Oksana Grigorieva

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.

Oksana Grigorieva will file a civil lawsuit against Mel Gibson.

The 'Braveheart' actor was sentenced to a year long domestic violence counselling programme  after  he pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanour battery against his former girlfriend in a Los Angeles court yesterday (11.03.11) but Oksana's lawyers will now seek damages in a civil court.

Oksana - who is currently involved in a custody battle with Mel over their 17-month old daughter, Lucia -  had previously planned to file a lawsuit  against him alleging battery, emotional distress and defamation and her lawyer Daniel Horowitz told TMZ: "Our position hasn't changed."

Timothy Dalton will testify on behalf of Oksana Grigorieva against Mel Gibson.

The Russian-born singer reportedly revealed to the former ‘James Bond’ star - the father of her 14-year-old son Alexander - that the ‘Braveheart’ star had hit her when he questioned her about bruises on her face.

Prosecutors have a “strong case” to support filing criminal charges against Mel Gibson for allegedly hitting Oksana Grigorieva.

Despite the actor-and-director’s lawyer Blair Berk meeting with Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney John Lynch for close to two hours to persuade them otherwise, it is thought the office will bring charges against him for assaulting his former girlfriend on January 6 last year.

It is believed the charge is likely to be violence or corporal injury involving a former cohabitant, which can be prosecuted as either a felony or misdemeanour.

A source told RadarOnline.com: “Blair is aware that the District Attorney is inclined to file charges against Mel.