Celebrity Justice
Ex to "Scrubs" Star: Here's Why You're Dr. Cox

TMZ has learned, a "Scrubs" star has scrubbed his child support obligation because of the WGA strike.

John C. McGinley, who plays Dr. Cox on "Scrubs," was paying his ex-wife, Lauren Lambert, $9,000 a month in child support since their 2001 divorce. McGinley, whose 10-year-old son (with Lambert) has Down syndrome, has been praised for advocating Down syndrome research. But we've learned McGinley has told Lambert he has decided to cut his child support payments in half because of the writer's strike. Sources say he's told her it's "not fair" for him to pay his full obligation anymore because his show is not in production.

We're told Lambert is incensed, especially because McGinley, who is remarried with a child on the way, can afford "a big house in Malibu."

Sources say McGinley is supposed to pay half his monthly child support on the first of each month and the other half on the 15th. McGinley paid half on January 1 but paid nothing on the 15th and doesn't plan on it. Sources say Lambert may ask the judge to hold her ex in contempt.

McGinley's lawyer, Lynn Soodik, tells TMZ, "He's following the court order which allows him to reduce support if the show isn't being shot." But we've learned the court agreement states McGinley can reduce support only after "the final episode." The final episode is scheduled for the end of this season, so the fat lady hasn't sung.



Reader Comments

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61. He owes his ex-wife. She helped him further his career by taking care of his domestic needs for FREE (all the while excluding her own efforts for personal advancement). In turn, he maintains a lifestyle they created together when they entered into a legally binding commitment.
He owes his child. He is entitled to financial and emotional wellbeing. I certainly hope that at least the emotional well-being hasn't been cut in half.
Didn't the good "doctor" save for tough times? Idiot and loser. Deadbeat.
God bless her and her child. He knows where he deserves to be. Oh well.

Posted at 12:04AM on Jan 18th 2008 by JD

62. OK, I raised 2 kids on $210.00 A MONTH, nobody went hungry, nobody was cold...what in God's name would you need $9,000.00 for 1 kid, Down's syndrome or not????

Posted at 12:10AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Cinderella911

63.
If he wants or temporary needs the child support lowered why didn't he go to court and ask a judge to do so?

If everyone could take the into their own hands and decide how much child support to pay and when sadly most children would never see much.

Posted at 12:25AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Terry V

64. Good for him!! This is just another tramp that made sure to get knocked up by somebody famous and with money so that she could get an 18 year stream of annuity payments. The hell it costs more than $4,500.00 a month to raise a child....much less more than $1500.00. Trash like this woman is the reason it is important for us men to always use condoms no matter what. Even if the woman is on birth control...use condoms as the back up plan. Women lie....especially when it comes to extorting us for our money.

Posted at 1:25AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Larry

65. Child support and medical care are always figured seperately. She gets child support and has a percentage of the boy's medical care paid for. I assume he probably pays for all of his son's medical anyways. Child support is just for the child's basic needs. $150 a day @ $4500/mo. - you can buy food and a fresh pair of draws with that ..........................you can see him on tv,.. any given Sunday,.. win the Super Bowl and drive off in a Hyundai......................now I ain't sayin' she a gold digger........

Posted at 1:42AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Cox Rox

66. Although I'm not inclined to call John Mcginley's ex a tramp or a gold digger, I'm totally fine with his decision to only pay half the child support. While I can only imagine the costs of raising a disabled child, the reality is that a lot of families make do with a lot less than 9000 a month. Also, we don't know what kind of visitation he has. We don't know that he never sees or cares for his child, we only know that his ex is the custodial parent, and that's the case for a lot of divorced couples. Anyway, at the risk of insulting my own gender, I've just seen way too many women use their child support to support themselves.

It also doesn't help that she's contacting lawyers after two days.

