[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Jordan's Divorce Papers
This case will be public only if the Jordans want it public. The
complaint or petition for divorce is boilerplate - it's what you say to get a
divorce. There is no news content in the papers I saw other than the fact
that a case has been filed, and that document is a public record. First, I
am virtually certain that they will use some form of alternative dispute
resolution rather than try the case in the court system. In California, at
any rate, most celebrity divorces are tried in front of a private, retired
judge, out of the public eye. Second, the vast majority of ALL divorces are
settled, often without any court appearances at all. Why have some dumb ol'
family court judge decide the future of YOUR kids when you can decide it
yourselves? And the Jordans can hire professional mediators, psychologists,
counselors, nannys and the like to assist them.
And a lot of it depends on the lawyers. If they hire classy ones, the
lawyers will strive to keep the case out of the press. If Michael Jordan
hires you, your reputation is solid already and you don't need more
publicity, especially in the mass media. 99% of the people in the world
can't afford you anyway, so why promote yourselves to them? Your colleagues
know who you are. Many pro basketball players know who you are. Now, if
either party wants to try the case in the press, they can endeavor to do so,
and can hire lawyers skilled at manipulating the media for your purposes or
for the lawyers' own purposes. But the tone overall is set by the parties.
If the Jordans tell their lawyers, "Keep it low key!" and if the lawyers want
the fees, they WILL keep it low key.
All that being said, I cannot discount the merchants of sleaze who will
ry to unearth every salacious detail, but maybe that's inevitable. I concur
totally that this is a private affair and a painful one, especially for the
kids. They say that no one hates war like a soldier. No one hates divorce
like someone who has made his living in the field for over 20 years.