Custody Hearing Leaves the Hoff Happy
No word on whether there was an exorcist in the courtroom today, but David Hasselhoff exited with a smile on his face, regardless.
Both the America's Got Talent judge and an attorney for ex-wife Pamela Bach told reporters Monday that they were pleased with the outcome of a closed custody hearing held to check up on Hasselhoff's progress in light of the video that surfaced two weeks ago depicting him drunk, shirtless and rambling to his 16-year-old daughter, who was the one wielding the camera.
"It went very well, the truth was told and I can't say any more," Hasselhoff said outside the courthouse. For the past year, the Baywatch star has maintained that, while he is a recovering alcoholic, Bach has plenty of problems of her own. He has also said that his former missus is the one responsible for releasing that tape to the media.
"We're very happy, but I've been gagged," said Bach's attorney, Debra Opri (she of Larry Birkhead-Dannielynn fame). Opri has called Hasselhoff's allegations "the behavior of a man in denial who arrogantly spins his accusations to the media in an attempt to save face."
According to Opri's publicist, James Levesque, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas was scheduled today to review the actor's fitness as a parent and address whether it would behoove him to enter rehab, as well as consider Bach's request for more spousal and child support.
While the two sides were ordered not to divulge the details of the hearing, a source close to the situation told Access Hollywood that Hasselhoff and Bach arrived at an arrangement wherein the actor gets to be with their kids on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. He has also reportedly agreed to submit to three blood tests a week to check his alcohol level.
Juhas suspended Hasselhoff's visitation privileges with daughters Taylor, 16, and Hayley, 14, on May 7 after viewing the Hoff's disturbing home movie. He had also ordered Bach and the kids to meet with court-appointed psychologist Angus Stracham before today's hearing.
Before everyone with Internet access found out sloppy Hasselhoff could be, Stracham had submitted a report suggesting that Hayley, who has been living with her sister at their mother's residence, might be better off living primarily with her father.
Bach and Hasselhoff, who became officially divorced in August, currently have joint custody of the girls. Hasselhoff's attorney, Melvin Goldsman, said before Monday's hearing that the ban preventing his client from seeing his children had been lifted Friday.
Goldsman also said that the rest of the family's meeting with Stracham did take place sometime over the past two weeks.
In response to reports that had Hasselhoff winning temporary custody of his daughters, however, Opri accused the actor and Goldsman of leaking false statements to the press, saying in a statement released by Levesque that she has asked the judge to issue sanctions against them for violating the court's gag order.
"These reports do not accurately represent what happened in the courtroom...Their actions are inappropriate and the content of their information to the media reads like a badly written television show," Opri said. "While Mr. Hasselhoff's video—which interestingly was leaked around the release date of his book and television show—speaks a thousand words of what the truth really is. He has since provided to the world nothing but jokes, excuses and ‘partying’ innuendos which would make MADD take up arms in their fight against the improper use of alcohol while Mr. Hasselhoff continues to relentlessly assassinate the character of my client, Pamela Bach Hassselhoff, with ongoing false allegations of drug usage.
"Her truth is clear: She is a loving mother who is trying to restore some normalcy into her daughters’ lives since the divorce and despite continuing issues of alcohol of an ex-husband who she wants to see beat this ugly disease. Her efforts will not be in vain."
Another hearing has been set for June 1.




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