At this time of the year, most basketball-related news stories deal with either the evolving NBA playoff picture or college basketball’s impending March Madness. However, one former basketball superstar — considered by many to be the greatest player ever — has managed to dominate the sport pages for the last week due to his legal issues.
Last month, 48-year-old Pamela S. filed a lawsuit in Fulton County, Georgia requesting that Michael Jordan submit to a paternity test to determine if he is the father of her 16-year-old son. In addition to child support and shared responsibility for medical/dental expenses, the lawsuit also asks that the boy be permitted to change his last name to Jordan and that the Georgia Department of Vital Records issue him a new birth certificate.
Just yesterday, however, Jordan’s legal team filed a motion to dismiss the paternity suit, referring to it as a “shameless, bad faith attempt to abuse the legal system.”
Attached to the motion to dismiss is a copy of a filing made in Fulton County Superior Court back in 2003 concerning a divorce between Pamela S. and her former husband Glenville R. It indicates that the couple’s marriage produced one child — identifying the now 16-year old boy by name — and is signed by Pamela S.
“Public records show that the paternity of the child was established in a prior case in this same court many years ago and that Michael Jordan is not the father,” read a released statement from Jordan’s camp. “It is unfortunate that well-known figures are the target of these kind of claims. Michael Jordan will vigorously defend himself and his reputation.”
According to legal experts, a judge typically does not need substantial evidence to compel a paternity test in the state of Georgia. However, they also indicated that these matters can become significantly more complicated if there is already a legally established father with visitation rights and child support obligations.
Pamela S., who met Jordan in Chicago during the late 80s, said that she decided to pursue the matter on behalf of her son, who wants to have a relationship with the six-time NBA champ if he is indeed his father.
Jordan, 50, is currently the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats and remains one of the most popular athletes in the history of professional basketball. Over the course of his career, he was a 14-time All-Star and 6-time finals MVP.
Stay tuned for more from our Ft. Worth family law blog …
To learn more about child support or post-divorce issues, contact an experienced and skilled legal professional.
This post is for informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice.
Source:
ABC News, “Michael Jordan wants paternity lawsuit dismissed,” March 4, 2013
