The queen of US domesticity, Martha Stewart, has seen her once untarnished crown slip a little further.

A shareholder in Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia - the company she is chief executive of - has sued her because of a drop in the company's share price.

Ms Stewart denies any wrong-doing

The shareholder - known as Conrad Hahn - claims that he has suffered losses of $75,000 as a result of Ms Stewart becoming embroiled in an insider-trading scandal.

Ms Steward, a multi-millionaire, stands accused of selling shares in drugmaker ImClone Systems just before the company's application to license a new anti-cancer drug was rejected.

Sam Waksal, ImClone's former chairman and a close friend of Ms Stewart, was arrested on insider trading charges on 12 June.

However, Ms Stewart, who was also under investigation, has denied any wrong-doing.

Self-interest?

In the 13-page complaint to the Manhattan Supreme Court, the shareholder Mr Hahn accused Ms Stewart of "breach of her fiduciary duty."

Our business would be adversely affected if Martha Stewart's image or reputation were to be tarnished

1999 Martha Stewart Living prospectus

He added that Ms Stewart had put "her own personal gain and self-interest above those of her shareholders".

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia recently reported higher profits, but acknowledged that the insider-trading investigation could dent future profits.

In his complaint, Mr Hahn referred back to the company's 1999 prospectus as saying, "Our business would be adversely affected if Martha Stewart's image or reputation were to be tarnished.

"Our continued success and the value of our brand name therefore depends, to a large degree on the reputation of Martha Stewart."

Ms Stewart is a household name in the US, and the insider-trading scandal has inevitably dealt a blow to her clean-cut reputation.