Broward clerk acted in bad faith, judge rules

Broward Clerk of Courts Brenda Forman acted in bad faith when she tried to get herself appointed administrator of her husband’s estate the day after he filed for divorce last year, a Broward judge ruled Friday.

The decision by Broward Circuit Judge Mark Speiser allows Howard Forman, the current clerk’s political predecessor, to seek legal fees from his ex-wife. The couple’s divorce was finalized on Monday, according to court records.

Howard Forman filed for divorce last March 30. Brenda Forman responded March 31 with a challenge to his mental capacity, alleging he was failing to take needed medications, missing medical appointments and leaving bills unpaid.

Speiser ruled in Howard Forman’s favor in December, agreeing with mental health experts who concluded the former clerk “is not incapacitated in any respect.” Brenda Forman said she had already withdrawn her petition by the time Speiser ruled, but the judge was not aware of it at the time.

In January, attorneys for both sides were back in Speiser’s courtroom, this time asking the judge to determine that Brenda Forman should have to pay the legal fees Howard Forman racked up.

His lawyers called a host of witnesses, including some current and former elected officials, to vouch for his mental acuity.

Brenda Forman was the only one to testify for her position, arguing that she genuinely believed her husband was showing early signs of dementia and that she needed to protect him.

But Howard Forman’s lawyers argued that her timing was not coincidental — a declaration of incapacity would have stopped the divorce proceedings in their tracks for at least three years, according to attorneys.

He was the Clerk of Courts and a widower when he started dating Brenda Dixon Jenkins, who worked in the traffic and misdemeanor division of the clerk’s office, gathering documents for judges. She sold real estate on the side.

They married May 30, 2013. It was the third marriage for each. He was 67 and she 54.

When he decided to retire, she decided to run for his office. She never denied that name recognition helped her, though during the campaign she touted her real estate work; history in the clerk’s office; stint as a staff assistant at ChildNet, a social services agency; and membership in several community groups, such as the Kiwanis Club.

Howard Forman will now collect more than $150,000 a year between retirement and Social Security benefits. He also collected $890,000 in deferred retirement benefits at the beginning of 2017.

His attorneys, meanwhile, will seek at least $50,000 from Brenda Forman.

Lawyer Jody Leslie said Friday that the exact amount has not been calculated, but unless Forman’s lawyers agree on the amount, both sides will be back in front of Speiser to make a final determination.

Efforts to contact Brenda Forman and her attorney, Roderick Vereen, were unsuccessful Friday.

COURTESY Brenda Forman will have to pay Howard Forman’s legal fees after a judge rule she acted in bad faith when she filed for control of his finances last year.