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)

Friday 06 November

By SusanJeanine

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Get out of the real mothers way? Oh you mean the ex con porn star who said there have been long stretches of time when she hasn't used any drugs. Gee I wonder if she will be in one of her dry spells if the child gets sick in the middle of the night and needs her mother.

Wednesday 04 November

By Trisha

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I usually vote with the biological mother, but in this case...uh, no. Mom, you made some bad choices so you need to face the consequences. You can visit your daughter- but she needs a stable environment, which we have no idea at all if you'd provide.

Thursday 05 November

By Wanda

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Perhaps the environment would have been a little more "stable" if the father hadn't left the mother while she was seven months pregnant! I think there is quite a bit of hypocrisy going on here.

By EHA

I saw that woman on Jesse James show when they was married. She is nasty for herself. HE is the better parent. She should feel blessed that Sandra loves her daughter like her own. I am sorry I love my mom but she was kind of like Janine with her boyfriends and lifestyle. It had a lasting affect of my sisters and myself. My brother grew up to hate our mother. JANINE THINK OF SUNNY!!!!

By karen

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There is no such thing as loving a child like your own. The only people who say that do not have children of their own. Once you have a child of your own there is no love that compares to that

By sunrise

It doesn't sound as if Sandra Bullock woke up one morning and decided to try and take some womans child away from her. She is married to the father of the child and sounds like she welcomed the child/children with open arms.

What would you think if Sandra left Jessie because he ended up with custody after his ex made very poor decisions?

The ex got in her own way and the child should not suffer because of the mistake of the mother. The mother's statement of "I am the best mother I can be." sound good, yet, with a child involved sometimes the best a person can be isn't enough.

Life is hard enough, let's hope the court will make the decision that will give the child the best chance possible being raised in a loving, healthy, nuturing environment.

By web j

Well stated, clear and full of good, common sense, with no finger pointing or name calling. Just plain facts. Thank you for having a brain (unlike so many who flap gums for the pure sake of flapping) and not being afraid to use it well!

Thank you web j,
That is certainly one of the most pleasant compliments I have received in awhile

By Sonja

Sandra and Jesse, keep up the fight for the little girl. Her life will be ruined if she lives with her no good mother!

By Erichk

A Druggie, two druggies, a little girl, one rich father and rich wife. what does it add up to...MONTHLY PAYMENTS, CHILD SUPPORT with 5 % going to the child the rest going into nostril or vein..
Good going stick with it Jesse and Sandra

By Mrh

"...I am the best mother I can be" sums it all up. The real mom is clueless. Sometimes being the best mom means recognizing you are not the best thing for your child. Bringing her up in a house of porn and drugs is not a good life. Give her a chance and let her go.

By JOHN

SAD! BUT THEN J.J. IS NO ANGEL EITHER AND JANINE WELL......SANDRA BULLOCK SHOULD GET HER ASS OUT OF THIS CRAZY CRAP NOW......WHAT IS SHE THINKING....JANINE AND JESSIE WILL BE IN EACH OTHER'S LIVES FOREVER WITH THE KIDS.....SANDRA SHOULD CATCH THE NEXT TRAIN OUT OF DODGE AS FAST AS SHE CAN AND DON'T LOOK BACK! STUPID IS WHAT STUPID DOES...AND THEY ARE ALL STUPID!!!

By Angel

Says the person who can't control his own caps key. For Sandra to just walk out now would leave that little girl with no one to lean on. No one to show her the love she needs.

I get the impression Sandra would never do that to her.

By Bill

Why should the people who were there for the girl while the real Mother chose to ignore her responsibilities as an adult now have to undermine all their efforts and sacrifices because the mother? now decides she can be a real Mother? The ones who cared for her should continue to have total control, given the Mother's background and addictions, over how much exposure and under what conditions the Mother have access to the daughter, just for her safety if nothing else! Actions bring consequences that are necessary for the overall good of society and for safety of children. There is no one who can predict at this stage what conditions/risks the child will be confronted with unless environment is controlled by those who have made the commitment!!!

By B

So now we want to be a responsible parent?!! I tell you what we weren't thinking about when we decided to lay-and-play and eventually marry a PORN STAR!...Parenting! Dudes, word of advice. You cannot tell me that he didn't know how she was when he met her.

By Cynthia J.

Look, this little 5 yr. old deserves a decent, safe home with people who are responsible. The Mom will have to prove herself to the Court. If she jumps through the hoops and gets her life in order maybe they'll give her a chance. If the Mom is not doing Porn and Drugs she should be able to visit her child. BUT, MONEY DOOOO TALK, hey, Sandi?

By sdh4194

bullock married this guy who married this pig?

By shonuff

This is what happens when a man marries trash. Jesse should have known better. Now he will spend the next 20 years fighting this woman.

By Annie

Sandra could have been married to anyone but picks the craziest family she could marry into, one has to shake ones head.

By renee

what is wrong with people.... of she was any type of woman she would leave that child where she is and settle for just be able to see her... but shes not thinking of the little girl shes thinking of herself.... probably looking that huge child support check....

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