A $9 million (GBP4.7 million) palimony lawsuit filed against US comedian Bill Maher has been dismissed.

Maher's ex-girlfriend NANCY 'COCO' JOHNSEN, a former model and flight attendant, claimed the comic reneged on a promise to marry her and support her for life.

But a Superior Court judge in Los Angeles has thrown out the suit, which alleged Maher had assaulted her.

Maher filed a request to dismiss the suit late last year (04), claiming he was a "confirmed bachelor" and never promised to marry or support Johnsen.

California law does not acknowledge Johnsen's palimony allegations, his attorney argued.

04/05/2005 21:16