Sandra Bullock Battles for Custody of Kids

By PopEater Staff Posted Nov 4th 2009 05:21PM

Actress Sandra Bullock and her husband Jesse James are facing a fierce custody battle with James' ex-wife Janine Lindemulder. Although Bullock has been helping her husband raise his 5-year-old daughter Sunny while Lindemulder was in prison for tax evasion, the mother is fighting to get her daughter back, claiming Bullock is her biggest obstacle. "What would give her the right to take away my daughter? You know, this is my daughter. I am the best mother I can be," Lindemulder said on 'Good Morning America'.

Although Lindemulder was set to regain custody after completing her prison sentence, James went before a judge to determine whether she was a fit mother. According to a court declaration, James asked that Lindemulder prove that she could provide a safe environment for their child that included keeping her away from pornographers, drug addicts, guns and firearms, felons and other unsafe environments. Bullock and James have called Lindemulder and her new husband, also a convicted felon, unfit.

Lindemulder, who has appeared in more than 100 adult films, is perhaps best known because of her association with the punk band Blink 182. She graced the cover of its 1999 album 'Enema of the State' and appeared in two of the band's videos.

In an October 13 letter to the judge presiding over the case obtained by CNN, Lindemulder wrote that she hoped to see her daughter every Saturday, and be more informed of her child's out-of-state travel and any changes in her education. "My daughter and I are both very eager to get back to a normal, healthy, loving life," she wrote.

The court granted Lindemulder visitation rights on Sundays, according to court documents, as long as she kept her daughter away from her new husband -- felon Jeremy Aikman -- and did not consume any drugs or alcohol.

James found himself back in court October 29, saying that Lindemulder violated that October 13 order to ensure Sunny had zero contact with her new spouse, according to Access Hollywood.

To prove that her maternal instincts are sound, Lindemulder is taking her case to the court of public opinion.

In a letter to the judge at Lindemulder's sentencing, Bullock raised concerns about the girl's safety, alleging that the child was left alone during the day while Lindemulder was "asleep from drug use."

"I myself have stopped working like I used to in order to be here with Jesse and the kids because we are on constant high alert," Bullock wrote, "never knowing what condition Janine will be in, and even more concerning, the condition [the girl] will be in."

Lindemulder, 40, has admitted to substance abuse in the past but said there have been long stretches of time when she hasn't used any drugs. She acknowledged making "horrific choices in the past" but says her life is back on track and that she deserves to keep custody of her daughter. "Sandy doesn't know what goes on in my house," she said. "I'd love for her to. Please come over, you know, I'll make dinner, you know, let's sit down, [as] two women."

James, via his attorney, has responded to Lindemulder's claims against Bullock, telling PEOPLE: "Sandra Bullock is not a party to this litigation ... Mr. James's sole concern is for the safety, welfare and best interests of his daughter. The proper forum to resolve this case is in the courtroom."

In her letter, Bullock also defends her motive for wanting sole custody and denies the assertion that it is rooted in her inability to have children. "I am aware that Janine has claimed many times that my desire to have [the girl], was because I could not have children of my own," Bullock said, adding, "that couldn't be farther from the truth."

"I know the term 'stepmother' carries many connotations, one of them being 'glorified babysitter,'" Bullock wrote. "My commitment and responsibility to [the girl] ... goes beyond that."

Lindemulder said, "I didn't say that. But I do believe the reason Sandra is so interested in Sunny ... she [thinks she] is saving Sunny from me, from her own mother. ...That's what I believe."

Before tying the knot with Bullock in 2004, James was married to Lindemulder for one year. He left Lindemulder when she was seven months pregnant with their daughter, her lawyer, Ron Hoevet, told the Orange County Register.

Tags: jesse james, JesseJames, sandra bullock, SandraBullock

Comments

(397)

Wednesday 04 November

By take4443

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maybe she's looking for a payoff to go away? there's not a shot in hell she'll be awarded custody

Thursday 05 November

By janig

I am totally opposed to giving the girl back to her "mother". Just because you conceive and have a child does not give one the right to call themselves a "MOTHER". A child is a gift to be nurtured and lovd, not be exposed to porn, sex, drugs, etc. I worked with troubled teens in Houston for years and I can tell you that very seldom does on with such a destructive path turns around and becomes a model mother. Once the temptation and money face them (both men and women) they go back to their previous life. GIVE THAT CHILD TO IT'S FATHER annd SANDRA, I truly believe she loves this child and the environment is much more healthy and normal than it would be if she were to be sent back to "Mom"! GOD HELP THIS LITTLE GIRL. I know people change, but there are too many issues involved with MOM to even think of putting that child in danger.

