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Ex-Ray ordered to pay legal fees

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TBO.com

Published: May 30, 2009

TAMPA - Former Tampa Bay Rays baseball player Elijah Dukes could be jailed for 90 days if he fails to pay $39,767 in legal fees for his estranged wife, her attorney said Friday.

Carlos Ramirez, NiShea Dukes' lawyer, said Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Mark Wolfe ordered Dukes to pay by 5 p.m. next Friday or face jail.

The ruling was in response to a motion for civil contempt filed against Dukes over the unpaid fees. He did not attend the hearing.

Grady Irvin, Dukes' lawyer, said his client will comply. "If Elijah Dukes receives an order from the court to pay those fees, he'll borrow the money if he has to and pay it. Elijah has come so far. He has gotten his baseball career in order ... and he is not behind on his child support. Today was just all about greed from his wife's attorneys," Irvin said.

The couple's marital problems became news in 2007 when Dukes was accused of threatening his wife. The Rays outfielder was suspended and later traded to the Washington Nationals. His salary this season is a reported $411,500.

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