A&E has fired back at Storage Wars star Dave Hester for claiming that the show is rigged, and has shifted focus to question the motivation behind Hester's allegations.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, A&E filed its response to Hester's lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court last week, in which the network accuses Hester of fabricating a "tabloid-worthy drama" as a distraction.

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"In a transparent attempt to distract from the issues — and maximize any potential recovery — Plaintiff's Complaint tries to convert a garden-variety breach of contract claim into a tabloid-worthy drama, in which Hester portrays himself as a crusading whistleblower," A&E's filing states. "But setting aside the notable inconsistencies in his exaggerated self-portrait, the law does not permit such sophistry." Hester filed suit

against A&E last month, claiming that A&E committed fraud by planting valuable memorabilia in storage lockers and scripting interviews with cast members in advance.A&E claims that Hester only started to question the show's authenticity after he demanded a contract renegotiation, and points out that the two sides have already been battling over Hester's purported "improper use of AETN's trademarks," such as phrases like "Storage Warrior," at the U.S. Trademark Office.Hester is seeking $750,000 in damages.