Cruise (Libel) Missile Targets Bauer Publishing

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In Tom Cruise v. Bauer, Inc. et al (Case No. 2:2012-cv-09124), United States District Court for the Central District of California Judge Dean D. Pregerson will hear a defamation suit by the Hollywood superstar against the publisher of In Touch Weekly and Life and Style Magazine whom he accuses of portraying him as a neglectful father.

According to a report by the New York Times, Cruise went ballistic over the cover story of Life & Style last July 30 that featured a photo of his daughter Suri from his marriage to actress Katie Holmes accompanied by the words "Suri in tears, Abandoned by Her Dad," and another cover photo of Suri on the Oct. 1 issue of In Touch captioned "Abandoned by Daddy."

Cruise's suit alleges neither of the inside stories concerning the provocative covers backed the claims that he abandoned his daughter after Holmes filed for divorce in June 2012. The lawsuit seeks more than $50 million in damages.