In the crazy world of lawsuits, it’s good to see one with a happy ending.
Back in 2002, a Indiana woman name Lanise Petits accused Wesley Snipes of neglecting his parental responsibilities (aka child support) for her three year old son who she claimed he fathered after a tryst in a Chicago crackhouse in 2000. Wesley denied ever having met the woman, let alone providing the genetic material for this child, and refused to submit to a DNA test when Lanise took him to court to try to prove his paternity.
After twice refusing to submit to the test, a warrant was issued by a New York Family Court for his arrest but police never enforced it. Wesley countered by suing the city and Lanise in order to have the warrant invalidated and claimed that the allegations violated his civil rights. He alleged that Lanise was "obviously delusional" on top of being a crackhead (which typically go together like peanut butter and chocolate) . Lanise’s case was not strengthened by the fact that she had waged similar "fantastical" claims against Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Prince. However, a US District judge tossed the case out saying that it was a state matter, rather than a federal one. The judge did suggest, however, that Lanise should pursue the DNA test.
When it was later revealed that another man was the true baby daddy, the city moved to drop Lanise’s suit against Wesley. Wesley’s lawyer said that they were happy the suit was dismissed but said that they will still proceed with a civil suit against Lanise for the embarrassment it has caused Wesley. The next hearing is scheduled for November in the US Court of Appeals.
Wesley is the undisputed father of a son, Jelani Asar, born in 1988, and a daughter, Iset, born in 2001, from two previous relationships.
Source: E! Online and New York Times
Thanks to CBB Reader Courtney.
