Virgie Arthur, the mother of deceased celebrity Anna Nicole Smith, filed a defamation suit against a number of bloggers and others in Texas state court, alleging that the defendants conspired to ruin her reputation through defamatory e-mails, blog and website postings, and other activities.

Among the defendants are gossip site TMZ.com and TMZ.com editor Harvey Levin, who allegedly posted a defamatory article entitled "Virgie has son with her stepbrother" (now removed). Arthur also claims that defendant Art Harris allegedly made defamatory postings on his blog, The Bald Truth.

Aside from these two articles, Arthur's complaint does not delineate each defendants' allegedly defamatory statements. Instead, Arthur accuses the "cabal" as a whole of publishing defamatory articles and otherwise engaging in a general conspiracy to defame her.

Arthur also sought to add many of these same defendants to her related federal lawsuit, but that court denied her motion. See Arthur v. TMZ.com (federal) for more information. Arthur also has subpoenaed defendant Harrington in the federal case. See Arthur v. Harrington.

Update:

5/22/09 - Lyndal Harrington was held in civil contempt and sent to jail for not turning over a computer containing information subpoenaed by Smith.

Trial set for 06/01/2009.