Howard Stern Seeks Dismissal of Former Assistant's Lawsuit Over Nondisclosure Agreements

Howard Stern, host of a SiriusXM radio show, has moved to dismiss a lawsuit filed by his former executive assistant, Leslie Kuhn. The lawsuit, initiated last month, seeks $2.5 million in damages and a court order to invalidate two nondisclosure agreements.

Kuhn was hired in 2022 as an office manager for The Howard Stern Show and later became Stern's executive assistant. Kuhn alleges that she was terminated earlier this year due to pressure related to an animal foster group operated by Stern's wife. She claims she never signed the confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, which cover personal affairs, daily activities, and other details related to Stern's production company, One Twelve, and his family.

Kuhn seeks to have the agreements declared unenforceable to address accusations against her and protect her reputation and employment prospects.

In the motion filed on Wednesday, Stern denies fostering a hostile work environment and states that he never intended to discuss Kuhn's termination publicly. He plans to provide a neutral reference if asked. Stern presented evidence indicating that Kuhn signed the documents, including a 2022 exchange where she sent a signed confidentiality agreement to the show's production manager.

" Stern alleges that before the lawsuit, he notified Kuhn and her lawyer, John Leonard, of this evidence. The filing seeks sanctions against them for allegedly misusing the legal process.

Ilene Farkas, a lawyer for Stern, stated, "We are not going to play this out in public. The Sterns are entitled to enforce non-disclosure agreements signed by employees who enter their home and their private life, and they have filed a motion to address the lawsuit and the conduct of Ms. Kuhn and her lawyer."

“The reason Kuhn filed this lawsuit was to pressure the Stern Parties into making an outlandish payment to make her go away.”

If the motion to dismiss is granted, the nondisclosure agreements would remain enforceable, barring Kuhn from disclosing certain personal information about Stern. The lawsuit also names Stern's wife and One Twelve as defendants. The termination reason remains undisclosed, though Kuhn attributes it to the animal foster group.

Background on the Dispute The agreements in question extend to Stern's family, friends, personal habits, and political affiliations. Kuhn's complaint describes her role involving access to Stern's home and private life. Stern's filing notes that the termination became public due to the lawsuit itself.