Mel/Oksana $750,000 Child Support Deal: Judge Eugene Hyman

Actor Mel Gibson is putting an end to a hard-fought case over the custody of his young daughter with former girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Peter Lichtman announced today that Gibson will pay $750,000 to Grigorieva and establish a trust for their child, who is almost 2, according to the Associated Press.

Gibson will continue to pay for his ex and their daughter to live in a multimillion-dollar home, and it will be sold when the child is 18, for her benefit. Neither the actor nor Grigorieva, a musician, can publicly discuss or write about their relationship, the article notes.

At one point, Gibson made an offer which his attorneys reportedly valued at $16 million. But according to Grigorieva's attorney, Daniel Horowitz, the offer was structured in a way that made its value less than $1 million. Moreover, he said, it required her to surrender to Gibson all evidence in the criminal case against him, which could have made her subject to criminal charges ranging from bribery to destruction of evidence. The offer was ultimately rejected. Horowitz values the present settlement—which includes 16 years living rent-free, the $750,000 in periodic payments and the payments of attorneys fees—at $3 million to $4 million. Under a 2009 cohabitation agreement, she was to get a year of free housing and a Dodge Charger if they split up. (ABA Journal)

FLC Host Judge Eugene Hyman notes Gibson was convicted of a Domestic Violence case by plea of guilty. Under the California Family Code that is admissible for purposes of child custody. The parties are able to reach a settlement that does not apply the presumption that the code allows and that appears to be what has happened here.

The Court will continue to have authority over custody and child support as it is against law and public policy to settle these issues forever. The Judge hearing the case had the right not to approve the settlement as not in the child's best interest but did not do so.

This is the usual case. Los Angeles County family courts are used to dealing with media types and therefore it is doubtful that Gibson received any special treatment. His criminal probation conditions still apply and we assume that he is attending the required intervention program.

Comments

[Sam]

Do you intentionally get the facts wrong?? Gibson was NOT "....convicted of a Domestic Violence case by plea of guilty" For goodness sake! EvERYONE knows this is wrong. He made a WEST PLEA--does not admit guilt, very rarely allowed by the courts and only in very likelyhood of innocence. Geez, you just want to spin and spin. don't you?

'Moderation' IS censorship and THAT is against our freedom of speech. When you abuse it, it is only a matter of time until YOU TOO will lose it.

In my case, however there is nothing to worry about, I've reached my target audience: you.

Pull your head out, really.

[nick]

Interesting to note that the amount of child support is actually child support in this case (with the establishing of a trust and for the property to be sold upon their daughter reaching 18). All too often I see money and trusts that are to be used for the benefit for the children, eaten up and spent on things the custodial parent purchases for themselves. I'll give a thumbs-up for a high-net-worth settlement actually going the right way for a change!