Tyler Perry's real house of pain

Metro Atlanta

Tyler Perry's real house of pain

Tyler Perry property dispute creates drama worthy of Madea

Tyler Perry, creator of the "House of Payne" TV show, is building his dream home on a 17-acre tract he bought off Paces Ferry along the Chattahoochee River. The 30,000-square-foot French provincial mansion should be ready by Thanksgiving. But Perry's purchase of the property in 2005 has put him into a drama more bizarre than any play he's written or movie he's produced.

Tyler Perry became well known after playing the part of Madea in several hit films that he wrote, directed and produced. In this photo he is shown as Madea (left). Keke Palmer plays the part of Nikki, Madea's court-ordered charge.

Tyler Perry purchased the property from an estate that had obtained it in the settlement of a lawsuit against Moreton Rolleston Jr., an 89-year-old Atlanta lawyer and businessman. Rolleston continues to try to regain the Buckhead property despite a series of rulings that have seen him jailed and fined.

Moreton Rolleston, 89, has been under a court order, called a bill of peace, to stop filing lawsuits claiming he owns the Buckhead property since 2001. Still, he's filed suit against Perry three times already.

Rolleston recently showed up at the property with police cars en tow seeking to remove Perry's construction crews from the property, contending he still is the rightful owner.

Nine months after Perry bought the property, Rolleston filed a federal suit against Perry challenging the sale and seeking damages for tearing down Rolleston's former home.

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Tyler Perry, creator of the "House of Payne" TV show, is building his dream home on a 17-acre tract he bought off Paces Ferry along the Chattahoochee River. The 30,000-square-foot French provincial mansion should be ready by Thanksgiving. But Perry's purchase of the property in 2005 has put him into a drama more bizarre than any play he's written or movie he's produced.

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