Celebrity Justice
Birkhead To Opri -- B**ch, Don't Spend My Money

TMZ has obtained Larry Birkhead's new legal attack on Debra Opri. This time, he's asking for an injunction, prohibiting his fired lawyer from spending around $600,000 she's holding hostage in her client trust account.

Birkhead made the money after inking a million-dollar deal with Bravo network. Birkhead has sued Opri, alleging she put the money in her trust account without his consent, and then sent him a ginormous bill.

In an interesting turn, the lawyer for IMG, the agency that represents Opri, turned on her. Regan McGorry writes in a declaration that "Debra directed IMG, and in a telephone call directed IMG and Television Network [Bravo] to wire the initial payment of approximately $866,250 into her attorney client trust account. Debra informed me that she had full authority to have this money wired into said trust account." Wrong!

In Birkhead's declaration, he says, "I need protection to make certain that Opri does not and cannot abscond with my money."



Reader Comments

(Page 4 of 46) Previous 15 Comments | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

46. This lady is a lying cheat but he is just as much of a tool. He obviously is a complete moron who doesn't even know how to handle his money.

Way to go, Larry, for cashing in on your kid's mother's death. Class-ay!

Posted at 5:26PM on Jun 19th 2007 by Katie

47. Opri has NOT nor does she intend to touch the money in the client trust account without a decision by the courts. The money is not STOLEN it is FROZEN. It is in a separate account entirely from her firm's accounts or her personal accounts. THIS IS THE LAW. Yes, there is a dispute as to how the money made its way into the account that will be heard in the proper forum. I see nothing in this "new" information but harassment on the part of Birkhead and clarification from IMG (maybe a CYA move, maybe not). Another, "he said, she said".

I cannot fathom why Larry would sign such a comprehensive media agreement with Opri but he did. I'm sure he is regretting his decision and will try anything to get out of it.

Opri did not "leak" Larry's case to the media. There are people who hang out at courthouses ready to pounce on new filings, which are public. Once Larry filed on Opri, she had a right to respond to every matter in the suit. Her response, once filed, was made public by these vultures. Since Larry's accusations were very broad, it opened up many subjects. Attorney-client privilege is VERY complex and whether Opri has breached the privilege will be up to the bar.

As to whether or not Larry's claims against Opri hold up in court is yet to be seen. It does appear that everyone who touched this case seems to get burned eventually. Virgie's right. The money is poison.





Posted at 3:21PM on Jun 20th 2007 by Get your facts right.

48. Now Opri has two big Corp Lawyer firms aginst her. She is to stupid with dishonest pride to just give it up. She has no one to blame but herself for her "loss of reputation"
I never thought she had a great rep to begin with. Haveing celebrity show dogs for clients does not tell me your good..
I have yet to see anything real positive or inovative she has acomplished in a court room. Other then running her mouth on TV, There is not a lot of skill..

Posted at 5:28PM on Jun 19th 2007 by PayUp

49. Pampers, is it? Nice name. LOL

Posted at 5:30PM on Jun 19th 2007 by kilroy

50. lary is sucking stern's di** now and opri is jealous

Posted at 5:30PM on Jun 19th 2007 by BIG MO

51. This attorney needs to be disbarred. How did she become a legal attorney? Where in the world did SHE come from. Go Larry! Sue her!
http://enlightenedangel.bravehost.com

Posted at 5:32PM on Jun 19th 2007 by jProud American Author

52. To the person who wrote comment number 1 and 3 (first) GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are stupid.

Posted at 5:37PM on Jun 19th 2007 by whatup

53. There is no way in hell that baby was not born addicted. Little baby junkie.

Posted at 5:33PM on Jun 19th 2007 by Babbs

54.
24. I see Disbarrment... I see Criminal Charges... I see a lady with no career and definitely a reputation that keeps going under? Maybe she could sign up VA :) I hear O'Gin is busy these days !

Posted at 5:01PM on Jun 19th 2007 by butterfly
****************************************************************

You see so much, but can you read? Like the fee agreement? Larry can't continue to go through life feigning ingnorance. He signed, he should pay. This reeks of Howard. Both money grubbing s.o.b'.s.

Pampster, you are sooooo right!

Posted at 5:36PM on Jun 19th 2007 by Becky

55. 49. Pampster, the signed copy was one Opri told Larry it was just for the sake of formality in the California courts and that she was representing him for free except that she wanted 10% of media coverage he got.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Larry admitted back in February that he already owed Opri $300,000. She's sent him bills all along. He knew he was going to have to pay.

Do YOU think she should foot the bill for his other attorneys, or should she get that money back? Do YOU think she was responsible for buying DL's nursery furniture as well as clothing for him and his sister? Have you read her motion demanding arbitration? She put out mega bucks, with his approval and with the understanding that she'd be reimbursed.

Larry sure has a habit of signing documents while believing that what he signs doesn't apply to him, doesn't he? It started with the confidentiality agreement Howard MADE him sign.

Posted at 5:36PM on Jun 19th 2007 by Pampster

56. We wish you the very best Larry. Opri is mean, nasty and Greedy. Freezing money that isn't hers. Then Smearing Larry's name.

He is a single Dad with a beautiful baby, that will some day see all of this mess.

Shame on you Opri.

Posted at 5:37PM on Jun 19th 2007 by Tricia

57. 48. Finally, a voice of reason and intelligence!

Posted at 5:37PM on Jun 19th 2007 by Pampster

58. Forged ducuments by Opri.

Read the documents. Larry HIRED Opri to represent him in his media deals. It wasn't done after the fact.

Posted at 5:42PM on Jun 19th 2007 by Jesup

59. Maybe Larry should spend money on herpes medication. Nice herpes sore on the bottom right side of his lip when he did the Larry King Show. Larry Birkhead is a dirty pig who does not know the truth if he bumped into it. TMZ get over this saga and move on.

Posted at 5:43PM on Jun 19th 2007 by Larry Cold Sores

60. That woman is a menace.

She needs her bar card run through the shredder.

Hey, it's the treatment she gives her clients, right?

She's a nasty beyotch. Eh.

Posted at 5:41PM on Jun 19th 2007 by paula

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