S.C.'s first lady seeks divorce on grounds of adultery

The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)
December 12, 2009

By Schuyler Kropf and Yvonne Wenger

Jenny Sanford made it clear Friday: She isn't standing by her man.

Stung by a cheating husband, South Carolina's first lady filed for divorce on grounds of adultery because of Gov. Mark Sanford's affair with his Argentine mistress.

Friends, political observers and media experts said the move separates Jenny Sanford, a former Wall Street vice president, from a string of other jilted political wives because she opted to dissolve a 20-year marriage.

"She impeached him when the Legislature wouldn't," veteran University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato said of the Sanford scandal.
"In the future you will have people asking whether the wronged spouses will follow the Hillary Clinton example, or the Jenny Sanford example."

The divorce papers, filed at the Charleston County Courthouse, came after the governor this week escaped an impeachment probe by a Statehouse panel. After the panel's vote, Sanford indicated he wanted to reconcile with his wife, though there were hints of fraying.

Jenny Sanford declined to speak when a reporter approached her at her Sullivan's Island home Friday just moments after the divorce papers were made public. In a note released to the media, she said the dissolution of any marriage is "a sad and painful process."

"This came after many unsuccessful efforts at reconciliation, yet I am still dedicated to keeping the process that lies ahead peaceful for our family," she said.

Gov. Sanford also did not respond to reporters Friday, issuing his own statement from his Statehouse office.

"While it is not the course I would have hoped for, or would choose, I want to take full responsibility for the moral failure that led us to this tragic point," he said.

Sanford said his wife "has been more than gracious these last six months and gone above and beyond in her patience and commitment to put the needs of others in front of her own."

The divorce papers list the date of their marriage, Nov. 4, 1989, and that the couple have four sons, aged 11-17. The documents did not refer to any previous existing financial or asset division agreements by the couple, or how custody of the children would be addressed. It did suggest all matters can be resolved.

"The defendant has engaged in a sexual relationship with a woman other than the plaintiff," the filing states. The "plaintiff has not condoned that relationship and is informed and believes that she is entitled to a divorce."

Jenny Sanford's divorce attorney, Deena Smith McRackan, of Charleston, declined comment. Under South Carolina law, proven grounds of adultery can lead to divorce in as little as 90 days.

Family law attorney John Mayoue, of Atlanta, who represented Marianne Gingrich in her divorce from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, said that beyond the divorce settlement, Gov. Sanford has greatly harmed his ability to earn in various positions after he leaves Columbia.

Wherever he tries to be hired, or what efforts he endorses as a speaker, author, lobbyist or teacher, the allegation will be what people remember most.

"The tarnish will live with him," said Mayoue, who is not connected to the Sanford case.

Friends of the couple say Jenny Sanford's decision to file was a deliberate but painful choice and came after it was clear there was no hope the former political power couple would get back together.

"Jenny Sanford is brilliant," said Nancy Aust Strickland, who was with the Sanfords during his congressional races in the 1990s. "I'm sure she has, with great pain, made the best decision for her children, herself and her family."

One of Jenny Sanford's focal political strengths was in presenting her husband's message as a political candidate and officer-holder. Many observers have seen the same message control in how she previously had said she wanted to repair her marriage, if possible.

Strickland said the decision to end the marriage also sums up Jenny Sanford's moral code. "I think it proves that actions have consequences and, tragically, Mark's actions have resulted in very sad hurtful consequences."

The Sanfords' marriage began to unravel in January when she found out about the governor's affair, then forbid him from seeing his mistress, Maria Belen Chapur. But in June, Sanford disappeared from the state amid reports from his office that he was taking time off to hike the Appalachian Trail. After being confronted by the media on returning from Argentina, Sanford held a press conference and admitted the affair. Later, he called Chapur his "soul mate."

Afterward, Jenny Sanford left the governor's mansion, choosing to stay on Sullivan's Island with their four sons. She has since written a book about her experiences and given selected media interviews, including to Vogue magazine.

During an interview with Barbara Walters that aired on ABC Wednesday, Walters asked Jenny Sanford if the marriage could survive.
"I think the hurdles are significant," the first lady said. She also called her husband's behavior "inexcusable," but said she was willing to give him another chance. That apparently ended with Friday's divorce filings.

Jenny Sanford is from Chicago. She went to Georgetown University and worked for a short time for the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on Capitol Hill. She graduated from college magna cum laude in 1984 with a degree in finance and headed to New York and Wall Street. She met Sanford in 1987. He was working that summer at Goldman Sachs and they met at a beach party in the Hamptons on Long Island.

The Sanfords aren't the only present day governor and first lady going through a divorce. Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons and his wife, Dawn, are splitting up based on accusations that he too was unfaithful.

Gibbons' divorce has spelled tragedy for his political career as well, Sabato said. Gibbons is running for re-election, but Sabato said he has "no chance" of winning the GOP nomination, he said.

Sabato said the public may be willing to accept divorce by their elected officials but not if it comes at the public's expense.

"They don't expect all that much from their public officials, but they certainly don't expect to be embarrassed by them. (Sanford) has humiliated South Carolina. He is a national and international joke."

Reach Schuyler Kropf at skropf@postandcourier.com or 937-5551. Reach Yvonne Wenger at 607-3441 or ywenger@postandcourier.com

Lawyer says DUI charges dropped against rapper Nas

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
December 5, 2009

By Mashaun D. Simon

A lawyer for Grammy award nominated rapper Nas refutes reports of the rapper’s DUI charges from a Sept. 10 arrest.

John C. Mayoue represents the New York native.

“Nas has not been charged with any offense whatsoever, including DUI,” said Mayoue. “The state’s own lab results were negative for any drugs, including marijuana.”

According to a police incident report made available to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Nas, born Nasir Jones, was arrested on Sept. 10 and charged with DUI after the arresting officer observed the rapper was intoxicated.

During questioning, Nas admitted to having smoked marijuana at a friend’s house.

Sgt. Renee Swanson with Henry County police said Nas was arrested and charged. However, she could not confirm whether the charges had been dropped.

Thursday, TMZ.com reported that DUI charges against Nas had been dropped.  

The arresting officer observed Nas, born Nasir Jones, as he was participating in a license/safety check Sept. 10, according to a police report obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The officer stopped the 36-year-old's black Cadillac Escalade and “immediately smelled the odor of raw marijuana coming from inside the vehicle,” the report said.

The officer put him through a series of evaluations of which he failed before being arrested. His SUV was impounded.

“He had a green tongue with raised taste buds and his pulse was raised to 116 beats per minute,” states the report, as well as "eyelid tremors in both eyes and body tremors."

“Green tongue” is used by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Drug Evaluation and Classification Training Program as a possible indicator of marijuana use.

After being arrested, Nas was transported to the Henry County Jail for state blood tests. According to the incident report he was charged with DUI.

Nas is best known for his hits "If I Ruled the World," featuring Lauryn Hill, and "One Mic."

Top reasons to call the cops -- or not...;
Workplace behavior: 'We're a nation of hypocrites' when it comes to stars, scandal

USAToday
October 6, 2009

By: Sharon Jayson

David Letterman's admission of sex with women on his staff shows how differently the public views celebrity indiscretions than those in corporate America, say legal and communication experts.

