Kardashian step-mom files bid to countersue Kim and co

The widow of Kim Kardashian's father is hoping to countersue the reality TV star and her siblings in an ongoing property battle, accusing them of defaming her.

The Kardashians filed suit against Ellen Pearson, the former wife of the late Robert Kardashian, after she went public with the lawyer's journals last year (12) - property Kim and co determined belonged to the family.

The members of reality TV's first family claimed Robert had bequeathed the "bulk of his personal tangible and intangible property" to his four children, and therefore his diaries were not Pearson's to sell to Bauer Publishing titles In Touch and Life & Style, who published extracts as part of stories about his ex-wife Kris Jenner's alleged infidelity and parenting skills.

In papers filed in a bid to convince a judge to allow Pearson to countersue the Kardashians - obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, her lawyer insists the family members' property rights suit against his client served to boost a storyline on their show.

Marcus Lee writes, "There can be no question that the Kardashians worked with the (TV) Production Company to craft and fully script the filing of the lawsuit and service of the summons as a sensational and dramatic scene for Season 8, Episode 2 of Keeping Up With the Kardashians."

Pearson is planning to sue the Kardashians for defamation, public disclosure of private facts, intentional infliction of emotional distress and civil harassment if she gets the go-ahead from the judge.