A judge has dismissed a $9 million lawsuit that accused political comic Bill Maher of reneging on a promise to marry a former girlfriend and support her for life, Maher’s lawyer said.
A Superior Court judge on Monday threw out the palimony lawsuit by Nancy “Coco” Johnsen, a former model and flight attendant who dated Maher for months, according to a joint statement from Maher’s lawyer, Adam Streisand, and publicist Cece Yorke.
The lawsuit, which was filed in November, sought $9 million and other unspecified damages. It accused Maher of fraud, battery and assault.
Streisand and Yorke didn’t return calls seeking additional comment Tuesday and a lawyer for Johnsen couldn’t immediately be located.
Maher filed a request to dismiss the lawsuit later in November, claiming he was a “confirmed bachelor” and never promised to marry or support Johnsen. California law doesn’t acknowledge her palimony allegations, his lawyer argued.
Johnsen claimed in the lawsuit that she fell in love with the HBO “Real Time” host during a relationship that began in January 2003.
She claimed Maher persuaded her to quit her career and in return promised the two would marry and have children. She also claimed Maher promised to buy her the house in Beverly Hills where Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez once lived or give her money to buy a similar house.
But after quitting a job at Delta Airlines, Johnsen claims, Maher “verbally abused” her and at a party he became angry and shook her, causing back and neck injuries.