LOS ANGELES -- The younger sister of slain Playboy centerfold Dorothy Stratten has dropped a $5 million slander suit against magazine published Hugh Hefner, his attorney announced Thursday.
The suit alleged that Hefner slandered Louise Hoogstraten, 16, during a news conference April 1 when Hefner responded to charges contained in a book about Stratten by her former lover, film director Peter Bogdanovich.
Hoogstraten and her mother, Nelly Schaap, signed full releases dismissing all claims they made against Hefner and Playboy, said Hefner's attorney, Anthony Glassman. He said no money was paid to the mother and daughter in exchange for the dismissal.
At the news conference, Hefner claimed Bogdanovich had a sexual affair with Hoogstraten when she was 13 and that the director's book caused Hefner to suffer a stroke. Hefner also indicated Bogdanovich's affair with Stratten contributed to the breakup of her marriage to Paul Snider.
Snider killed the Playmate of the Year in 1980, allegedly out of jealousy, then took his own life.
Hefner, a pioneer in the publishing of nude pictures, and Bogdanovich, an anti-pornography activist, have feuded about the causes of her death ever since.
In his book, 'The Killing of the Unicorn: Dorothy Stratten 1960-1980,' Bogdanovich said Stratten was forced to pose nude, was manipulated by Hefner and that the publisher once made sexual advances to her.
Hefner denied the allegations.
In a statement released Thursday, Hefner said he was pleased that the lawsuit had been dismissed and said his integrity had been reaffirmed.
'I am gratified that the action has been dismissed and that my true relationship with Dorothy Stratten has been clarified,' Hefner said.
'In the past, I have been hurt by the statements made about me by Peter Bogdanovich and I hope that the dismissal of this suit lays to rest the unwarranted and ill-considered allegations which he made and has vindicated my position in this matter.'
Hefner reasserted his allegations that Bogdanovich's book was based on 'substantial misinformation.'
Bogdanovich could not be reached for comment.
