Business Notes Litigation

Should a party in a divorce case have to fork over money never earned? Yes, if the person basically threw it away, according to a New York state judge. Mark Gastineau, the former New York Jets defensive end known for his opponent- taunting dances, walked out on the team after only six games of the 1988 season to spend time with his fiancee, actress Brigitte Nielsen. Gastineau was then earning $46,000 a game. Last month the judge ruled that Gastineau's wife Lisa, who had sued for divorce in 1986, was owed one-third of Gastineau's forfeited salary -- more than $100,000 -- because the footballer had "wasted" a marital asset. Nielsen, the mother of Gastineau's 19-month-old son, has left him to pursue her film career. Gastineau, once bent on being a professional boxer, is reportedly seeking work as a sportscaster.