Tom Cruise Lawsuit: Suri Abandonment 'Substantially True,' Says Publisher

(Photo: Reuters/ Stefan Wermuth)
Tom Cruise is enjoying being back on top at the North American box office with Mission:Impossible - Ghost Protocol.

By Emma Koonse , Christian Post Reporter

December 19, 2012|4:32 pm

Tom Cruise's lawsuit against the publisher who printed that the actor had abandoned his daughter Suri has seen another turn this week.

Bauer Publishing Co. took aim at Cruise for his defamation lawsuit, saying that the story printed is "substantially true," according to Reuters.

The reporting indicating that the "Jack Reacher" star stopped seeing his 6-year-old daughter following his divorce from Katie Holmes this year.

Cruise and Holmes, Suri's mother, were married for six years.

Defending itself against Cruise, Bauer filed a report in U.S. District Court in California on Friday. The publishers asserted that it is protected by the First, Fifth and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution, in addition to Article 1, Section 7 of the California Constitution.

Furthermore, Bauer said that it is not liable for damages because "some or all of the allegedly defamatory statements complained of by the plaintiff are true or substantially true."

Bauer continued to explain that the "Top Gun" star "cannot prove that he has suffered an compensable damage as a result of any actionable statement published by the Bauer Defendants."

"Life & Style" and "In Touch" are both published by Bauer Publishing Co.

Cruise and his attorney sought a $50 million lawsuit against the publications for printing what Cruise's lawyer called "a disgusting, vicious lie."

Meanwhile, Cruise has not commented on Bauer's claims.

Over the summer, Cruise was reportedly "sad, but not bitter" about his divorce from Holmes, according to TMZ. The actor was spotted spending time with Suri shortly after the couple's split.

Cruise agreed to pay "more than $10 million" in child support for his and Holmes' only child over a 12-year period, reported TMZ.

In addition to the child support, Cruise, who has an estimated $350 million fortune, also agreed to give Holmes sole custody of Suri on the condition that he was given visitation rights as part of the terms of their divorce settlement.