Security firm to stars fights back against claims of greed. (Up Front).

Six executives of a Studio City security firm serving Hollywood celebrities have sued the author and publisher of a less-than-flattering book about Beverly Hills.

Gavin de Becker & Associates claim that "Among the Mansions of Eden -- Tales of Love, Lust and Land in Beverly Hills" is libelous and defamatory because it portrays the firm and its founder, Gavin de Becker, as unethical, inexperienced and motivated solely by financial gain. The book also contains more than two dozen factual errors, according to the suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The book was written by David Weddle and published in March by William Morrow & Co., a division of News Corp.'s HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

"Mr. De Becker is a writer himself with a great respect for professional journalism," said Paul Sorrell, an attorney of counsel at Lavely & Singer PC representing the security firm. "He filed this suit because he is interested in supporting the concept that all journalists carefully assess their sources, check their facts and tell the truth. And that is something that did not happen in this case."

Lisa Herling, a HarperCollins spokeswoman, said the publisher received the complaint and is "reviewing it."

In addition to the publisher, de Becker & Associates sued Weddle, who also wrote "If They Move...Kill 'Em: The Life and Times of Sam Peckinpah;" and Howard Libes, who assisted Weddle with "Among the Mansions." Weddle referred calls to Herling. Libes declined comment.

According to the book's cover, "Among the Mansions" features a "fascinating array of con artists, hucksters and libido-crazed pleasure seekers and gun fetishists who are willing to resort to whatever means necessary to steal a piece of the Beverly Hills dream."

Storied past

Gavin de Becker has been a well-known name in Hollywood for more than a quarter century, starting his career at 19 by helping Elizabeth Taylor avoid paparazzi.

He founded his namesake firm in 1978, signing Frank Sinatra and Johnny Carson as clients early on, and has provided security services for the Emmy Awards, the Academy Awards and presidential inaugurations. The firm claims as among its clients Sony Pictures, Michael J. Fox, NBC, Madonna, Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Claudia Schiffer, Barbra Streisand and John Travolta. De Becker is also security advisor to the estate. of ex-Beatle George Harrison, who died in 2001.

A senior fellow at UCLA's School of Public Policy and Social Research, de Becker has written several books, including "Fear Less: Real Truth About Risk, Safety and Security in a Time of Terrorism," published last year by Little Brown & Co.

In September 2000, the suit claims, Libes sent de Becker several emails requesting an interview for the book. De Becker declined, saying "I don't want to lend credibility to frauds or wannabes," and referred Libes to Robert Martin, vice president of Gavin de Becker & Associates, the suit says.

"That would have permitted them to check the facts," Sorrell said. "It's our position they weren't interested in finding out what the truth was, whether he agreed to an interview or not."

Instead, the suit says, de Becker's response to the interview request found its way into the book, referring to competitors in the security business. "De Becker haughtily denounces all these Johnny-come-latelies as 'frauds or wannabes,"' the suit quotes the book as saying.

In its suit, de Becker & Associates claims the book makes at least 12 references to de Becker as motivated solely. by money. Those references are "outrageous" and come from Gavin de Becker & Associates' competitors who "had an axe to grind with Mr. De Becker, Sorrell said.

The suit says the allegations are "tantamount to accusing a doctor of delaying a patient's recovery from a potentially fatal disease just so he can charge more money."

The suit also highlights what it says are at least 30 factual errors, including the year de Becker graduated from high school, the firm's rates for 24-hour protection and various investigative techniques and services the firm uses.

The statements and inaccurate information have caused "irreparable harm" to de Becker & Associates, the suit says.

The firm, which sued for trade libel, defamation and unfair business practices, is seeking an undetermined amount of damages and an injunction to remove "Among the Mansions" from bookstore shelves, Sorrell said.