Thursday, 11 October 2007

Lawyer: David Hasselhoff not likely to lose custody

The actor will keep daughters despite relapse

David Hasselhoff will likely not lose custody of his daughters, his lawyer Melvin Goldsman tells PEOPLE, due to a hospitalization for what the actor's rep called a relapse.

"I don't think (Tuesday's) incident will affect David's retaining primary physical custody of his daughters, which by the way, was the court's final custody arrangement," he said.

Hasselhoff, 55, who has called himself a "recovering alcoholic," had a "brief relapse" and "immediately recognized the importance of addressing it with the assistance of his doctors," his rep, Judy Katz, said in a statement to TMZ.com on Tuesday.

According to Goldsman, Hasselhoff's ex, Pamela Bach, has been watching over daughters Taylor-Ann, 17, and Hayley, 15, for at least the last five weeks because the actor was traveling on business.

"I wish David the best," Bach, 44, told TV's Extra. "I just hope he gets better."

Lawyers for both sides face off in a mediation meeting Thursday in effort to settle a dispute over the former couple's finances. Until then, their divorce is not yet final.

In light of the relapse and with regard to custody, Bach's attorney, Michael Trope, would only say, "I believe there will be an understanding reached between the parties that will not necessitate any court action or any public dissemination between the parties."

Hasselhoff filed for divorce from Bach in January 2006 after 16 years of marriage.

Despite a drunken video of the former Baywatch star surfacing in May, Hasselhoff was granted primary physical custody of his daughters the following month.

By Ken Lee