Hilary Duff's Dad Saddled With Jail Time, B-day Bill

Bob Duff gets 10 days in jail for contempt for violating court order related to pending divorce, must pay $12,500 for Hilary's 21st B-day

By Natalie Finn Aug 28, 2008 5:34 AMTags
Hilary DuffJamie McCarthy/WireImage.com

According to Hilary Duff's mom, the actress' dad is not the perfect man.

Bob Duff, was sentenced to 10 days in jail for contempt of court for violating a court order that prohibited him from selling off assets without the consent of his estranged wife—and right before he was supposed to foot the bill for Hilary's 21st birthday party, no less!

According to the Houston Chronicle, Bob must hand over $367,537 he got from selling stocks to a court repository while he and Susan Duff extend their already two-and-a-half-year-long divorce proceedings.

Robert Piro, Bob's attorney, said his client would post bail as soon as possible and file an appeal. Bob said he wished he could talk to the press but that a gag order was in place.

"This isn't what I wanted," Susan could be heard saying as her hubby was led off in handcuffs, per the Chronicle.

Well, she probably should have thought of that before she took the stand and called him a deadbeat.

In court to request $25,000 to celebrate Hilary's birthday, which is Sept. 28, Susan Duff testified today that the $10,000 monthly support payments she receives are "not even enough to pay my own bills," let alone pay for a quality B-day bash for Hilary that will measure up to the one they threw for older daughter Haylie in 2006.

Susan said she's been getting by with help from the former Lizzie Maguire star in the meantime.

On cross-examination, Piro asked Susan whether she thought her "adult millionaire daughter" would mind receiving a less expensive gift and having a less lavish party this year.

Replying that Hilary was "emotionally upset by the abandonment of her father," Susan told the court she knew her husband had the money, somewhere.

"I know he's a millionaire, and he's got the funds," she said.

For his part, Bob Duff testified that he wanted Hilary to receive a gift that was in the same ballpark as the apparently very nice ring that Haylie received for her 21st, but he reportedly hesitated when Susan's attorney, Marshall Davis Brown Jr., asked if he was mad at his younger daughter.

Brown withdrew the question.

Harris County Judge Thomas Stansbury ultimately ordered Bob to fork over $12,500 for party purposes, ensuring that Hilary's big day will be at least half as good as her sister's.