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Niece sends notice of eviction to 100-year-old aunt

Niece sends notice of eviction to 100-year-old aunt

Monee woman, public officials have been battling foreclosure of her farm

Agnes Albinger

 

Agnes Albinger sits in the kitchen of her 70-acre Monee farm, which she fears she will lose to foreclosure. (Michael Tercha, Chicago Tribune / April 21, 2010)

 

 

Colleen Mastony

Tribune reporter

8:58 p.m. CDT

May 5, 2010

Agnes Albinger, the 100-year-old Monee resident who has spent the past nine months battling foreclosure, has a new adversary: her own niece.

Bridget Gruzdis, 47, sent Albinger a notice of eviction this week. The document, dated Monday, gives Albinger 13 days to vacate the 70-acre farm where she has lived since 1949.

Public officials who have been helping Albinger in her case said they had received the notice Wednesday and were researching Albinger's options.

"We're going to take every necessary step to make sure Mrs. Albinger can stay on her property," said Charles Pelkie, a spokesman for the Will County state's attorney's office, which is working on the case with the Monee Police Department, as well as officials representing Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

The eviction letter came just days after First Midwest Bank officials halted foreclosure proceedings and vowed to do everything they could to allow Albinger to remain in her home. Monee village code enforcement officials had also agreed to extend a previous deadline and give Albinger more time to make repairs.

But Albinger's situation has been complicated by a series of financial and land transactions that occurred over the past decade.

In 2001, Albinger began to sign over land to a company called Phoenix Horizon LLC, which, according to land and court records, was formed by Gruzdis and now owns the farm. Over six years, Albinger and Gruzdis took a series of mortgages, eventually borrowing $700,000, according to court and land records.

Peotone Bank initiated foreclosure proceedings in September, but that process was halted after Peotone was taken over last month by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and acquired by First Midwest. Albinger has said that she might have signed some papers but didn't know about the mortgages. Monee police are investigating.

Gruzdis has told the Tribune that she and Albinger had planned to develop the land and that Albinger is now suffering from dementia — an assertion that other family members dispute.

Gruzdis could not be reached for comment Wednesday but this week sent a copy of the eviction notice to Monee police, explaining in an attached letter that she does not have the money to "maintain the property or to provide for the occupants."
Entry #2,243

Lawrence Taylor NFL's Greatest Defensive Player Arrested

Lawrence Taylor rape arrest: Ex-Giant accused of raping, beating teen girl in NY hotel

Corky Siemaszko
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

 

Originally Published:Thursday, May 6th 2010, 10:47 AM
Updated: Thursday, May 6th 2010, 11:32 AM

 

Lawrence Taylor was reportedly arrested in an upstate NY rape case.

Havner/APLawrence Taylor was reportedly arrested in an upstate NY rape

case.

 Taylor, who won two Super Bowls with the Giants, is widely considered one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history.

Messerschmidt/GettyTaylor, who won two Super Bowls with the Giants, is widely considered one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history. arrested Thursday in Rockland County in connection with the reported rape of a 15-year-old girl, sources said.

Taylor allegedly beat and sexually assaulted the girl and has been charged with third-degree rape, the Journal News was reporting.

He will be arraigned Thursday afternoon.

The alleged assault happened at a hotel in Montebello, N.Y., earlier Thursday.

Taylor was jailed a short time later, the Ramapo Police Department said in a brief statement.


Details were scarce, but the town's police chief said more information would be provided at a 3 p.m. press conference.

Taylor, 51, played for the Giants from 1981 to 1993 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.
He also competed last year in ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."

The former Giants linebacker had a minor run-in with the law last November when he was arrested for leaving the scene of a traffic accident outside Miami.

Taylor has also been arrested several times on drug charges since hanging up his cleats in 1993, but has reportedly been living clean and sober since 1998.

Entry #2,241

Man wins jackpot then house burns down

Solvay man goes from jackpot winner to fire victim within hours

John Mariani

The Post-Standard

May 04, 2010, 7:16AM

2010-05-04-db-Fire1.JPG

 

Dick Blume / The Post-StandardKenneth Lamoree, facing camera, talks to his fiancee, Sherianne Bryant, shortly after an early morning fire destroyed their upstairs apartment at 313 Charles Ave., Solvay. Earlier, Lamoree had won a $3,200 jackpot at Turning Stone casino.