"From my experience with celebrities, it's very hard for celebrities to do wrong," says Raoul Felder, a New York City attorney who has represented celebrity clients, including some, he says, with "almost the identical situation."

Felder says public debate over Letterman's behavior (Should he be fired? Sued for sexual harassment?) is mostly just talk because the public believes "celebrities are different" and doesn't hold them accountable for bad behavior.

"We're a nation of hypocrites," he says.

John Mayoue, an Atlanta-based celebrity attorney, says the public would  view the case differently had the women come forward first. "In the family-law arena, when someone commits adultery and comes forward first and asks forgiveness first, they tend to be forgiven."

Celebrity public relations guru Michael Levine agrees that the public thinks of celebrities differently. With Letterman, "you've got a celebrity, but you've also got a comedian. That further muddies the water. We hold comedians to different standards than politicians or preachers."

People don't view Letterman as a "moral barometer for anything," says Brent Malin, an assistant professor of communication at the University of Pittsburgh. "He doesn't seem like someone who should be having a sexual scandal because he's not a sex symbol."

But when it comes to workplace behavior, the law cuts celebrity bosses no slack.

"This is terrible, no matter who it is," says Deb Keary of the  Society for Human Resource Management in Alexandria, Va. "The supervisor is putting the subordinate in a bad position. They're putting everybody in their department in a bad position because of possible favoritism." And "if the relationship goes south, the company can be sued for sexual harassment."

Mary Rose Strubbe, who teaches employment law at the Chicago-Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, says celebrities have the same laws as everyone else. And for everyone, the statute of limitations for sexual harassment is short, she adds: Under federal law, claims for cases must be filed within a year, though some states allow two or three.

'Cyber-snooping' on a spouse may be tempting, but could be illegal

New York Daily News
October 1, 2009

By Rosemary Black

Should you cyber-snoop on your spouse? It's tempting to check out his texts, email and recently visited Web sites. But while you may find the proof you need, you could be breaking the law.

Susan Bartell, CEO of LifeTalk University, is seeing an increase in Internet infidelity, but says snooping has its cons.

"If you find out your partner is cheating or exploring cheating, at least you will know but it is devastating," says Bartell, whose company runs personal improvement workshops. "If they find out you are snooping and they're not cheating, it can erode the trust in the relationship almost instantly."

Spying on a partner can be tricky as well as risky, says Stephany Alexander, author of "Sex, Lies and the Internet." "Most people seem to agree that spying on your partner without their knowledge without having just cause is wrong," she says.  "If your partner is being unfaithful, it is likely the relationship will eventually end whether you're spying or not."

Some experts are in favor of investigating Internet infidelity. Sex therapist Ian Kerner, Ph.D., writing on msnbc.com, says: "In many situations, snooping isn't a pleasant choice, but it's the right choice."

It can yield a potential minefield of information. 

"Online snooping gives you the most graphic motherlode of information you could ever find out," says John Mayoue, a family law attorney who often deals with infidelity issues. "The days of a private investigator sitting in a car eating cold pizza and staring into someone's bedroom window are long past."

Yet online snooping could violate federal invasion of privacy laws.

"People make the mistake of thinking that because they are married to someone, that person doesn't have privacy rights," Mayoue explains. "But you can't just take a password-protected computer to a computer expert and have him break into it. That's illegal."

Whether you are actually doing something illegal depends on how you snoop, says divorce attorney Lynne Z.Gold-Bikin. If your spouse's email is visible on the computer and you take a look, it's not a problem. "But if your spouse's computer is password protected and you break in, then it is invasion of privacy," she says.

Certain red flags may help a doubting spouse decide whether cyber snooping is indeed warranted. If your spouse suddenly puts a password in the computer, or gets another cell phone so that you can't access the bills, or if the bills stop coming to the house, these are trouble signs, says Gold-Bikin.
 
Other ways to know if your spouse is engaging in Internet infidelity? Kerner says these are questions to ask yourself: Does your spouse spend way too much time on the computer and other digital devices like a cell phone? Is your spouse in touch with former flames or members of the opposite sex on Facebook, and does this make you uncomfortable? Does your partner call you paranoid when you bring up the subject, and insist on his or her right to privacy? Is your spouse a flirt in public? Does your gut tell you something's wrong?

If these are true, you may be tempted to do a little online detective work. You won't be the only cyber-snoop. "Internet infidelity is one of the biggest issues that couples face today," Kerner writes. "With digital technology increasingly playing a role in divorce, we have to be all the more vigilant."

T.I. cuts $8,000 check, calls late bill oversight

The Associated Press
January 6, 2009

By Errin Haynes

Rapper T.I. came to court on Tuesday and promptly paid an $8,000 overdue attorney bill for the mother of his two sons, telling a judge the debt was an oversight.

Lawyers for LaShon Dixon asked a Fulton County judge to intervene after the 27-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris, failed to pay in November. He had agreed to the payment as part of an ongoing child support case between the former couple.

T.I. came to court with a check for the money owed, effectively settling the matter.

During the hearing, which lasted more than four hours, T.I. told the judge the order to pay got lost when he changed assistants.

"It was just a clerical error, totally innocent," he said. "I will accept full responsibility for that."

The two-time Grammy winner was ordered in September to pay more than $3,000 a month to Dixon to whom he had been paying about $2,000 per month as well as the boys' private school tuition, uninsured medical bills and expenses related to their extracurricular activities.

"The evidence continues that Mr. Harris is an exemplary parent who has been voluntarily and generously providing for the needs of these children," T.I.'s attorney, John Mayoue, said after the hearing.

Lawyer says T.I. is happy with Ga. judge's order

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
September 24, 2008

A lawyer for T.I. said the rapper is happy with a judge's decision in a child support case brought by the mother of two of his children.
Superior Court Judge Bensonetta Tipton Lane on Tuesday ordered the two-time Grammy winner, whose real name is Clifford Harris, to pay more than $3,000 a month to LaShon Dixon. He had been paying about $2,000 per month.

The judge also said the 27-year-old performer must continue to pay for the boys to attend private school, uninsured medical bills and expenses related to the children's extracurricular activities.

"The court denied Ms. Dixon's request for an upward deviation in child support," said John Mayoue, T.I.'s lawyer. "The court further ordered him to continue doing what he had already offered to do and what he has been doing since the children were born. He's very pleased with the order."

Tipton Lane also on Tuesday awarded the couple joint custody of the boys, ages 7 and 8. Dixon, 28, was granted primary physical custody. The children previously spent about 40 percent of their time with the rapper.

Dixon's attorney, Randy Kessler, previously said his client is still unsatisfied with the amount the judge ordered T.I. to pay but is happy to receive more child support.

T.I. also has two sons with his fiancee, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle, of the defunct R&B group Xscape.

T.I. defends his role as father in support case

The Associated Press
September 18, 2008

By Errin Haines

ATLANTA -- On T.I.'s latest single, the rapper brags about the lavish lifestyle his wealth could provide a lucky lady: top-shelf liquor, million-dollar homes, luxury cars, exotic vacations.

