N.J. Judge Says DeLoreans Are Still Married

A judge ruled today that New Jersey should be the battleground for former auto maker John Z. DeLorean’s fight with Cristina Ferrare Thomopolous over $10 million in property and custody of their two children, adding that “as far as New Jersey is concerned, they’re married.”

Superior Court Judge Michael R. Imbrinai rejected arguments by TV talk show host Ferrare that the case should be handled in California to avoid a threat to her job there.

He also ruled that the California divorce decree granted to Ferrare in April was void because the court there had failed to recognize that she was not a resident of that state six months before filing the motion. She married television executive Anthony Thomopolous about three months after her divorce.

“The last thing we want to do is foment dissent between the courts of California and New Jersey, but I have to acknowledge it is possible two states could disagree,” Imbrinai added.