2010-05-04-db-Fire2.JPG

 

Dick Blume / The Post-StandardFire investigators look at remains of 313 Charles Ave. in Solvay this morning. The home was destroyed in an early morning fire.

Update:


Solvay, NY -- It had almost been Kenneth Lamoree's lucky day.

The Charles Avenue, Solvay, resident said he returned to his home about 3:30 a.m. from the Turning Stone casino after having won a $3,200 jackpot.

Fortune turned to near disaster less than 75 minutes later.

A fire broke out at the two-family home at 313 Charles Ave. where he, his fiancee, Sherianne Bryant, and their three children are the upstairs tenants.

They and the family downstairs, Donna Tritten and her three children, escaped unharmed from the burning building. But the house is extensively damaged and its contents -- including Lamoree's wallet with his Turning Stone winnings -- are believed to be destroyed.

"That was bill money," Lamoree said shortly before 7 a.m. as he and his family watched firefighters work from a lawn across from their home.

The downstairs apartment entrance, the porch above it on the second floor and an attic gable were charred on the outside. Lamoree said the fire seems to have started in the first floor entry, as flames were shooting out its windows as the residents escaped.

It was Bryant who first smelled smoke and got the family up, Lamoree said. The couple roused the Tritten family and everyone got out before help arrived, he said.

The house has smoke detectors, but he doesn't remember them going off, Lamoree said.

Solvay police evacuated residents of the two neighboring houses as a precaution, Sgt. Rich Ghezzi said.

The corner with the downstairs entry porch was completely ablaze inside and out when firefighters arrived, Solvay Fire Chief Peter Woodworth said. That left them no choice but to fight the fire from the outside in, to safeguard the firefighters and neighboring properties, he said.

It took about 15 minutes to knock down the fire and another 45 minutes to completely extinguish it, he said. It did not spread past the building, but the heat from it was intense enough to melt plastic blinds in windows in the house next door.

We earlier reported:

 
Solvay, NY -- Nine people were driven out of their two-family home this morning by a fire that extensively damaged the structure, officials said.

No one was injured escaping or fighting the blaze that broke out sometime before 4:43 a.m. at 313 Charles Ave., Solvay, said Pete Alberti, Onondaga County Emergency Management commissioner.

The residents all got out before firefighters arrived, Alberti said. Their names were not immediately available.

It took about an hour for firefighters from five departments to get the fire under control, Alberti said. By the time it was out the structure had sustained extensive damage and most its contents likely had been destroyed, he said.

The fire's cause is under investigation, Alberti said.Officials also are looking for two pet cats that went missing during the fire, Alberti said.

Solvay, Fairmount, Taunton, Lakeside and Onondaga Hill firefighters were at the scene. Rural Metro ambulance also responded and the Red Cross was there to provide emergency aid to the victims, Red Cross spokesman Dick Blansett said the residents probably will require shelter and other services from his organization.

Entry #2,239

Mom refuses to return library teen books with sexual content

Mom checked out racy teen books from library — and she won't give them back

Tina Harden wants warning labels on books; she owes about $85 in fines

 

Tina Harden

Tina Harden shows off one of the four books her daughter checked out from the public library in Lake Mary in 2008. Harden refuses to return the books to the library, because she does not want them to go back into circulation. She objects to the language and concent of the books. (Jacob Langston, Orlando Sentinel / May 5, 2010)

 

Rachael Jackson

Orlando Sentinel

11:14 p.m. EDT

May 5, 2010

Longwood parent Tina Harden was so disturbed by references to sex and drugs and foul language in the world of fictional teenager Jenny Humphrey that she is ignoring overdue notices and phone calls from her neighborhood library and its bill collector.

Harden refuses to return several books connected to the Gossip Girl series that detail Humphrey's life, even though she's had them since 2008.

"If I turn them in, they will be put back into circulation and they'll be available for more young girls to read," said the mother of three, who keeps the four books hidden in a closet. "Some material is inappropriate for minors."

Harden said she doesn't want them banned, but she does want the library to put a warning label on the four titles — one in the Gossip Girl series by Cecily von Ziegesar, and three in a spin-off series called It Girl — and make them unavailable to minors. The library refused but has agreed to re-shelve them in the adult-reading section.

