Results tagged “divorce”

After some sad testimony, Jim Nantz, the CBS sportscaster, was ordered to pay his ex-wife $916,000 a year in child support and alimony. According to the AP, "Nantz must pay $72,000 a month in alimony until either he dies or his ex-wife remarries, and another $1,000 week in child support for their 15-year-old daughter, Caroline, for the next two years...Nantz acknowledged that he began dating a 29-year-old woman before his divorce was final." Nantz does make $4 million/year from CBS and has another $3 million in "yearly assets."

Breaking news: Fame cancels out conviction. Reality television star Jon Gosselin shared this late-breaking, profound information last night with celebrity Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and a live audience at New York City's West Side Jewish Center. He even begged the media to leave him alone, "Thank you guys for showing up tonight, but please, stop showing up... I didn't ask for this [fame]... I hardly ever go out in New York because of it. The paparazzi are everywhere here."

Hunky firefighter who not only posed shirtless for an FDNY calendar but was also in a Guys Gone Wild video? Check. Reality show participant who stabbed husband in arm? Check. Sexy text messages between firefighter and participant, including "I want to let you know just how f---ing bad I wanna f--- you right now!!!!"? Check check check!

Having been on welfare and living on the streets since the '70s, Jan Stein-Sapir now wants her affluent ex-husband Leonard Stein-Sapir to increase his monthly payments, which have been $100 a month for nearly the past four decades. And it wasn't just a normal request for an allowance increase—she's asking for an apartment AND $100,000 for medical and dental reasons. A Manhattan Supreme Court Justice disagreed, despite the fact that Jan is homeless and suffers from a mental disability, saying, "No matter how great the ex-wife's difficulties may be, her life is not the ex-husband's cross to bear. There is no reason why he should shoulder any greater responsibility for her than he already has." The couple was married back in 1967, but split after only a year in order to pursue completely different career paths. Leonard went on to bank big in the food and restaurant industry, while Jan, who moved to New York in 1971, "made no efforts to gain employment," the ruling said (the couple finalized their divorce in 1974). While $100K is a lot to ask for, at least she wasn't attacked with scalding hot water or didn't demand a kidney.

After talking to the victim of the "skank blogger" last week, the Post's Andrea Peyser features a different kind of New York woman in her column today: The second ex-wife of City Comptroller—and mayoral candidate—Bill Thompson. Sylvia Kinard-Thompson, who married Thompson in 1999, says their relationship started to go south in 2002, when he was elected Comptroller, "I wasn't sure if he was going through a midlife crisis, stress of a new job. I was willing to work on it. You hit a bump in the road, you don't just bail out... [But by 2004,] he was starting to stay out. He was on trips longer than he should have... I asked him if he was having an affair. He never acknowledged that he was; he never acknowledged that he wasn't."

Last night, a Connecticut advertising executive surrendered to the police after a frightening standoff in which he kidnapped his wife, demanded a priest come and give her last rites, and then asked for a judge to re-marry them. Around 8:30 p.m., Nancy Tyler managed to leave the South Windsor house that ex Richard Shenkman was supposed to turn over her as part of divorce settlement, but the Post reports, "Dozens of gunshots and explosions were then heard at the home, which was soon engulfed in flames." Shenkman, who had asked police to shoot him, finally gave up around midnight. He also made his demands through a reporter for the New London Day, who previously covered his wife and him, and seemed to confide in the reporter: "If I wanted to do a murder/suicide, I could have done it three years ago. I've never hurt her in my life. I do want Nancy to walk out of here. I don't trust the cops. They have screwed up so much in the arson (case) and all that stuff." Police are at the home today investigating whether the home really had all the 65 pounds of explosives Shenkman said it did. He will probably be charged with kidnapping, arson, and reckless endangerment.

Surprise, surprise: 27-year-old Katie Lee wanted to go out on the town more than her 60-year-old husband Billy Joel. Following the couple's divorce announcement, the NY Post spoke to sources close to the couple, who told the paper, "It really was just an age thing. She loves the city, she loves to go out and have fun and he prefers to stay at home. The age difference didn't seem to be a big deal seven years ago [when they met], but it has become one as they got older. They just grew apart." Meanwhile, she's been locking arms with designer Yigal Azrouel all over town, as Joel prefers to stay close to home with his motorcycles and yachts. As for the money, there's allegedly an ironclad prenuptial agreement, though Katie Lee will likely get the couple's Greenwich Village townhouse, which Joel bought for $5.9 million just a few years ago. Joel's daughter Alexa Ray, just 4 years younger than his soon-to-be-ex-wife, told People she saw it coming, "I have a pretty good woman's intuition, so I could tell."

