By HOWARD ALTMAN | The Tampa Tribune
Published: April 30, 2009
Hulk Hogan's estranged wife Linda Bollea's boyfriend can drive the couple's Escalade, Donzi boat and the personal watercraft, thanks to a ruling today by a Pinellas County judge.
Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, asked the court to prevent Charlie Hill from operating the family's cars or boats, claiming that he would be financially liable if Hill got into an accident.
Judge George Greer ruled against Hogan, even though he said Hill operating the vehicles may not be the best idea.
"Permitting the use of the marital vehicles by a non-family member who is not adequately insured by the parties would appear to be exceedingly imprudent," Greer wrote, "but the court does not find that Charlie Hill's use of the vehicles would constitute 'substantial likelihood of immediate irreparable harm.' "
The bottom line, Greer wrote, is that there is no legal reason to approve an injunction against Hill.
"At most, it is speculation that liability could result. Moreover, Respondent has not shown that he lacks an adequate remedy at law."
A spokesman for Linda Bollea said the ruling proves the estranged wife's claim that Hogan is trying to control her.
"She wasn't surprised," said Linda Bollea spokesman Gary Smith. "She felt from day one that this is more about her love life and trying to control it than the issue of liability."
Hogan's lawyer dismissed the ruling, pointing out even Greer thinks it is a bad idea for Hill to operate the family vehicles.
"I think the judge summed it up on the last page of the order," said David Houston. "He agrees with us that it is exceedingly imprudent to have Charlie Hill drive these vehicles, but he feels he doesn't legally have a way from enjoining him from doing so."
Hogan is "alarmed" by the ruling, Houston said.
"There is now a 20-year-old kid operating his property," said Houston. Hogan "is worried that something could happen and somebody will point the finger at him and try to blame him for something."
The Hogan family already faces one potentially withering lawsuit stemming from the Aug. 26, 2007, wreck in which John Graziano, a passenger in a car driven by Nick Bollea, the couple's son, suffered severe brain damage.
Houston said Hogan is going to pursue other legal remedies, but he would not be specific.
Hill will continue to drive the Escalade and the vessels, said Smith.
"We do hope nothing happens" while Hill drives the Escalade, the Donzi boat or either of the personal watercraft, said Houston. "But if something did, we suggest it is Linda's responsibility to answer for it."
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