Los Angeles- Score one for Bill Maher.
A Los Angeles judge has thrown out a palimony lawsuit brought by Maher’s former girlfriend Nancy “Coco” Johnsen.
Johnsen launched her $9 million palimony suit on Nov. 10, after the couple’s relationship soured. She claimed Maher promised her marriage and a mansion after she quit her job as a flight attendant to be his full-time steady. Her suit also included allegations that Maher physically abused her and made “degrading racial comments” about her.
Maher immediately cried foul and filed his own motion two weeks later stating the accusations were false and he was the target of extortion. “When the dating ended, [Johnsen] launched a campaign to embarrass, humiliate and extort ridiculous sums of money from Bill Maher,” the filing read. He asked for a full dismissal of the case.
On Monday, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge granted the motion.
“As promised when the complaint was first filed, we successfully persuaded the court to toss out Coco Johnsen’s palimony claims, because eight months of dating doesn’t entitle you to palimony,” Maher’s attorney, Adam Streisand, said in a statement Tuesday.
“If her case were allowed to proceed, every man and woman in California would be putting their financial lives at stake by choosing to date.”
There has been no word yet from Maher on the ruling. Johnsen’s lawyers, Roger Muse and Cyrus John Nownejad, did not immediately return a phone call Tuesday seeking comment. It is not known if they plan to appeal the decision.
The former Politically Incorrect host attended the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Saturday night, joining Hollywood types such as Jane Fonda, Richard Gere, Goldie Hawn and former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis.
He continues to host HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher and recently scored interviews with controversial reporter Jeff Gannon and Fox News powerhouse Bill O’Reilly. Real Time returns with another new edition this Friday.
Maher also has a slate of live gigs. Next up, he brings his stand-up act to the Taft Theater in Cincinnati May 19.