Third time's not quite a charm after all. Rumors of Billy Joel's third marriage ending are true, a rep of the musician confirmed to the NY Post. Katie Lee Joel, his 27-year-old ex-wife-to-be, has been seen around town many times with designer Yigal Azrouel, though there's no official word if that relationship had anything to do with the split. A rep told ET, "After nearly five years of marriage, Billy and Katie have decided to separate. This decision is the result of much thought and consideration. Billy and Katie remain caring friends, with admiration and respect for each other." The two were married for five years, and the divorce will put Joel back on the market at age 60. Meanwhile, according to a recent poll, 57% of women regret marrying their husband.

A pita bread entrepreneur tried to argue that his ex-wife's alimony demands (when added to his own lifestyle costs) would leave him poor, but the NY Post reports that judges ruled Joseph Ayoub must temporarily fork over $30,000 a month: "$20,000 a month for an apartment for the wife, $7,500 a month in child support, $2,500 a month in alimony." While that is a lot, ex Isabelle was asking for "$52,658.80 a month to maintain her kids' lifestyle, including $7,166 a month for food and $4,583 for clothing"!! The judges noted that Ayoub, who started Aladdin Bakers, paid $200,000 in cash for a Lamborghini—plus how he and his ex slept on a $50,000 mattress (the three kiddies' beds were $6,500 each) and had homes in Manhattan and the Hamptons—"By purchasing the Lamborghini, the husband confirmed his free-spending ways." Isabella Ayoub's lawyer said, "This is the lifestyle they led. Sometimes, it's difficult for those of us not in that stratosphere to comprehend that, but they always lived a very generous lifestyle."

The NY Post reports that former Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra's wife has filed for divorce—which means it's also an opportunity to feature that photograph of Dykstra chomping on Twizzlers from last fall! Dykstra had parlayed his baseball earnings into a variety of investments, including a line of car washes, but recently creditors went after his $18 million (!!) California estate and his Gulfstream III jet (!!). And it was only last fall when Dykstra referred to $140,000 as his "f---ing ashtray money." In the divorce papers, Terri Dykstra claims "irreconcilable differences" for ending their 23-year marriage and a former family employee told the Post, "Divorce? I'm not surprised. Finance was part of it. They've had a sham marriage for several years, and he told me that they hadn't slept in the same bed for three to four years." The couple has two children, 13 and 18.

Down on the boardwalk, they're getting ready for a fight. Yesterday down in a Toms River courthouse, a judge ruled that the divorce proceedings that outed Bruce Springsteen as an accused homewrecker will stay public.

As many families celebrate religious holidays together today, The New York Post has a unique tale of family melodrama as one of their featured stories. Much to the Post commenters' sadistic delight, pets columnist Julia Szabo shares her story of continuing to live with her ex-husband in a 2BR railroad flat for years on account of their six dogs. The couple even continued sleeping in the same bed because as she puts it, "Our dogs are very good in bed, and there were so many of them curled up between us, around our heads and feet (and sometimes on top of one or both of us), that neither he nor I noticed the other's existence." Eventually the animosity between Szabo and her ex grew so great that the two do decide to part, but not before the columnist struggles over what will happen to the dogs. She then brings in an animal psychic to speak to the favorite of her dogs, Angus. Szabo writes, "Angus told me, wordlessly but loud and clear, that although he loves my ex and me equally, protecting John is his duty."

Forty-nine states in the Union permit residents to pursue no-fault divorces, but not the Empire State. New York doesn't accept "irreconcilable differences" as grounds for ending marriage, and so one spouse must prove in court that the other is guilty of adultery, cruel and inhuman treatment, or withholding sex for a year.

The estranged wife of Elie Hirschfeld, who inherited $500 million from his father Abe (an eccentric real estate magnate and owner of the Post for two weeks), is out for blood. She's suing him for $500,000, accusing Hirschfeld (pictured) of reneging on his agreement to support her and their children after she threatened him with divorce last spring. Naturally, the tabloids are having a field day highlighting the lawsuit's weirdest allegation: that Hirschfeld excused himself from his family as they were waiting to board a flight home from Aspen last February, claiming he had diarrhea. But instead of running to the men's room, Susan Hirschfeld says he chartered a private plane so he could beat her home and empty their 4,000-square-foot apartment of $30 million in art, rugs and jewelry. She says he even took the three kids' toys, beds, video games and schoolwork; and when she finally arrived with the children, she claims, "We didn't recognize our own home."

