February 11, 2012

Arthur v. TMZ.com (state)

NOTE: The information and commentary contained in this database entry are based on court filings and other informational sources that may contain unproven allegations made by the parties. The truthfulness and accuracy of such information is likely to be in dispute. Information contained in this entry is current as of the last event mentioned in the "Description" section below; additional proceedings might have taken place in this matter since this event.

Posted September 21st, 2008 by CMLP Staff

Summary

Threat Type: Lawsuit	Date: 04/21/2008
Status: Pending	Location: Texas
Disposition: Material Removed	Verdict/Settlement Amount: n/a
Legal Claims: Defamation
Virgie Arthur, the mother of deceased celebrity Anna Nicole Smith, filed a defamation suit against a number of bloggers and others in Texas state court, alleging that the defendants conspired to ruin her reputation through defamatory e-mails, blog and website postings, and... read full description

Parties

Party Issuing Legal Threat:	Party Receiving Legal Threat:
Virgie Arthur	Howard K. Stern, Bonnie Stern; Lyndal Harrington; Art Harris; Nelda Turner; Teresa Stephens; Harvey Levin; TMZ Productions Inc.
Type of Party:	Type of Party:
Individual	Individual; Organization
Location of Party:	Location of Party:
Texas	California; Texas; Georgia
Legal Counsel:	Legal Counsel:
Neil C McCabe (The O'Quinn Law Firm)	William W. Ogden (for Harington & Turner); Art Harris (pro se); Richard Wolf Hess (for Levin And TMZ); Howard K Stern (pro se); Teresa Stephens (pro se)

Description

Virgie Arthur, the mother of deceased celebrity Anna Nicole Smith, filed a defamation suit against a number of bloggers and others in Texas state court, alleging that the defendants conspired to ruin her reputation through defamatory e-mails, blog and website postings, and other activities.

Among the defendants are gossip site TMZ.com and TMZ.com editor Harvey Levin, who allegedly posted a defamatory article entitled "Virgie has son with her stepbrother" (now removed). Arthur also claims that defendant Art Harris allegedly made defamatory postings on his blog, The Bald Truth.

Aside from these two articles, Arthur's complaint does not delineate each defendants' allegedly defamatory statements. Instead, Arthur accuses the "cabal" as a whole of publishing defamatory articles and otherwise engaging in a general conspiracy to defame her.

Arthur also sought to add many of these same defendants to her related federal lawsuit, but that court denied her motion. See Arthur v. TMZ.com (federal) for more information. Arthur also has subpoenaed defendant Harrington in the federal case. See Arthur v. Harrington.

Update:

5/22/09 - Lyndal Harrington was held in civil contempt and sent to jail for not turning over a computer containing information subpoenaed by Smith.

Trial set for 06/01/2009.

Arthur V Turner?????

Submitted by para (not verified) on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 10:58.

Woww Mrs.Arthur is feeling paranoia .She need a psyc.help insted of a lawsuit, to see some "defamation or complicity" in her story!
I knew Mrs.Arthur on tele. when she accused and was talking to her daughter,Anna Nicole Smith.Then I saw Mrs.Arthur on Florida,where her attitude was really unbelivable,and unrespectful for her daghter.

Then I fallow Mrs.Arthur to Bahamas,for funeral,of our beloved Anna Nicole.
Her actions on every apparence prouved to me that this woman(Arthur),made her own reputation.A reputation of a cold and happy mother, who just lost her daughter and grandson.For the ordinary persons ,she was acting like she just win a free trip to Bahamas and Florida.
I personally, never ever see a grandmother, who love her daugther and grandson act like that.Don't really see where Mrs.Arthur,who made her own reputation,by her own actions,can see defamation or conspiration to ruin her reputation.

VA/against the Word /bloggers and tmz

Submitted by just idea (not verified) on Tue, 03/03/2009 - 11:58.

It is in my idea,this case in state court will be redirect to federal court, regarding possible fraud in federal court.
Some in Texas should look at this lawsuit and see how O'quinn firm is working in this matter.
It come important when it is regarding the LAW.

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Arthur v. TMZ.com (state)

Arthur V Turner?????

VA/against the Word /bloggers and tmz

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Arthur v. TMZ.com (state)

Arthur V Turner?????

VA/against the Word /bloggers and tmz

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