Howard Stern is vigorously disputing a lawsuit brought by his former executive assistant, characterizing her claims as an attempt at financial extortion. The dispute, which has escalated publicly, revolves around the validity of confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) that the assistant, Leslie Kuhn, is seeking to invalidate. Stern's legal team maintains that Kuhn's actions are a 'shakedown' and that she willingly entered into the agreements.

Howard Stern Seeks Dismissal of Ex-Assistant's $2.5 Million Lawsuit

On April 29, 2026, media personality Howard Stern initiated legal proceedings to dismiss a $2.5 million lawsuit filed by his former executive assistant, Leslie Kuhn. Kuhn's lawsuit, lodged last month, also seeks to nullify her nondisclosure agreement (NDA), alleging a hostile work environment during her tenure. Stern, represented by attorney Ilene Farkas, vehemently denies these accusations, asserting that Kuhn's legal action is an attempt to extort a 'hush-money payment' from him and his production company, One Twelve.

Kuhn was initially hired by SiriusXM in 2022 as an office manager for 'The Howard Stern Show' before transitioning to Stern's executive assistant. Her termination earlier this year, for an undisclosed reason, is claimed by Kuhn to be a result of pressure from an animal foster group operated by Stern's wife. Central to the legal conflict are two confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements. Kuhn contends she never signed these documents, which are designed to protect the personal information and daily activities of Stern and his associates. She aims to have these agreements declared unenforceable to safeguard her reputation and future employment prospects.

In his recent filing, Stern argues that he never intended to publicly discuss Kuhn's termination and had planned to offer a neutral reference. He has presented evidence, including a 2022 email where Kuhn allegedly sent a signed confidentiality agreement to 'The Howard Stern Show's' production manager, and another email from 2025 confirming she had 'Signed NDA attached.' Stern's legal team alleges that Kuhn and her lawyer, John Leonard, were informed of this evidence prior to filing the lawsuit. Stern is seeking court sanctions against them for what he describes as weaponizing the legal process and making false claims. Should Stern's motion to dismiss be granted, the confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements will remain in effect, legally preventing Kuhn from disclosing personal information about the SiriusXM host.

This case highlights the growing complexities surrounding nondisclosure agreements and their enforceability, especially in high-profile employment disputes. It raises questions about the balance between protecting an individual's privacy and an employee's right to speak out about workplace conditions. The outcome could set a precedent for how similar disputes involving NDAs and public figures are handled in the future, emphasizing the critical importance of clear, documented consent for such agreements.