His largesse also extends to his four sons. But the eldest boys, ages 7 and 8, only partake of his prosperity on a part-time basis. They live mostly with their mother, whose yearly net income doesn't equal a month's mortgage payment on T.I.'s house.

Now LaShon Dixon who met T.I. when she was 13 and became the mother of his first two children before he found fame is asking a family court judge to order a more stable stipend commensurate with his success
.
A ruling could come anytime.

"When the kids go to his house, they have a good life," said Randy Kessler, Dixon's attorney, who said the 29-year-old is currently unemployed, but has worked regularly as a hairdresser and is studying to get her cosmetology license.

"He gets them whatever they need," Kessler said. "When they're with her, they get whatever she can afford. For them to everything they want at his house and have to scrape by at her house is not fair."

The judge heard arguments in the case last week. T.I.'s attorney, John Mayoue, called his client an "exemplary, very involved parent."

"He has committed to the court that he will continue to support his children in a generous and loving manner, as he has done since their birth," Mayoue said, adding that T.I., 27, is seeking joint legal custody of the children, who now spend about 40 percent of their time with him."

In a statement released through Mayoue earlier this week, T.I. said he not only pays Dixon $2,000 in cash a month, but also pays for the boys to be involved in sports, acting lessons, summer camp and other activities. He also funds their private school educations and pays their medical bills.

"She has chosen not to work and to live 100 percent from her child support receipts," the statement reads. "This is the reason for her difficulties in making ends meet for herself."

Kessler and Mayoue are both family law attorneys who have represented several high-profile clients in child support disputes, including attorney Willie Gary, comedian Chris Rock, entertainer Sean Combs and boxer Evander Holyfield.

Cases involving high-income earning parents are becoming more common, and judges are increasingly having to wrestle with what's fair for someone for whom money is not a concern, Kessler said.

"Normally, a judge is just trying to figure out how a kid can eat, be educated and be sheltered," he said. "In this case, the judge is making this decision without having to be concerned with the father's financial constraints."

In March, T.I. is expected to be sentenced to at least a year in prison after he pleaded guilty to federal weapon possession charges. In Fulton County Superior Court last week, T.I. said he could afford to pay whatever amount he is ordered.

"If there is any mother in Georgia who could be afforded the ability to be a stay-at-home mom ... it is LaShon Dixon," Kessler argued to the judge. "Isn't that the standard of living of a family who can afford any amount of support?"

Atlanta Music Scene;
T.I. Responds To Child Support Suit

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
September 17, 2008

By Sonia Murray

Wednesday, September 17, 2008, 09:14 AM

Atlanta rapper-actor T.I. has gone on a website he endorses and is a shareholder in, streetcred.com, to respond to the lawsuit brought by the mother of two of his children for court-ordered arrangement for payments.

He and the mother, Lashon Dixon, appeared in Fulton County Superior Court last Thursday, where she said she has had trouble supporting sons Domani and Messiah (above with T.I. at a recent video shoot) with the $2000 a month T.I. gives her. Dixon says she wants a more stable stipend commensurate with the multimillion-selling Grammy winner's success.

Now, in a statement he and attorney John Mayoue released exclusively to streetcred.com, T.I. fires back:

"A lot of deceiving information has been reported regarding my recent child support proceeding. It is unfortunate that the media has been used to manipulate the circumstances and distort the facts. Those that know me, all know that there is nothing more important to me than my children. I have always supported all of my children financially, emotionally, and spiritually. This has always been the case and I will continue to do so in the future as this is my responsibility as a parent.

To clarify the recent reports, in addition to the $2000 per month I pay in cash to Lashon Dixon, the mother of my sons Domani and Messiah, I also pay for their private schooling, medical insurance, clothing, food, gifts, birthdays and extracurricular activities. Their extra-curricular activities have included football, basketball, baseball, acting lessons, summer camp, and any other activities that they express a desire to be involved in that will contribute to them leading balanced lives and developing into well rounded individuals. I have also made an attempt to help Lashon with additional payments that have included a down payment to purchase her home, purchase of an automobile for her transportation and other financial obligations. These expenses are documented and are far in excess of the $2000 cash payment that is being paid direct to Lashon. She has chosen not to work and to live 100% from her child support receipts. This is the reason for her difficulties in making ends meet for herself.

Not only do I support my boys 100% financially, I am also committed to their emotional and spiritual growth. While I would enjoy the luxury of being present for all of my children's activities, unfortunately the demands of my career and the need to secure my family's financial security as well as insuring my kid's personal growth dictates that I travel constantly and work tirelessly. Despite my hectic schedule, I make it a priority to be present for important occasions in their lives. This includes being home for their birthdays, school functions and being present at as many of their extra-curricular activities as I am able. I also am available to them at all times to provide guidance and support as a father regardless of my schedule or location. They are my first priority.

Again, there is nothing more important to me than my children. This is demonstrated by my effort to support them in every way that I can. Any reasonable person knowing the facts would conclude that all of my children's needs are being far exceeded. My support of them in every way is documented and cannot be legitimately challenged.

I believe that it is every parent's responsibility to provide unconditional love and support for their kids. I have made every attempt to do so for my boys. Again, I provide 100% of their financial support. I should only be judged for my actions and not Lashon's conscience decision not to work and not to contribute to the financial support of our boys."

A model lawyer, friend to famous

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
May 2, 2008

By Helena Oliviero

In her book "Fifteen Minutes of Shame," author Lisa Daily models celebrity attorney Holt Gregory after Atlanta's very own John Mayoue. The plot features Darby Vaughn, a TV relationships expert who finds out her husband is divorcing her --- live on national TV. Darby needs an attorney. The author called Mayoue for advice. In the end, she discovered a charming character and "true gentleman." "He's kind of the man every woman wants," says Daily, who recently sold the movie rights to the book. Below, Daily, a columnist and dating coach who also wrote "Stop Getting Dumped," and Mayoue compares the character to the Atlanta lawyer.

Law evolving as divorces drag in digital evidence

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
February 24, 2008

By Bill Torpy

Marietta divorce attorney Stephen Worrall increasingly sees clients come to his office and excitedly tell him: "You won't believe what I found on my wife's e-mail."

The information may be evidentiary dynamite --- juicy, sordid and damning. But the veteran attorney immediately will halt the budding sleuth mid-sentence. "We stop them right there and determine how he came about it," he said.

The client may have committed a crime, and Worrall doesn't want to be a party to it.

Evidence like e-mails, cellphone records, Web site records and even GPS information is increasingly making its way into divorce battles, plotting almost indefensible maps of a cheating spouse's footprints.

Electronic evidence has changed the face of divorce. A poll conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers released this month found that 88 percent of its members surveyed had seen a "dramatic increase" in such evidence.

John Mayoue, an Atlanta divorce attorney and author of "Southern Divorce" and "Protecting Your Assets From a Georgia Divorce," said the increase in the use of electronic evidence "has been exponential. It's raging. It's also the most raging issue" in divorce law.

"The day of the private eye peering into a window is mostly gone," he said. "This electronic information is so much better. It's the most compelling evidence in terms of financial wrongdoing, in terms of affairs --- someone in their own words saying things they'd never say in court. 'Hey, I'm worth $1 million. Hey, I'm having an affair.' People are more likely to be caught than ever before."

