Mariah Yeater's lawyer in paternity case says that while lawsuit has been dropped, negotiations for settlement are ongoing.
By John Mitchell
Justin Bieber
Photo: WireImage
Justin Bieber reportedly took a DNA test Friday in response to the paternity case brought against him by Mariah Yeater, a 20-year-old California woman alleging the singer fathered her 4-month-old son, and now Yeater's attorney tells TMZ his client will submit her baby for testing.
Late last month, Yeater filed a lawsuit claiming she became pregnant by Bieber during a backstage encounter following his October 25, 2010, concert at the Los Angeles Staples Center. Yeater withdrew her paternity suit a few weeks later and was dropped as a client by her initial legal team in mid-November. She went on to hire new counsel, led by Chicago-based attorney Jeffrey Leving, who told MTV News that while the suit had been dropped, negotiations for a settlement were ongoing.
Bieber's legal team vehemently denies the allegations and has stated from the get-go that it might pursue legal action to protect the pop star from further false claims. "As we've said from the beginning, it's sad that someone would fabricate such a malicious, defamatory and demonstrably false claim," Bieber's spokesman, Matthew Hiltzik, said in a statement. "We'll continue to consider all of our options to protect Justin."
What Are Bieber's Legal Options Now That Yeater Has Dropped Her Suit? After reports surfaced that Bieber took a DNA test in New Jersey, TMZ reported Yeater was deliberately avoiding having her child tested because she knew the results would serve as evidence against her, should Bieber's team file suit for defamation or abuse of the legal process. Her lawyer is now dispelling that notion, telling the gossip site that his client "can't wait" to submit her young son for testing.
Leving, however, claimed he has a problem with the DNA test Bieber reportedly submitted because a member of his team was not present when it was administered. The lawyer said he has been in touch with Bieber's legal counsel, headed by Howard Weitzman, and hopes both teams can reach an agreement on DNA-testing protocol.
Bieber has maintained a positive attitude throughout the ordeal. He has not altered the promotional tour for his holiday album, Under the Mistletoe, including a recent performance at the American Music Awards and on the "Today" show, and told MTV News last week at the Pencils of Promise charity event that he's doing "great."
Earlier that day, he spoke of the paternity case briefly with New York's Z100 radio station, saying, "As far as the whole baby situation, it's unfortunate that it had to happen like that. People make false accusations, but things happen in this industry, and you have to keep your head high and be positive."
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