NEW YORK (AP) -- Retired New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan won the latest round in his lengthy divorce case on Tuesday when a state appeals court reversed a lower court's awarding of about $18,000 per month in child support to his twin 3-year-old daughters.
The three-judge panel found a lower court didn't adequately review the claims by Strahan's ex-wife, Jean, about the girls' needs.
For instance, among the listed expenses were a 10-day vacation to Jamaica for the girls' nanny and her family, allegedly as a gift from the children, and diamond jewelry given to their grandmother.
Strahan's ex-wife also claimed the toddlers needed $27,000 per year for clothing because she dressed them in a new outfit each time they saw their father.
``Some of the expenses claimed by defendant clearly should have been deleted by the court,'' the appeals court concluded.
Strahan was to have paid $8,948 on the first and 15th of each month. Under Tuesday's ruling, the matter will be reconsidered by the lower court.
``Mr. Strahan is gratified with the result and feels his legal position has been vindicated,'' Strahan's lawyer, Angelo Genova, said Tuesday. ``He hopes the matter can be resolved amicably going forward in the interests of his children.''
The appeals court also ruled Strahan does not have to pay about $14,000 of his ex-wife's legal and accounting fees, and that he is not required to purchase $7.5 million in disability insurance since he retired from professional football earlier this year.
The latter ruling could be a factor if Strahan returns to the Giants. Strahan's agent, Tony Agnone, told The Associated Press that the team contacted his client about coming out of retirement after defensive end Osi Umenyiora suffered a season-ending knee injury in a preseason game on Saturday.
The Strahans married in 1999 but went through a bitter public divorce in 2005 and 2006 that included allegations by Jean Strahan that her husband physically abused her.
In 2007, a judge ordered Michael Strahan to pay his ex-wife $15.3 million, but he appealed the ruling and later the couple settled for a lower sum.
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