Mel Gibson Settles Child-Custody Case
Updated: 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.
It isn’t clear, according to Reuters, whether the settlement resolves all issues between the battling couple. She had accused him of domestic battery, which resulted in a criminal case and a plea deal by Gibson.
Additional coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Mel Gibson Movie Releases on Pause for Child Custody Case, Domestic Abuse & Extortion Probes”
TMZ: “Oksana Grigorieva to Mel Gibson: I’m Calling the Shots On Lucia’s Schooling”
Last updated Saturday, Sept. 3 to add information from Horowitz.
