LV condo is focus of divorce hearing
Pro wrestling icon Hulk Hogan and his estranged wife are engaged in a legal tug of war over a 43rd-floor penthouse at Palms Place.
His two Las Vegas-based attorneys teamed up against her attorney in Pinellas County Family Court in Clearwater, Fla., on Wednesday in what is shaping up as a battle of appraisers in their divorce.
The couple made a preconstruction purchase of the 3,900-square-foot penthouse in 2005. The sales price was $4.2 million.
Hogan's wife, Linda Bollea, claims through her attorney that the unit is worth $4.5 million, according to their appraiser.
In a court filing this week, she accused Hogan of "legal shenanigans" that included trying to dupe her into signing a postnuptial agreement and hiding millions that were made through real estate transactions.
Shawn Mangano, who was retained by the wrestler to address various contractual issues with regard to Bollea's effort to force the closure, said by telephone Wednesday, "She wants to close and flip it."
Mangano said Hogan's appraiser pegged the penthouse's value at $3.2 million.
Bollea filed for divorce in November, contending the marriage was "irretrievably broken."
They were part of VH1's reality show "Hogan Knows Best," which featured their daughter Brooke, now 20, and son Nick, now 18.
The son was sentenced to eight months in a Florida county jail in May after pleading no contest to charges of felony reckless driving, stemming from the Aug. 26, 2007, car crash that left his best friend, John Graziano, in critical condition.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
The New Media Expo, which opens today and runs through Saturday, includes the first Las Vegas Podcast-A-Palooza. Three Las Vegas-centric podcasts will be showcased at The Lounge at the Palms between 4 and 6 p.m. Saturday: www. FiveHundybyMidnight.com, www.TheStripPodcast.com and VegasGangPodcast.com. Palms owner George Maloof will join The Vegas Gang, and Carrot Top will be inter-viewed by The Strip. ...
Primm Valley Casino Resorts is offering 500 free tickets to every concert until the end of the year. To sign up: www.primmconcerts.com. ...
Winemaker Kevin Vogt's Mastery, mentioned here Wednesday, is a Cabernet Sauvignon blend. ...
The folks at Gold's Gym at Buffalo and Lake Mead are all abuzz over whispers that Angelina Jolie may be working out there late this month to get in shape for her role in "Thomas Crown Affair 2." ...
Cher announced during her Tuesday show at Caesars Palace that she's donating a Barbie doll and sketches to the Cher Convention's children's charity. Cher fans were hoping for her first appearance at their convention, which was held at Caesars Palace on Monday and Tuesday.
SIGHTING
LL Cool J, dining at Tao Asian Bistro (Venetian) on Wednesday.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Barack Obama says ... he's planning on spending a week on vacation in Hawaii. When he heard this, President Bush said, 'Pace yourself, 'cause once you become president, the vacations start coming fast and furious.'" -- Conan O'Brien
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
