clarinews@clarinet.com (JOYCE HEDGES) (02/03/90)
LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- Former baseball great Steve Garvey and his ex-wife reached an out-of-court settlement Friday in their battle over child support and alimony -- a dispute that landed Cynthia Garvey in jail for contempt last year. After a brief court appearance that was not attended by either Garvey or his former wife, a statement was issued by lawyers for both sides that said they ``came to a full resolution of all their pending issues in the case.'' The Garveys, divorced in 1981, went to court last fall quarreling over questions of attorney's fees and a request by the longtime Dodger to reduce his child and spousal support payments. Cynthia Garvey, an occasional talk-show host who now uses her maiden name, Truhan, was ordered jailed for contempt-of-court for repeatedly violating court orders to allow the former ballplayer to see his two teenage daughters, Krisha and Whitney. She spent the night in jail but was released Oct. 3 after an appeals court ruled the judge abused her discretion by denying Cynthia Garvey bail pending a review of the sentence. Steve Garvey was granted joint custody of the children that same day. Although Friday's settlement was sealed, it apparently addressed the issue of Cynthia Garvey's contempt charges. ``The settlement is private,'' said the statement released by Cynthia Garvey's attorney, Stephen Kolodny. ``The terms and conditions of the settlement will not be disclosed. The purpose of the settlement is to further the best interest of the children.'' Superior Court Judge Frances Rothschild set a Feb. 21 court date on the matter, in case the settlement collapses. Last summer, Cynthia Garvey toured the country promoting her book, ``The Secret life of Cyndy Garvey'' in which she debunked the couple's ``Ken and Barbie'' image. The book described Cynthia Garvey as an emotionally abused child who married a man just like her cold, distant and demanding father. Steve Garvey, who now lives in the San Diego community of Del Mar, had his own radio talk-show canceled in San Diego in January due to low ratings. The former Dodgers first baseman, whose spent his final years in baseball with the San Diego Padres, now runs a financial management company for retired professional athletes. Shortly after retiring from baseball in 1988, Garvey found his clean-cut image tarnished by reports of his affairs with a number of woman. Garvey was accused by two women of fathering their illegitimate children during his engagement to his current wife, Candace.