Reuters and many other media outlets (including The Smoking Gun’s always-great Web site for lawsuits) are reporting on the lawsuit by Liza Minelli’s estranged husband David Gest. He is suing the lady with a ‘z’ for $10 million in damages for spousal abuse.
With the marriage lasting just 16 months, and with Gest becoming a household name after operating mostly behind the scenes, a cynic might think he was using Liza for career advancement—and a financial settlement.
Gest says Liza attacked him frequently, when she was drinking too much.
While spouse abuse is a very serious allegation, and Gest alleges alcohol made Liza very strong, he does his own case disservice by claiming he helped her career and that when they married her career had ‘eclipsed, she was an alcoholic, overweight, (and) unable to be effectively merchandised.’