‘Gossip Girl’ Actress Kelly Rutherford Wins Custody Of Kids After Years Of Legal Battle Against Ex Daniel Giersch

Kelly Rutherford, who is known for her “Gossip Girl” role Lily van der Woodsen, has finally been granted sole custody of her two children, though temporarily, after a long-drawn out legal battle against her former husband Daniel Giersch.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Juhas ruled that Rutherford’s son Hermes, 8, and daughter Helena, 5, must be brought back from Monaco to the United States. Since 2012, the two children have been living with Giersch in Monaco. They should be present for the next hearing in the case, scheduled to take place on June 15.

In a statement sent to CNN, Rutherford's attorney David Glass said, “We are pleased that the Los Angeles Superior Court acted swiftly on Friday, May 22nd to confirm its continuing jurisdiction over the custody matter and the parties' two children.”

“We remain hopeful that Mr. Giersch, after reviewing the Orders, will cooperate fully and assist us in peacefully transferring the children to Kelly's custody,” Glass also said of Giersch, who married Rutherford in August 2006. The two separated in December 2008 and their divorce was confirmed in July 2010.

Meanwhile, prior to the Los Angeles Superior Court Judge’s decision to grant Rutherford temporary custody of her two children, Giersch’s attorney, Fahi Takesh Hallin, released a statement about the actress' media campaign, following her failed appeal in Manhattan Federal Court to bring her children back to the U.S. from France.

In the statement obtained by E! News, Hallin said his client’s goal is “to continue to protect these children and shield them from any media exposure, which is against court order” and they are taking Rutherford’s statements to the media seriously.

Hallin accused Rutherford of releasing a false statement, in which the actress claimed that anybody who brings the two children back to the U.S. in violation of the custody orders would be regarded an “American hero.” The lawyer underscored that giving such a statement is illegal and also called it a criminal act.

After starring in “Gossip Girl” with Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, Penn Badgley, Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick, Rutherford appeared on tv series such as “Bones,” “Reckless,” and “Being Mary Jane.” She is also set to star in the horror film “The Old Hag Syndrome.”

For questions/comments regarding the article, you may email the writer at c.altatis@ibtimes.com.au.