Attorneys for mother of Jennifer Dulos question Fotis about his finances

WEST HARTFORD — The attorney representing Fotis Dulos in lawsuits filed by his missing wife’s family contends that the actions are being used to drag his client and his company through the mud.

“Those claims have no merit,” attorney William Murray said Tuesday of the civil lawsuits filed by Jennifer Dulos’ family. “The public should be aware that the claims were not asserted until after Mr. Farber’s (his fatherinlaw’s) unfortunate death” and the divorce case was proceeding.

The lawsuits were designed to “destroy his reputation, alienate him from his children and destroy his business,” Murray said.

Fotis Dulos was deposed about his finances for several hours Tuesday at the West Hartford office of Richard Weinstein, who is representing his motherinlaw, Gloria Farber, who claims he owes her family $2.5 million in unpaid loans.

Fotis Dulos and Jennifer Dulos were embroiled in a contentious twoyear divorce when she disappeared on May 24.

While Fotis Dulos, 52, and his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, 44, have been charged in the missing persons case, they are also targets of his motherinlaw’s attorney, who has been calling for them to be deposed in the civil cases.

Weinstein was seeking Fotis Dulos to bring a wide array of financial documents to Tuesday’s deposition, including bills for his criminal attorneys and private investigator.

Fotis Dulos has twice avoided being deposed in the lawsuits, including not showing up for one scheduled last month.

Farber contends in the lawsuits filed in 2018 that he owes her and the estate of her late husband, Hilliard, $2.5 million in loans for his highend real estate development company, Fore Group.

Murray accused Weinstein of using the family and civil matters as leverage in the criminal case.

“We are contesting the claims and we are confident that any final judgment will be favorable to my client,” Murray said.

Murray filed a motion Tuesday, objecting to providing certain financial documents his client had been asked to produce for the lawsuits.

Murray contends the financial statements provided for the divorce are sealed by the court and not likely to “lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.”

Murray is also contesting turning over reimbursement reports from the Fore Group and records of the source of payment to his criminal attorney and private investigator. Murray claims the criminal attorney fees fall under attorneyclient privilege.

Fotis Dulos and Troconis have each pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution charges in connection with the disappearance. Police said they believe the 50yearold New Canaan mother of five was the victim of a “serious physical assault” based on evidence they found in her garage.

State’s Attorney Richard Colangelo said Fotis Dulos’ DNA was also found mixed with his wife’s blood on the faucet of her kitchen sink. A couple resembling Fotis Dulos and Troconis were also seen on video in Hartford the night of the disappearance, according to their arrest warrants. The video showed the man dumping bags that were later determined to contain Jennifer Dulos’ blood, the warrants state.

Lisa Backus / Hearst Connecticut Media Fotis Dulos, right, arrives with his attorney William Murray on Tuesday to be deposed in his motherinlaw’s civil lawsuit.