Former Knick Metta World Peace wants to bring the legal battle against his ex over tuition for their son’s private school to his home court.
The NBA star, who grew up in the Queensbridge housing project in Long Island City, said in Family Court papers that “Queens County is the only proper venue to hear this matter.”
Ex-girlfriend and college sweetheart Jennifer Palma sued the 6-foot-7 hoops star in Manhattan Family Court last month after he allegedly reneged on a promise to cover the $38,355-a-year fees at the prestigious Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn.
The veteran forward, who legally changed his name from Ron Artest in 2011, said he wants the case moved to the outer borough because Palma lives in Woodside and “all prior legal proceedings between [them] have been conducted in the Family Court in Queens County.”
The former couple was previously in Queens Family Court in 2002 when Palma got a protection order against World Peace after he allegedly tried to choke her.
He broke the order by threatening Palma over the phone and turned himself in to police and enrolled himself in anger management classes.
In the April 30 filing for a change of venue World Peace told Manhattan Magistrate Margaret Morgan that he never promised to pay for his 13-year-old’s tuition, but painted himself as a generous dad.
“The court should be aware that I have always met my financial obligations for my son and am current in my support,” World Peace wrote in response to Palma’s suit.
He pays her $5,000 a month to care for Jeron Artest plus a $2,800 housing stipend.
The St. John’s University grad raked in $9 million last year, according to court papers. After the Knicks bought him out of his $3.2 million contract in February, World Peace moved to Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.
Morgan approved his request to call in to a May 6 hearing in Manhattan instead of attending in person.
Palma’s attorney, Michael Stutman, head of family law at Mishcon de Reya, declined to comment.