Regarding the defamation suit of Howard K. Stern vs John O’Quinn. With an extension of time granted to Texas attorney John O’Quinn re a mediation hearing that was to happen on October 30th, quite a few people following this case were surprised to wake up this morning to see the mediation did indeed go forward on the previously scheduled day and the case was settled!

So far the details are confidential and are not expected to be published. The question around the internet is which party wanted to settle? Readers remember that the lead attorney for John O’Quinn in this case, Richard Klein, was forced to file a motion to reschedule the customary mediation hearing due to a bad case of the flu. Howard K. Stern’s co-counsel, Krista Barth was asked for the courtesy of extending the mediation and she refused, forcing Klein to file the motion. The extension was granted by Magistrate Judge Robin Rosenbaum.

As I was reading the chatter about this case on a Topix forum, I came to a post by an alert blogger stating that Lin Wood’s firm Powell Goldstein LLP who represents Howard K. Stern is being sold. This link to the Atlanta Business Chronicle was given. “Powell Goldstein to Sell to St. Louis Firm”.

Everyone will draw their own conclusions concerning the urgency to settle and the willingness of O’Quinn’s reps to attend a mediation that was already rescheduled by the judge. With the announcement of the sale of  POGO Law under dire circumstances, I know what I think about it. And it makes me wonder who got the short end of the stick in this deal.

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Motion requesting court for relief of obligation to produce defendants financial records and proposed order.

103108_Stern_vs_OQuinn_243-2.pdf
103108_Stern_vs_OQuinn_243.pdf

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The numerous lawsuits arising from the death of Anna Nicole Smith are all moving forward. Notable is that most of these suits have protection orders in place for at least a year and a half so the public will have to wait to see some of the more supposedly sensational material.

In Howard K. Stern vs Rita Cosby and Hatchette books, investigators Don Clark and Wilma Vicedomine gave depositions. Counsel for Stern in the Florida case of Stern vs O’Quinn requested to use not only those depositions but that of California Private Investigator Jack Harding who says he spoke to Anna Nicole’s son Daniel before his death. Harding says Daniel expressed fear and mistrust of Howard K. Stern’s involvement with his mother. When Daniel died unexpected and tragically in the Bahamas visiting his mother and meeting his newborn sister, Harding’s business card was found in Daniel’s pocket.

O’Quinn offered no objection to the use of those depositions which are protected from public view but Georgia defamation attorney Lin Wood for Stern would not allow Stern’s deposition to be used. Counsel for Rita Cosby also allowed her deposition to be used in Stern vs O’Quinn. Don Clark gave a deposition in Stern vs O’Quinn as well for a total of two that will be looked at in the Florida case.

A customary mediation hearing in Stern vs O’Quinn scheduled for today had to be postponed due to Florida attorney Robert Klein suffering from the flu. A call was made to Sterns counsel Lin Wood that went unanswered so Klein asked co-counsel Krista Barth to reschedule the hearing. She refused to reschedule but an emergency motion to Judge Rosenbaum resulted in the hearing being postponed.

103008_Stern_vs_OQuinn_241.pdf

103008_Stern_vs_OQuinn_240.pdf

November 4th at 4:00pm there will be a status conference in the US District Court case in Houston, Texas of Virgie Arthur vs Howard K. Stern and CBS Studios

And last but not least, a little comic relief in Arthur vs Stern and CBS Studios.

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Don Clark

COUP DE GRÂCE:

DON CLARK’S AFFIDAVIT SAYS IT ALL

Summary: Former FBI special agent Don Clark has submitted into the record an affidavit in which he reveals his findings at the conclusion of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Anna Nicole Smith and her son Daniel. He concludes that Howard K. Stern was “intimately involved” in their deaths. His affidavit and its contents are now part of the legal record, which has been the objective of many, including this writer, who have believed Mr. Stern may have been responsible for the deaths of 39-year-old Smith and her 20-year-old son.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Howard K. Stern attorney Lin Wood requested email communications between freelance reporter Dawna Kaufman and O’Quinn investigators Don Clark and Wilma Vicedomine in the Southern District of Florida defamation case of Stern vs O’Quinn. That motion was denied by Magistrate Judge Robin Rosenbaum.

Stern had argued since some investigative work produced by Clark and Vice was not deemed to be work product because it was shared with third parties, a series of emails between Ms. Kaufman and the investigators should also not be covered under the work product doctrine. After an in camera review of the emails, the Magistrate said those materials are protected and will not be made available to Stern.   Read the rest of this entry »

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John O’Quinn requested a protective order today in defense of Howard K. Stern’s defamation lawsuit against him and The O’Quinn Law Firm in the Southern District of Florida Federal Court.

