Von Bulow’s Girlfriend Loses Court Fight Over Manuscript

Claus von Bulow’s girlfriend was turned down by the Supreme Court on Monday in her bid to overturn an order requiring her to give Von Bulow’s stepchildren a copy of her manuscript on his trials for attempted murder.

But the defiant woman vowed that she would never give the manuscript to the stepchildren, who want to use it in a $56-million suit against Von Bulow in which they charge he tried to kill their mother.

“Oh, God, that’s just what I needed,” an exasperated Andrea Reynolds said when she learned that the justices had rejected her appeal. “I’m not going to give it (the manuscript) up.”

Reynolds, who lives in New York City, has claimed journalist’s privilege in her fight against the court order. She pledged to go to jail rather than turn over the manuscript.

A federal appeals court in New York ruled Feb. 10 that Reynolds could be held in contempt and fined $500 a day until she produces the book manuscript, which is based on notes she took during Von Bulow’s two trials for the attempted murder of his wife, Martha (Sunny) von Bulow.

Reynolds refused to comply with the subpoena on the ground that she was protected by her status as a writer.

But the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals said she could not avoid turning over the manuscript because she was not a journalist by profession.

Reynolds said she had a $1-million contract with Simon & Schuster for the book about her life with Von Bulow. The book originally was to be released this spring, but her legal troubles delayed publication.

Von Bulow gained international attention in 1982 when he was tried on charges that he twice had tried to kill his heiress wife.

The Newport, R.I., jury found the Danish-born Von Bulow guilty, but the verdict was overturned by the Rhode Island Supreme Court. A second trial ended with Von Bulow’s acquittal June 10, 1985.