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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91. John's son is autistic; he does not have down's syndrome (you nimrods).

Posted at 9:31AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Boston Kate

92. When you have a child you must support that child until age 18. If he isn't making the money he was then he needs to go to court and have the amount reduced. He needs to step up and be responsible.

Posted at 11:05AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Patricia Walters

93. Get to work you lazy bitch.

Posted at 9:34AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Ryan A

94. What a loser. Like he can't afford to pay the full $9000 even "being out of work." The celebrity worship shown here is pathetic.

Posted at 11:25AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Adam

95. My daughter is special needs too, and we don't need that much money to take care of her. If he isn't working right now, what is the big deal if he cuts his son support in half until he resumes work on Scrubs? He also isn't an A lister like Clooney or Pitt who have millions of dollars to burn. He probably makes a lucrative sum of money, but I wouldn't categorize him as one who has millions. Besides he has another child on the way, so when he goes back to work he can catch up on child support.

Posted at 9:45AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Kat

96. When there is a drop in income, a drop in child support is justified and legal. As the woman is doing is living off her poor diabled kids child support. Thats why he is doing it.

Posted at 9:55AM on Jan 18th 2008 by DO

97. Why the hell does anyone need $9k a month in child support. That is just ridiculous. I doesn't cost $9k a month to raise a child.

Posted at 10:24AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Brandon

98. Sounds like when he got married again he decided to live beyond his own means. When he and the other actors out there decided to support the writers strike, they made the choice to stop working. I could undestand more if he wasnt livin it up in Malibu and had been fired or the show was canceled (as per thecourt agreement). Before he decided to take away from his child, (the same child he talks about in interviews as being his life and how blessed he is..blah, blah, blah) he should have sold his over priced car or maybe downsized his own house. To take away from the child is unacceptable. Be a real man and just take care of the child.. take away from your own self first, taking away from the child should be the LAST thing you have to do.

Posted at 10:22AM on Jan 18th 2008 by whatever

99. John McGinley is a DOTING, loving father of a son with Down syndrome. He has Max with him a LOT. He is the national spokesman for the National Down Syndrome Society, and he gives countless hours of his time...for FREE...to helping all of us out here with kids with DS. He is ANYTHING but a deadbeat dad.
My child with DS is slightly younger than Max. Some misperceptions need clearing up:
1) having DS does not automatically mean the child is "on the public dole". DS is not an automatic qualifier for anything, and if you mean SSI that is income based.
2) Medical care for a child with DS who is relatively healthy, as I believe Max is, is not much at ALL more than what it would be for a typical child. I have absolutely NO doubt that JM is taking care of his son in many other ways than child support, including insurance and health care.
3) do NOT use the word retard in your stupid responses to this posting. It makes YOU look stupid.
4) I don't know this families financial situation, but $9000 a month is a LOT of money. If he isnt working right now, $4500 ought to suffice.
5) John McGinley is not the kind of man OR father to allow his son to go without anything he needs. That child is everything to him.
6) Do not assume that Max is a "poor, disabled kid" just because he has DS. He is a strong, healthy, capable person.

Posted at 10:25AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Listen Up

100. I see the shamers have also started in with "... be a real man". Whenever I hear "real man", I know that a woman wants something. Usually money.

I think the CHILD gets enough money, the question is how much MOMMY is living off. MOMMY is supposed to support herself, although that's not how it really works.

If reality is that men have to support women ... because women are too weak and stupid to support themselves ... then society should just come out and say it, knock off the "equality" fiction, and quit trying to hide it behind "child support" today.

By the way, the money flowing to the woman is TAX FREE, so she is getting the equivalent of far more than $9000 per month (or $4500) per month, because if she was earning that money in a job, she'd have to pay quite a bit in taxes.

Posted at 10:28AM on Jan 18th 2008 by JG

101. Number 1, his ex-wife has not remarried but even if she should remarry, that does not change the child support. Where do you morons come from? A new husband does not take away the father of the childs financial responsibilities. For all of you who don't get it, do us all a big favor...don't get married and for God's sake don't have children. That man's child support was set by the courts based on his income...it is not his choice to cut it in half due to a strike. You have no idea what that womans bills are...you have not any idea of her childs problems..not every case of disablity is the same. Calling her a bitch is so immature of you...she is the mother of a child with downs syndrom...he is only 10 years old...he isn't going to get any better. He will require care for all of his life. And more than likely she will be going all of the care...did you ever think about that? Hey, he chose to remarry and another woman chose to marry him knowing his financial responsiblities. Grow up people. No one is sayong he is a deadbeat dad, but he does not have the right to make the choice to cut the child support..only the courts can do that.

Posted at 10:49AM on Jan 18th 2008 by completely disgusted

102. "...child support is for the child, not to pay her mortgage, if she wants to pay her mortgage, she is supposed to use money from her job...."

Uh, last time I checked the child lives in the home. Bottom line, it was court ordered. Just because he's a celebrity doesn't mean he gets to decide he can pay less.

Posted at 10:32AM on Jan 18th 2008 by CJ

103. I wonder if he gets risidual payments for all of the syndicated shows that are on tv???? He would still be earning from that

Posted at 10:33AM on Jan 18th 2008 by Dirty South

104. If he got custody, you think this parasitical woman would be paying him $4500 per month for the child? Or much of anything? Somehow, I also think that the same people on here rah-rahing to get more money out of the man would suddenly get indignant about that "poor woman" having to work just to give money to him. She has enough problems, leave her alone.

Funny how that works.

Posted at 10:46AM on Jan 18th 2008 by JG

105. Child support should be outlawed! If people want to have their kids then they should raise them and not worry about how much they can get in the divorce! These kids are just being used as pawns and that is wrong. His wife should shut up, go on her merry way and leave him alone to enjoy the rest of his life. He shouldn't be shackled to her for eternity. His relationship with his son should not involve her, include her or have anything to do with her! Why the hell does she need that much money to SUPPORT a child. Afterall, she is supposed to be contributing 50%....is she putting away $9000 a month for the child too? Child support is just a legal form of selling (or renting out) your child and it should be illegal!

Posted at 9:48AM on Jan 21st 2008 by irol

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