Counsel for Stern demanded practically everything but the kitchen sink in a financial discovery request. The list is long and includes requests for Federal and State tax returns dating back three years, financial records, property records, appraisals, deeds, mortgages, any personal property including cars, jewelry, boats etc.. whether it is still owned by Mr. O’Quinn or not and if so what it sold for. They also ask for any communications that may have occurred between the “Firm” and the IRS. Read the rest of this entry »

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Judge Dimitrouleas ruled today Howard K. Stern’s request for default in his defamation lawsuit against John O’Quinn is denied. The Judge citing case law said default is reserved for only the most “severe sanction” and “appropriate only as a last resort”.

In response to Stern’s accusations of “bad faith” on the part of council for O’Quinn, the Judge mentions that Stern “did not act upon the lack of responsive pleading until the Court prompted him with an Order to Show Cause”.

Plaintiff’s Motion for Default (179): Denied
Plaintiff’s Motion to Strike (183): Denied
Defendant’s Motion for time extension (188) Granted
Defendant’s Motion to Set Aside Clerk’s Default (187):Granted

http://annanicoleandhowardkstern.com/092308_Stern_vs_OQuinn_191.pdf

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Howard K. Stern’s reply “in support of motion for entry of default judgment after assessment of damages by a jury and motion to set aside clerk’s default” was filed today in Stern’s defamation lawsuit against Virgie Arthur attorney John O’Quinn.

I must say in reading so many documents in the lawsuits that have been filed since the death of Anna Nicole Smith, this one is the most passionate to date. By passionate, I mean angry. It’s signed by Lin Wood.

Be sure to read 091908_Stern_vs_OQuinn_189.pdf after reading this reply. You will see that there were major disagreements as to what information was discoverable for Stern and what was privileged. O’Quinn says in 189 that the parties had an informal agreement to defer several depositions until after privilege issues were resolved. Meaning, arguments need to be cleared up concerning Stern asking for information covered by attorney work product doctrine. Those arguments eventually were settled by “in camera” inspections by  Judge Rosenbaum in the case of evidence gathered by investigators Don Clark and Wilma Vicedomine.

Now, Stern says that O’Quinn has fought all depo’s except a couple jurisdictional depos. As an observer, I remember depo’s being scheduled several times and then hearing or seeing nothing, wondered why they were not taken.

Anyway, read this rant about the tardiness of the answer to the lawsuit and see what you think. If the default is granted, Stern wants a jury to determine damages to his reputation 

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Interesting documents from Stern vs O’Quinn the past two days. There was a hearing on Monday September 15th. Lin Wood by letter to the Judge asked that during the hearing, Judge Rosenbaum address Wood’s complaint that some materials that were granted in the Omnibus Order from August 29th 2008 to be turned over to Stern were still being withheld.

In “Order”, numbered 180, it appears that Judge Rosenbaum examined many documents over the course of 2 and 1/2 hour hearing and determined what was missing and needed to be turned over. She also determined a host of other documents that do not need to be produced. O’Quinn has until September 17th which is tomorrow to produce the documents. Read the rest of this entry »

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A 65 page decision was rendered by Magistrate Judge Robin S. Rosenbaum in the Florida Southern District Court lawsuit that Howard K. Stern filed against Houston Texas attorney John O’Quinn and his law firm on various pending motions. The suit was filed by Stern alleging defamation by O’Quinn concerning statements that he made to media outlets after the death of Anna Nicole Smith while in representation of Anna Nicole’s mother Virgie Arthur.

In his statements, Stern alleges that O’Quinn made statements conveying that Stern murdered Anna Nicole Smith and her son Daniel Smith for financial gain. Also alleged was Stern kidnapped Anna Nicole’s infant daughter Dannielynn for the purpose of ransoming her to Larry Birkhead. Read the rest of this entry »

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I just read a great article that highlights why bloggers among others are being sued by Anna Nicole Smith's mother, Virgie Arthur.

The main hench woman is Nelda Rose Turner aka rosespeaks.com, appointed by Howard K. Stern's sister Bonnie Stern and family as legal liaison for Howard K. Stern and his attorney's. She has led the internet blog world attack against anyone perceived to be a threat to Howard K. Stern. Its all there, quoted and dated word for word.

Check out the article  http://the-red-couch.blogspot.com/2008/08/sound-and-fury-of-rose-amounts-to.html

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