Gest Sues Liza for $10 Million

NewsMax ^ | 10/21/03 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Producer David Gest sued Liza Minnelli for $10 million Tuesday, accusing his estranged wife of alcohol-fueled violence that caused neurological damage and headaches.

Gest, 50, alleges in court papers that Minnelli, 57, flew into drunken rages on several occasions on both sides of the Atlantic, insulting and striking him.

Liz Rosenberg, a spokeswoman for the singer, said Minnelli had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment. Minnelli's lawyer, Allen Arrow, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Minnelli and Gest separated in July, just 16 months after they wed at a celebrity-studded ceremony that featured best man Michael Jackson carrying the bride's train. Elizabeth Taylor served as maid of honor.

In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, Gest alleges that Minnelli began battering him before the wedding.

Gest's lawyer, Raoul Felder, said his client suffered neurological damage and headaches from the alleged attacks, and is staying at a rehabilitation clinic in Honolulu.

In one incident last June in London, court papers allege Minnelli consumed a bottle of vodka before she threw a lamp at Gest in their hotel suite.

She later "began beating (Gest) about the head and face with her fists," the lawsuit said. When Gest asked a security guard to intervene, court papers say Minnelli punched him in the stomach.

When the couple married in March 2002, attendees said Minnelli danced in happiness at the altar. Hundreds of fans lined Fifth Avenue to watch guests including actors Michael Douglas (news), Anthony Hopkins (news) and David Hasselhoff (news), rocker Elton John (news) and TV news personality Barbara Walters arrive in limousines.

The wedding marked a personal comeback for Minnelli, the daughter of Judy Garland (news) and director Vincente Minnelli. She has won an Academy Award, an Emmy, two Golden Globes and three Tony Awards but also battled substance abuse, weight gain, and a near-fatal bout with encephalitis.

Gest, an event and concert promoter, produced Jackson's 30th Anniversary tribute concert.

[witnesstothefall]

Elton John and Liza Minelli. Those are some hardhitting threads you're putting up.

[Coroner]

Complimentary picture please (Ann Coulter gets one), you see, I am a muslim and they look very attractive to me. They remind me of my camels back home!!

[Paul Atreides]

When Gest asked a security guard to intervene, court papers say Minnelli punched him in the stomach.

Well, we know who wore the testicles in that marriage.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Before, it was just disturbing and creepy, but the Gest-Minelli freakshow finally got interesting.

[overtaxd]

Which is the most pathetic? (1)the idea that this *man* was abused before the wedding and then went ahead and married Liza (can that be blamed on the brain damage inflicted upon him? Which came first the chicken or the egg?) OR (2) the idea that the wedding was a *comeback* for Liza?

[wafflehouse]

Gest Sues Liza for $10 Million
as America struggles with its raging indifference..

[glock rocks]

Liza weighs what... 78 pounds? 10 million?

BWAHAHAHA

sheesh, ya wimp assed useless organ... why don't ya have michael jackson just slap her for you?

[Catspaw]

COOPER: Time for a quick check of the pop culture current, beginning with a heart breaking question. There's the graphic. One heart breaking question. Liza, David, where did the love go? There's late word tonight from the AP and the program "Celebrity Justice" that David Gest is suing Liza Minelli for $10 million. He alleged that Liza abused alcohol and him to the point he once shouted out, Liza, stop it. Stop it. A spokeswomen says they haven't yet seen the lawsuit, but drag queens around the world seem taken happy to have new material.

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0310/21/acd.00.html

[evolved_rage]

Gest's lawyer, Raoul Felder, said his client suffered neurological damage and headaches from the alleged attacks

Yet no mention of the lifelong, repeated beatings Minelli and Gest took from the "ugly" stick.

[Catspaw]

Do NOT plant that image in my mind. EEEEOOOOWWWW!!!! UCKY!! ICKY!!!

[Pukin Dog]

Minnelli consumed a bottle of vodka before she threw a lamp at Gest in their hotel suite.

I'm sure this was just their version of foreplay?

[martin_fierro]

Must I really post it again?

Oh, very well.

[jonascord]

I'm reminded of that old, pre-PC joke:

Wife to Judge: "My husband beats me!"
Judge to Husband: "Explain yourself!"
Husband: "You can't believe her! She's punch-drunk!"

ba-da-bing

[WorkingClassFilth]

Thank you! I love that picture! If that isn't the real-life Addams Family portrait, I don't know what is.

[Revolting cat!]

Four rich people you absolutely, positively would not wanna be!

(Well, maybe David - in this company he looks almost normal!)

[Centurion2000]

Aack ... that looks like an attempted Addams-type family photo that burned out the camera.

[soozla]

"Producer David Gest sued Liza Minnelli for $10 million Tuesday, accusing his estranged wife of alcohol-fueled violence that caused neurological damage and headaches."

WRONG...........................a TOO TIGHT FACELIFT caused David Gest's neurological damage and headaches...geeeeez!

[AJ504]

David, Liza, Michael & Liz...

There's enough skin cut off of them to make another Democrat!

[Ginger Grant]

It's not often where you can find a wedding party where no one is wearing their original face.