Divorce Battle Over Kidney Gets Nastier
A Long Island, New York woman involved in a bizarre divorce case denied her estranged husband's claim she'd had an affair and fired off some allegations of her own.
Dawnell Batista says Richard Batista was so obsessed with the idea that she was cheating on him that he went so far as to go through her underwear seeking signs she'd been with another man.
Richard, 49, a surgeon, is demanding that Dawnell Batista, 44, return a kidney he donated to her in 2001 or give him $1.5 million.
Richard claims Dawnell went on to be unfaithful.
At a pretrial hearing Monday, her lawyer, Douglas Rothkopf, said there'd been no affair, adding Richard was so convinced she was having one that he would examine her undergarments for signs she was cheating, reports Michelle Gielan.
Rothkopf also said Richard's kidney donation isn't the rare and valuable gift Richard claims it is.
"She is here today with her sisters, her extended family and her brother is not here; all were positive donors," Rothkopf said.
The judge delayed a decision on Dawnell's request for a gag order that would keep both sides from speaking with the media.
The Batistas have three children, ranging in age from 14 to 8.