A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has thrown out a financial lawsuit between cult film director Tim Burton and his ex-girlfriend, actor and former Calvin Klein model Lisa Marie.
Marie, who lived with Burton from 1992 to 2001 and had small roles in many of his movies, sued Burton in December 2006 for money out of which she believed he’d cheated her. But Judge Teresa Sanchez-Gordon found the case in Burton’s favor on September 16, The Associated Press reports.
Marie, 39, said that the filmmaker had once promised to take care of her “financial support and needs for the rest of her life,” as quoted by AP. But an appeals court reportedly ordered the judge to allow Burton’s lawyer‘s motion to dismiss the case. Judge Sanchez-Gordon agreed that Marie’s case wasn’t valid and referred to the former couple’s “valid and enforceable” separation agreements, which entitled Marie to a New York City apartment, a Jaguar coupe, and at least $5.5 million. However, Marie said in her court filings that she’d felt as if Burton had forced her to sign the agreements.
As it turns out, Marie may have to pay Burton’s legal fees from the failed suit. According to the same agreements, if either party would later sue over the details, the loser would have to pay the winner’s financial costs.
The 2001 contracts also enabled Burton to keep a painting by Agnes Martin as well as several large-size Polaroid photographs of Marie. Marie would need to approve any sale or public release of the latter.
Burton, 50, left Marie abruptly in 2001 for British actor Helena Bonham Carter, who had a lead role in his remake of Planet of the Apes (Marie had a bit part). He and Bonham Carter still live together in London and have two children. Burton has been married once.
Tim Burton began his directing career with the hit 1985 comedy Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. Since then, he has been known for the unique, cartoonish visual style and dark, gothic atmosphere of his films. His most popular and/or acclaimed works include Beetlejuice, Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, and Corpse Bride; he also wrote the story for and produced the animated cult classic The Nightmare before Christmas. Last year, his adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s dark musical Sweeney Todd won two Golden Globe Awards.
Marie’s most recent movie credit was in Starring, a 2003 short by fashion designer Jeremy Scott.
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