Mel Gibson may counter sue ex

Mel Gibson will counter sue Oksana Grigorieva if she launches legal action against him over their January 2010 domestic altercation.

The actor-and-director's ex-girlfriend is reportedly considering filing a civil lawsuit against him alleging battery, emotional distress and defamation committed during their relationship, which broke down in April 2010.

This has been by Mel's lawyers saying any attempt to sue him will be met with a lawsuit accusing her of extortion, according to gossip website TMZ.

The Braveheart star has previously claimed Oksana asked him for $15 million to keep quiet about audio tapes which contained recordings of him verbally abusing her and apparently assaulting her. The tapes were later leaked to the media.

In court on Friday, Mel pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanour battery for their January incident, and was sentenced to a year-long domestic violence counselling programme, and a year of mental health counselling. This ended the criminal section of the case against him, but Oksana's lawyers plan to seek damages in a civil court.

At the court proceedings, lawyers for Oksana - mother of Mel's 17-month old daughter, Lucia, who the couple are presently involved in a custody battle over - said she intended to "concentrate on co-parenting her child, resuming her charitable work for the children of Chernobyl and moving forward with her life".

A statement from Mel's lawyer, Blair Berk, made earlier last week insisted he had accepted his plea deal to escape a long court fight.

In addition to probation and counselling, Mel, 55, also has to serve 16 hours of community service with the organisation Mending Kids International and was also fined a total of $570.

- BANG! Showbiz