Jax Taylor's Attorney Accuses Ex of Custody Manipulation

The custody battle between former reality television couple Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright has escalated with sharp accusations from Taylor's legal team, who claim Cartwright is weaponizing the court system in an attempt to destabilize her ex-partner's recovery from substance abuse.

Attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, representing Taylor in the dispute, told TMZ that Cartwright is attempting to "beat him down" through concurrent custody and restraining order proceedings, with the alleged intention of causing Taylor to "stray from his maintained sobriety." Kaplan added that "that is a goal for which she will not succeed."

According to Kaplan, Cartwright sought to restrict Taylor's custody rights as part of a restraining order petition, but the court rejected all of her requests. The attorney emphasized that Cartwright had not attempted to limit Taylor's access to their child at any point during the previous year, suggesting her current allegations represent manufactured crises rather than legitimate safety concerns.

Kaplan further alleged that Cartwright was aware of scheduled court proceedings through communications between their respective attorneys, and that she expedited her restraining order filing in response to create what he characterized as a fabricated emergency.

The attorney stated that Taylor has successfully passed every drug test administered since completing a rehabilitation program, countering any suggestions of relapse or instability.

The legal conflict has become a two-way street. Taylor himself filed for a restraining order against Cartwright, requesting that a judge mandate she maintain a distance of 100 yards from him and cease all contact. His petition also sought court intervention to prevent Cartwright from interfering with his professional opportunities.

In his filing, Taylor alleged that Cartwright had contacted multiple employers and business partners, resulting in the loss of a $175,000 role on the Fox program "Special Forces." He also claimed she had verbally disparaged him using terms including "asshole," "loser," and "dirty dick."

Taylor has maintained that he has been sober for nearly two years, participates in weekly therapy sessions, and voluntarily submits to random drug testing as part of his ongoing recovery efforts.

Representatives for Cartwright did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations made by Taylor's attorney.

The former couple, known for their appearances on the Bravo reality series "Vanderpump Rules," are navigating a contentious separation that has increasingly played out through legal filings and public statements. The custody dispute centers on their shared child, though specific custody arrangements have not been publicly disclosed.