She’s keeping her money! Bethenny Frankel no longer has to pay her estranged husband Jason Hoppy almost $12,000 a month in temporary spousal support, a state appeals court ruled on Tuesday, March 22, according to the New York Daily News.
The Real Housewives of New York City star was ordered last May to fork over the large alimony payments. In the appeals court decision, however, the majority of the judges noted that the couple had a prenuptial agreement that waived “any and all claims for spousal support and/or maintenance,” which they felt should include temporary support, the Daily News reported.
Next up in the bitter divorce battle, the reality star, 45, will have to fight to keep her $5 million Tribeca condo that she bought in a joint trust with Hoppy, 45, during their marriage. During season 7 of the reality show, viewers saw the Skinnygirl mogul living out of hotels while her ex kept the Tribeca pad, until she finally bought a new place.
Even though Frankel, who has made millions off her line of Skinnygirl products, bought the Tribeca home with her own money, the court agreed that the businesswoman is not automatically entitled to full ownership because several issues must still be decided. Some of the issues include Frankel questioning whether Hoppy, her former business manager, was “involved in any fraud in the preparation and execution of the trust agreement.”
“My client is extremely happy that the court agrees with him that the ownership of the apartment is still an open issue,” Hoppy’s lawyer, Bernard Clair, told the newspaper. “And he will get his day in court to show that he is a joint owner.”
Frankel's attorney, Allan Mayefsky, also issued a statement: "Bethenny is particularly pleased that the trust agreement, which was used in an attempt to obtain joint ownership of an apartment that she purchased, was rendered void and invalid due to fraudulent behavior in connection with the execution of the agreement. We believe that the evidence, including evidence of the husband’s fraudulent behavior and unclean hands, will clearly demonstrate that Bethenny, who is the sole purchaser, is also the sole owner. We are also pleased the court invalidated the award of interim spousal support to Jason based on his waiver in the prenuptial agreement."
The couple, who are parents to 5-year-old Bryn, split in 2012 after two years of marriage. They resolved their custody issues in 2014, but have had an ongoing battle over money.