Posted at 2:29AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Sarah

67. He's in for a real big surprise. You don' get to cut your child support payments unilaterally. That's the law everwhere - including California. His lawyer will tell him the sad news when he gets served with papers. He even risks going to jail for non-payment. He's an idiot.

Posted at 2:58AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Art R

68. The child receives services paid for by tax dollars, even though the child support is so high. Child support is meant for the child, not the mother. There is no way that half of that money is going directly to support the child. If his salary has been reduced, than child support must be reduced. Since it was written in their child support agreement that the child support can be reduced without going to court, then that tells me it is VERY likely that he is paying ABOVE guidelines. Shame on greedy Lambert. We are supporting her child with our tax dollars, his father is supporting him, but mom? (And please, I know all about living with disabled children, if she can't handle it, give up custody.)

Posted at 2:55AM on Jan 18th 2008 by moi_here

69. 3000 should be plenty jees my ex only pays 200 a month and has a hard time doing that.

Posted at 3:05AM on Jan 18th 2008 by seansmom1954

70. Look, child support is based on income. Hollywood actors who land on a hit sitcom usually only get one "'hit" and never make as much money again. This guy has been around a long time. I remember him in Platoon 22 or so years ago. He's been around but never been a Hollywood star or household name. After Scrubs is over he will make less, and right now he makes nothing because some millionaire writers wont work.

And Scrubs isn't even a hit really. It's never been a ratings camp, been shuffled around, and a candidate for cancellation every year of its existence. it is "long running" as its in it's 7th year.

This guy isn't making "Friends" money. I don't know how much, but he probably makes a few mill a year wit a few mill shelf life.

When "regular" non-Hollywood folks lose a job, they can get child support reduced as well. Why treat these guys any different. Also people who have "regular"' jobs or work in more common unions can count on working 30-40 years usually with raises. People like Hollywood actors on 1 TV show and pro athletes or rappers/musicians have a very limited earnings peak. You might go from making 6-7 figures for a few years to making $0( or regular dayjob money) the rest of your life.

If this guy ends up waiting tables somewhere ( I don't think HE will, but many actors do) should he still pay $9,000 a month?

Posted at 3:15AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Johnny C.

71. WTF??? The bitch can't survive on $4500 a month!?!?! Let's get real here ppl! A kid doesn't need nearly that much, no matter how disabled!! And maybe SHE should support her kid too!!!!!!!!! GOLD-DIGGER!

Posted at 4:12AM on Jan 18th 2008 by oyeah

72. um am i or am i not correct in the fact that the child support he is paying for is for his own child??? who cares about the writers strike, many mom/dads that pay child support lose there jobs, its still there obligation to pay that set amount. its self-fish and inconciderate to think or do otherwise. thats your child, support your child. end of story.

Posted at 6:10AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Angie

73. Also people the court set that amount, not her. Shes not a gold digger. hes bitching becasue of the wirters strike, so what. im sure hes got wayyyy more than 9 grand saved up. if not, sell a house, a car ,that you no longer even use. I dont agree with people saying the ex wife is a gold digger, hes using the writers strike as a reason not pay...how many people who pay alimony or child support, or have children who are affected by the writers strike but you dont see them not paying what the court set for them to pay, or not supporting there familes. "oh im sorry honey but you, little jimmy and jane cant eat this week cuz of the writers strike." please. let him go to jail for deseciding this was oky. loser.

Posted at 6:10AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Angie

74. OK!? Is anyone listening?!??!??!?!!?? Nine thoooouuuussssaaaaaannnnddddddd DOLLARs ......................OK....Four TTHHHHHHHHHHHOOOUUUSSSANNNDDD DOLLARs A MONTH!!!! I buy lottery tickets trying to win that much!

Posted at 5:39AM on Jan 18th 2008 by taylor

75. child support is for the child, therefore he's ripping off his own CHILD! If you can't do right by your child regardless of how you feel about your ex, than keep your pants zipped next time losers

Posted at 8:22AM on Jan 18th 2008 by gac

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