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Bollea Documents Say Son Is Divorce Battle Casualty

Tribune file photo

Hulk Hogan, left, appears with his wife, Linda Bollea, during an interview with Larry King on CNN on July 28, 2005.

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By STEPHEN THOMPSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 5, 2008

Updated: 03/05/2008 03:36 pm

CLEARWATER - CLEARWATER - CLEARWATER - In their increasingly bitter divorce, Linda and Terry Bollea have accused each other of using their teenage son as a go-between, causing him to become withdrawn.

In a Feb. 22 motion, Linda Bollea asked Pinellas Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer to prohibit her husband from discussing the divorce with their son, Nick, 17.

In a Feb. 26 motion, Terry Bollea filed his own countermotion, essentially asking Greer to stop her from the same type of discussions.

A. J. Barranco, Linda's attorney, said the Bolleas have resolved the issue, and that Greer had signed off on a general document that says both parties have agreed on how to proceed with the issue involving their son, as well as other matters.

The document, however, doesn't spell out the terms of the agreement, and Barranco would not discuss the details. Terry Bollea's attorney, Ann Kerr, did not immediately return a telephone call.

In her filing, Linda Bollea says that after she stopped receiving phone calls from her husband, who wrestled professionally under the name Hulk Hogan, he would have their son call and then hand the phone to his father.

In the Feb. 26 motion, Terry Bollea accused his wife of using Nick Bollea as a messenger, too.

In her motion, Linda Bollea also accused her husband of discussing the divorce with their son, with instructions that he not pass on any information to his mother. This has caused Nick Bollea to become withdrawn and conflicted while in the presence of his mother, she stated.

The motion also states that Terry Bollea has discussed in detail with his son what Bollea thinks are good reasons for selling the family's $7.2 million Clearwater home. Linda Bollea is currently living there with Nick, and does not wish to sell the property.

"The Husband has ... told the minor child that that the sale of the marital home will ensure the best result with regard to the minor child's pending criminal case, as well as the Husband's anticipated personal injury lawsuit," the motion says.

Nick Bollea was charged with reckless driving involving serious bodily injury after a wreck Aug. 26 that left his passenger, John Graziano, with a serious brain injury. Graziano remains hospitalized; his family has indicated there might be a lawsuit.

In his filing, Terry Bollea accuses his wife of "highly emotional and degrading outbursts as well as ... derogatory descriptions of the Husband in the presence of the minor child."

Barranco said that after Linda Bollea filed her motion the issue was resolved, but then Terry Bollea filed his motion in an apparent move to get Terry Bollea's voice heard on the issue. "Their side of the case is handled by public relations experts, not lawyers," Barranco said.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.

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