Sara Evans' Divorce Dance Intensifies

Estragned husband files $20 million libel and slander suit against Evans' attorney for spreading adultery stories in press

By Julie Keller Apr 13, 2007 11:10 PMTags

Dancing with the Stars alumna Sara Evans' divorce is getting more complicated than a Paso Doble.

The country singer’s estranged husband is now gunning for her legal camp, suing one of her lawyers for slander and libel.

Craig Schelske, a politician, says attorney John Hollins made false statements to the press about Schelske's alleged adultery and marital wrongdoings and he is seeking $20 million in damages.

“[Schelske] was quoted in the press as saying he hadn't done anything wrong and he wanted everybody to pray for Sara," the lawsuit quotes Hollins as telling People magazine last fall when the "Born to Fly" singer first filed for divorce and dropped out of Dancing with the Stars. "Let me tell you what, everything we allege, we've got photographs to back up the allegations of the complaint."

Schelske says this statement was bunk and that Hollins never had any incriminating photos despite repeated claims to the contrary. Schelske says the lawyer was making a plea for public support and had little time for the actual truth.

Hollins “knew that no photographs existed which depicted the plaintiff engaged in any type of illicit or adulterous activity,” alleges the suit, which Schelske filed Wednesday in Davidson County Circuit Court in Nashville.

Neither Hollins nor Schelske has offered comment on the lawsuit or the divorce case, as there is a gag order on both.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Evans’ former nanny, whom the country crooner accused of sleeping with her husband of 13 years during the initial stages of the acrimonious split, filed a $3 million lawsuit against Evans, Hollins, son and fellow attorney John Hollins Jr. and their law firm.

Alison Clinton Lee says she was also a victim of "slanderous and libelous" statements when Evans first filed for divorce. Both Lee and Schelske have denied the accusation.

It remains to be seen how Evans will address that charge, but in February, she did publicly admit that she was "mistaken" about the existence of racy photos, supposedly depicting Schelske  nude and/or having sex with numerous women, as she initially claimed in her divorce petition.

We can't wait to see her legal team try to boogie their way out of this.