Howard K. Stern files slander suit against Virgie Arthur's attorney

Howard K. Stern went to federal court in Florida Friday, charging he was defamed by the attorney for the mother of his late companion, Anna Nicole Smith.

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The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach, Fla., seeks compensatory and punitive damages for slander and invasion of privacy, Stern's attorney, L. Lin Wood said in a news release. The lawsuit claims John O'Quinn, representing Virgie Arthur, made accusations of murder and other misconduct about Stern on national television shows.

"As stated in the complaint filed today, Mr. O'Quinn's accusations against Mr. Stern are false and Mr. Stern seeks to hold him accountable ...," Wood said in the statement.

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Wood, noting the public debate about proper use of public airwaves, chastised the national broadcast media by saying the lawsuit "should serve as a reminder that the public airwaves should never be used to make false accusations of murder against a citizen who has not been charged with any crime."

Wood said national television networks should not air sensational, false statements in pursuit of "higher ratings and greater profits."

"While we all cherish the First Amendment right of free speech, there is no value in false, accusatory speech," he said.