The Problems Of The Rich:
The Countess Needs $53K -- A Week?!
How Can They Be So Greedy When So Many Are Starving In Africa?
Thomas B. Scheffey
If George A. L. David thought a postnuptial agreement would simplify his marriage -- or divorce -- that has not been the case so far.
David, who stepped down as CEO of United Technologies Corp. eight months ago, spent last week in a Hartford, Conn., divorce court trying to stop his former wife, a 36-year-old unemployed Swedish countess, from getting any pendente lite alimony to tide her over until the scheduled March divorce trial.
David didn't have to write a new check. Instead, Superior Court Judge Stephen Frazzini approved the parties' compromise, in which Marie Douglas-David borrows $968,000 from existing prenuptial funds.
During arguments, it became apparent why Marie Douglas-David wanted the money. Her lawyers disclosed papers showing she was spending $53,000 a week in New York, Connecticut and Sweden, and had debts of $5.6 million -- $2.8 million of which was notes to husband George -- and assets of only $4.4 million.
Marie Douglas-David is represented by veteran Hartford divorce lawyer Bruce Louden, local counsel to New York lawyers William S. Beslow and Robert Stephan Cohen, both of whom are experienced in multimillion-dollar divorces.
George David is represented by former Appellate Judge Anne C. Dranginis and Carlo Forzani, who attempted to persuade the judge that, under a 2005 postnuptial agreement, he should not have to pay his wife any more until the case is concluded. Already, they said, he is paying $22,552 a week for Marie's credit cards, cash, medical, travel, storage, domestic help and dry cleaning. He's also spending $1,304 a week to care for her horse; she lists $1,570 a week in expenses for the same horse.
YACHT EXPENSES
As part of the proceedings, financial affidavits were unsealed that showed David to be worth $290 million, with a weekly income from investments of $187,592. His expenses totaled $190,000, including $95,943 a week to maintain his world-class racing yacht, Rambler.....
... There are no rules of thumb when you're talking about $300 million in assets," said Ferro, who is not connected with the David matter in any way. "If in small cases of $100,000 you start off at 50-50, that rule does not apply in a case of this magnitude."
The 2005 postnuptial agreement stated that Douglas-David was to receive $43 million in the event of divorce. The couple was married in Greenwich, Conn., on May 16, 2002, and have no children, although the agreement records her desire to do so.
In a financial affidavit filed by Douglas-David, she states that she was a vice president at Lazard Investment banking, and that she and David agreed she should quit that job in 2003....
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Monday Dec 22 New York Post
Monday Dec 22 New York Post
... Swedish countess, spends. Douglas-David signed a $43 million postnup after she and her husband were married in Greenwich, Conn., in 2002. It would seem that $43 million would satisfy the ordinary mortal, but Douglas-David wants more. The reason is ...
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