicible. Mrs. Opri I wish you success in this venture. Someone should also look into what Krista Barth said on Court TV. Ron Rale has also said inflamatory statements of others. Ron Rale no longer works for Trope and Trope. He is now with a new Law firm I wonder why? Larry had said on LKL when interviewed by Harvey that DL had her own Lawyers, At the time Ron Rale worked for Trope and so was this a lie by Larry on National TV?
