The Region : It’ll Be Solos Only for Divorcing Couple

A divorcing Ventura couple battling over custody of two pianos have amicably resolved the dispute: Each will get a piano and play solos instead of duets. “He will get the Boesendorfer and leave her the Steinway to play on. This way they can both make music,” said lawyer Marvin Mitchelson, representing cardiologist Dr. Newton J. Friedman, who had sued for visitation rights to the keyboards. Friedman and Carol, his wife of 10 years, had been scheduled for a court hearing on the custody case, but lawyers for the couple pounded out the settlement, Mitchelson said. The attorney called his client a serious musician who has played with the Utah Symphony Orchestra. Friedman, who also got custody of a harpsichord, will be giving a concert on that instrument in Ventura in two weeks, he said.