Aside from having his request to reduce his monthly $4,800 payment for son Landon dismissed, the former member of The Fugees is ordered to cover his ex Angela Severiano's legal fees.
- January 14, 2020
AceShowbiz - Former The Fugees star Pras Michel has been denied his request to lower his child support payments after missing a key court hearing.
The rapper had been seeking to reduce the monthly $4,800 (£3,700) fees he pays to his ex Angela Severiano for their son Landon, claiming he can no longer afford the amount after U.S. federal authorities seized his accounts amid accusations of campaign-finance violations linked to former President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign.
However, after skipping his latest hearing at Manhattan Family Court on Monday (January 13), Magistrate Amanda Norejko dismissed the case.
"There has been no request for adjournment," Norejko declared. "I'm going to find that he (Michel) is in default and I'm going to dismiss his petition... for the failure to appear."
Michel was also ordered to cover Severiano's legal fees, amounting to nearly $60,000 (£46,200).
The hip-hop star, real name Prakazrel Michel, previously missed a court date in November (19), when his lawyer claimed he had suffered a death in the family. He was threatened with a bench warrant, but avoided arrest after attending the next hearing in December.
Severiano's lawyer, Robert Wallack, tells the New York Post, "Pras jerked us around for almost a year with this bogus and baseless downward modification petition. We're pleased with the Court's counsel fee award."
Michel's legal troubles with his ex are far from over - Severiano filed her own case against the 47-year-old over allegations of unpaid child support and other costs. He is accused of owing the mother of his child more than $120,000 (£92,400).
That case is due to be heard in court on 31 January.