"If we denied access to this particular title, it would be censoring," said Jane Peterson, the county's library services manager.

That's not good enough for Harden, who said that as a taxpayer she should have a say in which books land on the libraries' shelves. "They're supposed to be public servants," she said.

The libraries have multiple copies of the novels in the series. If her library privileges hadn't been revoked, Harden said she would try to check them all out.

She owes about $85 in fines.

Two years ago, Harden's daughter, then 13, handed the stack of books to her mother at the checkout at Seminole County's Northwest Branch library in Lake Mary.

Harden later flipped through one and saw numerous curse words and terms such as "stoned" and "marijuana," and a reference to sleeping with a teacher.

"The whole book was filled with everything I don't want my daughter to do or be," she said.

The library notes that the series is popular among young adults, and it has an obligation to stock books in demand. One title in the series, Notorious, was checked out 129 times from late November to late April.

Harden questions how the library can enforce an Internet policy that restricts access to certain content but not place limitations on books.

According to the county, its libraries have to abide by the Children's Internet Protection Act, which requires libraries to block or filter inappropriate material, such as nudity, on library computers in return for getting certain types of funding. As for the books, library policy says that parents are responsible for monitoring what their children read.

Deborah Caldwell-Stone, deputy director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom at the American Library Association, said it would be unconstitutional for the library, a public institution, to restrict access to books. Labeling alone would raise legal issues, she said. Movie theaters are different, she pointed out, because ratings are created and enforced by private entities.

"Somewhere in every library, there's something to offend everyone," she said. "You tolerate that because the library is trying to serve the needs of the community."

She said books such as those in the It Girl series can help "teenagers confront life situations in the safe environment of a book." She said those books could also appeal to teens who otherwise might not read.

Two Leesburg mothers have challenged the Gossip Girl series and other books intended for young adults. Dixie Fechtel and Diane Venetta have gotten Leesburg to label certain books "high school" and have taken their campaign countywide. They would like to see warning labels, but aren't pursuing age restrictions on borrowing.

Mathew Staver, founder and chairman of the Liberty Counsel of Maitland, which is backing the pair, said libraries could likely find a legal way to label books and restrict access to children. 

Harden's approach is unusual, but not unheard of.

Several years ago, a Maine woman refused to return It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex and Sexual Health. She ended up in court, where a judge required her to produce the book and pay a $100 fine. She refused, but a local pastor paid her fine, and officials stopped pursuing the book.
Entry #2,238

Obama biggest recipient of BP cash

Obama biggest recipient of BP cash

 



ERIKA LOVLEY

Updated: 5/5/10 5:37 PM EDT

BP has also spent millions each year on lobbying — including $15.9 million last year alone — as it has tried to influence energy policy.

BP has also spent millions each year on lobbying — including $15.9 million last year alone — as it has tried to influence energy policy. Reuters

 

 

POLITICO 44

 

While the BP oil geyser pumps millions of gallons of petroleum into the Gulf of Mexico, President Barack Obama and members of Congress may have to answer for the millions in campaign contributions they’ve taken from the oil and gas giant over the years. 

BP and its employees have given more than $3.5 million to federal candidates over the past 20 years, with the largest chunk of their money going to Obama, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Donations come from a mix of employees and the company’s political action committees — $2.89 million flowed to campaigns from BP-related PACs and about $638,000 came from individuals.

On top of that, the oil giant has spent millions each year on lobbying — including $15.9 million last year alone — as it has tried to influence energy policy.

During his time in the Senate and while running for president, Obama received a total of $77,051 from the oil giant and is the top recipient of BP PAC and individual money over the past 20 years, according to financial disclosure records.

An Obama spokesman rejected the notion that the president took big oil money.

“President Obama didn’t accept a dime from corporate PACs or federal lobbyists during his presidential campaign,” spokesman Ben LaBolt said. “He raised $750 million from nearly four million Americans. And since he became president, he rolled back tax breaks and giveaways for the oil and gas industry, spearheaded a G20 agreement to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, and made the largest investment in American history in clean energy incentives.”

In Congress, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), who last week cautioned that the incident should “not be used inappropriately” to halt Obama’s push for expansion of offshore drilling, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of BP’s largesse. Her comments created some blowback, with critics complaining that she is too blasé about the impact of the disaster, even though she was among the first lawmakers to call for a federal investigation into the spill.

