Anna Nicole Smith's breast augmentation video banned for distribution
Melbourne, Oct 6 :: A judge has banned the distribution of the video footage of late
American model Anna Nicole Smith's breast augmentation surgery in 1994 by a Texas doctor
and his wife.
Howard K. Stern, the executor of Smith's estate, had filed the lawsuit last year
against Dr. Gerald Johnson and his wife to stop the distribution of the tape of the former
Playboy Playmate, reported News.com.au.
The Johnsons were issued preliminary injunctions by Los Angeles County Superior Court
Judge Mitchell Beckloff more than a year ago before issuing his final decision.
In the court statements, Stern maintained that Smith never consented to the taping or
to allowing the footage to be seen by Los Angeles memorabilia dealer Thomas Riccio, who
got tapes from the Johnsons.
According to Johnson, he routinely records surgeries with patients' permission, and
promises to keep the video confidential during the patient's lifetime.
The doctor revealed that he had given permission to Riccio to use the video after Smith
died of a drug overdose in February 2007 in Florida, at the age of 39.
Larry Birkhead, who fathered Smith's daughter, called the video truly disgusting in a
sworn declaration issued last year, as the tape focused on areas of her nude body that
were unrelated to the location of the surgery.
Stern's attorney, Vivian Thoreen, revealed that all the tapes have been accounted for
under the judge's previous orders, but she said that the other terms of the settlement are
confidential. :
--ANI
