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DADDY'S LESSONS
Haunting signs from inside Serena Williams’ crumbling childhood home show how she and Venus were coached to stardom
PHOTOGRAPHS of abandoned signs at Serena Williams' crumbling childhood home have shown how she and Venus were coached to stardom by their father.
Former coach Richard Williams has been trapped in a lengthy legal battle with his estranged wife, Lakeisha Graham, over the house for a number of years.
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She allegedly forged his signature on the mortgage deeds on the Florida home to transfer the property into her name before borrowing $255,000 from "hard lender" David Simon.
The U.S. Sun has obtained exclusive photographs of the run-down home, including signs showing Richard's messages to the girls.
One reads: "Serena, you must learn to listen," while another encourages: "Venus when you fail, you fail alone."
A third says: "Serena, you must learn to use more top spin on the ball," while a fourth adds: "Venus, you must take control of your future."
The stepmom of Serena and Venus Williams has suffered a major setback to her plans on clinging to their childhood home, as a judge has ordered that she stumps up huge legal costs to her main creditor.
Simon has accused her of repeatedly failing to keep up with a repayment plan because she spent every dollar on "fast-food and frivolities", according to court docs.
A state court judge ordered for the house to be sold at auction to pay off the debt, which stood at $512,213 including interest.
But this has since risen to more than $600,000 as Simon has endured more legal costs since that verdict 18 months ago and the original debt has accrued yet more interest.
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LAWSUIT TOSSED OUT
To save the four-bed home in Palm Beach Gardens, the 44-year-old has tried three times to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy - the first two were tossed out, while the third is being played out in the US Bankruptcy Court.
Frustrated Simon and his legal team, DGIM Law, filed an application for extra legal fees and expenses of $38,340, which was contested by Lakeisha, who called it “disingenuous” and “unreasonable.”
Yet Judge Mindy Mora has sided with Simon and awarded him attorney fees and expenses totaling $23,130, 60 percent of what his team was asking.
Now, the next round in this bitter fight is due in court on February 2.
If Lakeisha fails with her latest bankruptcy bid, then the house will be sold and Simon will take the lion's share of the proceeds.
The property is worth around $1.4million but has fallen into such a state of disrepair that it's worth only half that figure.
Frail Richard, 80, said in a recent interview with The U.S. Sun that he's not giving up his legal battle to save it.
RICHARD'S BATTLE
This is despite a judge recently tossing out his lawsuit against his estranged wife, as he wanted the financial proceeds from the sale rather than awarded to Simon.
Despite his lawsuit being dismissed, Richard and his family are not giving up on getting the property back, with son Chavoita LeSane saying they are now looking at new legal counsel.
Ailing Richard, who has had multiple strokes and some communication problems, said the home was "beautiful" when he lived there with Serena, Venus, and their mother Oracene, his second wife, buying it in 1995 for $355,000.
"The house is easily worth a million dollars," he insisted.
"The ten acres of land is unbelievable," Richard said, explaining he'd like to demolish the home and build a new property, adding: "I don't need the past no more if I keep [focusing] on the past, I won't do much."
But he admitted: "I don't know if I'll get it back or not. I don't know if I can or not."
Chavoita admitted Serena and her sister are not too interested in what happens to their old home but have made sure he's taken care of amid the toxic situation with his ex.
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The U.S. Sun previously revealed Richard is now living in a new home in West Palm Beach, which is owned by Serena, who paid $815,000 for the one-story property in June 2015.
The place is perfect for Richard's reported fragile state - all on one floor, with four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and more than 4,160 square feet of room.
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