Howard K. Stern

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For the American radio and TV personality, see Howard Stern.
Howard K. Stern

Born November 29, 1968 (1968-11-29) (age 39)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation attorney
Partner Anna Nicole Smith

Howard Kevin Stern[1] (born November 29, 1968) is the former attorney and partner of Anna Nicole Smith. He is always referred to as "Howard K. Stern", to avoid confusion with the popular radio personality with whom he coincidentally shares the same first and last names.

Contents

[edit] Early life and legal background

Stern was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He graduated with a B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1990 [1] and received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He was admitted to the State Bar of California on February 25, 1994.[2]

[edit] Relationship with Anna Nicole Smith

His law firm first handled Anna Nicole Smith's modeling contracts in the mid 1990s. When she fought for the fortune of her late husband J. Howard Marshall, Stern presented her direct examination at the trial. Stern's law firm was later dissolved around the time he became a co-star on The Anna Nicole Show.[3] Stern maintains an apartment in Santa Monica, California, from which he operated a business called "Hot Smoochie Lips Inc"[4] which is a talent agency that only had one client, Anna Nicole Smith.[5]

[edit] The Anna Nicole Show

From 2002 - 2004, Stern portrayed himself in The Anna Nicole Show, a reality based series. He had a major role in the series, and was seen either looking out for Anna Nicole's best interests (which turned into an antagonistic relationship with decorator Bobby Trendy, who Stern thought was trying to take advantage of Smith through delays in orders and inferior products), or joining in on the sometimes bizarre events that took place on the show. At the time, Smith and Stern claimed to be just close friends.

[edit] Death of Daniel Wayne Smith

On September 10, 2006, Stern was with Anna Nicole Smith when her son Daniel Wayne Smith died in Nassau, Bahamas, while visiting his mother and newborn sister. He has denied allegations by Anna Nicole's mother and the interior decorator Bobby Trendy that he was involved in Daniel's death[6].

[edit] Commitment Ceremony

On September 28, 2006, Howard and Anna exchanged vows in an informal wedding ceremony on a boat near Nassau, though it was not a legally binding marriage. Photographs of this ceremony were sold through Getty Images to People Magazine for around $1 million.[7]

[edit] Death of Anna Nicole Smith

Anna Nicole died on February 8, 2007, less than five months after her son's death. According to the Florida court overseeing her estate, Anna Nicole left everything to her late son Daniel in a 16-page will that named Stern as the executor of her estate.[8]

[edit] Legal proceedings

[edit] Custody of Smith's remains

On February 21, 2007, hearings commenced before the Hon. Larry Seidlin in Florida's Broward County Circuit Court over the remains of Anna Nicole Smith. The proceedings were televised and were broadcast on the Internet. Mr. Stern, who claims he is executor of Ms. Smith's estate, sought custody of her remains, as did her mother Virgie Arthur.[citation needed]

On February 22, 2007, Judge Larry Seidlin denied motions by Virgie Arthur and Howard K. Stern, instead awarding custody of Smith's body to her infant daughter, Dannielynn Hope Marshall Stern. The judge's order stated that attorney, Richard Milstein, the minor child's guardian ad litem, would make all final decisions regarding the interment of the body and funeral services. Seidlin stated that Smith should be buried next to her son Daniel in the Bahamas and directed Milstein to consult with Arthur, Stern and Birkhead regarding funeral arrangements. He also urged the parties to agree to paternity testing so that Danielynn's biological father could be conclusively established. Seidlin announced that he would be handing off that aspect of the case to another judge.[9]

[edit] Paternity dispute

Main article: Dannielynn Birkhead paternity case

On September 26, 2006, Mr. Stern claimed in an interview from the Bahamas with Larry King on CNN that he is the father of Anna Nicole's newborn baby girl, contrary to identical claims by celebrity photographer Larry Birkhead.[10] The Bahamian birth certificate lists the daughter's name as Dannielynn Hope Marshall Stern with Howard as the father.[11] Stern and Smith were reportedly staying in the Bahamas to avoid paternity testing in the United States.[12]

On February 9, 2007, following the death of Anna Nicole Smith, it was revealed that Stern had custody of Smith's child, Dannielynn.[13] Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt, the current husband of actress Zsa Zsa Gabor, also claimed to be the father of the baby girl and threatened to file a lawsuit for custody.[14] Alexander Denk, an actor and a former bodyguard for Anna Nicole Smith, told the tabloid television program Extra that he had an affair with his former employer.[15] Mark Hatten, a former boyfriend of two years, also came forward to claim paternity of Dannielynn.

On April 10, 2007, a Bahamian court determined from DNA evidence presented by court-appointed DNA expert Dr. Michael Baird that Larry Birkhead is the father of Dannielynn.[16] Howard K. Stern announced that he would not contest the ruling and would help Birkhead obtain sole custody. The court has ordered Stern to repay $10,000 in court costs for the abandoned appeal.[17]

[edit] Sexuality

Rita Cosby in a book about Anna Nicole Smith, titled "Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith's Death" alleges that Howard K. Stern and former rival Larry Birkhead were involved in a homosexual relationship. The book, released on September 4, 2007, also alleged that a sex tape of the two exists.[18]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Howard K. Stern is not related to Howard Stern, the Sirius Satellite Radio host.
  2. ^ Howard Kevin Stern - #169888. The State Bar of California. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
  3. ^ Who Is Howard K. Stern?. Access Hollywood. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
  4. ^ Beyond Anna Nicole, just who is Howard K. Stern?. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved on 2007-02-12.
  5. ^ Stern's Murky, 1-client Career. New York Post. Retrieved on 2007-02-11.
  6. ^ Stern lashes out at mum's murder claims. ContactMusic.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-17.
  7. ^ 'People' Pays $1M for Pics of Anna Nicole's Wedding/Suffering. Gawker. Retrieved on 2006-10-03.
  8. ^ Anna Nicole Smith's will leaves everything to dead son. CNN. Retrieved on 2007-02-16.
  9. ^ Judge leaves Smith decision with baby guardian. MSNBC. Retrieved on 2007-02-23.
  10. ^ Attorney: I'm Anna Nicole's baby's daddy. CNN. Retrieved on 2006-09-26.
  11. ^ Anna Nicole Smith Names Howard K Stern as Dad on Birth Certificate. The National Ledger. Retrieved on 2006-10-11.
  12. ^ Anna Nicole Smith back in hospital. In the News. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
  13. ^ Attorney: Stern Has Custody Of Anna's Baby. ShowBuzz (CBS News). Retrieved on 2007-02-09.
  14. ^ Zsa Zsa Gabor's husband: I could be Smith baby's father. CNN. Retrieved on 2007-02-09.
  15. ^ "Gabor's husband to file claim for baby", Associated Press, 2007-02-12. Retrieved on 2007-02-14. 
  16. ^ "DNA Test: Birkhead Is Dannielynn's Father", People, 2007-04-10. Retrieved on 2007-04-10. 
  17. ^ "After DNA test, Birkhead ruled Smith's baby's dad", CNN, 2007-04-10. Retrieved on 2007-04-10. 
  18. ^ "Anna's men as lovers?", Chicago Sun Times, 2007-10-05. Retrieved on 2007-10-05. 

[edit] External links