Anna Nicole Smith's longtime companion Howard K. Stern and the bodyguard who attempted to revive the actress as she lay dying are locked in a new legal battle over alleged stolen photographs.

Stern's attorney L. Lin Wood is advising media groups to steer clear of photos Moe 'Big Moe' Brighthaupt is offering round, because he claims they were obtained illegally.

The images range from sweet family shots of Anna Nicole and her baby daughter Dannielynn to disturbing images of the tragic actress/model throwing up.

In a statement released on Wednesday (03Oct07), Wood says, "Shortly after I was retained by Howard Stern, I received firsthand information that Moe Brighthaupt had contacted tabloids offering for sale one or more photographs of Anna Nicole Smith.

"Yesterday, photographs of Anna Nicole and (baby daughter) Dannielynn were posted on various internet websites. These photographs are the property of the estate of Anna Nicole Smith and were stolen from her camera shortly after her death.

"Big Moe denies selling the photographs but admits that he is distributing them. His misappropriation of estate property is unlawful and his stated motives for doing so are not credible.

"The estate shall pursue all available remedies against any individual or entity involved in the unauthorised distribution or publication of these, or any other, stolen photographs."

But Brighthaupt insists Stern and Wood are in the wrong and he has never stolen anything from his former mistress.

He says, "Big Moe would never seek to profit from the disturbing photographs on various internet websites.

"Big Moe continues to mourn the death of his close friends but continues to question why (these) pictures of Anna Nicole Smith were ever taken in the first place."

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