Barry King/WireImage.comThe Charlie and the Chocolate Factory director has lashed out against ex-paramour Lisa Marie, denying allegations that he tricked her out of promised assets from their now defunct 10-year relationship.
"The suggestion made by [Lisa Marie] that I engaged in any conduct which was calculated to deceive her...is completely false and completely ludicrous," Burton says in a seven-page court declaration filed Thursday.
Burton's former leading lady sued him in 2006 for fraud and breach of fiduciary contract, alleging he cheated her out of an equitable division of their accumulated property when he dumped her for actress Helena Bonham Carter five years earlier.
Lisa Marie claims that the filmmaker agreed to bankroll her for life in exchange for serving as his personal manager and acting in his films.
Her suit seeks to rescind three previous legal settlements between them, accusing Burton of orchestrating a conspiracy theory—getting various friends and counselors, including her own lawyer, to convince her into accepting a smaller payout.
But Burton says bunk. "Allegations that I did, or intended to do, anything illegal, unethical or improper to cause [her] to sign agreements are complete fabrications," he states in his affidavit.
Burton says he went to great lengths to reach an amicable settlement, selling two apartment buildings he owned in New York and borrowing $3.5 million to pay her. He also claims to have forked over $715,000 to the IRS in gift taxes for one of his payments to her.
"My goal was to provide [Lisa Marie] with sufficient resources to permit [her] to take care of herself for the rest of her life, and had nothing whatsoever to do with any legal obligation," his statement says.
Burton's lawyer, Joseph Mannis, tells E! News he wants the complaint thrown out.
"We believe that the lawsuit is frivolous and have filed a motion for summary judgment," says Mannis. "Mr. Burton believes he was very generous in the amount of money he gave her and does not believe he owes her more.
"Mr. Burton also doesn't believe he did anything wrong."
The next hearing in the case is set for July 14.