A paternity suit was filed Friday against Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard in Orange County Circuit Court, The Orlando Sentinel reported.
The paternity suit asks to establish his fatherhood officially and determine child support and other parental responsibilities. The suit was on behalf of Royce Lyndsay Reed, a Florida woman whom Howard has said gave birth to his son, Braylon Joshua Robert Howard, on Nov. 18, 2007.When asked about the suit before the game Friday, Howard declined any comment, the paper said.
In the suit, Reed is seeking the "child support determined by Florida's Child Support Guidelines." Those guidelines normally take into account several factors, including parental income, the child's medical needs and child care.
"Petitioner (Reed) anticipates that an upward adjustment . . . will be required pursuant to a number of reasons. . . . The petitioner also is entitled to good-fortune support for the child," according to the suit, the paper said.
Howard is in his fourth season with the Magic. He is averaging 21.2 points and 14.4 rebounds this season.