The evidence can be devastating. In a recent case, the wife, who was thought to be cheating, was asked to turn over a cellphone. "She forgot she had photos [of her and her lover] saved," Mayoue said. "They were photos that said they were more than just friends."

But, Mayoue adds, "the vexing issue is that of privacy. How was that evidence retrieved?"

A spouse spurned will stop at virtually nothing to prove a partner has been up to no good. They place keystroke spyware to see what has been typed on a computer. They sneak off with BlackBerries or laptops to get a forensic expert to retrieve information that has been deleted. They steal passwords. They even slap global positioning system, or GPS, devices on vehicles to see where their spouses have gone.

Worrall had one case in which both parties wanted examinations of each other's computer. "Both had Match.com entries on their computers," he said, referring to the online dating service.

Judges are frequently asked by parties in a divorce for court orders allowing them to examine a spouse's computer or retrieve cellphone records. They are also often asked to rule on the admissibility of evidence that has already been retrieved.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Wright, chief of the Family Court Division, said such evidence can be powerful.

"Cellphone records can show they were in Alabama when they said they were in Marietta," she said. "As our technology expands, the ability to track people expands."

Legal bounds still murky

The law has been trying to keep up with technology, said Wright, who sees e-mail evidence in almost all contested divorces. "It's an area of law that attorneys are struggling with. It's a difficult area of law. It's evolving just as technology is evolving."

Georgia law has provisions prohibiting computer theft, trespass and invasion of privacy. But each case has gray areas. Was it a personal laptop? (Most likely not OK to use as evidence.) Or was it a family communal computer? (Probably OK as evidence.) Did the spouse ever share the password? (If so, probably usable.)

"Generally, if the devices are not normally accessible to the person who has 'broken' into them, i.e. password protected, or are not owned by the person who is seeking to use the data, I have ruled out such evidence," Gwinnett County Superior Court Judge Billy Ray said in an e-mail. "If it is not your device, or if you are not a person who has access to it on a normal basis, my rulings have been that you can't use it."

"I have seen GPS tracking devices used," Ray said. "Normally, it is when one spouse also has ownership of the car. It is hard to say they can't do it if it is their car, too. Kind of like breaking down your own front door; if it is your door, you can do with it as you please."

Mayoue said the appeals courts haven't dealt with a lot of the questions yet.

"The courts are slow to deal with these issues," he said. "People haven't pushed these cases [through the legal system]. They've tended to settle."

Damning evidence

Electronic evidence helps settle cases quicker because it is so graphic and damning, said George Stern, an Atlanta lawyer practicing divorce law for 30 years and former president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Pornography on the computer --- thought to be deleted --- is a killer in divorce cases, he said, as are e-mails and cellphone calls to lovers.

"You'd be shocked how often a person will call their girlfriend or boyfriend," he said. "I think husbands are much more careless than wives."

Why would people sneaking around not cover their tracks? Stern thinks the use of e-mail and cellphones is so routine that people just don't think about it.

"People get lazy," Stern said. "And, for the lack of a better word, stupid."

Wright said the omnipresence of technology might be an impetus for people to behave.

"The world has gotten smaller with the World Wide Web and computers," she said. Her advice? "Live your life like you're living in a small town."

Ethics watchdog seeks to open speaker's divorce files

The Associated Press
February 19, 2008

By Shannon McCaffrey

An ethics watchdog has filed a motion in Paulding County Superior Court seeking to pry open records in Georgia House Speaker Glenn Richardson's divorce.

George Anderson argued in his legal brief that sealing the documents "enacts an immediate and continuous harm to the public at large."

The Richardsons' divorce has come under scrutiny after a Paulding County judge, who was once the speaker's law partner, sealed all the records in the case, a move which a prominent Georgia divorce lawyer said was unusual.

Anderson said that circumstances of the divorce raise substantial questions of public interest. He said there is good cause to vacate the closure order because it applies an incorrect legal standard, lacks a time limitation and shields almost the entire record from public inspection.

A spokeswoman for Richardson declined to comment, repeating her refusal to talk about his personal life.

John Mayoue, a divorce lawyer in Georgia who has handled celebrity clients, said he never seeks to have his clients' divorce records sealed because it raises a red flag that there is something to hide.

"I don't try to seal records because the presumption is that there is open access to the courts in Georgia and other states," Mayoue said.
"As far as In know the records are sealed very rarely," he said.

Richardson, a Republican, was the subject of an ethics complaint filed by Democrats in January 2007 alleging he had an improper relationship with a female utility company lobbyist. At the time he was co-sponsoring a bill being pushed by her employer. The bill never made it to a vote and the complaint was dismissed.

In his order sealing the Richardsons' records, Paulding County Superior Court Judge James Osborne, said the public interest in inspecting the records is outweighed by the potential harm to the Richardsons and their three children. He said he turned the matter over to fellow Paulding County Superior Court Judge Tonny Beavers. Beavers said last week that the divorce matter is pending.

Osborne was a law partner of Richardson's until 2004.

Of failings and filings

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
February 17, 2008

By Richard Hallecks

Many divorces have all the drama of returning a shirt to Target. The combatants simply exchange one contract for another, the first for love, the second for money.

Occasionally, when a divorce is contested, the file reads like a Greek tragedy with a case number.

In either instance, the files are almost always open for public inspection. That is not the case, however, in the matter of Susan Richardson v. Glenn Richardson.

When it comes to the divorce of the state speaker of the House, "the general public shall not have access to the following documents," said a Feb. 6 order entered by Paulding County Superior Court Judge James Osborne. He then listed "the complaint for divorce with attached verification; acknowledgment of service; consent to trial; agreement; child support worksheets."

Atlanta divorce attorneys, judges and court clerks said last week that it's unusual for a court to seal a divorce case.

"A couple of people who had been divorced who I know personally have called and said, 'I'm mad now. I wanted to get my case sealed, and I couldn't. And I wanted to pick my own judge, and I couldn't,' " said Debra DeBerry, chief deputy in the DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk's office.

"I spoke with a judge yesterday about sealing divorce cases," she said, "and he couldn't remember if he ever sealed any. I can't think of any off the top of my head."

Other Atlanta-area court clerks said similar things; it's not known how many cases lie under seal in metro Atlanta courts, but it's clear that closed files are the exception, not the rule.

"We seal maybe two records a year," said Gwinnett Clerk of Courts Tom Lawler. "I can't remember --- I've been clerk for 12 years --- a sealed divorce in a very long time. That doesn't mean they wouldn't seal one. It's just a very unusual occurrence in our county."

Treva Shelton, the clerk of courts in Paulding County, where Richardson's divorce was filed, said that "we get a few. It's not a normal thing, but we get them." Shelton, now the custodian of the Richardson file, says the case is sealed with tape and locked in a cabinet with other sealed matters.

Rule 21 of the Uniform Rules of Superior Court states: "An order limiting access shall not be granted except upon a finding that the harm otherwise resulting to the privacy of a person in interest clearly outweighs the public interest." This is the rule Judge Osborne invoked in closing Richardson's file.

DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Clarence Seeliger explained there are extraordinary circumstances that might prompt a judge to close a file.
"Where sealing might take place --- suppose there were an allegation of child abuse," Seeliger said. "It's not substantiated, but the allegations were made. Or allegations of domestic violence. Or one of the children is a special-education child, and they don't want that publicized."

Even so, Seeliger said he can't recall ever sealing a divorce case.

'What's in there?'

Beyond the procedural questions the Richardson case has provoked, sealing a file can set off some very natural reactions, one Atlanta divorce lawyer observed.

"It's like putting a file on the desk that says 'top secret' on it," said Randall M. Kessler, a longtime practitioner who has handled several divorce cases involving professional athletes.

"When you seal the record, everybody's going to wonder what's in there. And imagination is always worse than reality."

Kessler also makes note of the circumstances surrounding the Richardson divorce.

Osborne was not the judge who would have been assigned the case under Paulding County's normal rotation, but he wound up handling it, and sealing it, nonetheless. Richardson is his former law partner --- Osborne told the Associated Press that he and Richardson hadn't been partners since 1994 --- and Osborne's daughter works in Richardson's law firm.

"Lawyers and judges are always encouraged to avoid even the appearance of impropriety," Kessler said. "I'm sure there's a very good reason for it. But it doesn't sound the way I'd want it to sound if it were me."

A wayward boyfriend

Jay C. Stephenson, long-serving clerk of the Superior Court in Cobb County, remembers an occasion when having open files may have saved a woman from an apparently faithless lover.

"We got a call one afternoon from a lady in Nashville who had been handed some papers by her boyfriend from Cobb County," Stephenson said. "He was married, and he kept telling her, 'I'm getting a divorce, I'm getting a divorce.' So finally she just said, 'Show me the papers.' "

Later, papers in hand, the woman went to the Cobb clerk's Web site and ran a search for her boyfriend. He wasn't there, Stephenson said. And the case number on the file he supplied belonged to another case altogether.

"It turned out the guy had faked the paperwork. For that lady, it was real beneficial to get access to our records," Stephenson said.

One court clerk observed that a savvy homebuyer, having learned that the sellers have divorced, will check the divorce filing to see what it says about the house and what the couple will accept as a sale price.

The downside

Divorce files may contain detailed financial information, including credit card, Social Security and bank account numbers, all of which become part of the public record.

Under Richardson's tenure as speaker, the state House passed legislation on child support that required divorcing parents to file income statements. That information becomes part of the public record, although not in Richardson's case.

"I see people filing less financial information because of concerns about identity theft and because of concerns about not wanting the public rummaging through their files," said John Mayoue, who has handled celebrity divorces in Atlanta for decades.

"If someone wants to know how much his boss makes, or to find out what his neighbor's net worth might be, he can just go to the courthouse and pick it up."

Don't file it?

Several attorneys noted that the best way to shield clients' most sensitive information is not to make it part of the record in the first place.
"I don't file the financial information," Mayoue said. "If something has to be filed with the court, I try to make it as pure vanilla, or as disguised, as I possibly can make it, so I'm not putting my client's personal information out there for the public to examine."

Kessler, who is a board member of the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association, said that in such cases he seeks to negotiate a financial agreement outside the court; all that's in the public file is a reference to a private document to which both parties agree.

The agreement becomes public only if one party fails to live up to it, and the aggrieved party must return to court and seek enforcement of the agreement.

The down side, said Kessler, is that a client may need high-priced legal talent to pursue such arrangements.

"Most people don't have enough money to hire lawyers who are creative enough to think of ways around this," Kessler said.

The most sensitive information in a divorce file often is neither financial nor sexual in nature. If he could seal the portions that deal with children, Kessler said, he would.

"I would be in favor of closing custody agreements. Things involving children are first on the list," Kessler said. "And I don't want anybody to know that I've got a 28-year-old single mother who's meeting her ex at a Burger King at 9 o'clock at night" to drop off or pick up kids.

Sealed files

George Stern, who has practiced family law for more than 40 years in Atlanta, agrees that getting a case sealed is exceedingly difficult.

"Most of the judges in the metropolitan area and northern Georgia will not seal anything," Stern said. "They all get up and say, 'Why should we do it for you? Then everybody else wants us to do it.' And 98 percent of the time they're not going to seal anything."

But Stern has no problem with that.

"If everything else is a public record, I don't see why a divorce record has to be closed," he said. "These are public records, and they ought to stay public records. If you don't want to disclose something, don't file it."

Q&A / JOHN MAYOUE, attorney: Before you get divorced, 'get educated'

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
December 8, 2007

By Jill Vejnoska

Maybe it's not the most wonderful time of the year.

"The day after Thanksgiving, the first prayer I say is, 'I wish it were January 2nd,' " sighs John Mayoue.

The new Grinch? Nah. Just a lawyer (no, they're not the same thing) who's famously discreet about his famous clientele. So don't expect juicy tidbits about the high-stakes unhitchings of Jane Fonda, David Justice or Marianne Gingrich (ex-Mrs. Newt No. 2) to surface in the Atlanta attorney's new book.

Instead, "Protecting Your Assets From a Georgia Divorce" (PSG Books, $19.95) is aimed squarely at the local Everyman and woman. From choosing the right lawyer to understanding how a "fair" settlement isn't necessarily an "equal" one, the book is a comprehensive, somewhat cautionary primer for Georgians considering or already in the process of divorcing.

Unfortunately, its arrival may be a case of perfect timing. An eye-popping number of marriages find the proverbial lump of coal in their stockings in December, says Mayoue, who evinces little cheer in making that statement. During a conversation in his Vinings office recently, Mayoue --- who is donating all author royalties to Camp Sunshine, an Atlanta-based facility for children with cancer and their families --- discussed divorce at the holidays and beyond in Georgia.

Q: If everyone reads your book, couldn't you possibly put yourself out of business here? Why take that risk?

A: I really do think that we lawyers have an obligation to educate the public. And it seems to me to be not very good consumerism to walk into a lawyer's office knowing absolutely nothing, before paying someone several hundred dollars. I've always found it peculiar that people do not get educated in a legal matter that affects 50-plus percent of all people who get married. Yet if you had an illness, you would certainly read up about it, if you had a business you were interested in getting involved in, you would certainly read about it.

Q: Still, most divorcing people will need a lawyer's services whether they end up going to trial or not. Is settlement what you're always working toward?

A: Always. Every lawyer I know is going to make every reasonable effort to get a case settled first. Because settlement is something that the parties can control --- they can basically control things such as custody, visitation and the allocation of assets and debts. And the courtroom is a risky environment for anyone. What's different in particular about Georgia is that we are the only state that continues to have jury trials in divorce cases.

Q: What are the pluses and minuses of that?

A: To me, jury trials are the great equalizers. Judges, just like any person, tend to have tendencies or biases. My experience with juries is they tend to be enormously fair, and that's all you can ask for. [But] it can be a bad thing for people who watch too much television, because they believe the jury is going to stand up and say, "You were the wonderful spouse and the other spouse was the lousy one!" They may say that indirectly in how they allocate assets, but they don't ever say it explicitly.

Q: What else distinguishes Georgia when it comes to divorce?

