Update: Attorneys appear in court as lawsuit over DeOrr Kunz investigation continues

Update 02/07/19:

New developments emerge in court on Thursday afternoon as family members of DeOrr Kunz Jr. are trying to clear their names in the case against the Texas investigator inches closer toward a possible trial.

The counsel representing the Toddler’s grandfather Dennis “DeOrr” Kunz announced their client died in January.

This means his son and DeOrr Kunz Jr.’s father Vernal, could now serve as the beneficiary of the contract that has been the center of this lawsuit against Texas investigator Philip Klein.

In a memorandum filed by the Kunz’s attorneys, they claim there are 36-slanderous statements he made to the media about the Kunz family during the investigation, including accusations the family had been lying to investigators, hindering the search efforts.

Klein is the second investigator since the search started in 2015 to have taken-on the case and then quit, citing the same accusations against both Vernal and the toddler’s mom Jessica Mitchell.

The defense argues, the contract states Klein is allowed to talk to the media about the investigation, even stating Kunz had a chance to disagree with anything in the contract.

However, the defense says, Kunz never pushed-back on anything in the contract.

The plaintiff’s counsel argues the contract holds Klein to keep his findings confidential between the investigation firm and the family involved in the contract.

If the judge ends-up ruling in favor of the motion for a summary judgement, this could end the case, but court officials say, if not, it could go to trial sometime later this year.

Original Story 11/14/2017:

Private investigator Phillip Klein says he is dropping his firm’s investigation of the DeOrr Kunz missing persons case. He says he has notified Lemhi County Sheriff Steve Penner about his decision.

Klein Investigations and Consulting said the company no longer believes it can move the case forward and there is nothing further to investigate.

He said all evidence leads to the death of the boy and that his firm does not believe a kidnapping or animal attack occurred.

Klein also acknowledged that Vernal DeOrr Kunz, the boy’s father, and Vernal’s father Dennis Kunz have filed a new lawsuit against Klein Investigations. He believes the suit and a social media misinformation campaign are impeding the investigation.

He said the firm cannot continue to investigate while simultaneously defending itself against the lawsuit.

You can read Klein’s complete statement below.