NY court rules against heiress in adoption fight

November 26, 2008

NEW YORK - A New York appeals court has ruled against a Johnson & Johnson heiress in a custody fight with her former boyfriend.

The Appellate Division upheld a ruling that overturned Elizabeth "Libet" Johnson's adoption order.

The appeals court affirmed that diet doctor Lionel Bissoon is the adoptive father of 6-year-old William.

Adoption authorities in Cambodia had nullified Bissoon's parental status at Johnson's request. The appeals court said accepting the Cambodian ruling "would involve an unprecedented surrender" of its jurisdiction.

Johnson's lawyer, Mara Thorpe, did not immediately return a call for comment on Wednesday.