Judge Thomas Trent Lewis decides to throw out Howard's divorce settlement after he learned that the 'Empire' actor was coerced into signing the settlement by his ex-wife Michelle Ghent.
- August 25, 2015
AceShowbiz -
Superior Court Judge Thomas Trent Lewis ruled in favor of Terrence Howard in his divorce settlement with his ex-wife Michelle Ghent on Monday, August 24. The judge decided to throw out the divorce settlement after he learned that the "Empire" actor was coerced into signing the settlement by his ex-wife.
The 46-year-old actor insisted he signed a settlement to end his marriage to Ghent in 2012 because he was afraid that she would leak private details about him, including phone sex recordings with other women and a video of him dancing naked in a bathroom.
"The evidence of extortion or duress was unrebutted," Judge Lewis said. The ruling means that Howard and his ex-wife have to renegotiate the financial terms of their divorce. Following the ruling, Howard wrote in a statement, "I could not be any more pleased by today's ruling. I am grateful to my [attorney and his team,] whose skill and tireless efforts enabled me to secure this terrific ruling from the Court."
His attorney Brian Kramer wrote in a statement about how the ruling would impact the actor's life. "Today's ruling represents not only a watershed event in the life of Mr. Terrence Howard whose financial livelihood was hanging in the balance, but it's a precedent setting ruling that will have implications for the entire family law bench and bar in California," Kramer wrote, before adding, "Divorce decrees signed with a proverbial gun to one's head cannot withstand judicial scrutiny."
