Lawyer For Dwyane Wade's Ex-Wife Wants Out Of Case
CHICAGO (STMW) -- He's the 12th lawyer to represent Dwyane Wade's ex-wife, and on Monday Michael Haber asked a judge to clear the way for No. 13.
Citing irreconcilable differences, Haber filed a motion asking to leave Siohvaughn Funches-Wade's case, delaying a scheduled child custody hearing.
"Our relationship has broken down to the point that I can no longer represent Ms. Wade. Our interests are adverse to one another," said Haber, who is representing Funches-Wade both in criminal court and the child custody case.
Funches-Wade faces misdemeanor charges -- including child abduction -- and loss of her visitation rights, after she failed to turn over her sons on time so they could spend Father's Day with Wade.
She claims to have suffered a severe asthma attack that afternoon, which caused her to be late in returning the children.
Funches-Wade asked that the court deny Haber's request, citing dwindling resources and Haber's familiarity with the case.
"I beg of you, Judge, please. The escrow account is fleeting. It can't be done," she said.
Funches-Wade has been represented by 12 lawyers from six different firms. But Haber is her longest-serving attorney to date, she said.
All court proceedings, both in the criminal case and custody ruling, will be put on hold until the judge rules whether Haber can leave the case.
Funches-Wade divorced Wade, a Richards High School graduate and two-time NBA champion, in 2010. Wade was given sole custody of his two sons in 2011, while his ex-wife retained visitation rights.
"The last time I've heard from my kids? That's been days," she said.
Funches-Wade claims her ex-husband has also turned the children over late, but that the court did not view those instances as violations of her visitation rights.
"It's typical," she said.
In response, Wade's attorney James B. Pritikin said that flight delays out of Miami have been to blame for any of Wade's late custodial exchanges.
"Mr. Wade has never discouraged that the kids visit their mother. In fact, he's done everything to encourage it. But [the Father's Day episode] is not an isolated incident," Pritikin said Monday. "His position is that she has issues, and she needs to deal with those issues."
Funches-Wade has until the end of the week to file a response to Haber's plea. A hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Friday.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
