Elisabeth Hasselbeck Fires Back At Plagiarism Claims

BOSTON – Television personality Elisabeth Hasselbeck says a claim that she plagiarized parts of her best-selling diet book is "without merit."

Hasselbeck, co-host of morning talk show "The View,"defended her book "The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide" on the air Wednesday. She spoke to the camera briefly just before the first break on the show.

Susan Hassett, a self-published author on Cape Cod, alleges in the lawsuit filed in Massachusetts that Hasselbeck lifted content from her book on celiac disease "word for word." It doesn't cite specific examples.

The lawsuit also says the books have a similar organization and chapter format.

Hassett says she sent Hasselbeck her book as a courtesy after Hasselbeck disclosed she had the digestive disorder last year.