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brooklynite

(93,842 posts)
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 09:42 AM Mar 2016

William Shatner hit with $170 million paternity suit

CNN:

William Shatner is being sued for $170 million by a Florida-based radio host who claims that the "Star Trek" actor is his father.

Peter Sloan, who now goes by the name Peter Shatner, says the actor had an affair with his birth mother, Katherine Burt (later Kathy McNeil), in 1956.

Shatner denies that Sloan is his son.

Sloan, 59, was given up for adoption shortly after his birth. In 1984, he started seeking his birth parents and identified the people he believed to be his mother and father.


Um, 1956?
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William Shatner hit with $170 million paternity suit (Original Post) brooklynite Mar 2016 OP
170? trumad Mar 2016 #1
actually it's only $19 M in 1956 $. brooklynite Mar 2016 #2
Well hey Hulk Hogan got $150 million from that Gawker lawsuit. Initech Mar 2016 #15
Paternity test will solve that Iliyah Mar 2016 #3
Irrelevant - if he was adopted, that's the end of the story jberryhill Mar 2016 #9
In Kansas they go after sperm donors for paternity Major Nikon Mar 2016 #24
That's not the same thing jberryhill Mar 2016 #40
To call this a "paternity suit" is pretty disingenuous to begin with Major Nikon Mar 2016 #43
People like you who read the linked articles are so annoying jberryhill Mar 2016 #44
Probably not so much as you might think Major Nikon Mar 2016 #53
I remember reading about the swarms of slökkysvts. Gidney N Cloyd Mar 2016 #67
I was wondering about that Prism Mar 2016 #36
Your understanding is correct jberryhill Mar 2016 #41
170 million dollars for being his father? Democat Mar 2016 #4
Wait, someone actually wants to claim Shatner as a father? NV Whino Mar 2016 #5
Hence the apparent damage award for emotional distress jberryhill Mar 2016 #8
Ah, good point. NV Whino Mar 2016 #12
Heehee. I like that. brush Mar 2016 #56
Sleeping with all those aliens NobodyHere Mar 2016 #6
Ennie, meanie , minney....SHATNER !!!!! bdwker Mar 2016 #7
Is He Worth Even Close To That? ProfessorGAC Mar 2016 #10
I think his Priceline.com gig has been lucrative TexasBushwhacker Mar 2016 #17
Absolutely Right ProfessorGAC Mar 2016 #18
Even when Shatner dies he isn't entitled to anything TexasBushwhacker Mar 2016 #21
Guy Might Just Be Fishing ProfessorGAC Mar 2016 #22
Frankly, Shatner should sue him for libel TexasBushwhacker Mar 2016 #23
I see no resemblance at all...nt joeybee12 Mar 2016 #25
That photo makes me wonder what was Jack Nicholson doing in 1956? Glassunion Mar 2016 #29
I was thinking exactly the same thing! smirkymonkey Mar 2016 #68
He looks more like Jack Nicholson than Shatner. NanceGreggs Mar 2016 #30
Definitely looks like... 3catwoman3 Mar 2016 #34
My husband said he looks like Tom Arnold me b zola Mar 2016 #42
Tom Arnold is a good call, too. NanceGreggs Mar 2016 #47
The nose is similar. louis-t Mar 2016 #55
Ouch MowCowWhoHow III Mar 2016 #11
Sounds like an episode of "Boston Legal"! Ghost in the Machine Mar 2016 #13
Since when can adults who were adopted sue their birth parents for money? Nt gollygee Mar 2016 #14
They can't jberryhill Mar 2016 #38
Pete probably used proto-matter when he built his terraforming torpedo, the slacker. Orrex Mar 2016 #16
"He Cheated" ProfessorGAC Mar 2016 #19
This adoption was almost 60 years ago. That's a long time. Dr. Strange Mar 2016 #62
I see what you did there ;) Takket Mar 2016 #63
Well, yours is the superior intellect. Dr. Strange Mar 2016 #64
FASCINATING .... yuiyoshida Mar 2016 #20
Perfect underpants Mar 2016 #45
170 million - That's a LOT of paternity! dchill Mar 2016 #26
I'd agree to be Shatner's son for half that much Major Nikon Mar 2016 #27
Goes without saying! dchill Mar 2016 #28
I'd agree to be Katherine Burt for a third of it. Glassunion Mar 2016 #33
Not me even fopr double that! whistler162 Mar 2016 #70
Is this the mother? Tommy_Carcetti Mar 2016 #31
That was Yvonne 'BatGirl' Craig. edbermac Mar 2016 #35
Way to set the adoptee rights movement back...ugh me b zola Mar 2016 #32
Yeah, I'm totally puzzled by this Prism Mar 2016 #39
I know, right? me b zola Mar 2016 #48
LOL, I very much relate Prism Mar 2016 #50
Exactly. Understanding how we fit into the universe me b zola Mar 2016 #60
At best I think he could be able to sue for back birthday and christmas presents - but that's it! Victor_c3 Mar 2016 #49
Strange story, I don't understand why he would expect money in a lawsuit while Shatner polly7 Mar 2016 #37
My wife was adopted (so that makes me an expert, of course (roll eyes)) Victor_c3 Mar 2016 #51
I try to tell her that ...... and she'd been doing fine for so many years not really polly7 Mar 2016 #58
It sounds like your sister could Ilsa Mar 2016 #54
I think so, too and am going to prod her a bit. Thanks, Ilsa. nt. polly7 Mar 2016 #59
He is saying a Shatner rep called him a big fat poopie head whistler162 Mar 2016 #69
Is this guy green? underpants Mar 2016 #46
Pay him 170 million credits Kelvin Mace Mar 2016 #52
Good luck with that. JonathanRackham Mar 2016 #57
Horrible headline. He is NOT suing for paternity. Xithras Mar 2016 #61
In any case, he sounds like a bit of a lost soul TexasBushwhacker Mar 2016 #65
I'm torn between Yo_Mama Mar 2016 #66
Well, of Shatner has called him a fraud, and he is indeed Shatner's The Second Stone Mar 2016 #71
Well the guy is obviously half Klingon so that's your proof right there Monk06 Mar 2016 #72
Hope that kid doesn't run into any Klingons! AnnieBW Mar 2016 #73
I bet 500 quatloos on the newcomer daleo Mar 2016 #74
 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
40. That's not the same thing
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 01:35 PM
Mar 2016

