Howard K. Stern Finally Heading to Trial Over Claims of Gay Affair With Larry Birkhead

After two years, judge clears way for defamation trial between Anna Nicole's former lawyer and telejournalist Rita Cosby

By Megan Masters Aug 13, 2009 12:01 AMTags
Howard SternKevork Djansezian/Getty Images

That's right, folks.

It's been nearly two years since TV journalist Rita Cosby released that steamy Anna Nicole Smith tell-all, and today a judge granted Smith's former paramour, Howard K. Stern, the freedom to move forward with the defamation lawsuit he brought about so long ago.

Let's recap a bit:

More than six months after Smith's passing, Cosby's Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith's Death hit shelves and rocked the world of everyone close to her—mainly former paternity foes, Stern and Anna Nicole ex Larry Birkhead.

The exposé claimed, among countless other things, that the two men engaged in sexual romps and that Stern basically served as a pimp for Smith. Stern fired back first with threats and eventually a full-blown lawsuit. Both men denied any sexual relationship.

Today, U.S. District Judge Denny Chin said Stern's defamation case could move ahead on 11 of the 19 allegedly libelous statements, ruling that Cosby may have trumped up "explosive" claims to sell her book.

Lawyers on both sides were pleased with the outcome of today's hearing, albeit for very different reasons.

Said Cosby lawyer Elizabeth McNamara: "As to the remaining statements, we are fully confident that a jury will dismiss them as well once it hears all the evidence surrounding Howard K. Stern's life with Anna Nicole Smith."

Lin Wood released a statement from Stern's camp: "Defamation cases brought by public figures, such as Mr. Stern, only go to a jury in the most egregious of cases, and Judge Chin has found the case against Cosby to be one of those cases."

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See little Dannielynn in her own gallery, Growing Up in Anna Nicole Smith's Shadow.