Press Releases
A REPRESENTATIVE FOR ATTORNEY DEBRA OPRI RESPONDS TO LARRY BIRKHEAD'S STATEMENT TO TMZ.COM
This statement on behalf of Debra Opri is to clarify misleading statements made by Mr. Birkhead directly to the press (tmz.com) regarding his attorney-client relationship with Debra Opri. By making this statement, Mr. Birkhead has waived his attorney client privilege.
Media reports that Ms. Opri is suing Larry Birkhead are incorrect. Pursuant to a legal retainer and media agreement signed by Mr. Birkhead in September, 2006, Mr. Birkhead was required to participate in private arbitration. He failed to do so. The arbitrator instructed Ms. Opri to secure a court order via a petition for arbitration because Mr. Birkhead was continuing to ignore all requests to resolve this matter. Mr. Birkhead's statements are not correct that he notified anyone of his unavailability. He simply refused to participate at any level.
In September 2006, Mr. Birkhead signed a legal retainer and a media agreement with Ms. Opri for these purposes:
1) To fight for custody and legally prove the baby born to Anna Nicole Smith (Dannielynn) was in fact Mr. Birkhead's daughter.
2) To place Mr. Birkhead in a favorable light for a future career in the media.
3) To establish him as a celebrity so that his photos would have greater worth.
4) To find the funds to do all of the above.
Ms. Opri has completed all the above including securing a media deal in March of 2007 for Mr. Birkhead worth over 1 million dollars. She also advanced thousands of dollars of her own funds to continue the fight which have also gone unpaid.
Ms. Opri sought and found, instructed and directed, all legal counsel in this case both in Florida and The Bahamas, including the DNA lab that confirmed Birkhead's paternity to Dannielynn. All attorneys operated under her direction and supervision until she withdrew. Over the past two months Mr. Birkhead was asked to sit down and to discuss a fair and amicable resolution of all matters. He has refused.
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