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Giuliani and Hanover Reach Divorce Settlement

Aired July 10, 2002 - 14:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Drama to the bitter end: Just before former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani's divorce trial was to begin, his lawyers reached a settlement with Donna Hanover's lawyers, thus avoiding an even messier spectacle.

Our Jason Carroll brings us the lowdown from New York. Come on, Jason. What's the scoop? I know you were in that courtroom.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is all over finally. All sides basically saying that they are glad it is all over.

It has been very bitter, very public battle for the past 18 months. Today in court after the attorneys on both sides hammered out some of the last-minute issue sticking points late last night into this morning and into this afternoon, they finally were able to reach a settlement.

And today was the last day that they were able to do that. The judge in family court basically told both sides, look, if you do not reach a settlement today, this morning, this is going to go to trial, and both sides definitely wanted to avoid any more publicity in this -- in this case, because before 9/11, this story was actually the story in New York City.

You could barely pick up a tabloid without reading something that Giuliani wasn't saying about Hanover, or Hanover was saying about Giuliani. At one point Giuliani claiming that it was cruel and unusual treatment dealing with Hanover during their marriage, especially when he was trying to recover from prostate cancer.

Hanover claiming it was Giuliani who was basically cruel for his, quote, "notorious and open relationship that he had with his companion Judith Nathan. Just a short while ago, New York City's former mayor Rudy Giuliani came out, and he basically said that he was glad that the whole thing was over.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUDOLPH GIULIANI, FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR: For the sake of the children and really all of us, I am relieved that we were able to reach an agreement on all of these different terms and spare everyone any further pain or embarrassment or anything else.

And I hope the very, very best for Donna, for her future, and I think that's -- we have two children. I want everything to work out the very best for them as well as her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: During the past several months or so, there was lot of bickering going back and forth over money. Giuliani is expected to make some $8 million dollars in endorsement and book deals and speech engagements.

Donna Hanover had apparently asked for a little more than $70,000 dollars a month for spousal support. Part of that included about $1,000 a month to take care of the family dog: Goalie (ph), a yellow Labrador retriever. In the end it turns out that her attorney says she is going to get about $6.8 million dollars, not clear if that's going to be in some sort of a lump sum, not clear when that money will be paid out.

She will also get custody of the two children. Also, at the very end of the court proceeding back in court, Kyra, what was interesting is Giuliani's attorney, Raul Felder (ph) came out and he basically said I am glad that this whole thing is over. I am relieved. He said sometimes a birth takes long time. He also called this a long journey. Then the judge in the case basically said that she was relieved that this whole thing was over, too.

At one point she said that this was an incredibly challenging task for her to take up over past 18 months, basically saying that dealing with both parties was especially difficult for her, because both parties, she said, had, quote, "such intensely strong personalities."

I think that would be understatement in this particular case. She said it was pleased that whole thing was over, and she wished both parties the best of luck -- Kyra.

So Donna Hanover wants $70,000 a month, huh? Well, I guess the dog has to go to doggie spa, right?

CARROLL: Apparently doggie spa and some other things -- nail clippings, things like that. Not sure how she is going to spend her $6.8 million, though.

PHILLIPS: We could think of a lot of ways. Jason Carroll, thank you.

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