The divorce trial between “7th Heaven” actor Stephen Collins and his estranged wife, Faye Grant, was rescheduled today for Feb. 9, but a judge told both sides to meet Wednesday to try and narrow their differences.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas said he wanted both Grant and Collins to be present with their lawyers for Wednesday’s meeting to assess the issues on which the parties agree and disagree. The session will take place at the office of the actor’s lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan.
“I’m going to be a little unhappy if something goes south on this,” Juhas said.
Collins was present for today’s hearing, but Grant was not.
Juhas also is scheduled to hear a motion on Jan. 14 by Grant’s attorney, Christina Royce, to re-open discovery for a limited period to gather more information and possibly take Collins’ deposition.
Kaplan said he was opposed to any further discovery motions being filed and said Grant’s latest request should have been raised earlier so that there are no further delays in getting to trial. He noted that Grant’s previous lawyer, Larry Ginsberg, earlier resigned from the case.
“She just gets new lawyers to start it all over again,” Kaplan said.
Juhas said he will hear Royce’s motion and that his decision may or may not affect the trial date.
The exchanges between Royce and Kaplan became so bitter at times that the courtroom bailiff had to tell them to control their tempers.
Collins has confessed to having sexual contact with three girls 20, 32 and 40 years ago.
“Forty years ago, I did something terribly wrong that I deeply regret,” he told People magazine last month. “I have been working to atone for it ever since. I’ve decided to address these issues publicly because two months ago, various news organizations published a recording made by my then-wife, Faye Grant, during a confidential marriage therapy session in January 2012.”
