The Kardashian sisters are being sued for defamation by their former stepmother.

Ellen Kardashian - who married their father Robert Kardashian two months before he died of cancer in September 2003 - is taking legal action against Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, their brother Rob, mother Kris Jenner and Ryan Seacrest Productions, who produce the family's reality TV shows, claiming their 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians' programme is trying to portray her as a gold digger who married the lawyer on his deathbed.

Ellen is also furious how, during a recent episode of the show, a private investigator was seen trying to sell damaging information about the family, including attempting to sell it to her - which, the lawsuit states, was done to tarnish her reputation and make her look like a blackmailer.

She also claims the family ''trashed'' her on the show and accusing her of marrying Robert for his money.

In the lawsuit - in which she is seeking unspecified damages - Ellen slams the Kardashian clan's ''meaningless'' careers and lashes out at Robert's former wife, Kris, who is now married to Bruce Jenner.

According to website TMZ, the documents accuse Kris of being ''a manipulative and devious mother and ex-wife who simply used and exploited her children.''