*Michael Jordan, through his attorney, is speaking out and responding to the lawsuit filed by an Atlanta woman.
Jordan’s camp is asking a Georgia court to dismiss the paternity suit filed against the NBA hall of famer that claims he is the father of her 16-year-old son.
Nope, the six-time NBA champion is not having it. His lawyer, John Mayoue said in the document filed Monday in Fulton County Superior Court that Jordan is not the father of Pamela Y. Smith’s son. She is also accused of making false claims against the former NBA star.
The NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats majority owner said the paternity of the teen has already been “conclusively established” in divorce filings between Smith and her ex-husband.
Jordan, 50, released a statement to The Associated Press on Monday through his spokeswoman Estee Portnoy saying, “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. He also filed a counterclaim seeking sanctions for the false claims made against him. It is unfortunate that well-known figures are the target of these kind of claims. Michael Jordan will vigorously defend himself and his reputation.”
Jordan’s response to Smith’s Feb. 6 lawsuit said her suit is a “shameless, bad faith attempt to abuse the legal system.”
Smith’s lawsuit requests Jordan take a paternity test and pay child support. She also requested the boy’s last name be changed to Jordan, and for a judge to order the Georgia Department of Vital Records to issue him a new birth certificate.
The lawsuit requests that any hearing or trial be conducted in closed court to protect the teen’s privacy.
However, Smith’s publicist acknowledged that the teen posted a video to YouTube on Dec. 25, saying Jordan is his father and that he wants him to play a larger role in his life.
“Pamela had no choice but to support her son and his desire to forge a relationship with his father,” Smith’s publicist, April Love, said in a statement Friday. “That’s why she is now speaking out and prompting Michael to do the right thing.”
Love said Smith, 48, and Jordan met in Chicago in the late 1980s.
Interestingly Smith doesn’t have an attorney and a court date of March 12 has been set. We kinda think we know how this is going to end already. What do you think?
Get more of this story at ABC7/Chicago.
Get a DNA Test immediately!!!
I thought Jim Crow States like GA have funny paternity laws? I was told that the state of GA paternity law states.. if its proven who the biological daddy of a child is AFTER the birth certificate is signed by the alleged daddy(ownership-responsibility-not the biological daddy)..that person WHO signed the birth certificate claiming to be the daddy under law- and as the daddy willsupport the child no matter “what-when and where”– until the child turns 18? If this is not true in the state of GA? Then someone enlightened me.. So even if its proven that MJ is the biological.. he can’t be made under GA paternity law to monetary support the child, but of course he can morally… this is why in the article it states..
Jordan, 50, released a statement to The Associated Press on Monday through his spokeswoman Estee Portnoy saying, “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.
..so to me that means if I’ve understood GA paternity law.. the Paternity GA law stands upon who signed the birth certificate as the daddy in the state of GA.. and said person WILL be responsible to monetary support the child until age of 18 years…so the step daddy in this case is responsible to monetary support a child as the signed name-daddy on the birth-certificate..
It’s not specific to Jim Crow states. That’s pretty much the law across the US. The law prefers finality when it comes to paternity.
So if paternity has already been established, be it through a paternity test or just by signing the birth certificate, paternity can rarely, if ever, be challenged later since the married “father” didn’t challenge it before signing the birth certificate. And the fact that he didn’t know is irrelevant because the law considers having a legal father for the child most important.
@Diva007: I totally agree!!! There is no reason to put it off.
MJ take the darn test!!! This sounds like slick attorney speak. The test answers all questions!
A married man is presumed to be the father of a child born from his wife. And if he signed the birth certificate, this suit is over before it starts, as MJ’s well-paid lawyers have stated. Which might also explain why Smith doesn’t have a lawyer.
@Georgiapeach: That is true depending on state law.
I still believe that the easiest thing to do is take a DNA. If he refuses… it could be I am hiding behind this legal loop-hole.
