Tom Cruise sues Life & Style magazine for $50M

Tom Cruise leaves his hotel carrying daughter Suri for her gymnastics class on July 17, 2012, in New York. / Getty

An attorney for Tom Cruise says he has filed a $50 million defamation lawsuit against the publishers of Life & Style magazine over articles claiming the actor has abandoned his 6-year-old daughter Suri.

Bert Fields said the lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Los Angeles federal court. 

"Tom is a caring father who dearly loves Suri," Fields said in a statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "She's a vital part of his life and always will be. To say he has 'abandoned' her is a vicious lie. To say it in lurid headlines with a tearful picture of Suri is reprehensible."

• Pictures: Tom Cruise
• Pictures: Katie Holmes
• Pictures: Suri Cruise

"Tom doesn't go around suing people," Fields added. "He's not a litigious guy. But when these sleaze peddlers try to make money with disgusting lies about his relationship with his child, you bet he's going to sue."

Fields also took aim at Life & Style's owners.

30 Photos

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

"These serial defamers are foreign-owned companies with their global headquarters in Hamburg," he said, according to THR. "They take money from unsuspecting Americans by selling their malicious garbage. Having to pay a libel judgment may slow them down. Tom will undoubtedly give the money to charity. He always has."

An email message left for a spokeswoman for Bauer Publishing, which produces Life & Style, was not immediately returned.

Fields also threatened legal action against the National Enquirer earlier this year over its coverage of Cruise.

Cruise and Suri's mother, actress Katie Holmes, were divorced earlier this year. They had been married for six years.

[aubfmet]

Tom is dumb about marriage, but I hope he wins this lawsuit. These rag publications are lower than the belly of a snake.

[SUZAMBA]

What a scam, 50 million!! He's doing it as a publicity stunt! They shouldn't pay the idiot a penny, he isn't worth it!!!

[fittinguy]

Tom Cruise is a dimwit--I will not see any more of his movies. Go Scientology! hahaha