In his $6.6 million divorce settlement two years ago, big shot real-estate lawyer Steven Simkin (pictured) paid his ex-wife Laura Blank $2.7 million to buy out her half of their Madoff investment, which he thought was worth $5.4 million. Now, according to his attorneys, the "account" is worthless, "literally not worth the paper on which the parties' valuation rested." So Simkin wants some of that money back, because "Laura has been unjustly enriched, having received millions of dollars based on an illusory and exaggerated value attributed to the 'account.'" Blank, who works for CUNY, tells the Post she isn't really feeling Simkin's pain: "What he's doing is outrageous. He made a poor investment choice and it's his problem." Just as every bum's lot in life is his own responsibility, regardless of who he chooses to blame!

An off duty NYPD lieutenant fatally shot and stabbed his wife and then turned his gun on himself yesterday afternoon in their Centereach home. Francis Cole, 48, a 19-year NYPD vet who worked at the 68th Precinct, first stabbed wife Elena, 46, in the chest and then shot her in the head. Their 18-year-old daughter tried to intervene, but Newsday reports, "he struck his daughter in the face." The daughter then called 911; Cole, who shot himself in the head, was conscious when the ambulance arrived but he died at the hospital. Suffolk County police Det. Lt. Jack Fitzpatrick says there was "a general atmosphere of trouble," because the couple were getting divorced. Neighbors were shocked and surprised to hear the couple were divorcing; one told the Post, "There was no sign of anything. Never an argument, nothing. They were the ideal family."

Confirmed: The battle between the divorcing Long Island husband and wife that revolves around an alleged affair and the value of a donated kidney is getting nasty. Dr. Richard Batista contends that estranged wife Dawnell should give him back the kidney he donated to her—or give him the value of the organ—since he claims she had an affair and wants the divorce. However, Dawnell Batista denies there was an affair; her lawyer told reporters that Richard Batista is "hyper suspicious" and "would rummage through her underwear drawer sniffing her underwear [to see if she had cheated]." Um, okay. She is hoping the judge will issue a gag order, but her husband's lawyer believes his client has the right to talk about the case, "This is a man who put his life on the line, and his wife has treated him like a piece of dirt."

The NY Times puts current economics of divorce on the front page, with an article about how, upon splitting, the former spouses are walking away with a lot less, thanks to hoping their homes would be sold at height-of-the-market prices. "Lisa Decker, a certified divorce financial analyst in Atlanta, said she was seeing couples who were determined to stay together even after divorce because they could not sell their home, a phenomenon rarely seen before outside Manhattan. 'We’re finding the husband on one floor, the wife on the other. Now one is coming home with a new boyfriend or girlfriend, and it’s creating a layer to relationships that we haven’t seen before. Unfortunately, we’re seeing ‘The War of the Roses’ for real, not just in a Hollywood movie.” Hey, we saw that for real with Simon Taub and Chana Taub—and they live in Brooklyn. Simon Taub put a wall right down two floors of their three-story Borough Park home.

Not content to let her ex-husband Philip Smith steal the spotlight with the recent news that he's been promoted to the top of the powerful Shubert Organization, good old Tricia Walsh-Smith has resurfaced with a music video that can only be described as breathtaking. You remember, the blond with the crazy eyes who posted videos on YouTube excoriating her husband during their bitter divorce (which ended—or so we thought—with her eviction from the Park Avenue apartment they shared).

The British newspaper the Evening Standard reports that Madonna and Guy Ritchie have reached an agreement in their divorce proceedings. The couple will share custody of sons Rocco and David (they had apparently been arguing over whether the kids would be raised in New York or London). And Ritchie is not getting any of Madonna's estimated $450 million fortune, which he could have attempted since they did not have a pre-nup. A source said, "It will be all over by the end of the month. I am sure it will be announced by then. The priority for him has always been the children. Ritchie has not wanted her money." Madonna was out on the town last night, at the Gucci UNICEF dinner; she looked happy (picture), perhaps because rumored boyfriend A-Rod snubbed Kate Hudson in Miami.

Local gay rights advocates are relishing a minor victory after a state court recognized the first divorce of a same-sex couple married in another state. Earlier this year, Governor Paterson made New York the first state in which gay marriages could be recognized, but not performed. His memo ordering courts to do so was included in the decision to allow the divorce. The lesbian couple, known in court papers only as C.C. and C.M., were married in 2005 in Massachusetts and had been together in a domestic partnership since 2001. The two will split custody of the baby C.C. gave birth to and C.M. adopted back in 2006. The last New York same-sex couple to have as newsworthy of a breakup ended up immortalized after the fact with a children's book depicting their story.

Madonna is gearing up for her divorce with British director Guy Ritchie by accusing him of abuse, according to the tabloids. London's Daily Mail says that Ritchie told the Material Girl she "looked like a granny" and was "past it" when she turned 50. More rumors: She worked out so much that the couple didn't have sex for 18 months andwhen they did, Ritchie would tell friends it was like "cuddling up to a piece of gristle"; she was strict about the food in the household; and Madonna was thinking about "going public" with A-Rod after her world tour ends. A source said, "Alex is bewitched by her. she is a very intoxicating woman and it seems she has offered him a pathway to happiness and enlightenment through Kabbalah. He thinks she is phenomenal, but his friends aren't sure they have much in common."

