A Royal Countess Seeks Divorce

Lawyers for the estranged wife of United Technologies board Chairman George David portrayed him Friday in Hartford Family Court as a cold, calculating spouse, who, despite her medical condition and pending hospital tests in 2004, surprised her with divorce papers.



 
 

The Wealthy Millionaire Husband

Abraham David, 67, who has an estimated $329 million filed papers on his estranged wife, 36-year-old Swedish countess Marie Douglas. She characterized him as an inconsiderate, unfeeling, manipulative husband who repeatedly filed divorce papers and then changed his mind, as part of a plan to get her to sign a post-nuptial agreement that is the central issue of their divorce settlement.

"He set her up," said Robert Cohen, a New York City attorney who has represented several celebrities, including Christie Brinkley and Uma Thurman, in their divorces. Cohen, who is also one of Douglas-David's legal counselors, said he had no idea what David was thinking when he would "surprise" Douglas-David with divorce papers and then take trips with her, buy her presents and have sex with her.

The Husband Puts Investigators On Her

David  hired a private detective to follow his wife while she was in Stockholm in 2004.

David said outside the courtroom that he believed his wife was having an affair. He declined to say whether the surveillance produced any proof. 6

 

The Countess Was A Devil

"She was riding the gravy train," said New York divorce attorney Adria S. Hillman, who, along with retired Connecticut Appellate Court Judge Anne C. Dranginis and attorney Austin McGuigan, are representing David.  4
 

Swedish Royalty

The Countess was sought after for royal events, but rumors were her husband was not on the 'A-List'.

The Husband Had Affairs

Beslow asked David about lying under oath, "Did you state under oath that you did not recall anywhere on earth you had sex with Wendy Touton?" 

After David said he answered during the deposition that he couldn't remember a specific location, Beslow asked him whether it was true he had sex with Touton at his home in Avon just days before the deposition. David, looking at a transcript of the deposition Thursday, acknowledged that he had said later in the December testimony that it was true.6

Husband Says The Prenuptial Is Voided

Earlier in the day, Dranginis completed their case, questioning Douglas-David about the post-nuptial agreement she signed that provided her with $43 million, primarily in UTC stock, and other assets. Douglas-David, contending the agreement is void.
 

Abraham Made $65 Million A Year

As the CEO of United Technology he made $65 million in 2007.  7