As the top congressional recipient in the last cycle and one of the top BP cash recipients of the past two decades, Landrieu banked almost $17,000 from the oil giant in 2008 alone and has lined her war chest with more than $28,000 in BP cash overall.

“Campaign contributions, from energy companies or from environmental groups, have absolutely no impact on Sen. Landrieu’s policy agenda or her response to this unprecedented disaster in the Gulf,” said Landrieu spokesman Aaron Saunders. “The senator is proud of the broad coalition she’s built since her first day in the Senate to address the energy and environmental challenges in Louisiana and in the nation. This disaster only makes the effort to promote and save Louisiana’s coast all that more important.”

Several BP executives have given directly to Landrieu’s campaign, including current and previous U.S. operation Presidents Lamar McKay and Robert Malone. Other donors include Margaret Hudson, BP’s America vice president, and Benjamin Cannon, federal affairs director for the U.S. branch. Donations ranged from $1,000 to $2,300 during the past campaign cycle.

Environmentalists complain that Landrieu has played down the impact of oil spills.

“I mean, just the gallons are so minuscule compared to the benefits of U.S. strength and security, the benefits of job creation and energy security,” Landrieu said at a hearing last month on offshore drilling. “So while there are risks associated with everything, I think you understand that they are quite, quite minimal.”

“They own Mary Landrieu and the rest of the Louisiana delegation,” said Greenpeace Research Director Kert Davies. “They have more money, disposable income and a fleet of dispensable lobbyists to beat the band.”

Other politicians with ties to coastal states or states with BP refineries have also reaped benefits from the fourth largest company in the world.

The top congressional recipients of BP campaign cash include Republican Rep. Don Young of the oil-intensive Alaska delegation, who has received almost as much as Obama, raking in $73,300 during his congressional tenure. Also on the list is Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), whose state has a BP refinery in Toledo and who has raked in $41,400. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has received $44,899.

“Make no mistake: BP ranks among the most powerful corporate forces in U.S. politics,” said Dave Levinthal, spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics. “It donates hundreds of thousands of dollars every election cycle through its employees and political action committee and is routinely a seven- or eight-figure federal lobbying powerhouse each year.”

In 2008 alone, BP gave $37,000 to members of the House Energy Committee and $106,501 to members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which deals with security issues facing the nation’s oil supply.

BP has also evolved in its corporate giving over the past decade, shifting more money to Democrats. In 2000, the company gave almost 39 percent more to Republicans than to Democrats. But by 2008, Democrats had nearly pulled even with Republicans on BP donations.

Moreover, the company has nearly tripled the amount of money it has spent on lobbying, from about $5.7 million in 1999 to $15.9 million last year, according to lobbying disclosures. 

BP has bulked up its K Street team by signing some of the biggest firms in Washington, several of which employ former Hill staffers with deep-seated ties to Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico coast.

BP representation within lobby shop Alpine Group alone includes lobbyist Bob Brooks, who served as chief of staff to former Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.), and lobbyist Rebecca Hawes, a longtime counsel for former Sen. John Breaux (D-La.). Jason Schendle worked for Landrieu for nine years, according to lobbying disclosures.

Former Rep. Jim Turner, now a lobbyist for BP with Arnold & Porter, formerly represented the 2nd District of Texas, which includes a large piece of Gulf shoreline. And at the Podesta Group, BP lobbyist David Marin was formerly the lead Hill staffer for Congress’s Select Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina.

“First, they are exceedingly competent. Second, they are [Democratic-centric]. I know the first will help enormously in the next few weeks. I am not so sure about the second,” said Republican energy lobbyist Mike McKen­na of MWR Strategies, who predicted that Landrieu would quite likely get “very wide latitude” on the oil issue. “That may not be the case with BP, whose record is a bit more spotty.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/36783.html#ixzz0n79dQ9f5

Entry #2,237

Phoenix 'Los Suns' Playoff Jerseys To Protest Arizona Immigration Law

Phoenix 'Los Suns' Playoff Jerseys To Protest Arizona Immigration Law

 

Phoenix Los Suns
May 5, 2010
The Huffington Post

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns will wear "Los Suns" on their jerseys in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals on Wednesday night, owner Robert Sarver said, "to honor our Latino community and the diversity of our league, the state of Arizona, and our nation."