Or at least we can guess was taking shots at her estranged husband: The NY Post reports that at her Sticky & Sweet tour concert in Boston the other night, she prefaced her song "Miles Away" by saying, "This song is for the emotionally retarded. Maybe you know some people who fall into that category. God knows I do." A source also says that there were tensions over the Material Girl's Kabbalah faith, "Guy's initial support and interest in kabbalah turned to annoyance and hatred. Guy doesn't believe kabbalah is on par with Christianity." British tabloid The Sun suggests their marriage started to crumble a few years ago when Madonna fell off a horse and Ritchie responded by saying, "Come on darling, you’re a tough bird. You’ll be back on the horse in no time."

After months--if not years--of rumors, British tabloid The Sun claims Madonna and Guy Ritchie are getting divorced. Apparently the couple will release a statement about the split because they "can’t bear to live with the pretence any longer." The source says, "Madonna wanted a highly stage-managed separation, with their split being announced when it when it was convenient for her" -- she's currently on tour-- but apparently the fighting has been too bad for that! The Sun suggests that Madonna has "rekindled a close relationship" with Carlos Leon, who fathered daughter Lourdes, but our question is whether the Material Girl's next stop is A-Rod.

The NY Post takes up the marriage of Representative Charles Rangel and Alma Rangel, aftertalking to Mrs. Rangel's lawyer who says Rangel "scorned and dumped" his wife of 42 years after becoming the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee--by filing for divorce. Lawyer Sherri Donovan said that's why Alma Rangel demanded a jury case, "She did not want this divorce. She wanted to stay married to him. She's been a loyal wife for a long time." Then last month, Rangel stopped divorce proceedings, as reports questioned his taxes and other dealings. In fact, Rangel's lawyer blamed the non-reporting of income tax on a vacation villa on Alma Rangel and an accountant. When asked if Rangel's change of tune was related to the ethics issues, Donovan said, "Who knows? Maybe that made him real. Or maybe he realized he needs her." Rangel's own lawyer said, "It's very unfair for The Post to do this story and sad that it considers this legitimate journalism."

Those hoping for a very public, nasty divorce battle between Yankees super star Alex Rordriguez and his wife Cynthia will be disappointed as the pair reached a settlement yesterday. The slugger's lawyer said it was reached "amicably," "They deliberately engaged in a private negotiation." She wanted a share of his considerable earnings while he wanted the pre-nup to stand, but no details were released about how things ended up. C-Rod was spotted in NYC this week (we even think we saw her on the Upper West Side with daughter Natasha!), but the divorce will be finalized in Florida. Next couple to watch: Madonna and Guy Ritchie.

Now that Representative Charles Rangel has gotten himself into a income tax fix, the tabloids are keeping a closer eye on his goings on. Both the Post and Daily News report that he's stopped proceedings to divorce his wife of 42 years Alma.

The Star-Ledger reports that Dina Matos has dropped her claim that her former husband--and former NJ Governor--James McGreevey committed fraud because he did not tell her he was gay when they got married. McGreevey famously resigned office in 2004, and recently their history was fodder for a public divorce trial with claims of poverty and reports of threesomes. McGreevey's lawyer said the fraud charge was a failed "attempt to secure more money from JIm." Matos, who did not receive any alimony (just child support), said her ex was disclosing too much information to the press in violation of judge's orders.

After an acrimonious divorce trial, a judge ruled that former NJ governor James McGreevey does not need to pay his ex-wife Dina Matos any alimony. When McGreevey's lawyer got the news, the Star-Ledger reports Stephen Haller yelled, "No alimony-that's what I'm talking about!" Stiil, McGreevey, who claimed he was so broke that his fiancier-boyfriend had to loan him money, must pay child support, up to $1,075/month (less than Matos's requested $1,750/month) and give a $109,295 payout (less than Matos's requested $1 million).

Alex Rodriguez filed documents this morning responding to his estranged wife Cynthia's divorce filing from three weeks ago. While Cynthia Rodriguez asked for a share of his considerable earnings (not to mention support for their two daughters and their mansion), A-Rod contends that their pre-nuptial agreement should stand (Florida is a no-fault state), pointing out C-Rod signed the pre-nup "with the assistance of counsel of her own choosing, freely and voluntarily ... and with full and complete financial disclosure of husband's income, assets and liabilities." He does call her a "loving and nurturing mother" and that he will, of course, pay child support, though an amount determined by the court.