Maybe he’s more familiar with boardrooms than courtrooms.
Billionaire investor Michael Fisch struggled to keep his cool as tensions boiled over at a sensational hearing in his divorce battle this week – drawing a scolding from a Manhattan judge, who warned the irate financier to calm down and let lawyers talk.
“Sir, please just listen,” Judge Ariel Chesler told Fisch, 61, during a testy battle in Manhattan Supreme Court, where the financial mogul and his estranged wife are seeking to divide their assets — including three mansions worth nearly $100 million in the same Hamptons road.
The lawyer’s remarks came as lawyers for Fisch – whose New York-based private equity fund American Securities manages $7 billion in assets – and philanthropist and former model Laura Roberson-Fisch, 63, traded words and made explosive claims during the proceedings. warm last Monday.
His estranged wife’s lawyer claims Fisch has “looted art” from their home – and he has promised to advance her just “one dollar” of her inevitable divorce settlement while the legal saga plays out.
Michael Fisch, who runs the New York-based private equity giant American Securities, was told to “please, just listen” during the wild divorce hearing. Steven Hirsch
Meanwhile, Fisch’s lawyer claims that Laura – also an arts patron and daughter of wealthy Seattle developer Fred Roberson – recently “stalked” the well-heeled executive while it was her turn to live in the East Hamptons mansion where the estranged couple was staying. alternate weeks, after he spotted an unfamiliar car in the driveway.
Arts patron and philanthropist Laura Roberson-Fisch is in line for a big payout when the bitter dispute ends. Steven Hirsch
“He clearly exhibited obsessive behavior to stalk her and harass her,” said Fisch’s attorney, Marilyn Chinitz of the Blank Rome firm. “It’s home time. He saw a car in the lot, and he went to the property to stalk it and see, ‘Who’s there?'”
As the judge tried to make sense of Chinitz’s various claims, the lawyer assured him that “I want to stay focused” – prompting a scathing response from Laura’s lawyer Jonathan Wolfe.
“No, he didn’t,” replied Wolfe. “He wants to make it as bad as possible!”
But Wolfe made several scandalous allegations of his own during the heated proceedings — including that his client got a restraining order against Fisch “because he stole art from a military home.”
“He won’t consent not to take a woman to the bed where he sleeps on alternate weeks!”
Laura Roberson-Fisch attorney Jonathan Wolfe
An insider told Page Six in February that the couple – who have been married for 33 years, share four children and did not sign a prenup – own a luxury art collection that could be worth more than $500 million.
While Fisch’s actual net worth is unclear, sources told Page Six that the financier is worth “at least $10 billion.”
Yet Fisch also “only agreed to a one-dollar equitable distribution advance” in the case, Wolfe claimed during the Sept. 18 hearing — before hurling more personal accusations about Fisch’s sex life.
“He won’t consent not to take a woman to the bed where he sleeps on alternate weeks!” exclaimed Wolfe.
At stake in the proceedings are three luxury homes on East Hampton’s Further Lane, known as “billionaire’s row.” Dennis A. Clark
Shortly after arguments began in a rather dreary Manhattan courtroom, a visibly upset Fisch, wearing a blue raincoat over a striped black suit, leaned back in his chair, his left hand pressed hard to his temple.
But by the end of the afternoon, he had moved to the front of his chair, leaning forward with his hands pressed against the table in front of him.
He repeatedly signaled his disgust by either waving his arms wildly or exhaling sharply while burying his face in his hands.
Fisch first spoke in court using a measured tone to accuse Laura’s lawyers of spinning a “web of lies” while insisting that she had submitted sufficient records of the couple’s joint financial assets.
“He clearly showed obsessive behavior to stalk her and harass her”
Fisch’s attorney, Marilyn Chinitz
But the investment tycoon soon struggled to keep it together as he described Laura’s lawyer’s request for documents, which he called “pure distraction.”
“They can tell you we didn’t produce it, but it’s not true!” Fisch raged, raising his voice. “I produce everything reasonable, and I continue to produce it!”
He then tried to cut Wolfe off as lawyers argued that Laura was entitled to all of Fisch’s bank and investment records — not just the accounts considered marital by Fisch’s camp.
But Fisch’s surprise drew swift criticism from the judge.
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“Sir, sir, please listen, please,” Chesler said to Fisch.
Fisch also exaggeratedly said “that’s not true” at times as his former attorneys made their arguments, and at one point angrily gestured at the judge to signal his disagreement, prompting Chesler to again tell him, “Sir, please just listen .”
Laura Roberson-Fisch, on the other hand, remained calm throughout the hearing, frowning and folding her hands neatly in her lap.
The couple’s attorneys shouted at each other for most of the two-hour battle, prompting Chesler at one point to raise his hands and say, “Everybody, please take a breath!”
“Counselors, one at a time, okay?” a court official in the room added during a particularly chaotic moment.
The judge at times seemed more like a couples therapist, urging both parties to “sit together” and find common ground.
The two sides are ostensibly in court to argue about the financial records that Laura is entitled to as part of the divorce case — although Chesler admitted that while “I’d like everyone to focus on this motion … things have moved a little past that.”
Fisch’s attorney alleged that Laura’s attorney had begun a “fishing expedition” by subpoenaing details of her daily expenses even after the divorce case began.
Laura’s attorney has obtained records of large expenses such as Fisch’s use of a private jet and how little he went out to dinner, Chinitz said.
“Why do they care if he goes out to dinner for Chinese food?” Chinitz said, adding later, “They’re going down the rabbit hole for no reason other than distraction.”
The judge ultimately ruled from the bench that Fisch must turn over all of his bank accounts and investments, but Laura has no right to know about all of his spending habits while the case continues.
Both sides declined to comment on how they got out of court.
They will return to court on November 15.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