The decision to wear the jerseys on the Cinco de Mayo holiday stems from a law passed by the Arizona Legislature and signed by Gov. Jan Brewer that has drawn widespread criticism from Latino organizations and civil rights groups that say it could lead to racial profiling of Hispanics. President Barack Obama has called the law "misguided."

Sarver, who was born and raised in Tucson, said frustration with the federal government's failure to deal with the illegal immigration issue led to the passage of what he called "a flawed state law."

"However intended, the result of passing the law is that our basic principles of equal rights and protection under the law are being called into question," he said, "and Arizona's already struggling economy will suffer even further setbacks at a time when the state can ill-afford them."

The measure makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally, and it directs local police to question people about their immigration status and demand to see their documents if there is reason to suspect they are illegal.

The controversy surrounding the law has led to picketing at some road games of baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks and a call from the Rev. Jesse Jackson for major league baseball to move next year's All-Star Game from Phoenix.

Sarver came up with the "Los Suns" jersey idea but left it up to the players for the final decision, Suns guard Steve Nash said, and all of them were for it.

"I think it's fantastic," Nash said after Tuesday's practice. "I think the law is very misguided. I think it's, unfortunately, to the detriment of our society and our civil liberties. I think it's very important for us to stand up for things we believe in. As a team and as an organization, we have a lot of love and support for all of our fans. The league is very multicultural. We have players from all over the world, and our Latino community here is very strong and important to us."

Nash was born in South Africa and moved with his parents to Victoria, British Columbia, when he was 1 1/2 years old. He was one of four Canadians to light the torch in the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Olympics this year.

Story continues below

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said his team was interested in taking part but couldn't get new "Los Spurs" road jerseys in time for the game.

"It's a wonderful idea," Popovich said. "because it kind of shows what we all should be about. Sure there needs to be a lot of work done, obviously. A lot of administrations have done nothing about the immigration deal and now everybody's paying the price, especially a lot of people in Arizona. That's a bad thing, but the reaction is important, too, and this reaction (the Arizona law), I believe with Mr. Sarver, is inappropriate."

Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr said he and Sarver talked about making the gesture as the team flew home from Portland last week.

"We just felt like it was important," Kerr said. "We're in the public eye and this is obviously a huge issue. We acknowledge there are two sides to the issue and there are a lot of dynamics. It's a difficult thing to sift through and there are going to be differing opinions. But what we're focusing on is we want to celebrate the diversity that exists in our state and the diversity that exists in the NBA, make sure that people understand that we know what's going on and we don't agree with the law itself."

The NBA Players Association released a statement criticizing Arizona's immigration law and praising the Suns for the gesture.

"We applaud the actions of Phoenix Suns players and management and join them in taking a stand against the misguided efforts of Arizona lawmakers," the NBAPA said. "We are consulting with our members and our player leadership to determine the most effective way for our union to continue to voice our opposition to this legislation."

But Kerr said "this isn't a huge political stand as much as it is just a celebration of diversity."

He said the Suns called the NBA for approval "and they were all for it."

Suns coach Alvin Gentry didn't want to comment on Arizona's immigration bill and said he was focused on showing appreciation for the Latino community and Arizona's diversity.

"I'm not trying to duck it," Gentry said. "I don't know enough about it to really comment on it. I would think that if it had anything to do with racial profiling, then obviously as an African-American I would not be for anything that had any hint of racial profiling."

The Suns wore the "Los Suns" jerseys twice in the regular season, and won both games.

"It's going to be great to wear Los Suns," Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire said, "to let the Latin community know that we're behind them 100 percent."

Entry #2,236

Man assaulted for not having a cigarette

The Miami Herald 
News

Miami-Dade

Wednesday, 05.05.10

Miami clubgoer punched, killed for not having a cigarette

DIANA MOSKOVITZ

 

A punch to the head and fall to the ground killed a clubgoer in Miami early Monday -- all over a cigarette, police said.

The attack took place about 5:30 a.m. Monday in the area of Northeast Second Avenue and Ninth Street, police said Tuesday. Lisney Oliveira, 26, of Boca Raton, and a friend were walking to a club when a man came up and asked for a cigarette.