A: You can get divorced [here] in 30 days. In some states like New York, they have a one-year waiting period. . . . Georgia ranks in the Top 5 states in terms of our divorce rates. Nevada, of course, is the leader, but the next four states are all Southern states. We're the churchgoing region, according to what polls show, yet our divorce rates are higher than the rest of the country by far. In fact, the great irony is that the state that brought us Teddy Kennedy and legalized gay marriage has the lowest divorce rate in this country. And so we Georgians need to be careful about throwing stones at the rest of the country.

Q: Doesn't divorce at least take a holiday this month along with the rest of us?

A: It's actually the start of the season. People have these pent-up thoughts about relationships and careers and where they are with life. It's just a very difficult time for people.

Q: Is it something in the eggnog?

A: Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas, I believe, bring out the worst in many people --- particularly people that are in troubled relationships. For some reason at this time of year, we use the holidays as a benchmark, and I think it's extraordinarily unhealthy to do so. In December, for example, we have the highest number of suicides, divorce filings and bankruptcies of any month.

Q: Can the holiday season push some people to think about divorce when they might not have otherwise?

A: Absolutely. One of the biggest things that aggravates people during the holidays is the expenditure of family resources: Do we have to have a Christmas where little Johnny and Mary get every new electronic device out there? Are we going to borrow against our home in order to spend lavishly on our friends and relatives? What kind of holiday we're going to have is sort of analagous to what kind of marriage we're going to have. Christmas is becoming incredibly lavish for people, and social scientists will tell you that 90 percent of the root of marital trouble is money.

Q: What about people who wait to file for divorce so as "not to ruin the holidays?"

A: I think it is a good philosophy when it involves children. When you have children who are the victims of these cases and they're thinking the wonderful thoughts we all thought of Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's when we were young --- it's absolutely devastating to explain to a child during this time of year that not only is Santa not coming, but that Mommy and Daddy are divorcing. Yet there are some people that feel very justified in doing so. I'm not trying to be self-righteous or to criticize them. If they come in and say, 'Look, I'm determined,' what we say is at least go see a child psychologist and discuss how you will tell your children. And oftentimes that will persuade them that at least they should wait, or perhaps they shouldn't do it at all.

Q: So if someone walks into your office in December talking divorce, one of your questions is "Why now?"

A: Always. Many people cannot be talked out of doing it now, and that's certainly their choice. But we do try to tell people that it probably is not the best time to add another level of stress to their lives. Often they will have very firm convictions as to "why now."

Q: Which is?

A: It's almost a prelude to the New Year's resolution.

Lawyer: DNA test clears Chris Rock in Georgia paternity claim

The Associated Press
August 6, 2007

By Russ Bynum

SAVANNAH Ga. -- A lawyer for Chris Rock said Monday that a court-ordered DNA test proved Rock is not the father of a 13-year-old boy whose mother tried to sue the comedian for support earlier this year.

Rock's attorney, John Mayoue of Atlanta, said a Bulloch County judge sent results of the paternity test to lawyers on both sides of the case.

"The results of the test are that Chris Rock is not the father of this child," Mayoue said. "It is conclusive."

The mother, however, disputed the test results.

Kali Bowyer, who lives in Bulloch County west of Savannah, tried in March to file a paternity lawsuit against Rock seeking child support and medical coverage for her son, Jordan. She withdrew the lawsuit after court officials told her it was outside the southeast Georgia county's jurisdiction because Rock is a New Jersey resident.

However, Rock asked the Georgia court in April to start paternity proceedings to resolve the case. Bulloch County Superior Court Judge John R. Turner ordered DNA testing on Rock and the boy June 8.

Rock and his wife, Malaak, said in a statement Monday they were happy to put the case to rest. They accused Bowyer of telling "multiple lies" to sell her story to tabloids.

"We also express our deepest prayers for the welfare of Ms. Bowyer's son who has continually been embarrassed and exposed in the media by his mother," Rock's statement said.

Bowyer said Monday she had never received money for her story and she believed Rock had violated a confidentiality agreement by making the paternity test results public.

"I could've sworn we weren't supposed to talk about it until we were done with mediation," Bowyer said.

She said she planned to ask the judge to order another DNA test to challenge the results of the one that ruled out Rock as her child's father.
Bowyer, 35, said she met Rock at a Los Angeles nightclub when she was living in California 13 years ago.

She denied making any money from the case despite offers of thousands of dollars from television shows and tabloid magazines.
"I am sick and tired of being made out to be a liar and a fraud," she said.

Rock recently directed and starred in the film "I Think I Love My Wife," and is behind the hit television series "Everybody Hates Chris," which is based on his childhood. He and his wife have been married for 10 years and have two young children.

Associated Press writer Doug Gross in Atlanta contributed to this story.

Rock Asks Court to Weigh Paternity Claim

The Associated Press
April 18, 2007

By Russ Bynum

STATESBORO Ga. - Chris Rock has asked a Georgia court to start paternity proceedings to determine if he's the father of a 13-year-old boy whose mother tried to file a paternity lawsuit against the actor and comedian last month.

Rock "desires to contribute to the support, maintenance, and education" of the boy if there's evidence to prove he's the father, according to papers that Rock's attorney filed Monday in Bulloch County Superior Court.

Kali Bowyer, who lives in Bulloch County, sought last month to file a paternity lawsuit against Rock seeking child support and medical coverage for her son, Jordan. She withdrew the lawsuit after court officials told her it was outside the southeast Georgia county's jurisdiction because Rock is a New Jersey resident. However, Rock, who has two young children with his wife of ten years, Malaak, is requesting that the matter be taken up in the Georgia court.

"She is looking forward to establishing that Mr. Rock is the father of their son and bringing the case to a swift conclusion," Brett Kimmel, Bowyer's attorney in New York, said Wednesday.

Kimmel declined to answer questions about what sort of relationship Bowyer claims to have had with Rock, or why she waited 13 years to seek a paternity claim. Bowyer told the Statesboro Herald last week that she and Rock "were friends and we spent time together."

Rock's attorney, John Mayoue of Atlanta, and his publicist, Leslie Sloane, did not immediately return telephone calls by The Associated Press seeking comment.

Rock recently directed and starred in the film "I Think I Love My Wife," and is behind the hit television series "Everybody Hates Chris," which is based on his childhood.

Lawmaker's fight highlights same-sex custody muddle in N.C.

The Associated Press
April 4, 2007

RALEIGH N.C. - A state lawmaker's custody fight is one of several pending court cases that highlight the lack of clarity in North Carolina law over what makes a person a parent.

State Sen. Julia Boseman has filed a lawsuit seeking joint custody with her former partner of their 4-year-old son. Boseman, D-New Hanover, is the Legislature's only openly homosexual member, but legal experts say the law is vague with regard to all unmarried couples.

"There are many millions of children in this country who are being raised by people of the same sex who are not married, people of the opposite sex who aren't married, grandparents, stepparents and psychological parents," said John Mayoue, an Atlanta family law attorney who writes on custody issues.

The ambiguity of North Carolina's law is not uncommon among states, with courts and legislatures falling behind societal changes in family structure as well as medical options such as surrogate mothers and sperm or egg donors.

