Tim Burton Wins Palimony Suit After Agreeing to Pay Ex $5.5M
On the eve of a scheduled trial next week, a California appeals court has thrown out a palimony suit against director Tim Burton by his former girlfriend, actress Lisa Marie.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge had ruled last month that the actress was entitled to a trial on her claims that she had been promised lifetime maintenance by Burton, E Online reported at that time. Burton had contended that she should not be allowed to pursue the palimony case, because of an earlier $5.5 million settlement—which she says she agreed to under duress, and did not receive in full.
Now, however, the California Court of Appeal says the lower court erred by not granting Burton’s motion for summary judgment in the case, reports the Associated Press.
This may not be the end of the litigation, though:
“Lara Ott, an attorney representing Marie, said late Thursday that she plans to appeal the ruling. She said she expects the case to eventually go to trial,” the AP writes in another article about the appellate decision.
Burton and Lisa Marie’s relationship reportedly lasted almost 10 years, ending in 2001.
He is now dating actress Helena Bonham Carter, with whom he has two children.
Additional coverage:
TMZ: “Dark Night for Batman Director’s Ex”
