Liza Files for Divorce from 4th Hubby

By Stephen M. Silverman

Thursday October 23, 2003 12:00 PM EDT

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In the latest from the Liza Minnelli-David Gest warfront, the "Cabaret" Oscar winner filed for divorce from her estranged husband on Wednesday.

The court papers came just a day after Gest, a producer-promoter, filed a $10 million lawsuit against her claiming Minnelli beat him during alcoholic rages and turned him into "a victim of domestic abuse."

Minnelli's move to end her 16-month marriage to her fourth husband came shortly after she issued a statement denying Gest's allegations.

"I hoped very much that the end of my marriage would be handled with mutual respect and dignity," said Minnelli, 57. "The allegations in this lawsuit are hurtful and without merit. My lawyers will respond to the lawsuit in the proper forum.

"I will continue to focus on my work, my sobriety and my fans who have been so wonderful to me."

Stopped by reporters on Wednesday at Los Angeles International Airport, Minnelli simply smiled, NBC News reports.

High-profile celebrity divorce attorney Raoul Felder told New York's Daily News he was glad to hear that Minnelli was focusing on her sobriety but wished she could have "started at an earlier time." He also claimed that he and his client had enough evidence against Minnelli "for 18 divorces." (Read the complete lawsuit here.)

Felder, who apparently has been on the interview circuit, told Reuters that Gest, 50, suffered neurological damage and headaches from the alleged attacks and is being treated at a rehabilitation clinic in Honolulu, where he takes 11 medications a day.

"Obviously these people should be divorced," Felder said. "This marriage is dead, no doubt about it."