CINCINNATI (AP) — A 17-year legal fight between two lawprofessors over their divorce and
continuing disputes has drawncriticism from judges who say the pair set a bad example.The feud has lasted
seven years longer than the couple’s 10-year marriage, The Cincinnati Enquirer (http://cin.ci/13dQDl8 ) reported. Their divorce case
file had more than 1,400 entries in it.Many had to do with a back-and-forth custody dispute over
theirchildren, now ages 17 and 20. Among issues still being litigated ismoney.Judges hearing the case
complained the professors broke rules or abused the system."Itis frightening to this court that either
is teaching current lawstudents the boundaries and ethics of our profession," Hamilton CountyCommon
Pleas Judge Leslie Ghiz said during a July hearing. "Both shouldbe thoroughly embarrassed and
ashamed."University of Cincinnatiprofessor Christo Lassiter questions how judges managed the
casesbetween him and his ex-wife. He said his motivation has been being agood parent, not spite or
revenge."Had a court stepped in andresolved the major issues cleanly and early, there would not have
beenvoluminous (legal filings)," Lassiter said. His former wife, SharleneBoltz, didn’t immediately
return a call Monday to her office at NorthernKentucky University.Ghiz said both should be admonished by
theOhio State Bar Association. Judges in other courts also have blasted thecouple’s prolonged legal
conflict."This court has not seen manydomestic relations cases more contentious and acrimonious,"
the Ohio 1stDistrict Court of Appeal wrote in 2002. "The parties, who are both lawprofessors and ought
to know better, engaged in thoroughly inappropriatebehavior that was detrimental to the resolution of their
case and tothe welfare of their children for which both claimed to be primarilyconcerned."The divorce
itself took five years, about five timesas long as what one veteran attorney, George Maley of Loveland,
sayswould be a typical divorce case involving children. Boltz called policeon Lassiter several times, and
his paycheck was garnisheed for backchild support, The Enquirer reported. Lassiter said she owes him
money.Their next court hearing is Sept. 6.___Information from: The Cincinnati Enquirer, http://www.enquirer.comCopyright 2013 The Associated
Press.