Nicolas Cage's legal representative has issued a robust rejoinder to Christina Fulton's lawsuit, which accuses the actor of complicity in a physical altercation involving their son, Weston Coppola Cage. In a statement obtained by PEOPLE on February 20th, Cage's attorney dismissed Fulton's allegations as "outrageous and baseless." The statement continues, "Weston Coppola is a 34-year-old adult. Mr. Cage exercises no control over Weston's conduct and cannot be held accountable for the alleged assault against his mother."
Court documents, accessed by PEOPLE on February 19th, reveal Fulton's contention that Cage, aged 61, neglected his son's mental health issues, instead enabling behaviors that culminated in Weston's alleged physical attack on her last year.
On April 28, 2024, what began as a verbal spat between Weston and Fulton, 57, reportedly escalated into physical violence. Fulton refuted claims of a mere disagreement, insisting instead that her son was experiencing a "mental health crisis" and that she was seeking assistance for him.
Weston was subsequently arrested in July on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and released on bail. Following his arrest, Fulton recounted being "brutally assaulted," emphasizing the urgency for Weston to receive the help he desperately needed.
Fulton's lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County, paints a picture of Cage as an uninvolved parent who was aware of Weston's lengthy history of mental and psychological disorders, violent assaults, and harm to others yet failed to intervene. She alleges that Cage has repeatedly bailed Weston out of jail, indulged in alcohol consumption with him despite knowing his substance abuse issues, and even footed the bill for his downtown Los Angeles condo, situated next to Cage's own residence.
Furthermore, Fulton contends that Cage neglected to ensure Weston received crucial psychiatric care, encouraged his reckless lifestyle, and failed to establish boundaries or guidelines to curb his alleged behavior. The lawsuit asserts, "Nicolas knew or ought to have known that Weston posed a grave and immediate threat to others, including the plaintiff, given his documented history of violent assaults, substance abuse, and mental instability."
Fulton is suing Cage for negligent supervision and undertaking, while charging Weston with assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. She is also seeking damages for negligence from both parties. While the specific amount of damages Fulton is requesting remains undisclosed, she is seeking reimbursement for the costs associated with filing her suit.
