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Is Levi Johnston a Deadbeat Dad?
Filed under: Opinions
Levi Johnston arrives at a party in Los Angeles in November 2009. Credit: Robyn Beck, AFP / Getty Images
Let's look at the facts.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Alaska law states "the non-custodial parent is obligated to provide child support equal to 20 percent of the non-custodial parent's adjusted annual income (up to an annual income of $105,000)."
The documents filed by Palin's attorney allege that Johnston "has earned in excess of $105,000 in 2009 through various media interviews and modeling related activities."
And where did this data come from? "Information and belief." (We're guessing that's a legal term for "guesstimate based on perusing various tabloids and gossip Web sites."
So what, exactly, are the numbers? Twenty percent of $105,000 is $21,000. And $21,000 divided by 12 is $1,750. Palin is asking for $1,750 per month in child support, retroactive to their son Tripp's birth 13 months ago. That makes $22,750.
The court filing states that Johnston has paid $4,400 in child support so far. Subtract that number and you get $18,350, which is the amount Bristol and her attorneys are requesting. For the record, Johnston's manager, Tank Jones, (the Palins can cross that "T" name off their list if anyone has another child) tells TMZ that "Levi has paid Bristol more than $10,000 since Tripp was born" in December of 2008. Jones did not say exactly how much Johnston earned in 2009.
Meredith Rosenthal, an attorney with the Boston law firm Friedman & Atherton LLP, tells ParentDish in an e-mail that "Alaska case law firmly supports ordering that payment of child support be retroactive to the date of the child's birth."
The Web site Lawyers.com says some of the the possible justifications for retroactive child support are when the non-custodial parent (Johnston) is concealing part of his or her income, and also "where there's a demonstrated need."
The first reason, concealing of income, is certainly possible. However, it also should be possible for the court to order Johnston to provide evidence of his earnings.
In a letter dated Jan. 4, Palin's attorney, Thomas V. Van Flein, asked that Johnston submit his financial information as requested. Reading the letter, which is part of the court documents obtained by TMZ, it sounds like one of the issues in play is whether or not Palin's financial information will be made public. Johnston's attorneys asked that the Tripp Palin custody trial be open to the public, and Alaska Superior Court Judge Kari Kristiansen agreed. The letter from Palin's attorney asks that Johnston agree to keep his and Palin's financial information confidential.
Why is this an issue? Well, if Palin is being supported by her family, does that mean that Sarah Palin's finances would become public, as well? If so, that would make it very difficult to show a "demonstrated need" to receive additional money from Johnston. (Note that this is speculation, based on a reading of the court documents.)
What is unfortunate is that this young couple has to go through all of this in public. Even if the court proceedings were kept private, members of the Palin family are big-time celebrities now, as is Johnston. There is enormous media interest in everything they do (despite the fact that Sarah Palin does not sell magazines). The moment Bristol Palin and Johnston appeared at the Republican National Convention in September of 2008, their lives became tabloid fodder.
It must have been very difficult for these two people to become parents at such a young age. Now they get to share that experience with the entire world.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
1-22-2010 @ 5:34PM
LT Hunter said...Typical. And just like her mother. I'm sure Bristol is having to go without, is a struggling single-mom on the verge of welfare, is having to raise the child without the father...
Here's the truth: She's a liar like her mom. She's an unreasonable star-struck teenager, grubbing for money the only way she knows how. And much like any other "celebrity" she's using her fifteen minutes to get as much as she possibly can now that NO man in Alaska will touch her. Good luck Bristol. Your no victim. You want to play these games, I'm sure Levi will write you a check.
Reply
1-23-2010 @ 1:08PM
Heidi said...Bristol did not get pregnant by herself. That boy needs to man-up and support the child he fathered. Not many teen mothers are fortunate enough to have the family support she has. As for your comment about using her 'fifteen minutes".....At least she's telling other teens not to make the same mistakes she did. All Levi does is milk HIS fifteen minutes by badmouthing the Palins. Your so-called "truth" is pure BS.
1-24-2010 @ 11:54PM
charlotte lewis said...Its about the baby. It is sad that the baby will grow up and know that his father cared more about the money than him. It is also sad the baby will grow up knowing his father was out having fun while his mother was the only parent who was there for him 24 hours a day 7 days a week. His self esteem will be hurt and he will despise his father when he is an adult.
1-23-2010 @ 9:06AM
Sara said...I'm sure she's making much more money than he is as she's doing as many or more appearances as he is and she's receiving support from her family.
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1-24-2010 @ 2:50PM
ED said...Some of these observations are absolutely incredible. Child support is not related to or dependent on what grandparents are contributing to the support of the child. Sarah and Todd have no duty to support a grandchild. Levi,on the other hand, does because he is a parent. I have handled numerous child support cases as an attorney and I am amazed at the following excuses for not paying child support:
1. Her family is wealthy,so I don't have to pay.
2. She is on welfare so I don't have to pay.(my personal favorite)
3. I am on Social Security Disability, the child is getting a check as my dependent, so I don't have to pay. (let the taxpayer pay it) PS. THEY ALL HAD TO PAY!
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1-24-2010 @ 5:15PM
Bernadette said...Any father or mother who does not pay child support for their child or children are DEAD BEAT DAD'S AND MOM'S.
CASE CLOSED!!!!!!!!
The government should place an law and procedure that any divorced parent who does not have custody of the child or children should automatically pay instead of the custodial parent having to run to family court all the time. This would save tax payers money and the local city and states money. Plus pay public assistance could be used for other things. So President OBAMA start thinking about putting some course of action to the the single parent. Think about all the money the tax payers, the cities and the states could add to their budget.
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1-24-2010 @ 7:06PM
reilylibrary said...His celebrity epitomizes the double standard our society has. She stays home to care for a baby - with the help of her family, I'm sure - while he becomes a sexy bachelor/model.
Yeah he's deadbeat dad, and he shouldn't get to be famous because he knocked up a politician's daughter and left her to be a single parent. He should be chided for shirking his responsibilities.
Reply
1-24-2010 @ 8:51PM
Mary said...It's astounding to me how the public has responded to this article. Use your common sense. You play, you pay. END OF STORY!
Levi fathered this child. He should be ordered to pay child support.
Each state has different laws, but I can tell you most of them are based on the salary of the parent who does not have custody of the child. This is a hard lesson for both of them to learn at such a young age. Please, no excuses.
Reply
1-25-2010 @ 12:55AM
Norma Jean said...Of course he's a "dead beat Dad" who is out for publicity for himself and cares nothing for either the baby he helped to make or the Mother I am sure he once professed his love to her....So that also makes him a loser and a liar!! This should have absolutely nothing to do with any help she is getting from her parents at this time....its not like shes applying for government aid like Food Stamps or more.....If he was a decent person it would not even be necessary to pursue him for child support....He should be fined additionally in my opinion and pay all lawyer fees involved....and maybe then grow up ....
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1-25-2010 @ 12:52PM
gossamer said...Deadbeat yes. I don't know about the dad part.
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4-26-2010 @ 8:43PM
GARY said...I think that the government should stay out of a persons personal family life... From what I saw, Levi was more than willing to be a father to his son but Bristol would not allow him to be one. Now that Bristol is a "single mom" ( a nice phrase for mothers that decided to get rid of the father) Levi will have to support and "visit" his son the way the courts say he will have to support and visit his son!
I also noticed that no one said anything about Bristol not allowing Levi to have parenting time with his son. No one calls Bristol a "Malicious mom" in fact, if she never allows Levi to see his son again, the court wont di anything to her, but let him miss out on a child support and he goes to jail!
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