Gest's $10m lawsuit thrown out
Music producer David Gest has lost the first round of his divorce battle with Liza Minelli after his $10m (€7.9m) civil assault lawsuit was thrown out of court yesterday.
Gest claimed his estranged wife beat him so badly during alcoholic rages he had to be hospitalised, but State Supreme Court Justice Jane Solomon wasn't buying the allegations.
Instead she granted Minnelli's motion to dismiss the lawsuit after her own medical expert made it clear that Gest's much publicised headaches were caused by a strain of herpes.
Gest plans to appeal the ruling. His lawyer insists her client tested negative for the virus.
The music producer now faces an earnings-misappropriation attack from his estranged wife.
Gest maintains he did not take money from Minnelli, and insists she owes him because of what he spent trying to revive her career.
The couple wed in New York in March, 2002. They split in July, 2003.
The divorce case is pending before state Supreme Court Judge Harold Beeler.
