Bynum is ready to move on

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Bynum loved Weeks but needs to 'go on with divorce,' says attorney

By D. AILEEN DODD
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/10/07
Evangelist Juanita Bynum's lawyer said Monday the pastor is seeking to divorce her husband on the basis of cruel treatment and irreconcilable differences.

The divorce filing states that the marriage has been "irretrievably broken," said Bynum's attorney Karla Walker of Valdosta.

The cruel treatment allegation stems from an alleged attack on the minister by her husband Thomas W. Weeks III on Aug. 21 in a hotel parking lot near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

"She loved her husband," Walker said. "But she does feel it is necessary to stop the domestic violence and go on with the divorce.''

The divorce paperwork was sent to the Ware County Courthouse early last week, but an error delayed the filing. The legal documents were officially filed on Monday.

Bynum, 48, spent the weekend in California where she attended a fund-raiser for presidential candidate Barack Obama. The party was held at Oprah Winfrey's estate.

Bynum has said she is moving forward with plans to start a domestic violence ministry. Last week, she resurfaced in the spotlight, saying she had recovered from the alleged attack and would like to serve as an advocate against domestic violence.

Weeks, 40, was charged with felony aggravated assault, felony terroristic threats and two counts of simple battery in connection with the attack. He could face up to 27 years in jail if convicted.

WEEKS RESPONSE:

Weeks' lawyers will contest divorce claim of cruel treatment

The Associated Press - ATLANTA

Attorneys for a minister accused of attacking his televangelist wife in a hotel parking lot said Tuesday that they will contest her petition for divorce.

Randy Kessler, one of the attorneys representing Thomas W. Weeks III, said they are considering whether their counterclaim will accuse Juanita Bynum of cruel treatment _ the same charge her divorce petition levels at him.

"Cruel treatment is a very vague legal term," Kessler said. "There's a possibility that there's cruel treatment on both sides, but we're not committed to that position."

A lawyer for Bynum, 48, filed the divorce petition against Weeks, 40, on Monday in Ware County, where Bynum has a home. According to the two-page document, Bynum and Weeks were married on July 22, 2002, and have been separated since June. They have no children together.

Bynum cited "cruel treatment" as grounds for divorce, and said the marriage is "irretrievably broken."

The filing came less than three weeks after Bynum accused Weeks of choking, pushing and stomping her in a hotel parking lot in an incident that began the night of Aug. 21 and continued into the next morning. Weeks, known to his followers as Bishop Weeks, was charged with aggravated assault and making terroristic threats and is not allowed to have contact with Bynum.

Whether Weeks' attorneys decide to pursue a cruel treatment claim against Bynum is up to him.

"He has to make a decision about whether he wants to do that, especially given that he would still reconcile with her at this point," said Kessler, who added that Weeks does not consider the marriage "irretrievably broken."

Kessler and Louis Tesser, who is also representing Weeks, said they will discuss the options with their client and will likely file a response next week.

Kessler and Tesser are family law attorneys with the Atlanta-based firm Kessler, Schwarz and Solomiany, who have litigated high-profile cases against boxer Evander Holyfield, former Atlanta Falcon Andre Rison, Terrell Owens of the Dallas Cowboys and attorney Willie Gary.

Bynum's divorce attorney, Karla Walker of Valdosta, did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Tuesday. Bynum's publicist, Amy Malone, said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press on Sunday that Bynum never struck Weeks prior to the assault and that she did not physically retaliate during the assault.

"There was nothing done to provoke or warrant the violent act perpetrated against her," Malone said.

Malone said that Bynum and Weeks have not seen, spoken to, or had any contact with each other since Aug. 22, and that Bynum has no intentions of reconciling with him.

Bynum is a former hairdresser and flight attendant who became a Pentecostal evangelist, author and gospel singer. Her ministry blossomed after she preached at a singles event about breaking free of sexual promiscuity, and she is known for her intense, no-nonsense style. Among her books are "No More Sheets: The Truth About Sex" and "Matters of the Heart."

Her album "A Piece of My Passion" had been listed in the top 10 gospel albums by Billboard magazine for several months. She also preaches through televised sermons.

The couple married in a million-dollar, televised ceremony. Together, they wrote "Teach Me How to Love You: The Beginnings."


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