'Battered' hubby loses
2006-09-26 10:44
New York - A New York judge on Monday
dismissed a $10m spousal abuse suit against Liza
Minnelli filed by her estranged husband David Gest, who claimed
the entertainer assaulted him in a drunken rage.
"The plaintiff complaint must be dismissed in its entirety.
There is no triable issue of fact," said Judge Jane Solomon of
state Supreme Court in Manhattan, adding there was conflicting
evidence about the extent of Gest's injuries.
Gest alleged in his 11-page lawsuit that Minnelli, 60,
threw a lamp at him at a London hotel, and that when he tried
to calm her down she beat him in the face with her fists.
Gest sued for $10m, saying in the suit that
Minnelli's assault caused him "throbbing pain, severe
headaches, vertigo, nausea, hypertension, scalp tenderness and
insomnia".
The civil suit is separate from divorce proceedings between
the singer-actress and Gest, an event producer and promoter.
Minnelli has also filed a separate counterclaim against Gest,
saying he alienated people in show business, costing her work.
The two married in March 2002 and broke up shortly after
the June 2003 incident.
Gest's lawyer vowed to appeal.
"We feel justice was served by what was done today," said
Robert Kelner, Minnelli's laywer.