“Law & Order” Creator Divorce Case Still Going After 12 Years

The legal wrangling in the divorce case between “Law & Order” creator Dick Wolf and his second wife, Christine, has been going on for twelve years with no end in sight. The couple has been fighting over an agreement between the successful television producer and NBC that would have been worth more than $1.5 billion. The divorce case also involves substantial assets from Mr. Wolf’s TV production empire, as well as several residences the couple shared.

Details of the Wolf Divorce Case

The couple had been married for nearly two decades, but documents from the divorce case showed how the marriage unraveled. Mrs. Wolf alleged that her husband was an inattentive father to the couple’s three children. Mrs. Wolf claims that she had spent considerable time with a child during her treatment for an auto-immune disease while Mr. Wolf was working on his numerous TV projects. She also hired a private investigator to track his activities before filing the divorce case against him.

Divorce Case and Community Property

As with many states, California divorce law requires that all assets accrued by either spouse during a marriage become “community property.” Each spouse must disclose the value of their assets in a divorce case to establish how much they each can retain after they reach a settlement agreement. The couple had assets valued had over $30 million. The assets included a vacation home in Maine, an apartment in New York, and a home in California valued at more than $14. 5 million.

Production Finances Complicate Divorce Case

In 2003, Mrs. Wolf learned of the deal between Mr. Wolf and NBC that would be worth up to $1.6 billion for the “L&O” franchise. She contacted her attorney in the divorce case and asked to find out if she would be eligible to receive a portion of those proceeds under the terms of the divorce settlement. Mr. Wolf demanded that she would not receive any proceeds from the new deal, as her approval of the divorce case settlement came before it was announced. She alleged that he committed fraud by not informing her of the deal before she signed the agreement.

Divorce Case Affects Hollywood Managers

A judge ruled against Mrs. Wolf in the divorce case in 2004. The decision called Mrs. Wolf’s complaint “buyer’s remorse” and stated that “she cannot claim fraud or concealment under these facts.” The couple had shared a business manager, but Mrs. Wolf alleged that the management firm was biased in favor of her ex-husband. She has requested that the California Supreme Court find a “neutral” arbitrator to conduct a mediation between the parties. An attorney who specializes in fiduciary law told a reporter, “”What’s best for one party going into a divorce mediation will impact the other party adversely. You can’t assume neutrality.”

Source: Hollywood Reporter

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NOTE: This post is a news story and does not imply an endorsement of Arguello Law Firm by any concerned parties mentioned herein.