LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kevin Costner has decided to reportedly postpone his shocking attempt to make his estranged wife Christine Baumgartner pay $100,000 in legal fees. 'The Yellowstone' star had asked for the hefty sum after Baumgartner refused to leave his $145 million estate in Carpinteria, California within a month of filing for divorce.
Costner claimed that she had violated a premarital agreement that they had signed before their 2004 marriage. But Baumgartner, 49, who is the mother of Costner’s three children, ages 16, 14, and 13, fought back.
Has 'Yellowstone' star Kevin Costner backed down?
Christine Baumgartner, as per RadarOnline, accused Costner’s lawyers Laura Wasser and Jacqueline Misho of allegedly exploiting the actor’s “deep pockets” and charging him exorbitant fees. She said, “His deep pockets contributed to the exorbitant fees his attorneys charged for the work they performed.” She gave an example of how they charged Kevin $8,000 for two attorneys to drive to Santa Barbara for a hearing, but neither of them spoke on his behalf. She said, “They could have saved Kevin almost the entire amount by appearing by Zoom, and now Kevin wants to pass this patently unreasonable charge on to Christine, she noted in the document as reported by the publication. She also complained that some of the billing items were redacted and some of the charges were not related to her eviction She also questioned the validity of the PMA which has not been ruled on by a Santa Barbara Superior Court judge.
This is said to be another win for Baumgartner
Court documents, as reported by the publication, noted Costner has agreed to wait until a trial later this year to determine if the PMA is enforceable. The trial, it said is scheduled for November and December of 2023. “(Costner’s request for order) filed July 10, 2023, is off the calendar, subject to refiling after the trial currently scheduled for November and December of 2023,” stated an order signed by Judge Thomas P Anderle. This is said to be another win for Baumgartner who had refused to move out of the 'Hidden Figures' star’s prized property until she could secure monthly support payments during the bitter divorce battle over his $400 million fortune. Baumgartner initially wanted Costner to pay up to $248k a month on child support while the prenup only required him to pony up about $52k.
Costner had demanded his estranged wife to pay $100k legal bill
Costner had demanded his estranged wife to pay $100k legal bill after Judge Anderle ordered Baumgartner to vacate the property by July 31 and forced the aging stud to pay $129k a month in child support.
Costner’s legal team argued that the PMA stipulates that the spouse that initiates a dispute must pay all legal costs. But Baumgartner countered that Costner’s lawyers Wasser and Misho had allegedly racked up unreasonable charges that were not related to her eviction.
Baumgartner said that the $100k legal bill request was a 'premature' legal move by Costner
She, as per the court document, reported said her legal team spent $34,000 while Wasser and Misho are charging the JFK star nearly “three times” that amount for the same legal issue. Baumgartner also said that the $100k legal bill request was a “premature” legal move by Costner – who she accused of being “obstreperous.” The couple was supposed to face off at an August 2 hearing, but the 'Bodyguard' actor apparently realized that Baumgartner was likely going to prevail in the courtroom showdown.
