Entertainment and Celebrity News

Sandra Bullock’s estranged husband Jesse James has stepped up his ongoing child custody battle with his second wife – he’s filed legal papers accusing her of driving under the influence of drugs with their young daughter in the car.

James and Bullock were granted full guardianship of six-year-old Sunny in 2009 after the child’s mother, porn star Janine Lindemulder, was sentenced to six months in jail for tax evasion.

She was released earlier this year (10) and rebooted her custody request after James was exposed as a love cheat in March (10).

Lindemulder recently accused James of planning to move to Texas with their daughter, and now the TV mechanic has hit back by filing legal papers accusing his former partner of bad behavior.

The documents, filed on Friday (04Jun10) and obtained by TMZ.com, include a declaration from James’ sister, Julie James England, who claims that two years ago she received a worrying phone call from Lindemulder in which she was “slurring her words”.

England alleges Lindemulder told her she had taken some “numbing drugs” and “drank tequila” before getting in the car with Sunny.

The legal papers also include a statement from James’ brother-in-law, Mark T. England, who alleged Lindemulder once asked if he could provide her with drugs, including Vicodin and Ambien.

James claims his ex-wife is unfit to take care of Sunny, and insists the youngster would benefit from a stable environment if she lives with him. A custody hearing is scheduled for 17 June, according to TMZ.com.

The news comes shortly after it emerged James filed a separate lawsuit against bosses of an internet company alleging they owe him more than $150,000 . He is suing executives at online video streaming firm ViewPartner accusing them of failing to pay him for a 2009 deal and using his image without permission.

Sandra Bullock was "proud" of her estranged husband Jesse James for seeking treatment for his infidelity issues after his cheating ways were exposed in the press.

The Hollywood star walked out on James in March (10) after news of his affairs hit the headlines, and the TV mechanic later checked into a rehab facility to deal with “personal issues”.

Bullock subsequently filed for divorce, but James reveals the actress was pleased to see him tackle his problems and agreed to continue looking after his six-year-old daughter Sunny while he was in rehab.

In his first interview since the scandal broke, James tells newswoman Vicki Mabrey, “I told her everything, that I had affairs outside of our marriage. I think she’s had suspicions in the past but I lied my way out of it – I lied to everyone; I lied to myself.

“I just told her I was going to get some help and I wanted to make sure she would take care of Sunny. (She said), ‘No problem, OK.’ She told me she was proud of me.”

The former couple won custody of Sunny last year (09) when the girl’s mother, porn star Janine Lindemulder, was jailed for tax evasion.

Lindemulder, James’ second wife, recently reopened the case to fight for shared custody.

James’ candid chat will air on news show Nightline on Tuesday (25May10).

Sandra Bullock has maintained a close relationship with her six-year-old stepdaughter, despite splitting from her dad Jesse James – the child even sent the actress a Mother’s Day card.

The Blind Side star walked out on TV mechanic James in March (10) after his infidelities were revealed in the press. She has since filed for divorce and is now planning a future as a single mom after adopting a son named Louis in January (10).

But Bullock is determined to remain in little Sunny’s life after playing stepmom to the girl during her five-year marriage to James.

And the actress enjoyed a special Mother’s Day treat from Sunny last Sunday (09May10) – when Americans celebrated the holiday.

A source tells OK! magazine, “Sunny gave her a homemade card and they spoke briefly on the phone.”

Bullock and her estranged husband won full custody of Sunny from the child’s mother, former porn star Janine Lindemulder, in 2009.

Sandra Bullock’s stepdaughter Sunny almost wrecked the actress’ big adoption surprise at Christmas (10) – when she told her mum that someone in the family was pregnant.

The six year old was chatting with her mother, porn star Janine Lindemulder, on the phone when she almost revealed all about her dad Jesse James’ bid to adopt a baby boy from New Orleans, Louisiana with Bullock.

The couple had hoped to keep the baby news to themselves until after the Oscars, but then James’ cheating scandal hit the headlines and Bullock went into hiding, only to emerge with the big reveal at the end of last month (Apr10).

She showed off baby Louis Bardot in a People magazine photospread.

But the news almost leaked in December (09) – a month before the adoption went through – thanks to Sunny.

Shortly after the awkward chat, Lindemulder told Life & Style magazine, “Sunny was on the phone and Sandra was right there trying to listen to what was being talked about. Sunny started to tell me she was really excited because somebody in the family was possibly pregnant. Then all of a sudden, the phone went silent.

“Sunny finally got back on the phone and said, ‘Oh, I can’t talk about that. That’s my secret with Sandy.’ I was upset, because you tell kids to please don’t keep secrets from your parents.”

At the time, Lindemulder, who lost custody of her daughter to James and his actress wife and was trying to improve relations between the two women in the reality TV star’s life, was full of praise for Bullock, telling the publication the actress was “doing a great job” as a stepmum to her daughter.

She said, “Sandra’s organised and focused… She packs perfect lunches. She thinks of every little detail from sunblock to sanitary wipes and the perfect amounts of food. I can’t compete. If I could wish any stepmom for my daughter, it would be Sandra… She’s done a wonderful job with Sunny.”