State laws vary on sperm donors and whether they will be recognized as parents.

Adoption laws are very, very clear on this point.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
43. To call this a "paternity suit" is pretty disingenuous to begin with
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 01:44 PM
Mar 2016

Although paternity is probably a relevant issue, it isn't why Shatner is being sued.

 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
44. People like you who read the linked articles are so annoying
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 01:47 PM
Mar 2016

....with your "facts" and so on.

I'll bet you're the kind of person who reads instructions before assembling stuff.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
53. Probably not so much as you might think
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 02:26 PM
Mar 2016

I once hired a witch doctor to put a curse on my local IKEA store.

 

Prism

(5,815 posts)
36. I was wondering about that
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 01:26 PM
Mar 2016

And I know you're an attorney.

I'm adopted, and my birth parents and grandparents turned out to have quite a bit of money. First, it would never cross my mind to bother about that. But second, I thought adoptions pretty much seal that door, so to speak. Once you're adopted, legally, you're not connected to them anymore.

At least, that's my understanding.

ProfessorGAC

(64,413 posts)
10. Is He Worth Even Close To That?
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 11:46 AM
Mar 2016

I know he's made a pretty great living, but does he have that much? Or, is this just someone suing for everything he does have?

TexasBushwhacker

(20,043 posts)
17. I think his Priceline.com gig has been lucrative
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 12:16 PM
Mar 2016

But that still doesn't mean this "son" is entitled to anything.

ProfessorGAC

(64,413 posts)
18. Absolutely Right
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 12:28 PM
Mar 2016

I was raised by my parents telling me that when i grew up i was responsible for taking care of me. They weren't rich and weren't going to live poor just so they could leave a bunch of money to my sister and i. Their money, and they were going to use it.

After my mom died (9 years after my dad) my sister and i got the money from the sale of their ranch home, minus commissions and legal fees.

Wasn't going to be living in Beverly Hills off that!

So, i'm with you. It's not the kids money and even IF he is genetically proven to be an offspring, he's not entitled to any of it, except through probate. Since Shatner's not dead yet, that point is moot.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,043 posts)
21. Even when Shatner dies he isn't entitled to anything
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 12:37 PM
Mar 2016

Unless Shatner died without a will. Bill can leave everything to his wife if he wants. She is the only person who can't be disinherited.

