LONDON – Hollywood producer Steve Bing is taking legal action to determine whether he is the father of Elizabeth Hurley's newborn son, his spokeswoman said Friday.
Hurley said Bing was the father when she announced in November that she was pregnant. He questioned that, saying he and Hurley had not been in an exclusive relationship when the baby was conceived.
The 36-year-old model and actress gave birth to the boy, Damian Charles, on April 4 in London.
Bing issued legal proceedings in the Family Division court on Wednesday, and Hurley was notified Friday, his spokeswoman said, adding that Bing had not been able to contact the Austin Powers co-star or her lawyers.
Hurley, however, said Friday night that Bing had made no effort to reach her since Damian's birth, and that she's always been willing to take part in paternity tests.
Details of the legal filing were not available, but the court could order DNA tests on Damian if the two parties fail to reach an agreement.
"Now that Ms. Hurley has had her baby, Mr. Bing is anxious to establish beyond any doubt who is the baby's father," the statement from his spokeswoman said.
"If it is proved that Mr. Bing is Damian's father, he would wish generously to support him and to be involved in his upbringing.
"As he has been unable to make contact with Ms. Hurley, or any solicitors instructed in this matter by her, to discuss these issues privately, he has been obliged to instruct his U.K. solicitors to issue proceedings in the Family Division in the hope of bringing these matters to a quick and amicable resolution,'' the statement said.
Hurley's office later said, "Elizabeth finds Stephen's statement astonishing seeing that he hasn't made any attempt to contact her whatsoever since he was informed of Damian's birth by her sister Katie on April 4," the statement said.
"He has neither called her, written to her or had any mutual friends pass on any messages.
"Elizabeth has always made it clear that she is willing to participate in paternity tests and is extremely distressed that Stephen is attempting to resolve these personal issues publicly."
Hurley hasn't returned home since leaving the hospital last week, and instead has been staying at the house of close friend Elton John.
Earlier Friday, police dropped charges against a man accused of harassing Hurley after she failed to provide a statement to a London court.
Petar Mihajlovic, 32, was released from custody by the West London Magistrates Court after prosecutors said they had insufficient evidence to continue the case.
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