LeAnn Rimes Sues Women Over 'Cyber Bullying'

LeAnn Rimes may have checked herself into rehab earlier this week but the singer is fighting back against two women whom she claims invaded her privacy by illegally tape-recording one of her phone conversations.

Court documents have emerged online which claim that Kimberly and Lexi Smiley "conspired to spitefully ensure that out-of-context excerpts of that recording would be disseminated to the public."

The documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday also state that Rimes does not know the true names of the defendants, so is using their fictitious names.

LeAnn Rimes and husband Eddie Cibrian (Wenn)

The phone conversation in question, that went viral last week, saw Rimes attempting to keep the peace between herself and a Tweeter who defends Rimes's husband Eddie Cibrian's ex-wife, Brandi Glanville.

The Smiley women's actions have now caused the country singer "emotional distress,"which Rimes seeks to be "compensated for the harm that she has endured as a result of the defendants' malicious actions."

"There has been this cyber-bullying that has been going on for a considerable period of time," Rimes's attorney Larry Stein told Celebuzz. "These women have been merciless – vitriolic in their attacks … Rimes didn't like it, but she hoped things would get better."

However, the lawsuit is not the only reason Rimes has sought treatment.

The singer checked into the treatment centre on Wednesday (August 29), the day after her 30th birthday, and told People magazine that she hopes the centre will give her "tools to deal with the life she'll be returning to''.

"LeAnn has voluntarily entered a 30 day in-patient treatment facility to cope with anxiety and stress," her rep Marcel Pariseau said in a statement to the magazine.

"While there will be speculation regarding her treatment, she is simply there to learn and develop coping mechanisms. While privacy isn't expected, it's certainly appreciated."

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