By PHATLAW Staff

Debra Opri has filed yet another lawsuit against Larry Birkhead.  In a lawsuit filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, Opri alleges defamation, fraud, and breach of contract. Opri claims that Birkhead slandered her during his recent interview on “Larry King Live.”

The slanderous statements were apparently Birkhead’s claims that Opri leaked confidential information in his paternity case to Rita Cosby who wrote a tell-all about the life and death of Anna Nicole Smith.  Opri goes on to claim that Birkhead’s interview has harmed her ethics and her reputation.  To that end, she is seeking unspecified damages.

PHATLAW is not sure why Opri is alleging breach of contract in this current suit because she already has a suit pending for breach of contract.  Moreover, truth is an absolute defense to slander.  So, if Opri did leak confidential documents, then she is SOOL in proving her slander claims.  Also, fraud is an allegation that has to be pled with specificity; i.e. allegations of time of events, exact actions taken, and exact harm felt.  So, if the allegations of fraud are in any way speculative, look for this count to be dismissed.

PhatThought: Opri v. Birkhead is like the modern day Hatfields and McCoys.  The only difference is that these two are trying to kill each other by inundating the other with lawsuits.

PHATLAW will continue to post the latest developments in this case.

By PHATLAW Staff

 

Debra Opri suffered yet another public slap in the face when a California judge denied her motion to have David Hasselhoff pay her fees for representing his wife (Pamela Bach) in the couple’s divorce.  You may remember Opri as Larry Birkhead’s attorney from the Anna Nicole Smith baby daddy drama.  The California judge denied Opri’s motion because she failed to get Bach’s permission before going after the Hoff to pay her bills.  Bach fired Opri in June and apparently does not believe Opri is entitled to a penny of the $189,000 she is seeking.

This is seriously getting tough to watch.  Does Debra Opri not understand that there is no better way to alienate potential clients then by publicly going after your old clients?  Neither Birkhead nor Bach (two of her most recent high profile cases) would give her the time of day let alone a referral.