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EXCLUSIVE: Birkhead's Ex-Lawyer Accuses Him of Being "Obsessed" With Her
Friday June 8, 2007
Larry Birkhead at the 133rd Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky. May 5, 2007.
Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com
Friday June 8, 2007
Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com
Celebrity attorney Debra Opri is fighting back.
Usmagazine.com has obtained court papers in which Opri details why Larry Birkhead should pay legal fees for her work on his behalf in his paternity case for custody of Dannielynn.
Lawyers for Opri filed the petition on June 6 at the Los Angeles Superior Court. The document responds to a number of claims made by Birkhead in the fraud claim he filed on June 1. Opri's petition claims that Birkhead "was becoming obsessed with" Opri and made extreme demands of her time.
A source close to Opri tells Usmagazine.com exclusively: "Debra is tired of sitting back and letting people damage her reputation. This document shows how she worked for free for six months and advanced over a hundred-thousand dollars on Birkhead's case. She worked her heart out for him and his only thank you was to skip out on the bill."
A rep for Birkhead couldn't be reached for comment.
While Birkhead has contended that Opri offered to take his case pro bono, today's filing states, "Opri explained to Birkhead the terms of the contract...specifically, Birkhead's contract with Opri authorized an hourly charge for her services to be $475."
Further, Opri's lawyers say that "Birkhead was a very demanding and high maintenance client." Also, in regards to the Dannileynn Legal Fund that Birkhead claimed was started by Opri without his permission, today's documents state that Birkhead himself directed Opri's staff to start the fund and then refused to thank donors, saying he did not want to "waste his time or signature."
Opri's filing today additionally outlines alleged bizarre Birkhead behavior. "When Opri took a short weekend trip to Mexico, Birkhead chastised her for not telling him that she was going to Mexico. Opri became disturbed that Birkhead was becoming obsessed with her and that he tracked her regular movements."
Larry Birkhead, 34, was declared the father of the late Anna Nicole Smith's daughter, Dannielynn, in April. On May 1, he brought Dannielynn from the Bahamas, where she had been living with Smith's lawyer and boyfriend, Howard K. Stern, back to the United States. Smith's mother, Virgie Arthur, attempted to block his departure from the Bahamas, and has stated that she will still fight for custody of Dannielynn in the States.
On May 29, Debra Opri filed a complaint against Birkhead, claiming he had not paid legal fees owed to her, and requesting that a judge force arbitration on the matter. On June 1, Birkhead sued Opri for fraud, legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, and conversion.
At that time, Opri told Usmagazine.com: "I'm relieved that he has filed this. It's creative. It's not accurate. He has has the opportunity to continue his malicious slander against me. He has finally filed a pleading to get out of paying a bill. And I believe upon the facts that in the end, I will be completely vindicated of his allegations. It's important for the public to understand that Mr. Birkhead has put this out there in an attempt to discredit me. And now I will have the opportunity to respond."
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Posted by Megan Lynn at 8:22 pm ET
Categories:
52 Comments
10:59 AM
bea Says:
10:56 AM
bea Says:
opri even charged larry for her husband's dry cleaning.her license should be taken away
1:10 AM
Cape Town Gen Says:
Larry Birkhead, in the glare of the world media, kept his cool while awaiting a paternity test, for which he had to sue, and he still kept his level-headedness after it was determined that Dannielynn is his baby. Debra Opri was a good lawyer to him...BUT WHAT KIND OF LAWYER HAS HER OWN PUBLICIST???? Nuff said.
She bled him dry, took away her money "due"...I mean c'mon, LB is a PHOTOGRAPHER. How in the name of all thngs good did Debra Opri even entertain the thought that LB would be able to pay her this ridiculous bill?
HIGH PROFILE CASE, MORE EXPOSURE FOR OPRI, ALL GOOD PUBLICITY, for which she has a PR!??! A lawyer...with her own PR? WTF?
10:16 PM
LHenri Says:
Uh, how much do you wanna bet that the sleazy Debra Opri will knife D. Hasselhoff's ex-wife PB in the back next in her list of pathetic priorities?
Any takers?
I wouldn't put it past Ms. Opri at all.
D. Hasselhoff's divorce was crappy enough without Debra Opri, but now it's a lot crappier with Debra Opri making that into a sleazy media circus.
I wish Debra Opri would be boiled in oil....
9:31 PM
Anonymous Says:
Debra Opri is an ugly loser skank! She is a liar. I am a lawyer and she is a crook, I promise you.
