And in his latest effort to prove that he fathered Kourtney Kardashian's son Mason, model Michael Girgenti has released a snap of himself as a young tot.
The picture, obtained by RadarOnline, shows the 27-year-old in his much, much younger years -- mussed-up hair, chubby cheeks and pouty lips.
'Spitting image': Michael Girgenti (right)
released a picture of himself as a baby as he launches a custody battle
over Kourtney Kardashian's son Mason Disick
According to the gossip website, Michael is hoping to convince the reality TV star and her family that he is a 'spitting image' of the now three-year-old boy, whom Kourtney shares with her partner Scott Disick.
'If Mason is Scott's son, more power to him,' the model previously told Star magazine.
'But if he’s mine, I need to be with him, to be a part of his life.'
Legal bid: Michael Girgenti reportedly reached
out to Kourney Kardashian in a letter months before launching a legal
bid for a court ordered DNA test in the first steps towards a custody
battle over her son Mason
Michael has also released an
impassioned letter he claims he sent to the reality star in April,
trying to persuade her to take a DNA test before threatening to take the
story public.
'My attentions [sic] are not to hurt the family you've created with Scott,' Michael wrote.
'Please take this final request for a DNA test seriously,' he wrote before taking on a more stern tone: 'Because if you don't, I will be forced to take legal action and sue.'
He continued: 'I assure you I don't take being a father lightly. I will be a great father to Mason.'
The lawsuit documents the alleged relationship between Kourtney and Michael, which he claims heated up in August 2008, and continued with months of texting in which she told him her relationship with Scott was 'on the outs' and 'she wanted to hang.'
According to TMZ.com, Michael wants the judge to order DNA tests for Kourtney, Mason and her partner Scott Disick.
Scott, who has been dating Kourtney for over several years, is also the father to her daughter Penelope, 13 months.
A hearing has been set for next month.
Kourtney who in March was said to be 'furious' over Michael's claims has yet to comment personally on the fresh allegations.
Her spokeswoman has not responded to requests for comment.
Real
life drama: Kourtney and boyfriend Scott Disick were seen
leaving a lawyer's office last week after news of the lawsuit became public
Photogenic: Kourtney and Michael met on a photo
shoot in 2008, but the star's attorney says there was no further contact
after that
'This individual has been selling false and fabricated stories to the tabloids for years about Kourtney Kardashian and her son, Mason. Scott Disick is Mason’s father,' Todd Wilson told the website.
'We have not seen the reported court filing, but we are informed that this individual has been seeking to get paid to publish his ridiculous pleading.
'His claims are absurd and this is simply another shameful attempt to gain publicity and profit from fictional stories about my client.'
Battle: Kourtney with son Mason who is now at the centre of the lawsuit
The allegations first came to light in March earlier this year when he told In Touch magazine: 'After [Mason] was born, and I saw photos of him, I began to wonder.
'I would definitely want to acknowledge Mason if he's my kid - he deserves to know his real father.'
A legal representative for the Kourtney & Kim Take Miami star previously branded the Chicago native's allegations 'preposterous and an outrageous lie'.
So it must have come as a surprise that the model has now filed papers with the court.
Together: The couple, pictured here in 2011, share two children with from their seven year relationship
This is not the first time the extremely wealthy Kardashian family has been confronted by allegations of paternity.Just last week it was reported that Kourtney was pregnant with her third child.
Kourtney's younger sister Khloe, 28, has had to regularly deny rumours that their late father Robert Kardashian was not her biological father.
Their half-sister Kylie Jenner, 15, also recently hit back at reports that Bruce Jenner may not be her real father.
Father and son: Scott has maintained a strong relationship with his son, especially as their lives are chronicled on reality TV
Concerned: Family patriarch Bruce Jenner seemed to be mulling the situation as he drank coffee
Busy boy: The former Olympian turned reality television personality was in Los Angeles on Tuesday
