Tom Cruise has launched a $50 million lawsuit against Life & Style magazine after they claimed he abandoned Suri.

His lawyer, Bert Fields, said that Cruise would not normally file lawsuits but he felt the “vicious lie” overstepped the mark and defamed his relationship with his six-year-old daughter.

He filed in LA and is planning on giving the money (if his case is successful) to charity.

Bert said, “Tom is a caring father who dearly loves Suri. She’s a vital part of his life and always will be. To say it [that he abandoned her] in lurid headlines with a tearful picture of Suri is reprehensible.”

Suri has been the angle on a lot of tabloid stories since Tom and his ex-wife Katie Holmes divorced earlier this year after six years together. Most stories focus on her custody, her well-being and how her parents are acting towards her. This Life & Style article was clearly just too much for Tom.

Fields continued, “Cruise doesn’t like to file lawsuits but felt it was appropriate because ‘sleaze peddlers’ are trying to make money about the actor’s relationship with his daughter.

“They take money from unsuspecting Americans by selling their malicious garbage. Having to pay a libel judgment may slow them down.”

I understand why Tom has done this but at the same time, I am sure plenty of other publications have written equally bad things about him and his parenting so it just makes me wonder what’s so special about Life & Style. They must feel like they’ve been picked on to be made an example of- which I think is the whole point of the process. I reckon he will win but I doubt it will stop anybody reporting damaging things about him in the future.

Tom Cruise was reunited with his six-year-old daughter Suri today for the first time since his divorce was announced.

While the pair have been keeping in touch via phone and web chats, this is the first opportunity they’ve had to spend time together as he was in Iceland filming new movie Oblivion.

Filming wrapped yesterday and Tom headed straight to New York to see his daughter. They had the day out together and are thought to be sharing some quality time over the next few days. Although Tom picked Suri up from Katie’s apartment, they barely spoke and he literally just collected Suri and left.

Tom is obviously happy to be with Suri and you can tell she is close to her dad. I just feel so sorry for her- look at how many paps there are trying to get a pic of them together!! She is hiding her face so tight to Tom’s chest.

The last time Tom saw Suri was just over a month ago when she and Katie visited him on set in Iceland. Tom lawyer, Bert Fields, said last week about how much of a family man Tom is.

“Tom loves Suri very, very much, as he does his other two children. Tom is a family man, and dedicated to his children. They are the centre of his world.”

Earlier this week, Suri and Katie were involved in a minor car accident after a rubbish van when into the back of their car. Nobody was hurt.