Former maid's lawsuit against Marlon Brando settled privately

By PAUL WILBORN
Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) Marlon Brando has settled a $100 million breach of contract suit brought by a former maid who is the mother of three of his children, attorneys for both sides said Wednesday.

``It has been amicably resolved,'' said Donald Woldman, as he left the courthouse with his client, Maria Cristina Ruiz, 43.

Ruiz declined to comment and hid her face from photographers with a scarf as she left the courtroom. The 79-year-old actor did not attend the hearing, which was closed to the public.

No details of the settlement were revealed.

``It's a private matter and it should be left private,'' said Leon F. Bennett, Brando's attorney.

Ruiz once worked as Brando's maid and lived at his home after they became romantically involved in 1988, according to the suit, filed in Superior Court in April 2002.

She said the relationship ended in December when the actor stopped paying her living expenses, although he continued to support her children, who are 8, 10 and 13.

Brando, who has been married three times, has nine children.

In her lawsuit, Ruiz said she ``devoted all aspects of her life to ... Brando's needs, the interests of their children, his personal interests and well being, to the exclusion of her own.''

In return, the lawsuit said, the Oscar-winning actor ``promised that he would always provide for and financially support plaintiff and any children of plaintiff and defendant Brando.''

``It was just like a marriage. There was an engagement ring and a wedding ring,'' Woldman said when the suit was filed. He noted, however, that there was never a legal marriage ceremony.

Brando had disputed Ruiz's claims, dismissing their relationship as ``nothing more than sexual.

The actor, who won Academy Awards for 1954's ``On the Waterfront'' and 1972's ``The Godfather,'' had also said he was broke despite an income of nearly $8,000 a month. He blamed mounting legal bills, adding he had been forced to mortgage his Los Angeles home.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)