Torts
Slander
Libel
Virgie Arthur v. Howard K. Stern, CBS Studios Inc., KPRC Houston
Published: Jun. 11, 2011 | Result Date: Aug. 2, 2010 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 4:2007-cv-03742-LHR Summary Judgment – Defense
Court
USDC Texas
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
L. Lin Wood
(L. Lin Wood PC)
Linda M. Burrow
(Caldwell Leslie & Proctor PC)
Facts
Virgie Arthur, the mother of the deceased model/actress Anna Nicole Smith, filed a lawsuit against TMZ for defamation, in relation to a story on the TMZ website.
Contentions
PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff claimed that the story was defamatory because it included statements that Arthur had a sexual relationship with her stepbrother that produced a child.
DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
Defendant argued that there was substantial truth to the statements, plaintiff was a public figure, and there was no actual malice.
Result
The court granted defendant's motion for summary judgment.
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