The mayor of Southhaven, Tennessee, Greg Davis, embroiled in an ongoing divorce battle that includes allegations from his former wife that he has hidden funds, has been ordered to pay $1,850 a month in
child support as reported by The Commercial Appeal.
The temporary court order has been set up to begin this December and was signed by DeSoto County Judge Percy Lynchard. Attorneys for both Greg Davis, and his former wife Suzann Savage Davis, appeared in Hernando's Chancery Court.
The divorce is not hinged on the child support settlement. The couple is due back in court, for a trial on the divorce settlement, on March 28.
Suzann Davis filed her petition to amend her divorce settlement on August 21. The petition was filed in DeSoto and Hinds counties in regards to the previous divorce settlement made in 2011.
The petitions filed by Suzann Davis outline her belief that Greg Davis kept assets hidden from her. She also claims that he drinks alcoholic beverages to excess in front of their three daughters and uses his position as the mayor to threaten her.
Along with the monthly court-ordered child support, Suzann Davis is seeking sole custody of their children.
The original divorce decree, made on June 13, 2011, had no stipulations in regards to court-ordered child support.
Greg Davis told reporters this past summer that he had been paying Suzann Davis an alimony amount of $2,300 a month, covered her monthly $460 car payment, paid half of his children's monthly expenses and took care of other family expenses.
The new court mandated support negates Greg Davis from having to cover any additional expenses.
Judge Lynchard agreed to hold the hearing regarding child support as attorneys for both sides had assured him that an agreement had been made.
Judge Lynchard told reporters, "This matter has been settled on a temporary basis for child support. I can't tell you why they settled the matter or how they decided how much would be paid each month. They just brought me an agreed order that said this is what they agreed to do, and I signed off on it."
Suzann Davis was in court for the hearing; Greg Davis did not attend.
Martin Zummach, Suzann Davis' attorney, along with A.E. "Rusty" Harlow, Greg Davis' attorney, were both present though neither opted to comment on the child support order.
Judge Lynchard explained, "The gag order still stands. I issued it to protect the minor children involved in this case."
Southaven officials got involved in the Davis divorce recently as two Aldermen and the Police Chief gave affidavits attesting that they were witnesses in a closed-door meeting where Greg Davis revealed that he had altered the payroll documents he had provided to Suzann Davis – so that it appeared as if he had made less money than he truly had.
The information garnered during the meeting – not blindly ignored at the time by the Aldermen or the Police Chief – was given to both state and federal officials. The officials are conducting an investigation into allegations that Greg Davis used city funds to purchase personal items for himself such as food, liquor and trips.
Whether your divorce is final or not, the matter of child support can be ever-changing until your children are 18 years of age. If you require an adjustment of your child support, contact a family law attorney for help today!