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Hogan's Divorce Spreads Wealth To Lawyers

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 11, 2008

Updated: 12/11/2008 05:52 pm

CLEARWATER - Linda Bollea will get an additional $400,000 to pay the attorneys representing her in her divorce from famed former wrestler Hulk Hogan.

The money will come from Hogan's frozen assets, which total $7 million.

Attorneys for Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, agreed to the withdrawal on the condition Linda Bollea doesn't spend any of the money on anything other than her legal expenses.

Hogan's attorneys have been highly critical of Bollea's spending habits in court. Today, they said she paid a hairdresser $3,000 and a friend $4,000 to take pictures of her with her dogs, even though the friend is not a professional photographer.

Ann Loughridge Kerr, one of Hogan's attorneys, said Bollea couldn't recall in a deposition to whom she had given checks for $1,000 and $2,000.

Initially, Bollea was given $1.5 million after she filed for divorce in November 2007, but that amount has dwindled to $186,000, which includes two of the $40,000-a-month payments she has received in temporary alimony, her attorneys say.

Her lawyers and accountants thus far have received more than $850,000, attorneys revealed in court today. Attorneys for Hogan have been paid between $1.5 million and $1.6 million, said Stephen Thacker, one of Bollea's divorce attorneys.

As Bollea's attorneys work on her divorce exclusively, however, Hogan has paid lawyers to defend their son, Nick Bollea, against a charge of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury. Nick Bollea was arrested on the felony charge after a wreck that left his passenger, Iraq war veteran John Graziano, in a permanent semi-conscious state.

Hogan has also paid money to a Tampa firm, Zuckerman Spaeder, to defend him in a civil suit filed by the Grazianos' guardian. Graziano's family thinks millions will be needed for Graziano's care.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at sthompson@tampatrib.com or (727) 451-2336.

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