Sharon Thompson is a former legislator now in family law practice specializing in helping homosexual couples. Thompson said she has handled cases where donors didn't intend to be legal parents but could only keep their names off a birth certificate by getting a court order determining who the child's parents would be.

In another situation, officials refused to put both the genetic mother, who donated the egg, and the birth mother on one certificate.

"The state agency that issues birth certificates is sometimes at odds with a judge's interpretation," Thompson said. "It hasn't been addressed on a statewide level."

Boseman is seeking secondary custody of the boy conceived through artificial insemination and born in October 2002 to her partner, Melissa Jarrell, who would retain primary custody. The couple split up last year, and the boy has spent time with both women, the lawsuit said.

"We're working through this matter as a family and we'll resolve it as a family," Boseman said, declining to discuss the case further. The action, filed in January, has not gone to trial.

A similar dispute in Durham is expected to be heard before the state Court of Appeals either late this year or early next year.

Irene Dwinnell is trying to overturn a trial court's decision last year that gave her former partner, Joellen Mason, joint custody of a son whom Dwinnell conceived through artificial insemination by an unknown donor.

In court filings, Dwinnell argues that only her name is listed as a parent on the boy's birth certificate. The difference in Boseman's case is that Boseman legally adopted her son.

That can be difficult for same-sex couples to do in North Carolina, where the law neither explicitly prohibits nor allows such adoptions.

"Many lawyers are surprised and think you can't do it. But there are judges who think it is possible to do this under current law," Thompson said. "We've been doing it quietly."

Some conservatives worry that courts might be too willing to grant custody rights to non-biological parents in same-sex relationships.

"It would raise concerns among the vast majority of people in North Carolina," Sen. James Forrester, R-Gaston, said. "That's an unhealthy relationship for a child to grow up in. The Lord intended for a family to have one man and one woman."

But Thompson said courts should act based on what's right for the child.

"It's in the child's best interests to continue to have a significant relationship with someone who has acted as a parent in their life," she said. "These kids don't know any difference, whether this person is a legal parent or not. They just know who tucked them in at night."

NorthSide's Hot List 2006

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
December 8, 2006

By Jennifer Brett, Marcus K. Garner, Adrianne M. Murchison, Keri Smith

Here they are, the Northside's hottest professional experts, networking events and upscale service providers. From personal shopper to interior designer, tennis pro to real estate agent, these are the folks you want to call if you need a job done and you need it done right. But you might have to get in line. They didn't make NorthSide's Hot List 2006 for nothing!

Personal Shopper: Karen Hughes
You may be good at matching your belt with your shoes and avoiding plaids with polka dots, but do you know your style personality? Karen Hughes is a style consultant, certified by the Association of Image Consultants International, which means she can perform color, style and fit analysis and help you determine your style personality, whether it's classic, sporty or romantic. And if you want, she'll even brave the land of retail to find just the right things for a well-rounded wardrobe. If that isn't enough to adequately spiff up your image, the Alpharetta resident also conducts communication and etiquette training. Among her clients are corner-office executives, stay-at-home moms and college graduates in search of a new, professional look.
* Image Assets, 770-663-0086, www.imageassets.net.

Golf Pro: Jeff Paton
Troy Matteson is a millionaire, thanks in part to Jeff Paton. Matteson, 27, recently won his first PGA Tour event, and his pro is Paton, director of golf at The Golf Club of Georgia. True, Matteson has a great deal of natural talent, but Paton has coached him since 1999. The Alpharetta resident also coaches pros Matt Kuchar and Jonathan Fricke and directs the 36-hole course where Braves pitcher John Smoltz, Falcons All-Pro guard Bill Fralic and former NBA star Brad Daugherty are members. He even has a good game to back up his knowledge. His lowest record score? A cool 65.
* Golf Club of Georgia, 770-664-8644, www.golfclubofgeorgia.com

Charity Event: Circle for Children's annual gala
Imagine well-heeled patrons in tuxes and ballgowns mingling and eyeing auction items so fabulous --- think a Tahitian pearl necklace and a diamond bracelet --- they warranted the presence of uniformed law enforcement to deter unsavory attempts to make off with the goods. That was the scene at the Circle for Children's gala at Cobb Galleria this year. The You Oughta Be in Pictures Ball raised about $100,000 to benefit Chris Kids, which works with abused or neglected children. Next year's soiree --- Denim & Diamonds --- could surpass that. Country singer Kenny Rogers is the honorary chairman and Rolls-Royce is a sponsor. Although the March 24 event ventures intown this year to Twelve Atlantic Station, Northsiders make up a good number of the Circle's invitation-only membership of 300. "We're an organization of women who have formed deep friendships," said Rita Robb Furness of east Cobb, the Circle for Children 2006 president. "We have a lot of fun together."
* www.thecircleforchildren.org

Tennis Pro: Dave Dvorak
Dave Dvorak has more titles than P. Diddy could dream of. He is the director of tennis at the Dunwoody Country Club, where he teaches physicians, attorneys, business leaders and homemakers the art of the serve. And he was named the 2005 Tennis Professional of the Year by the Georgia chapter of the United States Tennis Association. The Marietta resident is also president of the southern division of the United States Professional Tennis Association, chairman of the Special Populations Subcommittee for the USTA Southern Section and a board member for the Georgia Tennis Association. On top of all that, this tennis ace is a community volunteer. On Saturday afternoons during the spring and fall, Dvorak is the director of instruction for the wheelchair tennis program at Blackburn Park in Atlanta.
* Dunwoody Country Club, 770-392-7788, www.dunwoodycc.org.

Real Estate Agent: Mary Lou Lanaux
You're casting around for a smashing new pad, and have around $3 million to spend. You find the perfect home, but something's holding you back. Will the dog feel happy here? If you're working with Mary Lou Lanaux, real estate agent to the rich and famous, there's nothing to fear. She'll take the pooch on a tour herself, to make sure everyone feels at home. The Alpharetta real estate agent actually did show a house to a client's dog before inking a $2.8 million deal, but that's all she can say about it. Her clients --- corporate titans, entertainment industry execs and entrepreneurs --- demand confidentiality. (One client will only look at prospective purchases between 1 and 3 a.m.) Lanaux sells 20 to 30 houses a year, most of them in the million-plus range. Her top sale last year was $4.7 million, and she may outdo herself this year with a listing hovering above the $5 million mark.
* Keller Williams Realty North Atlanta, 770-475-5530, www.maryloulanaux.com.

