PEACH BUZZ: Whitfield court case set for Monday

On the show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Sheree Whitfield expressed a desire for a “seven figure” settlement from her ex-husband and former Atlanta Falcons player Bob Whitfield. She has since said very little about the case because of legal wranglings.

She received a settlement last year but wasn’t happy with it. So she has appealed it all the way to the Georgia Supreme Court. The case is scheduled to be heard Monday.

Her attorneys have painted her as a high school graduate with limited skills to earn income. If the settlement remains the same, she won’t be able to stay at her $2.6 million home. She receives $113,422 a year from the divorce, not enough for her to live the lifestyle she’s used to and clearly not at the level that the hit Bravo show conveys. Sheree also received a lump sum of $775,000, shares of Whitfield’s retirement pension, nearly half the marital property and child support.

Additional factoids thoughtfully provided by a Fulton County court public information officer:

Whitfield is “appealing a Fulton County Court’s refusal to grant her alimony and a new trial. Under a 2003 pilot project, the high court has agreed to review all challenges to final divorce decrees that are not deemed frivolous.”

“Bob and Sheree Whitfield separated after three years of marriage in 2003 and divorced after seven in 2007. … The trial court awarded her custody of the children and $2,142.87 a month in child support. It also awarded her a division of the marital property totaling more than $1.1 million and including a lump sum payment of $775,000. It gave her half of the marital portion of three NFL retirement plans. But the court did not award alimony.

“The court awarded him nearly all the real estate, including four homes, and the recording studio, Patchwerks, which he founded. Her lawyers moved for a new trial over the denial of alimony. The lower court denied the motion, and she now appeals to the Supreme Court.”

The possible upside to all this divorce drama? If cameras are allowed into the courtroom, the second season of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” potentially could provide 15 or more seconds of watchable television. Oh, and if Sheree somehow manages a bigger payday, perhaps the alleged fashion “designer” will be able to afford classes in sewing and stitching —- services she unsuccessfully farmed out to others in Season 1.

Celebrity docket

Atlanta rapper-machine gun enthusiast T.I. has paid an $8,000 overdue lawyer bill for the mother of two of his sons, telling a judge the debt was an oversight.

Lawyers for LaShon Dixon asked a Fulton County judge to intervene after the 28-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris, failed to pay in November. He had agreed to the payment as part of an ongoing child support case.

T.I. brought a check for the money owed, effectively settling the matter. During the Tuesday hearing, which lasted more than four hours, he told the judge the order to pay got lost when he changed assistants.

“It was just a clerical error, totally innocent,” he said. “I will accept full responsibility for that.”

T.I. is scheduled to be sentenced on federal weapons charges in March. He is expected to serve at least a year in federal prison.

More time for ticket-holders

There’s good news for Falcons season ticket-holders who, in this economic climate, are still on the fence about whether to re-up for the 2009 season this fall. The Falcons organization is giving you more time to decide. In a note to fans posted at www.atlantafalcons.com, season tickets-holders are being informed: “Due to sensitivity to the economy and the holiday season, the 2009 early renewal deadline has been extended to Jan. 30, 2009.”

Oh, and the Falcons and Ticketmaster are also offering a technological enhancement to season ticket-holders for the 2009 season as well.

If you find yourself unable to use your tickets, you can forward them via e-mail to friends or family for a fee of $1.95 per ticket (remember, this is Ticketmaster, a company that has never found a service fee it hasn’t felt compelled to pass along to consumers). You can forward tickets anywhere up until two hours before game time.

Consider it an alternative to standing in the Georgia Dome parking lot on Sunday afternoons.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Singer Shirley Bassey is 72. Guitarist Robby Krieger of the Doors is 63. Singer David Bowie is 62. Singer R. Kelly is 42. Guitarist Disashi Lumumbo-Kasongo of Gym Class Heroes is 26.

STORK REPORT

It’s a girl!

It’s baby No. 2 for Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck. Affleck’s spokesman, Shawn Sachs, and Garner’s spokeswoman, Leslie Sloane-Zelnik, are confirming that Garner gave birth to their second daughter but would not provide additional details. Garner and Affleck, both 36, were married in June 2005. Garner gave birth to daughter Violet in December 2005. Mommy and daddy met on the set of “Daredevil,” and they began dating in 2004.

Contributing: Rodney Ho and news services

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