Ryan O'Neal Defamation Suit Challenged in New Court Filing (Exclusive)

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images The film/TV producer prosecuted for defamation by Ryan O'Neal has fired back in the actor, declaring inside a strongly phrased court filing the suit according to comments concerning a fight over artwork once possessed by O'Neal ex Farrah Fawcett ought to be ignored. Craig Nevius, who created a Television show concerning the late actress (Chasing after Farrah) and done a documentary about her combat cancer, claims inside a motion filed Thursday that O'Neal wrongly prosecuted him for excercizing his free speech with an problem of public concern. For individuals late towards the story, O'Neal was prosecuted in This summer through the College of Texas, which claims that Fawcett bequeathed everything of her artwork when she died last year. The Fawcett artwork includes an Andy Warhol portrait that O'Neal claims is his. When Nevius, who had been friendly with Fawcett before she died, spoke out about his understanding of Fawcett's artwork and assisted the college using its situation, O'Neal prosecuted him for $a million for defamation. O'Neal, who the motion states is "now also known for his womanizing, substance abuse, various criminal busts and savage beatings of his children," contended that Nevius's claims in Star magazine as well as on Hello America defamed him. Now Nevius is fighting back, filing a motion under California's anti-SLAPP statute, which enables for several legal cases concerning public speech to become ignored in an initial phase. Nevius claims O'Neal's suit is wrong while he never told the college or even the researchers that O'Neal had "stolen" anything. "Nevius never mentioned to the reporter that O'Neal had 'stolen' or 'concealed' the Warhol portrait and not stated that there is any 'police' analysis of O'Neal," based on the motion. Nevius states the actual reason behind the suit is obvious: "to obtain Nevius to prevent supplying information he has which seems to evidence the truth that O'Neal wasn't prepared to cope with Ms. Fawcett's passing with no $$ 30 million souvenir." O'Neal lately requested additional time to reply to the College of Texas suit. The brand new filing includes three terms, from Nevius (who describes a lot of crazy behavior on O'Neal's part) in addition to Fawcett's former personal assistant Mike Pingel and her longtime friend Gregg Lott. In the declaration, Lott states O'Neal's contention that Warhol made among the portraits for him isn't true. "Farrah always had having both Warhol portraits in the day these were produced plus they were unquestionably possessed by her and her alone," Lott's declaration states. We've include a call to O'Neal attorney Marty Singer and can update having a response. UPDATE: "We don't believe this can be a situation that subjects itself to anti-SLAPP," Singer informs us. "We feel we'll prevail." Nevius's motion was filed by Lincoln subsequently Bandlow at L.A.'s Lathrop and Gage firm. Email: Matthew.Belloni@thr.com Twitter: @THRMattBelloni Ryan O'Neal Farrah Fawcett