Dennis Rodman's Child Support Case Gets Heated

An Orange County Superior Court commissioner considering how much Newport Beach’s notorious badboy Dennis Rodman owes his ex-wife in child and spousal support was clearly frustrated with delays in the case, but reluctantly agreed to give the Basketball Hall of Famer's attorney another few months to make her case it is less than the $850,000 claimed.

Tempers flared as Rodman's attorney, Linnea N. Willis, said she needed
more time to contest the amount claimed by Michelle Rodman.

Attorney Jack Kayajanian, who represents Michelle Rodman, said he would settle for the $670,000 Dennis Rodman's representatives have claimed. However, after today's hearing, Willis disputed that figure.

``Ms. Willis, we can't let this go on and on and on,'' Orange County Superior  Court Commissioner Barry Michaelson said. ``It's a matter of accounting and we have to do this.''

When Willis said she was not ready to argue the issue today and claimed it wasn't supposed to be a matter before the judge, Michaelson cut her off.

``Ma'am, I'm not going to keep arguing this. I am ordering you to stop,'' Michaelson said. ``Ma'am, we are at the end of our rope.''

Willis insisted she was not aware the issue of how much Rodman owed would be settled today, leading Michaelson to conclude it was an ``honest misunderstanding.''

Now Michelle Rodman, who said the ex-couple's son and daughter do not have medical insurance, will have to wait until at least Oct. 25 when a hearing will be held to consider the matter again.

Michelle Rodman said their son, Dennis Jr., known as DJ, is asthmatic and had to get an inhaler recently through a family friend's insurance. In the later part of next month, Michaelson will rule on what, if any, time Dennis Rodman should serve in jail for a second contempt-of-court order regarding failure to pay child and spousal support, Kayajanian said. In May, Michaelson ordered Dennis Rodman to perform 104 hours of community service, which he is doing in Florida, where he lives now.

Willis did not have proof of Dennis Rodman's enrollment in a community service program in Florida, but, although he missed a June 29 deadline to file that proof, Michaelson allowed Willis to submit the paperwork by Sept. 7.

Dennis Rodman has performed about 25 hours of the community service, Willis told the commissioner.Michaelson denied Willis' motion to have the court records sealed.

Willis said some of the information relates to Rodman's health, which should be
kept private according to federal law.

Willis said Rodman's ``alcoholism'' should qualify as an illness that should be kept private under the federal law. Kayajanian said it was no secret what Rodman's ``illness'' was because it has been widely publicized, which Michaelson acknowledged.

Earlier today, Michelle Rodman's other attorney, Mary Ann Noiroux, won $3,500 in attorney's fees related to the divorce. Kayajanian is also fighting to have Dennis Rodman pay attorney's fees, plus interest on the back child and spousal support.

-City News Service