Tamitha Hecker sued the trustee handling her ex-husband's bankruptcy case, saying she is entitled to keep jewelry, cash and a Colorado condo from being liquidated and to receive half the proceeds of some personal property the trustee has already sold.

Tamitha, who until last month was married to former Twin Cities auto dealer Denny Hecker, said in her complaint that trustee Randy Seaver has previously sold personal property that belonged to her. She noted the proceeds of such property sales were being held in escrow and asked the court to order Seaver to turn over to her the condo, gifts, cash and half of the personal-property proceeds.

Tamitha noted that Hecker was solvent when the former couple bought the Snowmass Village, Colo., condo. (Certain property acquisitions made while solvent may be excluded from bankruptcy proceedings.)

Tamitha also noted in the complaint that some of the jewelry -- being held in a safe deposit box by agreement with Seaver -- was given to her by Hecker when he was solvent, and that some was given by other family members.

Neither Tamitha nor bankrutpcy attorney Nauni Manty could be reached for comment.

According to divorce and bankruptcy records, the safe deposit box holds jewelry worth up to $1 million and about $200,000 cash. Friday, Tamitha told the Hennepin County judge handling her divorce case that the safety deposit box remains untouched.

Denny Hecker filed for bankruptcy in June claiming $767 million in debt and $18.5 million in assets. Tamitha, who filed for divorce in May, is getting $7,500 in temporary monthly alimony payments and shared custody of their children. Issues about permanent alimony, custody and the validity of a prenuptial agreement have yet to be resolved. The couple's real property across the country is being liquidated or foreclosed.

One week ago, Hennepin County Judge Jay Quam ordered the former couple to "refrain from future disparaging statements" about each other. However, in a phone call to the Star Tribune late Tuesday, Denny Hecker said Tamitha "woke up a sleeping giant who will inspect all of her allegations and her false claims. And when the weather shakes, I am sure Randy Seaver will find a lot under the covers, [so] that she'll wish she wouldn't have" sued.

Dee DePass • 612-673-7725