In any case, he doesn't look much like him.

?quality=70&strip=all&w=720&h=480&crop=1

ProfessorGAC

(64,413 posts)
22. Guy Might Just Be Fishing
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 12:41 PM
Mar 2016

Or deluding himself.

And, of course, you're correct. I agree that kids are only "entitled" to money if there is no will.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,043 posts)
23. Frankly, Shatner should sue him for libel
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 12:50 PM
Mar 2016

Peter Sloan (aka Peter Shatner) has published his story on his website: petershatner.com . It seems to me that he is defaming Bill by saying he acknowledged, and then denied, paternity.

me b zola

(19,053 posts)
42. My husband said he looks like Tom Arnold
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 01:43 PM
Mar 2016

...and quite frankly, seeking relationships for money makes that a better bet than Shatner.

NanceGreggs

(27,813 posts)
47. Tom Arnold is a good call, too.
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 01:56 PM
Mar 2016

Maybe this guy should have checked with us - we could have advised him on which celebrity was the better candidate.

Ghost in the Machine

(14,912 posts)
13. Sounds like an episode of "Boston Legal"!
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 11:55 AM
Mar 2016

Don't worry, he has mad cow disease, and Alan Shore will get him out of it... afterall, they're flamingos!

Peace,

Ghost

ProfessorGAC

(64,413 posts)
19. "He Cheated"
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 12:29 PM
Mar 2016

Says the son when he finds out that Kirk reprogrammed the Kobayashi Maru. Then it turns out, not so fast sonny boy

Dr. Strange

(25,898 posts)
62. This adoption was almost 60 years ago. That's a long time.
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 03:43 PM
Mar 2016

Although, if you go by the book, years might seem like days.

me b zola

(19,053 posts)
32. Way to set the adoptee rights movement back...ugh
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 01:10 PM
Mar 2016

Although in our ranks I have spoken with other people who have famous fathers, and their journey is a little different from the rest of ours, but none of them, to my knowledge are seeking money.

I think that in western culture when there has been injustice done with no way to ever make right, paternity issues aside, it is not uncommon to try to "fix" the unfixable with money. Nicole Brown Simpson's family successfully sued for wrongful death of their loved one. It cannot bring Nicole back to life but it was important for them to hold OJ responsible by the only means possible.

Still, this aids those who would negatively stereotype adoptees seeking their birth documents and the truths in the story of their lives. The adoptee rights movement is about adoptees having the same right to our birth records as the non adopted. The only thing that we seek is to gain information about ourselves.

 

Prism

(5,815 posts)
39. Yeah, I'm totally puzzled by this
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 01:32 PM
Mar 2016

I'm adopted and know my biological family. They have no legal connection to me or responsibility. It's my understanding that, even if they all died tomorrow, I'm not legally next of kin. My adoptive parents are my legal parents.

So I totally don't get how this guy's lawsuit even works. No matter how he was conceived, he's only legally entitled to his legal parents, yeah?

Ooft. What a shitty person. It would never ever cross my mind to go after my biological family for any reason. They made a tough decision, I'm grateful for that, and I had a decent upbringing. As far as I'm concerned, "Thanks for giving me life," is about the only appropriate sentiment towards them.

me b zola

(19,053 posts)
48. I know, right?
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 02:02 PM
Mar 2016

I found my bio father first and asked him to share info that would lead me to my mother. His first fear was that I had some kind of legal claim, such as back child support. I had to continuously reassure him that a) I had no legal claim as his child as I was legally adopted as a child, and b) even if I did have such a legal right (which I do not) I was not interested in anything other than information about me.

I remember in the last season of Dexter I was very anxious thinking that they had duped me into a story line that was going to be about reinforcing negative stereotypes about adoptees when they brought in Masuka's daughter that had been relinquished (without his knowledge). People had put in his head that she only showed up because she wanted material things from him, and because of that he at first reacted horribly by doing a background check on her. I was very happy though when the story line played out that she just wanted to know him. It was joy to me to see how they handled the familial idiosyncrasies, their weirdness that made sense when you saw them together. This really touched home for me as I always thought that I was weird, but once I found my mother I understood that I was not weird at all, I was just Nancy's daughter, lol.

