Judge Reduces Eminem's Moms Settlement

M O U N T  C L E M E N S, Mich., Aug. 8, 2001 -- A Macomb County Judge has ruled that rapper Eminem's mother is entitled to $1,600 of a $25,000settlement she won against her son.

Debbie Mathers originally brought a $11 million defamation ofcharacter lawsuit against her hip-hop star son in 1999. In June,Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Mark Switalski ruled in her favorfor $25,000.

On Monday, Switalski ruled that $23,354.25 of that figurebelonged to Mathers' attorney, Fred Gibson.

Mathers Blamed for Change in Decision

Lawyers on both sides of the case say the ruling is Mathers'fault, because a deal she made with Gibson concerning herex-husband, John Briggs, entitled the lawyer to more than thestandard one-third of the settlement.

Mathers signed an agreement with Gibson in 1999 stating shewould pay the attorney for representing Briggs in two felony casesin St. Clair County, in which he wound up serving nine months injail on home invasion and malicious destruction of propertyconvictions, Gibson said.

Her agreed method of payment was from proceeds of her defamationlawsuit against her son, if she won or settled, according toGibson.

In June of this year, Mathers tried to fire Gibson and claimedhe had coerced her into taking the $25,000 settlement. But Switalski ruled that Mathers had abandoned her legalstanding to jockey for more money.

Famous Mom Plans Tell-All Book

Gibson said he was pretty sure he hadn't heard the last fromEminem's mother.

"This is not the last laugh because she was the mosthigh-maintenance client I've had in my legal career," he saidMonday. "That amount was a far cry to the time I dedicated to herpersonally and to the legal action."

Mathers sued her son, whose real name is Marshall Bruce MathersIII, for defamation and intentional infliction of emotionaldistress due to lyrics on Eminem's debut CD, The Slim Shady LP.

Mathers told the Detroit Free Press that she is writing abook about her life raising Eminem.