A judge ruled Tuesday in Pennsylvania that Jon Gosselin needs to return $180,000 to a bank account he owns jointly with estranged wife Kate Gosselin, according to her divorce lawyer.

The account allegedly held about $230,000 until Jon removed all but $1,345 earlier this month. Kate said on The View that she uses that account to pay the family’s bills.

Kate’s attorney said that she used $55,000 for household bills and expenses relating to the children, which apparently explains why Jon wasn’t required to return all $230,000. The remaining amounts are subject to further determination by an arbitrator. Jon’s attorney, unsurprisingly, says that there has been no determination or proof that Kate spent the $55,000 on family expenses.

“Nor has there been a determination concerning the hundreds of thousands of dollars that Kate has failed to account for in violation of the arbitrator’s order,” Jon’s lawyer said via written statement. “It may very well be determined that very substantial sums of money which Kate has failed to account for might have been misapplied and misused by Kate. As of now, Jon Gosselin chooses to give Kate the benefit of doubt, but we are all anxiously awaiting her compliance.”

Jon must return the funds to the account by October 26 or face contempt proceedings. Kate is also required to provide a detailed accounting of past expenses by the same date.

Kate says, “As difficult as this has been for me, I am pleased that the court has ruled fairly on behalf of myself and my children. Now that this matter has been ruled on, I look forward to returning to private arbitration, as we have agreed to do, to resolve any remaining issues.”

Other sites report that Jon claims that Kate is hiding money from the court and from Jon and his attorneys. There has been no proof offered for those allegations but if they were found to be true, such actions constitute fraud and generally establish sufficient reason to have settlement agreements and divorce judgments set aside. Parties engaging in fraud also open themselves up to additional civil lawsuits.

Frankly, Jon Gosselin’s behavior in the last few weeks (even the last few months) is unlikely to engender any sympathy or kindness from the judge, much as it has brought consistently negative media attention to the father of eight. I continue to find it amazing that some divorce attorneys actually advise their clients to behave in this manner.

It’s unfortunate but I’ve got to believe that these antics will continue to provide fodder for this blog for quite some time to come.