Estranged wife: Hecker still living high

Denny Hecker's estranged wife said in court papers made public Wednesday that she wants at least $7,500 a month in spousal support and doesn't buy his claims of being strapped for cash, in part because he signed up for a $9,500 facelift among other extravagances.

In dueling Hennepin County District Court divorce papers, Tamitha and Denny Hecker accused each other of refusing to downgrade their lifestyles despite his bankruptcy filing. She accuses him of spending excessively on his mistress, and he accuses her of frolicking with her 28-year-old "boy toy."

Tamitha Hecker's affidavit requesting monthly support notes that Hecker has "continued to maintain a very high standard of living, comparable to that enjoyed" during the marriage. She claims he spent $13,000 on six roundtrip first-class plane tickets to Hawaii in August, at least $10,000 on lodging while there and a $250,000 retainer to criminal defense lawyer Joe Friedberg. The big-spending and highly leveraged Hecker filed for bankruptcy in June after losing his business credit lines, closing 25 dealerships, shuttering his leasing and fleet businesses, putting his Advantage Rent A Car operation in bankruptcy and letting go thousands of employees. He reportedly owes $767 million and claims $18.5 million in assets.

Tamitha Hecker said her husband was to receive a $9,500 facelift from Wayzata Plastic Surgery on Sept. 17 -- something she found out when she opened a letter from the clinic because they have the same plastic surgeon. Although he didn't go through with it, Hecker in August scheduled the facelift with the "clear expectation that he had the resources," his wife said.

She said Hecker told her he dines out most nights with girlfriend Christi Rowan at "places like Ike's, Manny's and Ruth Chris' Steakhouse." She also claims Hecker held pricey weekend strategy sessions at their Cross Lake vacation home with his divorce, criminal defense and civil lawyers and has at least twice since June flown there on a chartered plane.

Hecker lives mostly in Medina with Rowan in a house on which he spent at least $50,000 to update to a level he would consider "habitable," and he continues to pay for pool and garden maintenance, Tamitha Hecker said.

The copious filings in the case refer many times to Rowan. Denny Hecker's lawyer, Bill Skolnick, countered that Tamitha Hecker has spent too much time with her Arizona-based boyfriend rather than tending to matters in the divorce.

In one filing, Skolnick said, she has "continued spending with very little concern for the change in circumstance." She "testified the only change in her lifestyle has been that she fired the maids," he wrote.

Twenty-five grand for holiday

The Heckers are scheduled to meet with District Judge Jay Quam at 11 a.m. Monday to discuss Tamitha Hecker's request for financial support, which she says she hasn't received since Hecker sent her a $17,000 check in June. That month, Hecker filed for personal bankruptcy but has asked to delay those proceedings until a federal grand jury completes an investigation into him.

In a legal memo, Tamitha Hecker's lawyer said because of Denny Hecker's "ability to provide lavishly," his wife didn't work during their 15-year marriage. Lawyer Becky Toevs Rooney argued that under a 2003 agreement, he agreed to pay Tamitha Hecker $7,500 per month during divorce proceedings.

Denny Hecker, 56, and Tamitha Hecker, 42, have two children ages 14 and 8. Tamitha Hecker is seeking $15 million and custody of the children. The Heckers initially filed for divorce in April 2008, but halted the proceedings in late October. Tamitha Hecker filed for divorce again in July.

Her primary resource for years, she said, has been cash gifts from Hecker, including up to $25,000 at Christmas. But because Hecker started cancelling credit cards and refusing to give her cash, she started setting money aside years ago in an emergency fund. As of July 24, she had $276,000 in a box as well as jewelry. She said she took out $76,000, giving a third to her divorce lawyer. She spent the rest on living and moving expenses and bills.

She denied having seen or stolen $105,000 in cash from Hecker's car the night he crashed it in December. She said it was his custom to carry large amounts of cash and to accuse her of stealing it from his cars.

Tamitha Hecker said that until August she lived at the family's 26,000-square-foot home in Medina. However, she said that because her husband hasn't paid support, she wasn't able to open the outdoor pool or maintain the indoor pool. Also, she couldn't maintain the aquarium, so all the fish died. The clay tennis court was neglected, she couldn't pay household help and couldn't pay the gas or cable bills, resulting in both being turned off, the filing said.

In addition to support, Tamitha Hecker wants access to a 2008 Mini Cooper that is in her name. She said she hasn't seen the car since June and needed it when her Cadillac Escalade was in for repairs. She also said she has "concerns about how and by whom the car is being used."

Rooney declined to comment. Skolnick didn't respond to requests for a comment. He had not filed his formal response to Tamitha Hecker's request late Wednesday.

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747