'CSI Miami' Star David Caruso's ex-girlfriend filed a multi-count suit against the actor Thursday, accusing him of fraud, domestic abuse and breach of contract/settlement agreement.
Lisa Marquez sued Caruso in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming he reneged on his promise to support her even after their nearly four-year relationship ended. She is seeking $1.2 million, as well as a house from Caruso, with whom she has two children.
In her complaint, Marquez paints Caruso as a possessive, jealous boyfriend who was a reluctant father. The suit claims Caruso, 53, was verbally abusive to Marquez on several occasions and told her that he envisioned himself on a yacht in the French Riviera, not as a father.
Marquez said the actor asked that she terminate her first pregnancy and then referred to her as "a birthing cow" when she started to "lose her shape" during the pregnancy.
She also made claims that Caruso "jilted her" while she was pregnant with their second child, berating and abusing her until she vomited.
Caruso allegedly inflicted a great deal of "emotional distress and psychological trauma" throughout the duration of their relationship, such as telling her that her pregnancy contractions were just a sign of "mental illness."
Marquez's suit states she and Caruso started dating in April 2004 while she was working as a travel coordinator. The couple moved in together later that year, and Marquez claims she quit her job at Caruso's request. The suit states Caruso told Marquez that he would "always be there" to support her financially and in other ways.
Caruso was affectionate and caring in public, but withdrew from Marquez to a second home as the relationship deteriorated, the lawsuit states. She claims Caruso would “among other things seclude himself and watch Seinfeld television reruns, isolating [Marquez] from him."
The lawsuit states Caruso ended their relationship two days after she gave birth to their second child in October 2007. It claims the couple later reached an agreement that that actor would pay Marquez $1 million and $200,000 in attorney's fees, and give her a home in the San Fernando Valley.
Caruso broke that agreement, and Marquez is seeking the deed to the house, $1.2 million and punitive damages for fraud and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims.
Stephen Kolodny, an attorney for Caruso, released a statement Thursday that said the lawsuit was filed with "false claims" and appears to be retaliation for Caruso seeking changes to the couple's custody arrangements.
Kolodny's statement says Caruso find the lawsuit "unfortunate since these claims will divert the parties and the court's attention away from the best interests of the children."
Caruso declined to comment on the matter.
Caruso plays Horatio Caine on "CSI: Miami," which is in its seventh season on CBS and is consistently ranked among television's top-rated shows.
FOXNews.com's Hollie McKay, Allison McGevna and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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