Actor Tom Cruise has filed a personal injury lawsuit against a publication for claiming that he has abandoned his young daughter, and some media lawyers believe that the lawsuit will cause the actor's private life to be put under further scrutiny, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Tom Cruise, made famous by such films as "Top Gun" and "Risky Business", has named the publishers of Life & Style Weekly and In Touch magazines in a lawsuit for stating that he "abandoned" his daughter Suri.
If the case goes to trial, according to attorneys that specialize in cases involving the media, Cruise will most likely have to answer questions in court about his parenting and his lifestyle.
Speculators believe that questioning can also delve into his previous marriage to actress Nicole Kidman, and their children.
Houston-based attorney Charles L. Babcock, who specializes in defending media companies in 1st amendment cases, commented, "Plaintiffs who initiate actions like this have to go in with their eyes wide open because it may not be a very pleasant experience."
When Holmes filed for divorce earlier this year the couple was able to negotiate all of the details – including finances, the prenuptial agreement and child custody – privately. An anonymous source explained that the terms of the divorce were purposely kept out of the public eye.
If the Cruise case goes to court the defendants may not only seek to depose Cruise but also Holmes. Cruise may be asked to fill out documents detailing how much time he spends with Suri.
Los Angeles-based media attorney Donald Zachary said, "What a suit of this type opens up is the entirety of the relationship between Cruise and Suri. They can go into every visit he's ever had with her.."
Attorneys representing Cruise will be expected to ask the publishers for the proof behind the information they printed.
The defendants may file an anti-SLAAP motion – which is when a lawsuit is seeking to negate the right of free speech. If Cruise were to loose based on anti-SLAAP he would also be on the hook for paying the defendant's legal fees.
Bert Fields, the attorney representing Cruise, said, "Tom is a caring father who dearly loves Suri. To say he has 'abandoned' her is a vicious lie. To say it in lurid headlines with a tearful picture of Suri is reprehensible."
The offending headline that ran on the July 30 cover of Life & Style magazine read, "Suri in Tears, Abandoned by Her Dad." The headline was accompanied by a photo of Suri, crying.
The suit states, "Defendants have demonstrated that they have no interest in the truth, and will stop at nothing to push the sales of their tabloids, even if this means exploiting a defenseless six year old child on their cover. They are wholly unconcerned about the truth of what they publish or the harm it causes. Indeed, the more hurt and embarrassment they falsely and maliciously cause their victims, the more money they make."
Fields added, "Tom doesn't go around suing people. He's not a litigious guy. But when these sleaze peddlers try to make money with disgusting lies about his relationship with his child, you bet he's going to sue."
Contact a personal injury lawyer if you have been unjustly hurt by the actions of another party. Monetary awards can often be made for your damages.