Goran Visnjic faces paternity suit in Croatia

updated 12:12 p.m. ET July 6, 2007

ZAGREB, Croatia - A Croatian woman is suing “ER” star Goran Visnjic, claiming he’s the father of her 4-month-old daughter and demanding a paternity test.

Mirela Rupic, 36, filed the lawsuit after Visnjic refused to recognize the child as his, Rupic’s lawyer, Nenad Skare, told The Associated Press on Friday.

Visnjic, who plays Dr. Luka Kovac on the long-running NBC series, has been married to Ivana Vrdoljak since 1999 and lives in Los Angeles. The couple told Croatian media last spring they have adopted a boy, born in April, in the United States.

Skare said that Rupic initially wanted to settle the matter directly with Visnjic, but her attempts failed. If Visnjic formally denies paternity, they would request a paternity test, Skare said.

Rupic told Friday’s Jutarnji List that Visnjic “knew about my pregnancy from the start.” The newspaper quoted her as saying she decided to sue him after he told her recently he would financially support the child, but never recognize her as his own.

Visnjic, 34, has co-starred in the feature films “Elektra” with Jennifer Garner and “Practical Magic” with Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock. He could not immediately be reached for comment.

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