By Shauna

...because a drug-addicted, porn star felon is the perfect role model for a little girl...Any court who would grant this piece of filth custody is a complete moron. Just because you can give birth to a baby doesn't make you fit to be a mother.

By Diana

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And yet it was perfectly ok for dear old dad to marry and choose to have a child with a drug addict and porn star. I have lost respect for Sandra Bullock. Stepparents have no standing in courts over someone else's children. And when they insinuate themselves into the middle of these situations, it exacerbates the situation. If dear old dad, you know, the one who had no issue with making a baby with a drug using porn star, wanted primary custody, he should have asked for it at the time of the divorce and he should be the one steering the boat, not his subsequent wife. And HE should be the one putting his career on the back burner to care for and worry about the child, not her. If men want to be considered equal parents in custody situations, they should be held to equal standards and responsibilities. If he wants to be the primary parent, he should be the one behaving like one.

By Amber

I'm sorry, but when the step-parent is the one raising the child because the 'biological' parent is in prison, it gives them every right to speak up about the welfare of the child. Sandra nor Jesse is in the wrong regarding this situation.

Friday 06 November

By Karen

Dear old dad did step up and care for the child. She has had a home for awhile now-she should not be moved just becuase "mom" got out of prison. And I shudder to think what that new husband will do to/with the girl, especially when $ is dangled in front of him!!

By Jessica

Sorry but living with drug addict parents is a horrible childhood.. I think they should let the child stay with Sandra and Jessie

By N

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Yes, it is true to say that have a drug addict for a parent is very hard. People do change. It is hard, many people need to hit bottom before they can start to repair their life and the pain caused on their loved ones. But it can happen. In any case, people should be given the chance to prove themselves. Being on both sides of this life, the other lesson people should learn is to forgive. That is probably the hardest.

Any court that would give that mother back that little girl is crazy . On one hand you have porn start 2 convicted felons and drug use;and who thought only of self and not welfare of child and on the other you have father and step mother who stepped up to take care of child when mother didn't. who changed their home and career choices to take care of child in a way that would benefit the child.

By mary

This should be Jessie's battle not Sandra's.

By Paul

Has it crossed nobody's mind that probably the biggest reason Ms. Lindemulder wants her daughter back is so she can collect bigger child support payments from her ex-husband who suddenly married into Sandra Bullock's wealth?

By NATE the GREAT

Bullock needs to back off, she's way out of line. I love her movies but she is starrring in a real-life stinker by being a usurper. Sandra! GET OUT OF THE REAL MOTHERS WAY!

By James

"Nate the UN-GREAT". You would also want the real mother do to to her daughter as she wish even if that means harming the daughter. A safe, secure, and a loving environment is what the daughter needs, and what you should be advocating. Nothing in the article show that the real mother did and can now provide that safe, secure, and loving environment. Judge a person by what they did/do, not by what they say they will do. Sandra Bullock as the wife of the girl's father has all the right and the obligation to involve herself in the well being of her step-daughter. She is now related to the little girl by marriage.

By Mary

Your stupid, Sandra needs to be right where she's at. The(so called)mother needs to get her life together before bring her daughter into her and her confict husband.

By peedabee

Any man that leaves his pregnant wife for another
woman is an upstanding example of a great father don't ya thunk!!! Bullock must have been the mistress turned hubby snatcher great characters in this scipt huh?

By Scout

I believe Ms Bullock has the child's best interest at heart. Why in the world would anyone want the little girls mother to have custody when she is obviously unstable, unreliable and most all unfit.
For Gods sake, think about the CHILD.

By Jim

Giving birth to a child does not make you a mother. Taking care of the child and putting that child first after it is born makes you a mothers. Her birth mothers choice continuing to do drugs which sent her to jail and out of the childs life for what looks like the first three to five years of her life means she was more interested in her drungs than her child. Another women steps up during this time and takes care of this child as a mother should. This makes her the MOTHER, not some accident of birth.

By okcs

You are entitled to your opinion...but...you are an idiot!!!

By Jody

It isn't about 'the real mother' or Sandra. It is about the little girl and providing her the safest home possible.

By Sandi

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Has no one on this board ever known anyone to be involved in a custody battle? It expected that the individual who is either seeking primary custody or for the individual trying to retain primary custody of a child to obtain statements from principals in their lives in support of their character or to attack the character of the child's other parent. That is what is going on in this instance. Sandra Bullock is not out of line, she is providing a statement in a custody battle. Being an interested party and an individual who is aware of situations the Judge may not be privy to, she is a reasonable person to write such a statement.

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