7:46 PM
Anonymous Says:
OKAY NOBODY CARES ABOUT THIS LOSER ANYMORE WE GET IT HE'S THE FATHER BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT MORE INTRESTING STUFF RATHER THAN THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1:14 PM
canadianbeaver Says:
Well 2:03 Moe,
I really don't care what you think. For your information I still work for them. In fact I work for many lawyers. I'm not upset but I didn't realize that I was being graded by my 2nd grade teacher...still think lawyers are sleazy. You're soooo smart, figure out which ones....hmmm, maybe criminal? divorce? I guess I have to spell that out for you too....
12:31 PM
Anonymous Says:
In case anybody cares, Larry Birkhead and Dannielynn will be on Larry King on Monday night...tomorrow. Also Greta's show from a pre-taped interview, but live on Larry King.
2:03 AM
Moe Says:
canadianbeaver says "Lawyers are real sleazy ppl" How else is a person suppose to take it? You did not distinguish which lawyers. You were not very good at making your point and get upset if someone points that out. Don't take it personal. You could have easily put "some" in front of your statement. With an attitude such as yours, the lawyers you worked for probably canned your butt and that is why you call them sleazy now. I know if you had worked for me with that attitude, I would have :).
10:31 PM
Anonymous Says:
She is so overbearing and annoying. Larry Birkhead high maintenence? I just don't buy it. He wanted his daughter and you haven't seen much of him since he got her. He seems to be a regular guy who doesn't crave the spotlight. I haven't seen him sitting with every tabloid magazine giving "exclusives". I'm sure he will do a couple of interviews but he doesn't seem to be trying to cash in everywhere.
10:27 PM
Rachel Says:
Maya...Good point...
9:16 PM
Anonymous Says:
According to TMZ, there was over $850,000 that NBC paid to Birkhead for appearances on various shows - his agent had NBC pay that money directly to Opri, who deposited it in her trust account, then wrote him a check for $200,000. She's still holding the other $650,000 - and that is why (according to TMZ) he fired her. She then came up with a bill that totals VERY close (suspiciously close?) to $650,000 and presents him with the bill. Hmmmm.....
7:39 PM
Rock on Monkey Butt Says:
I think opri should be paid. It's unfair to expect her to work for free. However, her bill was so extravagant it was ridiculous. If she paid out of her own pocket for things related to Larry she should be re-inbursed.
5:48 PM
Maya Says:
I absolutely believe Debra Opri agreed to work pro-bono for him. She is a publicity bleep, as evidenced in the past cases she has done. One evidence that points to that is looking at Larry. Before this whole thing started, you have to look at his income and it would be obvious he couldn't pay that much. She would have known this and not taken his case if this was true. When Larry got tired of it and fired her, she became bitter and is only starting these ridiculous rumours.
5:22 PM
Anonymous Says:
9:46 - I'm not sure what I think about whether Opri is crazy. I know that if she's practicing law according to usual ethical standards, there is a retainer agreement that they both signed, which would spell out what their agreement was regarding fees and costs. I haven't read the document that another poster said was on TMZ (I don't necessarily trust what I read there). Generally, The Smoking Gun site has this kind of document, if it's on the up-and-up.
5:08 PM
LHenri Says:
Is it my imagination or does Debra Opri have more of a swelled head---and exceedingly huge ego!!!!!!!!---than is necessary?
She's not worth much with her arrogant lack of ethics in my opinion; she's all about her own extremely huge ego and little else.
That would explain her having a publicist......
2:36 PM
Anonymous Says:
Kim Lapalme - you seriously, need to off yourself. Thank you very much.
Dilusional much??? Nevermind. Thought so.
Oh and, BTW, nobody wants to read your log winded posts. You suck.
1:48 PM
Kim Lapalme Says:
Firstly, I have seen the agreement that Larry Birkhead signed with Deb Opri, ( it is posted on TMZ ) it clearly outlines the terms, conditions and fees for her services. He agreed to the fees. Deb Opri worked hard for Birkhead...for months, prior to all of this becoming a household word. She brought him into the forefront. And her repays her by cozying up with Howard K Stern and refusing honor the agreement? Seems it is not the first time Birkhead has reneged on a written agreement...starting with the non-diclosures he signed with Anna Nicole Smith. He played the "poor nice guy" in Seidlin's court stating he signed them under duress. What's his exuse this time? In my opinion, Birkhead is a Benedict Arnold, and he is 2 faced. He sided up with Virgie Arthur, used her until he did not need her anymore, and once he got his baby, he ran over to Camp Stern...and firmly pitched his tent on there. What happened to all the derrogatory statements Larry Birkhead made to the media about Howard K. when he was trying to get his daughter? Remember " there is only one way to make a baby" ? " Howard brought the duffel bag full of drugs into the hospital? If he cared so much about Dannilynne, why is he associating with the man who knowingly watched the mother of his child put a fetus at risk with her drug addiction? Although I approve of Birkhead getting his child, I dont approve of the odd behaviour he has exibited toward Virgie and Deb Opri. Actions speak louder than words Larry! Pay up Birkhead and move on. You are heading toward Kato Kaelin street and it will downhill from there!
