Jennifer Dulos' Mother Against Settling With Norm Pattis: Lawyer

FARMINGTON, CT — A proposed financial settlement between attorney Norm Pattis and the estate of the late Fotis Dulos is being opposed by Gloria Farber, mother of Jennifer Farber Dulos, who Fotis was accused of murdering.

Pattis' attorney, John R. Williams, told Patch that her opposition harbors "a twisted need to injure the lawyer who did his job by defending the son-in-law she hated."

In mid-January, Fotis Dulos paid Pattis' law firm a retainer of $250,000 in the ongoing defense against charges that Fotis kidnapped and murdered his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos. She vanished on May 24, 2019, and is presumed dead. Her body has not been found.

About two weeks after paying the retainer, Fotis Dulos died by suicide, but Pattis kept the retainer.

After Fotis Dulos' death, a host of creditors descended on the estate for various payments owed, including Farber, who was awarded nearly $2 million in connection with loans she and her late husband gave to Fotis.

Farber sued Pattis' law firm to have it turn over the retainer to Fotis Dulos' estate to help pay off Farber and the creditors.

Pattis and attorney Christopher Hug, administrator of Fotis Dulos' estate, have reached an agreement for Pattis to pay $137,500 to the estate, but the agreement must receive probate court approval.

Farber's attorney, Richard Weinstein, says the amount is not enough, and he will file a brief opposing the settlement, writes the New Haven Register.

Williams argues that part of the retainer was for services rendered in 2019 in Fotis Dulos' defense, and he blasted Farber and Weinstein for "abusing the judicial system" for pursuing the case.

"Many lawyers and one judge worked very hard on crafting this settlement, which every sensible person familiar with the matter thinks is fair and reasonable for all concerned," Williams said in an email to Patch. "Ms. Farber, who has more money than any person ought to have and doesn’t need or even want anymore, is pursuing this not on the merits but out of a twisted need to injure the lawyer who did his job by defending the son-in-law she hated."

Williams continued, "Attorney Weinstein, who undoubtedly is being paid very well for his activities, is simply her handmaiden. Neither he nor she even has standing to pursue their bogus claim because they are mere creditors of the Estate which is the only party with an interest in this matter. They are doing all of this anyway, despite its complete lack of merit, simply because Mrs. Farber’s money allows them to do so. They are abusing the judicial system and ought to be sanctioned."

The Dulos case

• New Theory Developed In Jennifer Dulos Case: Report
• New Details On How Jennifer Dulos May Have Died: Warrant
• Jennifer Dulos Case: New Updates As Mystery Remains Unsolved
• Michelle Troconis Files New Appeal In Jennifer Dulos Case
• Dulos Estate Lawyer Claims Jennifer Dulos Likely Dismembered
• Foreclosures Hit All Of Fotis Dulos' Former Properties: Report
• Fotis Dulos Dies After Suicide Attempt: Attorney