Halle Berry revealed her plans to grill her former employee in court about claims that the woman conspired with Halle’s ex-husband, Olivier Martinez, In Touch can exclusively report.
According to court documents obtained by In Touch, Halle, 58, informed the court she was adding names to her witness list for the hearing next month where she will face off with Olivier.
The exes are fighting over legal custody of their 11-year-old son Maceo. Halle and Olivier, 58, wed in 2013 and split in 2015. The divorce dragged out for years and wasn’t finalized until late 2023.
Months later, Halle was back in court accusing Olivier of breaching various terms of their settlement. Halle asked that Olivier be stripped of legal custody and she be allowed to make all important decisions for Maceo.
Olivier accused Halle of using her wealth to drag him in and out of court.
He opposed the “draconian” request over legal custody. Halle said she will be calling her ex-employee Erica Simamora to the stand.
She said Erica will testify about her “interactions with [Olivier] and his legal team; [Olivier’s] attempts to interfere with Maceo’s therapeutic process and Maceo’s relationship with [Halle]; [Olivier’s] interference with [Halle’s] custodial rights; and [Olivier’s] withholding of information from [Halle].”
As In Touch first reported, Halle accused Olivier of conspiring with Erica and another one of her former employees, Miryam Haziza.
She said the ex-employees conspired with Olivier to make “false reports” about her.
Halle’s attorney said Miryam has not worked for her “since [Halle] discovered that Ms. Haziza was conspiring with [Olivier] and [Erica] without [Halle’s] knowledge while in [Halle’s] employ and transmitting information from [Olivier] to [Erica] relating to Maceo’s therapy.”
Olivier listed Miryam as a witness on his list, but Halle did not list the woman who worked for her for twenty years on her witness list.
Olivier said he plans to ask Miryam questions about what she saw when Maceo was in Halle’s care. Halle did list a woman named Ellie Montazeri as another witness.
She said Ellie will tell the court about her interactions with [Halle] and [Olivier].”
She said Ellie will talk about her observations of [Halle] with her son. In addition, she said the woman will detail “[Olivier’s] disparagement of [Halle] and [Halle’s] partner (Mr. Van Hunt) which [Olivier] has expressed in [Ellie’s] presence as well as in Maceo’s presence.”
As In Touch first reported, Halle also said she will take the stand and will question Olivier.
In addition, she said her boyfriend, Van Hunt, will testify about his communications with Olivier and his efforts to promote parenting between Halle and Olivier.
As In Touch first reported, Halle and Olivier have been fighting back and forth for months.
Olivier pleaded with the court to force Halle to cough up $360,000 to cover his past and future legal bills in the case. Halle scoffed at the request.
She pointed out that she had paid a substantial amount towards Olivier’s past fees. Halle claimed the only reason they were back in court was due to Olivier’s conduct.
She asked the court to award her $455,000 in sanctions. Olivier said he had no funds to fight the wealthy actress. He said he had to take out a $45,000 loan and sell a Rolex to pay his lawyer for the last couple of months.
The judge issued a tentative ruling that awarded Olivier $217,000. Halle objected to sanctions that were awarded as part of the judgment.
A final judgment has yet to be entered.