( news.sawf.org ) - A 10-million-dollar slander and libel lawsuit against hotel heiress Paris Hilton is set to begin next week. The suit was filed by European socialite Zeta Graff, who accuses Hilton of having published a false and damaging story about her in the New York Post in July 2005.
The story claimed that Graff once tried to snatch a necklace worth four-million dollars from Hilton's neck at a London nightclub.
"Hilton, her spokesman and others acting on her behalf concocted a baseless story ... fed it to the gossip columnists at the New York Post for immediate publication and then watched as media outlets picked up and republished the malicious falsehoods and outright fabrications to millions of people around the world," the Hollywood Reporter quoted Graff as saying.
According to reports, Hilton does admit that the story was untrue, but denies having her hand in its publication.
Graff is said to have requested a jury trial that is expected to last eight to 10 days.
The juror selection in the case will start on Wednesday, and a status conference before Judge Linda Lefkowitz is set for Friday. Hilton and Graff's attorneys-Howard Weitzman and Bruce Broillet-have declined to comment on the case.
Last week, Hilton was ordered to serve 45 days in Los Angeles County jail for violating her probation for driving under the influence.