Ex of Marilyn Monroe photographer sues Google

The ex-girlfriend of late legendary photographer Bert Stern has filed a suit against Google after she received threats from a woman pretending to be the artist’s daughter using a Gmail account.

In court papers obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, Lisa Lavender states she has experienced severe online harassment, including violent threats, by an ‘online impostor identifying herself as “Stacey Legate,”‘ 

Lavender and her twin sister Lynette had been Stern’s long-term girlfriends until his death in 2013, and received numerous prints of his photographs which they now sell to make a living.  

Lisa Lavender (right) and her twin sister Lynette (left) had been famed photographer Bert Stern’s long-term girlfriends until his death in 2013, and received numerous prints of his photographs which they now sell to make a living

Stern took the last photos of Marilyn Monroe for Vogue in 1962, shortly before the iconic actress's death. The famous prints became known as 'The Last Sitting'

Stern took the last photos of Marilyn Monroe for Vogue in 1962, shortly before the iconic actress’s death. The famous prints became known as ‘The Last Sitting’

Some of those prints include the final set of photos that Stern took of Marilyn Monroe for Vogue in 1962, shortly before the iconic actress’s death.

The famous pictures became known as the ‘Last Sitting.’  

By using several Gmail accounts containing the words ‘Bert Stern’ and ‘daughter’ in the domain, ‘Stacey’ began contacting Lavender in 2015 claiming to be the photographer’s secret ‘love child.’

The scammer also contacted prospective buyers as well as online gallery Artnet in July and alleged Lavender was providing them with counterfeit prints of Last Sitting images, court papers state.

The email was addressed to ‘all dealers that are still selling Lisa Lavender’s fakes.’

‘Stacey’s’ emails turned violent a few months later, when she threatened to ‘yank [Lavender] by [her] hair out of the apartment’ if she did not respond to her messages.

A scammer, claiming to be Stern's secret love child, began contacting Lavender in 2013 and even threatened to 'yank her by her hair'

The impostor accused her of selling counterfeit photographs and contacted prospective buyers to slander her business (Pictured above is Stern's photo of Marilyn Monroe)

A scammer, claiming to be Stern’s secret love child, began contacting Lavender in 2013 and accused her of selling counterfeit photographs and contacted prospective buyers to slander her business (Pictured above is Stern’s photo of Marilyn Monroe)

According to court papers, Lavender became ‘frightened and feared imminent violence.’ 

Lavender demands Google expose the true identity of the person behind the emails, so she can carry out legal action against the impersonator. 

Lavender’s petition comes four months after the twins sued Stern’s widow Shannah Laumeister for a share of their late partner’s estate, the New York Post reported.  

Stern secretly married Laumeister in 2009 and his wife barred the twins from seeing him in his final days, according to the sisters. 

They also alleged that Laurmeister excluded them from the $50,000 Stern had allegedly bequeathed to them and taking a jeweled photo they made that is worth $350k. 

According to the most recent lawsuit, Stern’s son Bret described Lisa Lavender as his father’s ‘best friend, business partner, and adviser.’  

  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk