Padma Lakshmi Stunned by Custody Lawsuit

On Wednesday, we learned that Padma Lakshmi was being sued by her ex-boyfriend Adam Dell for sole custody of their infant daughter Krisha. Now comes news that the single mom and Top Chef host didn't know about the lawsuit until we did! Her rep tells Us Weekly that Dell has yet to send a copy of the court filing to his daughter's mother, and that Padma had to find out about it in the New York Post.

"Ms. Lakshmi's sole interest lies in preserving the privacy and welfare of her daughter and in working out a fair and amenable agreement out of the media's glare," says the rep.

Venture capitalist Dell, 41, told the press that he was filing the suit because Lakshmi had "refused to negotiate a reasonable co-parenting agreement." He claims that Lakshmi, 40, only allows him to see their 11-month-old daughter for seven hours a week, rather than the court-sanctioned nine days a month. But Lakshmi's lawyer says that Dell is being deliberately misleading.

"The facts in the court papers are inaccurate," says the TV personality's lawyer. "(Lakshmi) is saddened and gravely disappointed that Mr. Dell has chosen a very public means of filing his petition with the court rather than doing so in a confidential or sealed manner... Mrs. Lakshmi believes that the manner in which the papers were filed is antithetical to the welfare and long-term emotional well being of their daughter."

It does seem like going to the media before going to Lakshmi's lawyers was pretty inconsiderate of Dell -- though of course, we don't know the whole story. TMZ's sources have an interesting take, though: according to the website, Dell is still angry that Padma essentially chose to raise the baby without him (she refused child support), and is trying to use the court case to force a relationship with his ex. For the sake of their daughter's future Googling, we hope these two can work things out in private.

Do you think it was wrong of Padma Lakshmi's ex to go to the media with his custody lawsuit? Chime in below!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/padma-lakshmi-stunned-custody-lawsuit/1-a-317669

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