Networking Group: Sandy Springs Business Association
Venue: Piedmont Driving Club.
Guest speaker: Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Event: Monthly luncheon meeting.
Created in 1999, the 500-member Sandy Springs Business Association gets together regularly for breakfast, lunch and after-work events at some of the area's A-list venues, often featuring top-notch headliners. The group teamed up with the Atlanta Women's Council of Realtors earlier this year for the luncheon starring the governor. "You want to have fun with the people you do business with," said commercial real estate broker Wanda Buckley, who will serve as the group's 2007 chair. Looking ahead, the first annual Celebrate Sandy Springs gala is planned for April 21 at the Art Institute of Atlanta. The event will be black-tie optional and tickets will be $100 each. Meanwhile, Buckley's excited about the group's May luncheon, to be held at the Georgia Aquarium; Bernie Marcus will be the guest speaker.
* 404-255-5351,www.sandysprings.org/ssba

Architects: Pieper O'Brien Herr Architects
The firm of Pieper O'Brien Herr Architects has helped pioneer a change in the way Northsiders live. When the company designed and planned Perimeter Place in Dunwoody, the firm created one of the first mixed-use, live/work/play developments outside Atlanta's urban core. Helping to ensure the project's success was the willingness of the firm, together with Florida-based developer Sembler Co., to include the Dunwoody Homeowners Association in the planning process. The Alpharetta-based firm was recognized by the Design Build Institute of America for its work on Perimeter Place and on the new Duluth Public Safety Building. Next up: A new mixed-use project with office, residential and retail components along Roswell's Holcomb Bridge Road corridor could be in the works.
* 770-569-1706, www.poharchitects.com

Plastic Surgeons: The Swan Center of Atlanta
Dr. Joseph G. Bauer and Dr. Dean J. Fardo run one of the busiest breast augmentation centers in the Southeast. "We do more than 600 to 700 a year," said Terri Buckner, administrator for the Alpharetta-based practice. But the surgeons also cover the gamut of cosmetic procedures. Although doctor-patient privilege prevents Bauer and Fardo from naming names, proof of their work is whispered about among Georgia celebrities and soccer moms alike.
* 770-667-0904, www.swancenteratlanta.com, www.atlbreasts.com

Personal Chef: Monique Porche-Smith
Although this Louisiana native specializes in Creole food and makes a mean etouffe, Porche-Smith caters to all tastes to create unique, nutritious and flavorful meals. And she places a big emphasis on healthful portion control to fit her clients' dietary needs. The Canton-based personal chef is so exclusive, she relies solely on word-of-mouth referrals to keep her busy in the kitchen. And she's sharing her wisdom by teaching culinary classes at the Art Institute of Atlanta and the Culinary Business Academy. Porche-Smith was a finalist in the 2001 Sutter Home Build A Better Burger contest, has been featured on FoodTV's "Recipe For Success," and her clientele has included international athletes training for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Long-time client Lee Winters of Marietta sums up Porche-Smith's services in two words: "Just fabulous."
* 404-379-9197, chefcare_pcs@hotmail.com

Portrait Artist: Thomas V. Nash
Unlike most living artists, Tom Nash's work is seen by millions of people every year. His portrait of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich hangs in the U.S. Capitol. That number could quadruple. The East Cobb artist has been commissioned to paint a posthumous portrait of former Mayor Maynard Jackson, which will hang in the new international terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The late mayor is only the most recent politician Nash has painted. Former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn, Ivan Allen Jr. and Zell Miller also have been his subjects. A Member of Excellence and former president of the Portrait Society of Atlanta, Nash charges $25,000 and up for his commissions.
* 770-998-8711, www.thomasnash.com

Personal Trainer: Dolvett Quince
Dolvett Quince is the "go-to" guy if you want hard abs and a tight body. Most of the certified personal trainer's clients are Northsiders, including Q100 radio personality Bert Weiss, whose buff, bare-chested bod is posted on the station's Web site. WSB-TV reporter Lori Geary and her then-fiance trained with Quince last year before they married. "He was so booked, we could only get in at 6 a.m.," she said. Quince operates a studio with a team of six trainers just outside of Sandy Springs in Buckhead. He takes his clients through rigorous workouts tailored to their needs and abilities. One of his most popular programs is Bridal Boot Camp, designed to whip wedding parties into shape for those photos made to last a lifetime. Quince was also a judge for the 2006 Mrs. Georgia pageant and is a model. Until recently, his good looks were featured on a rotating billboard visible from I-85 south near Midtown.
* 404-493-4873, www.bodysculptorinc.com

Life Coach: Executive Speak/Write
Executives eager to leap rungs on the corporate ladder have found the edge they needed with Steve Clements and Claudia Coplon. They coach professionals who interview well but don't land the jobs --- physicians with poor bedside manners and chief executives with a fear of public speaking --- and help them get over the hump. Coplon teaches writing and has been honored by the American Society of Association Executives and the American Association of Medical Society Executives. She's helped faculty and staff at the University of Georgia and Georgia Power hone their business writing skills. Clements, a former TV writer and producer who wrote for hit sitcoms such as "Three's Company" and "Welcome Back Kotter," provides oral training. Last month he taught attorneys how to "Make it Your Courtroom" at a law conference in Cancun.
* 404-252-6187, www.executivespeakwrite.com

Interior Designer: Mileu Design Group
Think of Margaret Norcott as the Donatella Versace for the home. Like the fashion designer, Norcott uses rich, colorful fabrics to dramatic effect on her models. One of her latest designs is the library at the 2006 Christmas House to benefit the Alliance Children's Theatre Guild, in which Norcott used cream-colored fabrics with gold accents to complement the Brazilian cherry walls and bookshelves. It's the fourth year her company, Milieu Design Group, has worked on the showcase home. The Alpharetta resident was also a designer for Atlanta Magazine's 2005 Dream Home at Country Club of the South and was lauded this year in Today's Custom Home magazine. Many of her clients are corporate executives or retirees such as George and Ann Mewborne, whose 4,200-square-foot home in Inverness Estates in Cherokee County Norcott was tastefully decorated by incorporating a myriad of styles from New England to Colonial to Asian.
* 770-552-7417, www.milieudesigngroup.com

Wedding Planner: Robin Kreitner
One couple exchanged vows at a sunset ceremony on Key West. Snow fell on another new couple as they left their wedding site in Aspen, Colo. Robin Kreitner of Roswell has planned weddings at many far-flung locales as well as right here in Northside, and she has dozens of sweet memories to share. And some war stories, too. Like the time a trolley for one bridal party caught fire on the day of the wedding. Kreitner worked her sources for an hour and a half to arrange last-minute limos. After running her own business for six years, Reinter now works for the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Atlanta. Perfect weddings, she's learned, require planning, organization and the occasional bit of deft guidance. "Butterflies," she says. "If you don't take care of them the right way, they're goners."
* Robin.Kreitner@RitzCarlton.com

Divorce Lawyer: John C. Mayoue
This highly sought-after family practice attorney has found his name attached to some of the biggest headlines in Atlanta divorce history. He's represented Marianne Gingrich (formerly Mrs. Newt Gingrich) and Dave Justice (first spouse of actress Halle Berry). And he's been the attorney of record for Jane Fonda (who famously parted ways with Ted Turner) and Janice Holyfield (who made a split decision from boxer Evander). But Mayoue credits his talent for discretion as the winning quality his clientele --- high-profile and otherwise --- values most. "It's not in anyone's interest when their private financial information gets out," said the 55-year-old attorney, who practices in Vinings.
* 770-951-2700, www.johnmayoue.com

HOW HOT LIST 2006 WAS COMPILED:

We polled readers and asked them to send us their recommendations for who they thought deserved to be on our list of the most-sought after professional experts, networking events and upscale service providers on the Northside. Our reporters researched those suggestions and scoured the area further, questioning sources along the way, until we had enough data to make a well-informed decision on who belonged on NorthSide's Hot List 2006. What do you think of our results? E-mail us at northside@ajc.com and let us know.