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Virgie Arthur said in a lawsuit filed in Texas state court
on Monday that Smith's lawyer and companion Howard K. Stern and
others spread a false story that she was the mother of her
stepbrother's child in a bid to ruin her reputation. "Their goal was simple and straightforward -- to 'destroy'
anyone that was opposed to Howard K. Stern or his interest,"
the lawsuit said. At issue is a story that appeared on TMZ.com titled "Virgie
Has Son With Step-Brother," according to court papers. Harvey Levin, who is managing editor of TMZ, is also named
in the lawsuit. Representatives for Stern and TMZ were not
immediately available to comment on the allegations. Anna Nicole Smith died at age 39 of an accidental
prescription drug overdose in Florida in February 2007. The death of the former pin-up model and reality television
star sparked a legal battle between Arthur and Smith's
companions, including Stern and photographer Larry Birkhead,
both over her remains and custody of her infant daughter,
Dannielynn. Arthur, who lives in Texas, lost those court fights. Birkhead, following tests that showed he was her father,
was awarded custody of Dannielynn, who as Smith's sole heir
could inherit a multimillion-dollar fortune. That depends on the outcome of a continuing legal battle
over the will of oil tycooon Howard Marshall. Smith married
Marshall when she was 26 and he was 89, and he died 14 months
later with a fortune estimated at $1.6 billion dollars. (Reporting by Anna Driver in Houston) |
The mother of 
