Minnelli, Gest divorce battle turns even uglier
The divorce battle between Liza Minnelli and David Gest is becoming increasingly bitter, with the couple trading insults through their lawyers.
Minnelli’s lawyer, Frederic Siegel complained that the entertainer’s husband, David Gest, was avoiding pre-trial examination by hiding in Hawaii. But he said Gest was healthy enough to host a New Year’s Eve concert last week.
“He was apparently quite active. We have a videotape of him,” Siegel said.
Gest’s lawyer, Raoul Felder explained, “He had to have 20 injections in his head” on Tuesday.
The hearing – which started off with Minnelli asking a courtroom sketch artist to “please make me look pretty” – became argumentative after she left.
Rival lawyers fought over everything from wedding gifts to Minnelli’s cleanliness and health – even though they agreed the case was “simple” because their prenuptial agreement calls for each party to keep what was theirs previously.
Felder at one point accused Minnelli of hiding a “certain” medical condition from Gest during their marriage – one he said is a literal “crime to conceal.”
He added that in court papers, Minnelli denied having the condition, but then seemed to acknowledge it.
“We want a simple blood test,” Felder said.
The exchange ended with the lawyers going behind closed doors with the judge. When they emerged, Stackhouse declared the matter was resolved and that Minnelli hadn’t committed any crime – and that if Felder makes the allegation again, it will cost him €4,300.
Felder wouldn’t say what the condition was afterward, because “there’s no need to embarrass the lady.”
Minnelli’s lawyers said Gest made the Cabaret star wipe down their telephone receivers and remote controls with an alcohol solution.
They also charge he called her “a slob”, and that when she’d try to sit on his lap, he’d push her off and tell her to wash her hands – with alcohol.
