Restaurateur Pays Up
Sep 13, 2013OUTCOME: Favorable Settlement
Ryan represented the wife of a successful restaurateur. After the parties agreed on their respective parental responsibilities, the focus of the case turned to finances. The husband’s primary restauran ... t was doing more than $1 million in revenue and business was booming. While married, he was in control of all the money. He was also in the midst of starting up a brand new restaurant and said that he was broke. Ryan’s client had no idea how much money the husband made, or that the restaurants were marital assets. She was cutting the kids’ hair in her backyard to keep costs down because she thought they had nothing. And before even filing for divorce, the husband had tried to get Ryan’s client to sign a settlement agreement that would have left her with virtually nothing. He also was clearly trying to hide money. After Ryan filed a Motion for Temporary Orders, the husband ultimately folded. The case involved complex business valuations and disputes over the incomes of the parties. Despite Ryan’s client being healthy and just over 30 years-old, the husband agreed to give her the marital home, and pay over $3,000 in maintenance/alimony and $900 in child support. The husband also paid over $5,000 in Ryan’s fees. She was ecstatic.
