In the continuing courtroom divorce saga of
Real Housewives of Vancouver star Jody Claman, a judge ruled Thursday that her younger daughter would continue to go to the religious school her father had requested for her. And in a scathing indictment of former reality TV personality Jody Claman, the B.C. Supreme Court judge dismissed her evidence outright and accused her of manipulating her daughter and the court-appointed psychologist and of trying to manipulate the court.
Justice Miriam Gropper said she found Claman would do “anything to get what she wanted with no regard for the truth.”
“It’s only one person’s opinion and I’m not offended by it,” said Claman outside court. She was prevented from commenting further because of a court-ordered ban restricting what she could say on social media or to the media.
The couple’s divorce will be final this fall and Gropper said she will deliver her final decision at a later date, which will include whether or not Eran Friedlander is entitled to half of Claman’s assets and child support.
“I’m a strong, successful woman who’s being taken to the cleaners,” said Claman outside court, adding she had no pre-nuptial agreement. “He wants half of my assets that I’ve had for 30 years.”
She offered this advice to anyone getting married: “Talk to a lawyer.”
WATCH A VIDEO CLIP OF JODY COMMENTING ON HER DIVORCE HERE!Thursday’s interim ruling on the school issue was made early to allow planning for the upcoming school year.
Gropper said when deciding on the credibility of the two witnesses, she found the “evidence of the parties so diametrically opposed” that it required comment. She noted both parties accused one another of being an unfit parent, including Claman’s accusations of Friedlander’s daily use of pot and heavy drinking (he told the trial he smoked marijuana once a week and quit two years ago and drank only moderately).
But Gropper called Claman’s evidence “inconsistent,” which led to a “rejection of her evidence entirely.”
She noted Claman had no evidence to back up the statements she made about Friedlander and the school, including allegations the teachers at her daughter’s school disliked Claman and that her daughter was unhappy there and had been bullied.
Gropper also said Claman failed to disclose information and documents, which “speaks to her lack of credibility and failure to be candid.”
“His (Friendlander’s) evidence is to be preferred,” she said.
In ruling that the daughter could attend the religious school over a private secular school closer to Claman’s home, Gropper ignored the recommendation of a court-appointed psychologist, who said a “non-denominational” school would be more “neutral.”
But the judge noted the psychologist “apparently accepted” Claman’s claims of the school’s “forced indoctrination and clannishness,” but didn’t speak to the teachers and staff. They testified at the trial the girl was happy at the school, did well academically and had many friends.
“I have no evidence on which to assess (Claman’s choice of schools),” said Gropper.
Gropper also ruled the “first and only reason” Claman chose the school she did was because it was closer to her West Vancouver home.
“It’s not the (Friedlander’s choice of) school, it’s the location she objects to,” said Gropper.
The judge also disagreed with the psychologist that agreeing to Claman’s school choice would lessen the conflict between the parents.
The psychologist also interviewed the daughter and noted her answers about being bullied at the school and wanting to go to the other school had a “canny alignment” with Claman’s views.
Gropper also ruled the daughter not be allowed to keep a cellphone given to her by friends of Claman’s without Friedlander’s knowledge and accused the friends of “enabling Ms. Claman and undermining Mr. Friedlander.”
“I encourage Ms. Claman’s friends to avoid making decisions about (the girl) and what’s in her best interests,” she said, noting it wasn’t their role.
Source:
The Province
