A few weeks back, our blog reported on how a woman filed a lawsuit in Fulton County, Georgia demanding that NBA legend Michael Jordan submit to a paternity test to determine if he is the father of her 16-year-old son.
In addition to requesting child support and shared responsibility for medical/dental expenses, the lawsuit filed by Pamela S., 48, asked that her son be permitted to change his last name to Jordan and that he be issued a new birth certificate.
Jordan’s legal team responded to the lawsuit by filing a counterclaim seeking to dismiss the paternity suit and requesting sanctions against Pamela S. for filing false claims.
In support of the request for sanctions, attorneys attached a copy of a 2003 filing made in Fulton County Superior Court concerning a divorce between Pamela S. and her former husband. This document expressly indicates that the couple’s marriage produced one child — identifying the now 16-year old boy by name — and is signed by Pamela S.
In recent developments, it now appears that Pamela S. has decided to drop the paternity lawsuit altogether.
According to reports, she decided to voluntarily dismiss her case “with prejudice,” meaning she is free to re-file it at a later point in time if she changes her mind.
“[Pamela S.] began this case without an attorney and did her best to file what she believed to be a legally appropriate case,” said her attorney. “She then hired our firm just before the first court appearance. Ms. Smith has relied on our advice and determined that dismissal at this time, without prejudice, is in her son’s best interests.”
The timing of the decision is curious given that the two sides met for a status hearing in a Fulton County courtroom just last week, with an agreement to return in the event they were unable to resolve the matter outside of court.
While most people would be tempted to believe that the dropping of the lawsuit signals a settlement between the former NBA star and Pamela S., Jordan’s camp is adamant that this did not happen.
Pamela S., who met Jordan in Chicago during the late 80s, originally 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.
Sources:
Reuters, “Paternity suit dropped against basketball legend Michael Jordan,” David Beasley, March 18, 2013
ABC News, “Michael Jordan wants paternity lawsuit dismissed,” March 4, 2013
