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Bolleas Spar Over Help

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON

sthompson@tampatrib.com

Published: January 23, 2009

CLEARWATER - In their increasingly acrimonious and picayune divorce, attorneys for Hulk Hogan and his estranged wife Linda Bollea did battle in court Thursday over whether a maintenance worker can work at both of their upscale homes.

Circuit Judge George Greer said it appeared the maintenance worker could, but he told Hogan to reimburse Linda Bollea $8,300, the total she has given worker George Cruz after Hogan stopped paying him in December.

By court order, Hogan was obligated to pay Cruz. But, in a rare post-hearing interview Thursday, Hogan said he stopped paying Cruz after Cruz called him from Linda Bollea's home and said he couldn't work for Hogan anymore.

Hogan, a celebrity and former pro wrestler whose real name is Terry Bollea, said he didn't know whether Cruz, who earns $1,400 a week, was doing work at either the mansion Linda Bollea is living in or the waterfront property Hogan occupies, so he stopped paying him.

Cruz does the bulk of the maintenance at the Willadel Drive mansion where Linda Bollea lives, with a few hours reserved every Wednesday for Hogan's beach house, Hogan said after the hearing.

During the hearing, Linda Bollea's attorney, Stephen Thacker, said there was no provision in the court order that said Hogan could use Cruz at all at the beach house. Greer countered by saying there was nothing in the order preventing Cruz from working at the beach house.

When Thacker suggested Hogan's attorneys file a motion seeking a specific work arrangement involving Cruz at both properties, a move that would require another hearing, Greer scoffed. He implied it was overkill and suggested the parties resolve it among themselves.

"You want us to get out a howitzer to kill a gnat?" Greer asked.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336.

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