Maher's libel claim is grounded in pages 141-145 of the biography, which he alleges falsely accuse him of criminal acts of physical abuse against his ex-wife. The complaint alleges the book defames Maher by claiming he behaved "like a crazed animal" "beating the hell out of" Danielle Staub. Other false statements, according to the plaintiff, include that his ex had a restraining order in effect against him, that he was handcuffed by police after the alleged beating, and that he served 18 months in a Pennsylvania jail for confessing to a crime against Staub.
Staub claims that he warned Simon & Schuster in February of this year that he would sue if any falsehoods about him were published in the book. Maher did not name the 48-year-old Staub as a defendant in the suit, so just call him an old romantic. Staub generated controversy of her own this year when she complained that a purported sex tape featuring her was in the possession of Hustler magazine.
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