Kardashians’ Stepmom Accuses Family’s Lawsuit of Being Reality Show Stunt

Truth rating: 10

10:56 pm, July 11th, 2013

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Ellen Pearson, the widow of Robert Kardashian, is hitting back at the family’s copyright infringement lawsuit.

As Gossip Cop previously reported, Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, Rob and their mom Kris Jenner sued Pearson in April for giving the late lawyer’s diaries and personal photos to the tabloids.

The information was then used for sensationalized cover stories in various magazines that painted Jenner in a poor light, prompting the family to lash out at Pearson on Twitter, and blast the allegations.

They later filed suit, formally accusing her of carrying out a “despicable and unlawful scheme to hold in secret and convert, and now exploit … private personal and copyright protected” material, and asking for “at least” $500,000 in damages.

But now Pearson is asking a judge to allow her to file counterclaims, alleging the family slapped her with the lawsuit as a stunt for their reality show.

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In the motion, obtained by Deadline, Pearson’s legal team argues, “Episode 2 from Season 8 of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, entitled Enough is Enough (“Episode”) first aired on or about June 8, 2013… the filing of this entire lawsuit by the Kardashians was nothing more than part of a carefully orchestrated aspect of the Episode. The entire saga culminating in the filing of the complaint in this action was orchestrated off screen by the Kardashians and then scripted for the Episode.”

As Gossip Cop reported at the time, that episode largely focused on Jenner breaking down over the tabloid stories, which accused the Kardashian matriarch of being abusive, based on the material Pearson provided.

As the episode progressed, viewers saw Jenner’s kids convince her to seek legal help, before she eventually decides to sue.

Pearson’s attorneys allege that “the Episode was crafted as a form of ‘damage control’ when vivid details were released to the public which ran contrary to the image Kris Jenner has attempted to portray on ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians.’”

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“The Kardashians’ strategy was to neutralize the unrefuted details in Robert’s diaries and notes by suggesting that they were in fact both Robert’s words — but were fabricated by Ellen,” claim the lawyers.

If her motion is granted, Pearson would countersue the Karadshians for “defamation, public disclosure of private facts, intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil harassment and civil conspiracy to defame.”

The filing also indicates that, if her counterclaims are permitted, she may also file them against Ryan Seacrest, who produces the family’s show, and his production company.

A hearing on the matter will be heard in August.

Pearson married Robert Kardashian in 2003 just weeks before his death from esophageal cancer.

Gossip Cop will have updates.

PHOTOS – Kris, Khloe and Kourtney Out in L.A. – SEE HERE!

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Kardashians Suing Stepmom For Selling Late Dad’s Diaries and Photos to Tabloids

Truth rating: 10

10:47 am, April 5th, 2013

(GettyImages.com)

The Kardashians are heading to court against their late father’s wife, Ellen Pearson, for giving his diaries and personal photos to the tabloids.

As Gossip Cop has previously reported, Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe have repeatedly blasted Pearson — who married Robert Kardashian just two months before his death  in 2003 — for providing In Touch and Life & Style with source material for a series of sensationalized cover stories.

Now the sisters have declared a legal war on Pearson, filing a lawsuit that argues she carried out a “despicable and unlawful scheme to hold in secret and convert, and now exploit … private personal and copyright protected” material.

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According to the Kardashians, their father’s will gave them the rights to the “bulk of his personal tangible and intangible property,” including “personal effects,” “books,” “works on paper,” “rights in literary… properties, rights in works of art … copyrights, publishing rights, and rights to a deceased personality’s name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness.”

Thus, the women believe the diaries and photo albums are “uncontestably” their property.

But that’s not all.

The reality stars are further alleging that Pearson willfully hid the possessions, and failed to declare them when she filed for bankruptcy in 2010, despite knowing they held monetary value as a result of the family’s ever-growing fame.

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Instead, they’re arguing, Pearson hold onto the diaries and photos “with the express intent to one-day capitalize and exploit the valuable property and celebrity of the famous Robert Kardashian.”

In the lawsuit, the Kardashians assert their stepmom “sought to peddle and exploit, and disclosed to tabloid and other media, the private and valuable personal papers of Robert Kardashian,” beginning in January, and received payment for the material, in addition to an interview.

They’re suing for “conversion and copyright infringement and demanding a full and complete accounting and imposition of a constructive trust,” according to THR, which adds that the sisters are seeking “at least $500,000 in damages, plus more in profits, statutory damages, punitive and exemplary damages.”

PHOTOS – Kourtney and Family Go to Church on Easter – SEE PICS HERE!

What do you think of the Kardashians’ lawsuit?

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