Judge Judy’s sterling image is under attack in a bizarre lawsuit involving the ugly divorce of one of her show’s top producers and a half-million dollars’ worth of bone china and flatware.
The famous jurist, whose real name is Judy Sheindlin, stands accused paying just $50,815 to purchase $514,421 worth of Christofle china and flatware from producer Randy Douthit, even though she knew his divorcing wife had equal ownership of the property.
Douthit’s estranged wife, Patrice Jones, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles on Tuesday, saying Sheindlin knew about the couple’s “acrimonious” split and conspired with Douthit to deprive her of her $4,985 fish serving knife, $2,700 sauce boat and other items.
The couple filed for divorce in July 2007, but the divorce has yet to be finalized. Jones said in a deposition that she learned of the deeply discounted sale in 2011.
Not one to back down, the tart-tongued TV personality gave an aggressive defense.
“I have not seen any complaint by the former Mrs. Douthit, however, I don’t owe this lady a cent,” she said in a release to the Daily News.
“And if this 50-year-old woman would spend her time more productively at trying to find a job, instead of abusing the judicial system with frivolous lawsuits, we would all be a lot better off,” she said.
Jones’ lawyer, Perry Wander, disagreed.
“As a former family law judge, she knew that California is a (community property) state and that a spouse cannot sell community property without the written consent of both spouses and certainly not at 10 cents on the dollar,” a release from Wander said.
“Sheindlin was not a bona fide purchaser for value,” the lawsuit states. “Sheindlin was willful and intended to cause injury to the plaintiff.”
Jones said Sheindlin also knows about a court order requiring Douthit to return the china and flatware but has yet to cough up the luxury goods.
The disaffected spouse is seeking return of the china and flatware, along with at least $500,000 in damages.
