Shannon Elizabeth’s husband wants half

Joseph Reitman seeks half of what couple owned when they lived together

Emile Nicks / AP

Shannon Elizabeth poses with her then husband Joseph D. Reitman in this April 16, 2004, file photo. Reitman filed a lawsuit March 15, seeking half of all property and assets the pair accumulated during the five years they lived together before they were married.

Celebrity video

13th woman linked to Tiger?
Dec. 10: Porn star Joslyn James is reportedly the latest woman to claim she had an affair with the golfer. Plus, Nicky Hilton's home is burglarlized.

Eastwood, Freeman on new film

Celine Dion on her miscarriage

Taylor Lautner as Pee-Wee?

Lambert: Music ‘is my dream’

Bono, 50 Cent, others celebrate VEVO

Slideshow

Best and worst celebrity fashions of 2009
From glamorous gowns to stylish suits to complete fashion failures, a look at the year so far.

more photos

updated 11:12 p.m. ET March 15, 2006

LOS ANGELES - Actress Shannon Elizabeth’s estranged husband filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking half of all property and assets the pair accumulated during the five years they lived together before they were married.

Actor Joseph D. Reitman and his then-girlfriend, who was born Shannon Elizabeth Fadal, began living together in 1997, according to papers filed in Superior Court.

Until their marriage on June 15, 2002, the couple agreed to “be equal partners in the acquisition of assets and in financial affairs whether such transactions were separate or joint,” the lawsuit states.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Reitman claims that Elizabeth secretly transferred assets acquired during the years before their marriage and contends that he deserves half.

Reitman also alleges that he sacrificed his career to promote Elizabeth’s.

The actress, who played a sexy foreign exchange student in the “American Pie” films, filed for divorce in June 2005.

Calls placed to attorneys for Elizabeth and Reitman were not returned Wednesday.