 

Prism

(5,815 posts)
50. LOL, I very much relate
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 02:16 PM
Mar 2016

I'm really not like my adoptive family at all. Not only appearance wise (I'm taller, with brown hair and brown eyes in a family of shorties who are blonde/blue). But personality was the big thing! I'm quiet and introspective, while my adoptive family is loud and out-spoken. But then I met my biological parents, and I was all, "Ohhhhh. That's why I am this way." I'm a carbon copy of them in both looks and personality. And even interests. A lot of my hobbies are shared by my biological mom. My bio parents are actually married, so I have full siblings. My younger bio brother is more or less my twin in appearance and even voice. My bio mom can't tell us apart on the phone.

But, I like that, the opportunity to just know. That's all I wanted. It's like being able to say, "Ah, so this is how I descended into the universe. I get that now." And it made me appreciate the hell out of my adoptive parents even more. They took in this stranger who looked nothing like them and had a personality they didn't understand. But they loved me and raised me and took care of me anyway. Sometimes I must've seemed like an alien child, but they did their best, and I love them for it.

=)

me b zola

(19,053 posts)
60. Exactly. Understanding how we fit into the universe
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 02:52 PM
Mar 2016

Its the most basic thing, something that the non-adopted take for granted. We are not "blank slates" when we are adopted, we descended from generations of people who are imprinted on our DNA. Not just the good, but the bad as well. To understand who we are we need to know where we came from.

For me there could not be a closer match in my adoptive parents to my biological families. Still, I was like a fish out of water. I always loved them (my adoptive parents), but I was out of sorts being without a link or information to/about my origins. I could not have been more gobsmacked when I met and got to know my mother, all of the idiosyncrasies that we shared. Mind blowing. A good friend of mine (who is also adopted) was not able to contact us for a couple of days so he called my moms house to see if we were ok. He was blown away by just how similar my mother and I are, it was all he could talk about for weeks, lol.

Cheers to you, cheers to the knowing. And here's for open records that others can know as well.

Victor_c3

(3,557 posts)
49. At best I think he could be able to sue for back birthday and christmas presents - but that's it!
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 02:12 PM
Mar 2016

I don't see how being someone's father (or mother) makes you responsible for paying large swaths of your net worth to them. I had absolutely nothing to do with my parent's overall wealth (or lack thereof) and to expect any of it when they die is insane. I told my parents (and my in-laws who actually have some money) to blow all of their cash before they die. They earned it and deserve to enjoy it to their fullest extent. Not that I wouldn't mind some "free money" but they earned it, not me.

For what it is worth, my wife and her brother were both adopted from different families. It has been several years now, but they sought out their biological parents only to know their background. They didn't even necessarily want relationships with their bio-families. As far as my wife is concerned her "real" mom and dad are the ones that adopted her. They are the ones who raised her and were there for her when she was growing up.

The guy in this article is just a greedy asshole.

polly7

(20,582 posts)
37. Strange story, I don't understand why he would expect money in a lawsuit while Shatner
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 01:26 PM
Mar 2016

is still alive.

My sister gave up her baby she had when she was 18 and alone ... her boyfriend turned out to be an abusive pos. It was very painful for her and a horrible decision she had to make, but she did it. She didn't want to see the baby for obvious reasons, but baby was very small and fragile - the nurses in the local hospital kept bringing her in for my sister to hold and take care of. So ... it was made harder. She decided she never wanted to meet this daughter, believing she was being adopted into a very good home - (which it was.)


Anyway ... 19 years later, her daughter somehow tracked her down ... all the pain and guilt came back. She took her calls, and they met. Her daughter had been raised in an affluent family and had had everything a child could want. After a few months, she decided to go to stay with my sister and her husband in Ontario and while there, out of the blue, declared they needed to put her in their will. My sister and bil both have worked decent paying jobs - she as a nurse's aide and he with the RCMP, but they haven't a huge amount of money saved to leave anyone. The daughter phones every couple of months and lays on a guilt trip - it's tearing my sister apart. This may seem a horrible thing to say - but she doesn't even like her and despite being the most loving person - has no feelings at all for her as a daughter. I know nothing about legal issues, but I'm afraid that if something does happen to my sister or her husband there's going to be a huge mess. It makes me angry.

