Judge to Hecker: Source of cash?

Former auto mogul Denny Hecker must tell a Hennepin County judge how he is supporting himself given that he claims a minimum in $25,000 monthly expenses while calling himself bankrupt and unemployed.

District Judge Jay Quam gave Hecker and his lawyer, Bill Skolnick, two weeks to provide a detailed accounting of where his money is coming from. Hecker has said he is relying on the generosity of friends and business associates. Quam wants to know who has given what to Hecker, and who expects to be repaid when, so that he can decide whether Hecker must pay support to his wife of 15 years, Tamitha Hecker.

The demand from the judge came Monday as Hecker and his estranged wife met in court to discuss her request for $7,500 in monthly support pending the resolution of his bankruptcy filing and their divorce.

Quam said he wants "everything that gives me an opportunity to understand Mr. Hecker's financial situation."

Money debate

Last week, a bankruptcy trustee accused Hecker, 57, of failing to fully disclose his assets. Hecker didn't speak at Monday's court session. His lawyer made his arguments, the crux of which was: My client doesn't have the money.

Skolnick said Tamitha Hecker, 42, doesn't need help from Hecker. He said she could raid a safety deposit box with $200,000 in cash or sell her dozen Rolex watches and half a dozen fur coats.

But Tamitha Hecker's lawyer, Becky Toevs Rooney, said the law doesn't require her client, who is not employed, to "spend down" her assets. She also said Tamitha Hecker had assured the bankruptcy trustee that she would not touch the money or goods in her deposit box.

The Heckers initially filed for divorce in spring 2008. They withdrew their request in October 2008 shortly before his once-ubiquitous empire collapsed along with the markets. He filed personal bankruptcy in June and is the target of a federal criminal investigation. He has asked the federal courts to put the bankruptcy on hold pending resolution of the criminal inquiry.

Sklonick said Hecker "has been trying to defend 11 adversary proceedings as well as a plethora of other issues."

The first 90 minutes of the court session were closed to the public while the Heckers discussed matters pertaining to their 14- and 8 year-old children. The financial issues were discussed in open court.

Employment an issue

Still at issue: whether Hecker has a job.

Skolnick said no, but Rooney said bank documents indicate otherwise. She said he opened an account with $31,569 in August for a business called "New Dimensions." He deposited another $36,000 during that month and made withdrawals and wrote checks worth $50,000, Rooney said. "That is a significant amount of economic activity in which Mr. Hecker is engaging," she said.

She also noted that Hecker is appealing a federal ruling that barred him from protecting his Cross Lake home in the bankruptcy. To hang onto the house, he will have to pay $35,000 in property taxes this month, which Rooney claimed to be further evidence of his liquidity.

In a moment of conciliation, Skolnick said Hecker is driving the 2008 Mini Cooper that he paid for but put in Tamitha Hecker's name. She has asked for it. "If the court decides she should have it, we will comply," Skolnick said.

Hecker wore a crisp white dress shirt and thick black eyeglasses throughout the session. He didn't speak to reporters, but he appeared upbeat and bumped fists with a man who attended the hearing and was married for one year to Tamitha Hecker's mother.

Tamitha Hecker, her blonde hair pulled into a ponytail, wore black stiletto knee-high boots and a dazzling yellow-and-white diamond ring on her right hand and a more subdued but equally sparkling diamond ring on her left hand.

Neither side spoke to reporters after the session.

Hecker's mistress, Christi Rowan, whose name has come up in numerous court filings, did not attend the session.

Rochelle Olson • 612-673-1747