On Nov. 16, MTV News confirmed through Yeater’s lawyer, Jeffrey Leving, that the case had indeed been dropped, but that private negotiations are still being held with Bieber’s attorney, Los Angeles-based Howard Weitzman, for a settlement.
“We are still pursuing a DNA test and … if it’s positive, our desire for child support is still active,” said Leving, who confirmed that a motion to dismiss the paternity action was filed Nov. 9 in San Diego, Calif. “We could refile the paternity case tomorrow if we wanted, but we are attempting to settle the case out of court.”
Leving is forbidden from talking about the decision to withdraw the petition as part of a strategy to negotiate a confidentiality agreement and child-support payments in an out-of-court settlement.
Leving has barred Yeater from doing any more media interviews and has hired a detective to investigate what he says are death threats against Yeater.
“She’s a 20-year-old single mom with no money and no job trying to raise an infant, and she’s being harassed and stalked,” he said.
Though many believe the decision to withdraw the paternity suit is a sign of weakness in Yeater’s case, Leving maintains that “The case is stronger now because we can negotiate outside of court. I believe her. I believe she had sexual intercourse with him and I do believe he is the father of the child.”
Bieber’s legal team has vehemently denied accusations that Yeater and Bieber had unprotected sex last October in a backstage bathroom after the pop star’s Los Angeles concert and that he is the father of the 4-month-old baby.
A Bieber spokesperson recently weighed in on the dropped suit and maintained that Bieber is innocent of all claims.
“As we’ve said from the beginning, it’s sad that someone would fabricate such a malicious, defamatory, and demonstrably false claim,” Matthew Hiltzik said in a statement. “We’ll continue to consider all of our options to protect Justin.”
Well, whether Bieber is or isn’t innocent, if Leving has his way, the public will never know, because he’s pursuing a nondisclosure agreement.
“If it’s negative, we’ll deal with it. If it’s positive, we’ll deal with it when that happens,” Leving said. “But hopefully, whether it’s positive or negative, nobody will know.”
Well, Bieber may not be out of hot water just yet, but here are five other celebs who have beaten a paternity scandal. –nicholas robinson
