From the "OMG, you've got to be kidding" file...

http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/mo...s/14112053.htm

Posted on Thu, Mar. 16, 2006

Judge won't dump lawyer in billionaire's child-custody case

By ROBERT JABLON
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - A judge refused Wednesday to remove attorney Terry Christensen
from a child support battle involving multibillionaire Kirk Kerkorian, even
though the lawyer has been indicted in a federal wiretapping case.

An attorney for Lisa Bonder Kerkorian argued that Christensen and his
160-member law firm should be disqualified from the case because there was
evidence he used illegal means to learn that Kirk Kerkorian was not the
father of the 8-year-old child.

"There is no other way" that Christensen could have learned that information
because it was kept strictly between Bonder Kerkorian and her then-legal
team, attorney Lisa Helfend Meyer argued.

Meyer relied heavily on allegations made in a federal indictment that
charges Christensen with conspiracy.

Prosecutors allege that Christensen paid private investigator Anthony
Pellicano at least $100,000 to illegally listen in on conversations
involving Bonder Kerkorian during her 2002 court battle over child support.

Prosecutors contend that Pellicano illegally wiretapped the phones of
Hollywood stars and used the information for threats, blackmail and to
secure an advantage in court, according to an indictment unsealed earlier
this month.

Christensen had at least 27 conversations with Pellicano in which ''very
personal and confidential information was disclosed'' that gave the lawyer
an unfair advantage in the child support dispute, Meyer argued in court.

''He may have prejudiced Miss Kerkorian's rights forever,'' Meyer said.
''Why should Mr. Kerkorian have the counsel of his choice?''

Christensen, who has denied wrongdoing, was not in court. Another attorney
with his firm, Peter Sheridan, said the complaint relied on the unproven
federal allegations.

Superior Court Judge Marjorie S. Steinberg agreed in rejecting the recusal
request.

Outside court, Meyer said she intended to make the request again after
seeking depositions -- sworn testimony taken before trial -- from
Christensen, Pellicano, Kerkorian, one of his bodyguards and the child's
biological father.

She said she had not heard tapes of the alleged wiretapped conversations and
declined to say whether she would request them from federal prosecutors.

Kerkorian, 88, had a decade-long romance with Bonder Kerkorian, 40, but they
were married for a month in 1999.

Bonder Kerkorian originally sought $320,000 a month in child support, but a
judge ruled she was entitled to $50,316 a month. The case is back in court
because she is now seeking $75,000 a month. She claims the real upkeep for
her daughter has risen to $150,000 a month.

Sheridan told the judge the expenses had been ''grossly inflated.''

Much of the expense involves housing and the girl's horseback riding, Meyer
said outside court.

''These are not frivolous expenses,'' she said. ''This child is a very
well-mannered, kind, compassionate young lady who has not been spoiled at
all by her mother.''

In the 2002 trial, Bonder Kerkorian admitted she faked a DNA paternity test
for her daughter by using saliva she obtained from Kerkorian's adult
daughter.

"Dusty" wrote in

Bonder Kerkorian originally sought $320,000 a month in child support, but
a judge ruled she was entitled to $50,316 a month.

That kid must east like a horse to justify such a high rate of maintenance!

This once again proves CS is a lost cause in claiming the money is for the
kids.

DB wrote:
"Dusty" wrote in

Bonder Kerkorian originally sought $320,000 a month in child support, but
a judge ruled she was entitled to $50,316 a month.

That kid must east like a horse to justify such a high rate of maintenance!

This once again proves CS is a lost cause in claiming the money is for the
kids.

"She is entitled to $50,316 a month" So much for the children...