1:32 PM
Lindad48 Says:
Another individual looking for an easy hand out. The money obtained by Larry is not his; it belongs to his daughter, and there is not much of it really in the grand scale of things.
As far as the obession accusation, get real!
Debra is a sleeze bag ~ no if or and's about it....
1:28 PM
Anonymous Says:
Debi Opri is a crook.
And people saying Larry is gay are just idiots. At least he actually worked as a successful professional photographer. So what if he isn't all bulked out overly manly...blah blah blah. As far as his haircut...he's a young guy who was living in L.A. where many guy's spike their hair.
I can't imagine what life was like for him once he hooked up with Anna Nicole and was constantly entangled in the Howard Stern web. Larry is Dannielynn's daddy, she is a little rich girl or maybe might be, who cares.
I hope they have a wonderful life together. I hope he finds himself a real lady to be Dannielynn's mother. She's going to need a good mom.
1:12 PM
Anonymous 2 Says:
Oh Debi Downer, you say Larry was obsessed with you? Have you looked in a friggin mirror lately?
You are a big money ambulance chaser. You saw a rainbow and wanted the pot of gold. You're a lowlife, no good, a-hole. I hope you get screwed, but not by Larry...BY THE COURT SYSTEM.
12:39 PM
canadianbeaver Says:
I think Larry is a good guy. He didn't have to fight for custody. He could have been a dead beat dad and just left it alone....I know some of you may say that there's a lot of $$ involved but he really wants to be a dad and that's nice to see.
12:29 PM
African girl Says:
Everything that done in the darkness will come to light.
What goes around come around. Howard Sten was made the bad guy(getting paid for interviews), little did we know that Larry and Debri was doing the worst. I bet you more dirty stuff going to come out on Larry. When a woman knows her bady father, and choose someone else to her baby father that for a reason. We will all find out one day.
12:21 PM
canadianbeaver Says:
2:59 moe: I didn't use the word ALL. I used that statement thinking ppl would have the intelligence to understand my point, and you obviously don't. In this case, she, "a" lawyer is sleazy! Get it? Or do I have to break that down for you too.
12:20 PM
Anonymous Says:
I think she went after him to take this case because of the publicity. Isn't she a divorce lawyer? She represented herself as a specialist in the area her needed her in, which would be custody rights in the Bahamas. She's also the attonrey for David Hasselhoff's wife, interesting considering those leaked videos. She did totally look a bit to into Larry during the whole thing, and she was so obviously a gandstanding media monger after the court ruling in FL and the funeral. She's disgusting.
10:47 AM
TexasContessa Says:
anon 8.05, sometimes attorneys work pro bono to for the publicity for themselves as well, as in this case. I don't believe for one second that she told him he would have to pay 475/hr unless she can provide a signed document, by both she and LB agreeing to those terms. if she does that, then i'll believe her.
10:45 AM
TexasContessa Says:
I guess there's a signed legal document somewhere then that he agreed to pay 475/hr...if not, then opri is SOL, and on top of that, a self-absorbed, delusional liar.
10:29 AM
ivy39 Says:
Lol I find the whole situation insane,this so called lawyer is really a trip who in their right mind is going to believe that Larry was obsessed with her she is just trying to justify the fact that she is a sleaze for a lawyer she said she would represent him pro bono she said it a couple of times on the Larry King show,but since he fired her she now wants to claim he owes her,everybody knows how much he loved Anna so why would he want a women like Debra Opri.I can,t believe that people are going around calling Larry gay the ones that are saying he is really have no proof do u live with him to be able to make a claim like that.perhaps ur gay or u like him u urself seem obsessed with Larry.
10:28 AM
someone Says:
If she worked 6 months for free, how did he get a bill for 650k? I think shes a liar, how could he "run out" on the bill, he wasn't hiding from her, she knew where he was, and she had his money!
9:46 AM
Anonymous Says:
So, you're a lawyer, what do you think? Is she nuts? Do you think she stole from him?
