Judge seems skeptical of Tiger Woods' ex-girlfriend's claims

A Florida judge appeared skeptical Tuesday to arguments made by an attorney for superstar golfer Tiger Woods' ex-girlfriend Erica Herman, who is trying to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement that would require the ongoing legal disputes between the two be decided privately by an arbitrator.

A Florida judge appeared skeptical Tuesday to arguments made by an attorney for superstar golfer Tiger Woods' ex-girlfriend Erica Herman, who is trying to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement that would require the ongoing legal disputes between the two be decided privately by an arbitrator.

During a 45-minute hearing, Circuit Judge Elizabeth Metzger repeatedly questioned why the mandatory arbitration clause in the couple's disputed agreement wouldn't invalidate Herman's lawsuit against Woods. She even appeared to agree with Woods' attorney, J.B. Murray, that even the question of whether Herman actually signed the August 2017 document or her signature is forged should, for now, be left to an arbitrator.

Neither Herman nor Woods was present. Herman, 39, is suing both Woods, 47, and the trust that owns his $54 million Florida mansion, seeking $30 million from the latter amid unspecified allegations of sexual harassment. Forbes Magazine estimates Woods' net worth at $1.1 billion.

"Contract law tells me I look at the document and I ask, `Is it valid on its face?' I've got dates, I've got signatures, I've got terms," Metzger said. Given that, she asked Herman attorney Benjamin Hodas, what choice did she have but to invalidate the lawsuit and require that Herman take the case to arbitration if she wants to pursue it further?

At the least, Hodas asked that Metzger conduct a future hearing to determine whether his client signed the document or it was forged. He acknowledged that Herman signed a nondisclosure agreement at some point, but said the one presented by Woods' attorneys may not be the true contract.

"We don't know," Hodas told Metzger. "My client cannot say for certain that is her signature and she does not recall signing this document."

Murray called the dispute over the signature "a bit of a red herring."