Dennis Rodman Ill, Attorney Says, as Battle Over Child Support Continues

Attorneys for former NBA star Dennis Rodman and his third wife were in court today in Orange County, battling over how much the retired basketball player who once made headlines for his raucous Newport Beach parties, owes in child and spousal support.

Rodman, 51, owes at least $750,000, said attorney Jack Kayajanian, who represents Rodman's estranged wife, Michelle.

Rodman's attorney, Linnea N. Willis, disputes that amount, which she claims is based on an estimate from Kayajanian.

"This is nothing more than a smear campaign by a publicity-starved attorney, Mr. Kayajanian, who is seeking to turn a family's misfortune into self-serving headlines," Willis charged. "It is absolutely untrue that Mr. Rodman failed to pay child or spousal support. Mr. Rodman has always provided support to his family to the best of his ability and will continue to do so."

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Willis said in court documents that the former Laker is barely capable of paying for his living expenses.

He is "extremely sick" and his marketability is diminishing with age and illness, according to court documents, The Times reported.

"In all honesty, Dennis, although a very sweet person, is an alcoholic," said Peggy Williams, his financial advisor, according to The Times. "His sickness impacts his ability to get work."

Kayajanian said Rodman was ordered to pay $50,000 a month and that his attorneys "missed a filing date" to challenge it.

"So that's good for 14 months, they can't change that," Kayajanian said. "That runs with 10 percent interest per annum."

Rodman's child support was eventually lowered to $3,560 a month and his spousal support was lowered to $1,083 monthly, Kayajanian said.

"That was based on him making $17,500 a month," Kayajanian said. "That makes sense. It's a real fair award and the other one was based on his declarations about his lifestyle and his attorneys at the time didn't do the right thing."

Rodman lives in Florida, but "he's been spending an awful amount of time" recently in Orange County, Kayajanian said.

Willis was working to have the $50,000 monthly child and spousal support order set aside, claiming he was not properly served.

"Even the biggest celebrities in the world are not ordered to pay $50,000 a month," Willis said. "Dennis does pretty good for a retired athlete, but not even the wealthiest celebrities in the world would be ordered to pay $50,000."

Also at issue is whether Rodman should serve jail time for a "contempt of court" order.

Willis argued Rodman should not have to serve any time behind bars because he made child and spousal support payments during the months in question. Willis, who began representing Rodman in December, said the court was not aware of those payments when the contempt order was issued.

"We are ... hopeful that it will not include jail time, as he has never been found in contempt previously, did not do any willful acts of misconduct, has paid support to the best of his ability, and in light of the additional evidence of payments submitted to the court," Willis said.

Rodman and his estranged wife, who lives in Costa Mesa, are also scheduled to appear in court in Santa Ana on May 10 to discuss their divorce, Kayajanian said. The two have 9- and 10-year-old children.

Most of the morning session today involved whether reporters could be present for arguments, Kayajanian said.