David Geffen No Longer Facing Civil Lawsuit After Estranged Husband Withdraws Case

Media personality David Geffen is no longer being sued in the civil case filed by his estranged husband, after the husband chose to withdraw his claim. Reports by TMZ suggest that the case was dismissed without prejudice on October 21, 2025, meaning the plaintiff could re-file if mediation fails.

The lawsuit had been filed in July 2025 by David Armstrong (also known as Donovan Michaels), who had accused Geffen of allegedly failing to honor a promise of lifelong financial support. The legal action followed a divorce filing earlier this year by Geffen.

The move to withdraw the lawsuit comes amid reports that the dispute will now go into mediation rather than court. That change has major implications for what Armstrong can claim going forward.

The lawsuit filed against David Geffen and then withdrawn

Reports by People state that Armstrong filed the civil suit in July 2025, asserting that David Geffen, aged 82, had promised him, aged 32, that he would support him for life. He claimed the promises included sharing assets equally and giving up his career to rely on Geffen’s financial backing.

The complaint alleged the pair had married in March 2023 without a prenuptial agreement, separated in early 2025, and that Armstrong was left without the support he believed was promised. In response, David Geffen's legal team strongly denied the allegations. They said there was no written, oral, or implied contract that required lifelong support.

On October 21, 2025, legal filings show that Armstrong’s civil lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice. The dismissal means the lawsuit is not permanently closed; Armstrong could bring it again if mediation does not resolve the issues. The reports by TMZ state that his lawyer told the media the next step is mediation. In that context, some of the broader financial claims may no longer be on the table.

Because the marriage lasted about 23 months, and given the absence of a prenup, spousal support laws may limit Armstrong’s claim anyway. Some media reports say Armstrong has already received payments and rent support from David Geffen.

What does this mean, and what happens next?

With the civil case withdrawn, the public legal battle in court is on pause. The key difference now is the shift to mediation, a private process where both sides negotiate rather than face trial.

Mediation has its limits. Under California law, issues like community property (assets earned during the marriage) and spousal support are typical subjects. Some of the more expansive claims Armstrong made, such as lifelong guaranteed support and a large share of David Geffen's wealth, may not be part of mediation if they fall outside legal norms.

Because the suit was dismissed without prejudice, Armstrong retains the option of refiling if he is unhappy with the results of mediation. That gives him some flexibility, but also means the threat of future court proceedings remains.

For David Geffen, this outcome reduces immediate legal exposure. The most dramatic claims in the initial complaint may no longer be actively pursued in public court filings. That may limit both the financial demand and public scrutiny facing him.

Still, the underlying divorce and financial separation remain active. The divorce case exists independently of the civil contract case, meaning issues like spousal support, property division, and issues related to the divorce are still being addressed. The prior filings stated that the couple had no prenup and had been married for less than two years prior to their separation.

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Some of the earlier allegations made by Armstrong were serious, regarding the nature of the relationship, which included promises of support, interrupted career plans, exploitation, and ultimately dependency. Although these allegations may not be part of mediations, they likely informed public sentiment and may have ultimately informed negotiations.

The mediation timeline or what terms either side would agree to accept is not known yet. David Geffen's team has not confirmed a settlement, nor have Armstrong's public statements.

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