Our Milwaukee readers will recall Dwyane Wade’s stellar basketball career at Marquette University, which has propelled him to NBA stardom. In addition to spending time on the basketball court, Wade has spent a significant amount of time in a court of law because of a protracted divorce and a child custody dispute.
Wade married his high school sweetheart, Siohvaughn, in 2002. They separated in 2007 when Siohvaughn moved from Florida, where Wade lives and plays for the Miami Heat, back to Chicago. They were official divorced in June of 2010, but a final ruling on custody of the Wades’ two sons, 8-year-old Zaire and 2-year-old Zion, is still pending.
Last week, the attorneys for Dwyane and Siohvaughn made their closing arguments in the child custody case. Arguing before Circuit Judge Renee Goldfarb, Siohvaughn’s attorneys alleged that Dwyane is using his money and influence to portray her in a bad light. They state Wade has focused on his career, and left Siohvaughn to raise their children and the boys have become attached to her. They also believe that Dwyane Wade has no time to raise his children properly, and that he will pay others to raise the boys for him. Siohvaughn attended the hearing. Dwyane Wade was not present, but appeared through his attorneys.
Dwyane Wade’s attorneys repeated their central assertions in the case. They believe Siohvaughn has anger issues and needs psychiatric help. Dwyane’s attorneys also made what appears to be an argument based on parental alienation syndrome. They believe Siohvaughn has manipulated the children, has tried to use the boys to get revenge for the divorce, and the process has alienated Dwyane from his children.
The guardian for the children, an attorney appointed to represent the interests of the children, reportedly took the side of Dwyane’s attorneys. Judge Goldfarb will rule on which parent gets custody within the next 60 days.
Sources:
Chicago Sun Times, “Only truth in Wade custody case: Boys the real victims,” Maudlyne Ihejirika, 1/22/2011
Chicago Tribune, “Closings heard in Dwyane Wade child custody case,” Dawn Rhodes, 1/21/2011