Oliveira's friend told police that he said they didn't have any, and walked on. In response, police said, the man punched Oliveira in the head. Oliveira tumbled to the ground, striking his head on the sidewalk. He died at Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center.

The name of Oliveira's friend wasn't released.



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/05/1613635/miami-clubgoer-dies-after-being.html#ixzz0n5PvQ9VD

Entry #2,235

Dwyane Wade's Estranged Wife is Suing His Girlfriend

Estranged wife, children suing Wade's girlfriend

AP

FILE - This June 22, 2006, file photo shows Siohvaughn Wade, wife of Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, at the NBA store in New York. The estranged wife of
AP – FILE - This June 22, 2006, file photo shows Siohvaughn Wade, wife of Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade, at …

TIM REYNOLDS

AP Sports Writer 

3:30pm 

MIAMI – The estranged wife of Dwyane Wade has filed suit against his actress girlfriend Gabrielle Union, saying their relationship has caused the star Miami Heat guard's two sons emotional distress. Dwyane Wade called the lawsuit "baseless and meritless," and Union issued a statement insisting the allegations are false.

Siohvaughn Wade filed the suit in Chicago this week, adding yet another chapter to the lengthy divorce saga between the former high school sweethearts who separated more than two years ago. She and Dwyane Wade had two sons, ages 8 and 2, who are listed as plaintiffs.

An attorney for Siohvaughn Wade did not immediately respond to an interview request.

"Each and every allegation made is entirely false," said C. Anthony Mulrain, an attorney for Union.

The lawsuit against Union is the latest twist in a nasty back-and-forth divorce battle that has waged for years.

It alleges Union "engaged in sexual foreplay" in front of the boys, which "severely inflicted the Plaintiffs emotionally and mentally." It also claims that the boys received "medium size gifts" from Dwyane Wade for Christmas last year, while Union got "the biggest gift of all."

"Defendant has played sexually explicit roles, including roles as a seductress," the lawsuit reads. "Defendant has apparently decided to take her role beyond the films and into the home of a married man, Dwyane Wade, in the presence of his two minor children."

Damages in excess of $50,000 are being sought by Siohvaughn Wade.

Mulrain, Union's attorney, said the accusations were made about a month ago in court, although the actress was not named as a defendant at that time.

"The court ultimately rejected these claims as frivolous," Mulrain said. "Gabrielle apologizes to the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois for tying them up with erroneous claims when there are real victims who should be receiving the legal attention they need."

Trial in the divorce case has been scheduled for June, although a motion is pending to have that pushed back until September. Dwyane Wade's side remains hopeful that a settlement could be reached beforehand; many have been offered in recent years, all of them refused.

Several other matters involving the former couple are pending, including a request by Dwyane Wade for sole custody of his children and that his wife be psychologically evaluated. Siohvaughn Wade has alleged that Dwyane Wade abandoned his children and that he was "guilty of extreme and repeated mental cruelty" toward her.

"I can state with certainty that the claims Siohvaughn made about Gabrielle are untrue," Dwyane Wade said. "I am deeply saddened and disappointed that Siohvaughn has used our sons once again as pawns and is now lashing out at Gabrielle, who is an innocent party. It is clear that this is a desperate attempt to retaliate against me for seeking sole custody of our children."

A perennial All-Star and former NBA scoring champion, Dwyane Wade has a number of other lawsuits pending stemming from failed business deals. He will opt out of the final year of his contract with the Heat and become a free agent July 1, at which time he'll receive a six-year offer from Miami that could be worth about $127 million — far more than any other NBA club could pay him.

The custody battle and divorce case, he said last week, could "overshadow" his free-agent maneuvering.

"It's going to be a very busy summer, challenging summer and important summer for my life off the court and on the court," Wade said last week. "I have big decisions ahead of me. It's not easy."

Siohvaughn Wade also recently filed a libel-slander lawsuit against former friend Andrea Williams, who claimed in a deposition that Mrs. Wade bought a man she was romantically involved with from 2004 through 2007 a car and a motorcycle, threatened to find a gun and shoot Dwyane Wade, and voluntarily entered an Illinois hospital to deal with anger-related issues.

Plus, Nottage and Ward LLC, the Chicago law firm that was recently representing Siohvaughn Wade in the divorce, has been excused from that case after citing "an impasse" and "irreconcilable differences" between attorney and client.

Entry #2,234
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