Tom Cruise Gets Embroiled In Libel Suit After Divorce Settlement

Within days of reaching an amicable divorce settlement with Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise again seems to be hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

An article published in The Hollywood Reporter July 11 cites how the actor's attorney has threatened to sue American Media Inc, the parent company of National Enquirer that carried a report stating that it had the details of Cruise's split with Katie Holmes.

The Hollywood Reporter also carries a copy of the three page letter from Cruise's attorney Bert Fields, who takes the American Media Inc to task for the National Enquirer cover story that comes with the headline The Real Tom Is A Monster!

Negating the damaging publicity, the letter states, Mr Cruise is certainly not a 'monster.' He is a caring father, a hardworking actor and, above all, an honest, decent man.

Dubbing the report as false and vicious lies, the letter states how it will impact Cruise, Cause him hundreds of millions of dollars or professional and personal damages, for which we intend to hold American Media and everyone who participated in the perpetuation of this scurrilous attack, jointly and severally liable.

The letter strikes down disparaging descriptions of Cruise in the Enquirer's issue that hit newsstands Wednesday with Fields writing, Contrary to your blaring headlines, Mr Cruise has not engaged in any 'abuse' or 'humiliation' of Katie Holmes. Nor has he ever subjected her to any 'punishments'.

Ever since Katie Holmes filed for divorce from the Mission: Impossible star, two weeks ago, the duo have come under intense media scrutiny. In the divorce filing, Katie Holmes sought sole custody of their six-year-old daughter, Suri.

The issue ended amicably as the couple agreed to a divorce settlement and custody arrangement out-of-court with details kept under wraps. Both actors remained silent about the issue, save a joint statement in which they said they were working together to settle differences in the best interest of their daughter.

Cruise's membership in the Church of Scientology has been cited as the leading cause of strife between the couple though it has been neither confirmed nor denied by the stars and their representatives.