Based on the wording of the article, MJ probably is — but then he’s legally entitled to do so. Is it morally right? Probably not, but that’s not the issue.
The article said they had already taken a DNA test and Michael Jordan was excluded as the father. Estee Portnoy saying, “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.
No DNA test was taken. That simply means that she was married at the time of conception and the ex-husband took responsibility in divorce court.
I am ignorant of how/where litigations are started but, where do these folks get the money to file a lawsuit?
It usually only takes a few hundred dollars to file a civil lawsuit if you don’t have a lawyer.
Even if Michael is the biological father, if her ex is listed as the father on the birth certificate and that ex has been providing support it will be difficult for her to get support from Michael. Can’t collect support for two men for the same child.
thanks Ga’peach . . . I like the other billions of people on earth, don’t know ANY THING about MJ’s personal life other than what the tabs and now Pammy have to print/say . .(don’t know why but, I aleays thought he had a child before he and “nita got together). While it’s been a proven fact that Mike is/was a filander,er,er,er,erer. I never heard talk about him NOT taking care of his children. I’m not choosing sides here but, I think that Mike would do the right thing {{shrugging shoulders}}
I just read that MJ asked the infamous Usher Raymond judge to dismiss the lawsuit.
I just read that MJ asked the infamous Usher Raymond judge to dismiss the lawsuit. In fact he is using Usher’s attorney.
This judge was just exposed and is currently under investigation. this woman should go get Tameka Raymond’s attorney.
It is about to be on and poppin…
Georgia Paternity Law Additional Info:
establishing paternity – Paternity may be established by DNA testing or a voluntary acknowledgement form at the hospital. Signing the birth certificate alone does not establish paternity.
Establishing paternity does not guarantee the father of an illegitimate child any rights, but it does verify who is responsible for child support payments. Completing the voluntary acknowledgement form at the hospital is a form of legitimation, but a court hearing must still be scheduled to establish a visitation schedule and custody arrangement if the mother and father cannot reach an agreement.
Is there a reference for this information?
Never mind — I found the code:
O.C.G.A. § 19-7-21.1. (Article 2)
(2) ”Legal father” means a male who:
(B) Was married to the biological mother of that child at the time the child was conceived or was born, unless such paternity was disproved by a final order pursuant to Article 3 of this chapter;
§ 19-7-46.1. (Article 3)
(a) The appearance of the name or social security account number of the father, entered with his written consent, on the certificate of birth or a certified copy of such certificate or records on which the name of the alleged father was entered with his written consent from the vital records department of another state or the registration of the father, entered with his written consent, in the putative father registry of this state, pursuant to subsection (d) of Code Section 19-11-9, shall constitute a prima-facie case of establishment of paternity and the burden of proof shall shift to the putative father to rebut such in a proceeding for the determination of paternity….
Wonder why he won’t simply opt for DNA testing???
Perhaps he is nervous about the outcome!
Also… he is trying to use the cheapest way out… a legal loophole!
MJ spends more $$$ on a day of golf. A DNA test less than a day of golf.
Michael probably doesn’t want anything to do with the young man. It is unlikely that this case will move forward since another man has already claimed, helped raise, I assume, and paid child support. Paternity has already been decided. Now if this was an infant and Michael was the one who wanted the test then he could possibly challenge paternity but to go after another man after 16 years is probably a waste of time. In fact, I don’t understand why the mother would even bring this up after all of these years unless the son was questioning things and she just admitted the truth.
Money, money, money…….Mon..ey…Money….
@DOne: I think the kid started asking questions.
If Michael Jordan is 100% certain that he is not the father of this 16 year old boy, then he should not have any problems proving paternity suit that’s filed against him. Frankly this makes you wonder why MJ has not bothered to agree, or submit to an DNA paternity test? Since, MJ is so self assured that this boy is not his.
@muzyk: I agree. The price of the test… less than a day of gold for MJ.