Gordon v. Gordon

Gordon v. Gordon
Court	District Court of Clark County, Nevada
Full case name	La Toya Jackson–Gordon v. Jack Leon Gordon
Date decided	March 3, 1998
Citation(s)	Book 19990201, Page 01875
Judge(s) sitting	Carl J. Christensen
Case opinions
A dissolution of marriage, legal change of name, and domestic violence injunction were awarded to La Toya Jackson Gordon.

La Toya Jackson–Gordon v. Jack Leon Gordon was a highly-publicized trial for a petition for a dissolution of marriage between American singer La Toya Jackson and her husband and manager Jack Gordon. On March 3, 1998, an order was entered by District Judge Carl J. Christensen at Clark County, Nevada, dissolving the marriage and awarding Jackson royalties, property, and a large sum of money.^[1]

Marriage history

Jackson and Gordon were married on September 5, 1989, in Reno, Nevada. According to Jackson's autobiography, the marriage was both unplanned and against her will.^[2] She later stated in an interview that Gordon tricked her into the marriage by brainwashing her into believing that her family was going to attempt to kidnap and kill her. What started as a business relationship soon turned into an abusive partnership; Gordon was arrested twice for second-degree assault against Jackson.^[3] Jackson also filed a gender-based lawsuit against Gordon before filing for divorce.^[4]

Gordon repeatedly used Jackson for a quick profit. In 1996, Gordon attempted to force Jackson to dance at a Reading, Pennsylvania, strip club, Al's Diamond cabaret. She refused to do so and in return, was booed and heckled by the crowd, who paid to see her strip. (Reading Eagle (Reading, PA) Publish date:January 6, 2007). She refused and returned home to be beaten.^[5] It was at this point that Jackson left Gordon and immediately filed for divorce and a domestic violence injunction.

Gordon's violations of court orders

As a part of the original petition, it was requested that Gordon submit financial documents and all records of any property he owned. He exercised his right to not incriminate himself and refused to submit the documents to the court. His attorney admitted to this, and also admitted that Gordon had sold properties that he and Jackson mutually owned without Jackson's permission, despite the fact that the court had previously ordered that he not sell any of these properties until further instruction.^[6]

Return of Jackson's property

From the final divorce decree, Gordon was ordered to return all of Jackson's fur coats, photographs, videos, and furnishings. He was also ordered to forego his rights to any of Jackson's contracts that she signed during the marriage, including those with Sony Music Entertainment, BMG Music, Playboy Entertainment, and Penguin/Dutton Books. Jackson was awarded full ownership of the apartment where the couple resided during their marriage.^[7] According to public record, Jackson still lives in the apartment today.

Jackson's legal change of name

As part of the final judgment, Jackson's maiden name was restored; the document specifically states that her name was changed from La Toya Jackson Gordon to La Toya Jackson, thus eliminating her former middle name of Yvonne as a part of her legal name.^[8]

Restraining order and final settlement

The judge also ordered that Gordon was strictly forbidden from utilizing the likeness of Jackson in any newspaper, magazine, tabloid, or promotional media, and that any violation of this order would result in severe sanctions.^[9] The order concludes with a response to Jackson's petition for a restraining order against Gordon; it was ordered by the court that Gordon and Jackson were both strictly prohibited from going within 100 feet of each other, each other's work place or residence, or any member of each other's family.^[10]

Gordon was ordered to provide Jackson with a $350,000 settlement^[11] and pay $15,000 to cover Jackson's attorney fees.^[12] Jackson later stated in her autobiography "Starting Over" that Gordon did not pay her the $350,000 settlement she was awarded.

Notes

1. ^ Gordon v. Gordon
2. ^ Jackson Gordon, La Toya; Patricia Romanowski (1991), La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family, New American Library, pp. 261, ISBN 0-451-17415-1 
3. ^ "Jacksons invite La Toya back home after reported assault on her by husband.", Jet: 58, May 10, 1993 
4. ^ "LaToya Jackson files gender-based violence suit against husband.", Jet: 22, July 15, 1996 
5. ^ Morrison, Jane Ann (April 28, 2005), "Gordon's family leaves the skeletons in his closet and out of his obit.", Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Apr-28-Thu-2005/news/26395618.html 
6. ^ Gordon v. Gordon, page 2, lines 5–9.
7. ^ Gordon v. Gordon, pages 3–4.
8. ^ Gordon v. Gordon, page 2, lines 25–26.
9. ^ Gordon v. Gordon, page 6, lines 12–15
10. ^ Gordon v. Gordon, page 6, lines 19–26
11. ^ Gordon v. Gordon, page 4, lines 20–22.
12. ^ Gordon v. Gordon, page 7, lines 8–9.

References

• Gordon v. Gordon, Book 19990201 Page 01875 (District Court of Clark County, Nevada March 3, 1998).