From the baseball diamond to the love triangle - part 2

I first wrote about Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera’s family law debacle in May 2018, and it appears that the matter has finally concluded.

 

Miggy fathered two children with his ex-mistress Belkis Rodriguez, and was previously ordered by a Florida court to pay $12,247 per month in support, along with a lot of fancy “extras,” like top of the line theme park passes, gifts and Rodriguez’s attorney fees.  Mind you, he has three children with his wife as well.  The 2017 paternity suit filed by Rodriguez made it very apparent what off the field activities Cabrera was engaging in.

 

Despite mediation and attempted negotiations, all attempts to settle the case backfired.  As I noted in my previous article, I doubted that either party would back down from their position.  Rodriguez wanted her kids treated the same as Miggy’s children with his wife in terms of financial advantages, especially considering his $30 million a year salary.  She was seeking $100,000 per month in child support.  Cabrera continuously accused his former mistress of attempting to extort him, which is why he chose to start paying her voluntarily prior to the lawsuit commencing.  However, when he started to cut back on the payments in attempts to save his marriage, he alleges that she continued to threaten him, and the paternity suit was filed.

 

After the recent January 2019 trial, the judge ordered Cabrera to pay $20,000 per month in child support, but also ordered the star to pay for insurance, extra-curriculars, tuition, vacations (consistent with what his other three children enjoy), Rodriguez’s attorney fees, and to maintain $5 million life insurance policies for the children he fathered with her.  He must pay off Rodriguez’s house by July of this year to the tune of almost $1 million.  Oh, and the theme park perks continue as well.

 

In an interesting turn of events, in early February 2019, the judge has decided to exercise his discretion and re-examine the $20,000 per month child support ruling after reviewing final judgments that were submitted.  Florida law suggests that child support for two kiddos should be 7.5% of a person’s net income, which would be more per month than Rodriguez’s request for $100,000.  Not surprisingly, Cabrera’s attorneys believe his extreme wealth doesn’t mesh with the statute’s intent.

 

Whether or not the judge issues a new ruling remains to be seen, but I’m betting neither party will receive what they want in terms of the financial settlement.  At least Miggy’s got the guaranteed yearly $30 million until 2023, regardless of his performance.  If only we could all be so lucky.