Victor_c3

(3,557 posts)
51. My wife was adopted (so that makes me an expert, of course (roll eyes))
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 02:20 PM
Mar 2016

Her bio mother and father were teenagers at the time she was born. Her mom was a 16-year-old coke addict and her father was the drug dealer trading drugs for sex with her mom. Adoption was a godsend for my wife. She was raised in an upper middleclass family with every opportunity a kid could want. Adoption, undoubtedly, gave my wife an opportunity in life that she wouldn't have had otherwise.

The story of your sister both saddens and angers me. She doesn't need to feel guilty for putting her daughter up for adoption and she shouldn't. by putting her up for adoption she gave her the best opportunity to succeed in life that she could. I hope that is clear to her.

polly7

(20,582 posts)
58. I try to tell her that ...... and she'd been doing fine for so many years not really
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 02:47 PM
Mar 2016

even thinking about it much because she knew baby had gone to a good family. Now though, she's wondering all sorts of things - maybe she was abused, mistreated, neglected ... and on and on. Yet, her daughter has spoken of nothing like that and really, in glowing terms of her adoptive family and growing up.

After being contacted and the phone calls and a couple of meetings, my sister did try at first to bring her into the family - a very, very large family where no-one but my parents and brothers and sisters even knew she had a daughter - so it was extremely hard for her. But her daughter didn't seem to want to get to know any of us much at all when we tried to involve her. Actually, she didn't even seem to like us (and we're a nice, crazy and fun family, if I do say so myself) - I'm a pretty good judge of people, she's definitely not shy or anxious around strangers - and we all tried. She only seemed to want to be around my sister and bil, which is fine .... but, always with the little comments that make my sister feel guilty. It sounds harsh, but I'm at the point I'm ready to go for a visit and just tell her what my sister won't, flat out. If she wants to wait until one or both die and fight for what they have left - she can do it then. Until then, I just want her to leave them the hell alone.

I'm so glad your wife got the opportunities every child deserves - and maybe even a bit more. Children having children, especially troubled and addicted children - it's terrifying to think of what she might have had to endure.

Ilsa

(61,675 posts)
54. It sounds like your sister could
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 02:27 PM
Mar 2016

benefit from counseling. Seeing someone with an objective point of view might help her get over the guilt trip this girl is laying on her.

Xithras

(16,191 posts)
61. Horrible headline. He is NOT suing for paternity.
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 02:54 PM
Mar 2016

He is suing for libel, slander and harassment.

The guy is a radio host and has been claiming that Shatner was his father since the 1980's. Shatner denies paternity. Because this guy publicly claims that Shatner is his father, Shatner's staff has had to publicly address the issue on Facebook and Twitter, and they've refuted his claims. Shatners lawyers have also shut down some of his online services for using copyrighted images of Shatner without permission, and for pretending to be part of the Shatner family. The guy claims that the denial of paternity is slander (because it essentially calls him a liar), and that shutting down his access to Shatner's image is harassment and interference.

He's not asking for the money back as some kind of child support, but he wants them as compensation for the "damages" he claims that Shatner has done.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,043 posts)
65. In any case, he sounds like a bit of a lost soul
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 03:52 PM
Mar 2016

He got adopted, then his parents divorced when he was 6. His father moved to Nigeria (!). Then his mother remarried and he was adopted by her new husband. When he was 26 he got back in touch with his first adoptive father.

I read through his website, petershatner.com and it seems that he has now written an autobiography called "The Search", which he is shopping around to publishers.

Yo_Mama

(8,303 posts)
66. I'm torn between
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 04:19 PM
Mar 2016

A) Not wanting to judge this man too harshly - after all we are all human and we are all imperfect, and this seems rather nuts, and
B) My intuitive reaction that this is a form of stalking and deserves a harsh rebuttal and public censure.

There is also the thought that this won't help adults who were adopted and are seeking contact with their birth parents and/or family one bit, which is one reason why it deserves public censure.

 

The Second Stone

(2,900 posts)
71. Well, of Shatner has called him a fraud, and he is indeed Shatner's
Thu Mar 31, 2016, 06:45 PM
Mar 2016

biological son, then a libel suit would lie. Not much of one. But one would have thought the same of Hulk Hogan and his wandering videoed pee pee.

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