Do you remember the case of the Arkansas businessman who sued a Las Vegas exotic dancer, alleging that she left him with heartache and a multimillion-dollar hole in his bank account?
Well, Melanie Beth Sterling, in her court filings in Washington County Circuit Court, recently responded to the allegations filed by Fred Michael Brunner, saying his lawsuit is “riddled with falsehoods” and should be thrown out.
If you recall, Brunner said in the lawsuit that during the decade-long relationship, he lavished Sterling with more than $3 million, a $720,000 Las Vegas house and trips.
Brunner thought the relationship was exclusive, his suit says, but it turned out that Sterling was seeing another man during most, if not all, of the time she was dating Brunner.
Now, he wants his money and property back.
But Sterling said in her motion to dismiss that he filed the lawsuit “solely for purposes of harassment.”
Sterling said that she was in a committed relationship with Brunner for 10 years.
She noted that Brunner was cheating on his wife during the early part of his relationship with her, “admitted he engaged escorts during their relationship, and dated at least one other woman during his relationship with Ms. Sterling,” her filing said. “Brunner is angry and upset that Ms. Sterling has ended their relationship and found someone new. He is using the court system to exact revenge on Ms. Sterling.”
Brunner “apparently believes” that because he was generous with his gifts to Sterling, “that she was obligated to be available to him and remain committed to him until he decided otherwise,” her filing said. “Ms. Sterling is not his possession, though he has treated her as such.”
Brunner is the president of his family’s manufacturing business, Brunner & Lay Inc. of Springdale, founded in 1882. It manufactures and distributes heavy bits used in mining and excavation projects across the globe.
Brunner is represented by Terry Harper of Taylor Law Partners of Fayetteville.
Sterling’s attorney is Suzanne Clark of the Clark Law Firm of Fayetteville.
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