People News
Hogan divorce could be ruse to protect assets, says lawyer
By Stone Martindale
Nov 27, 2007, 17:58 GMT

The attorney for an accident victim's John Graziano's family doubts reasons for the Hogan/Bollea split.

The pending divorce between Hulk Hogan, aka Terry and wife Linda Bollea could serve as a strategic asset protection move in a civil suit over the tragic and negligant accident that critically injured a young man riding with their son Nick.

The St. Petersburg Times reports this is the opinion of Kimberley Kohn, a Tampa attorney who represents Ed Graziano, the father of injured passenger John Graziano.

Linda Bollea, 48, filed a petition for a divorce last week against her husband of nearly 24 years, Terry Bollea, 54, also known as Hulk Hogan.

The divorce petition seeks a split of the couple's assets, including numerous pricey real estate in several states.

Kohn said Monday a divorce could be one step the Bolleas could take to try to protect assets by essentially halving them.

Police say Nick Bollea, 17, was drinking and was speeding in a yellow Toyota Supra with Graziano as a passenger moments before crashing into a palm tree on Aug. 26.

In 911 calls released Monday, witnesses told dispatchers the two cars were racing.

Graziano, 22, suffered serious head injuries in the wreck and could require a lifetime of nursing home care, medical professionals have said.

Nick Bollea faces a felony charge of reckless driving with serious bodily injury, and attorneys for John Graziano's estranged parents have said they intend to file a lawsuit as a result of the crash.

The St. Petersburg Times reports that "if the Supra and the Viper are not registered to both parents, it could be harder to go after Mrs. Bollea individually, Kohn said. The mother's degree of control over who used the vehicles would have to be determined."

The divorce is not expected to impede the filing of a civil suit by Graziano's family.

Kohn said she would proceed with a civil suit as if the couple were married.

The normal precedent is to wait six months after a crash to see if the injured person has reached maximum medical improvement, Kohn said. Then a life planner will determine the cost of the person's future needs.

The agreement to have an independent guardian for John Graziano's assets has assuaged Ed Graziano's concerns about handling of a potential civil suit, Kohn said.

The agreement was struck as authorities released 911 calls recorded immediately after the accident.