When Paul Catsandonis decided to give up his job as an attorney working for the Allstate Insurance Company earlier this year to start a private practice dealing with matrimonial cases, little did he know that he would be taking on one of rap music’s superstars.
Jersey City native Catsandonis, who currently resides on Clendenny Avenue on the western side of town, has been representing Shaniqua Tompkins, the ex-girlfriend of rapper 50 Cent.
Tompkins, who is the mother of the rapper’s 10-year old son Marquise, has been fighting an eviction by 50 Cent (his real name is Curtis Jackson) from their $2.4 million Dix Hills, Long Island home. Tompkins is seeking $50 million in damages.
The case has seen its share of drama that would rival the best rap video or even scenes from the 50 Cent movie “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.”
There was a fire in May that burned the home down to the ground, and Catsandonis’ New York City office was trashed after a fight between Tompkins’ current boyfriend and two of 50 Cent’s bodyguards.
A year ago, the pair were in court because Tompkins said that the rapper’s $25,000 per month in child support was not high enough.
And this past June, 50 Cent filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit against Tompkins.
Catsandonis said he will argue before a judge on July 15 in New York Supreme Court to stop 50 Cent from selling his Long Island property and collecting insurance proceeds from the May fire.
He will also argue on July 17 in Suffolk County Family Court.
He said the case will go on for awhile and that “losing is not an option.”
Catsandonis, 36, also said this case has been an eye-opener for him as he set out on his own as an independent lawyer.
“The difficulty of this case is dealing with someone with a lot of resources,” Catsandonis said. “Also, you need to be comfortable with being in the spotlight.”Not married but close enough
Catasandonis retained Tompkins as a client through a referral.
The case, Catasandonis says, goes beyond simple eviction. He is trying to prove in court that what 50 Cent is doing to his client is a “breach of contract.”
Catsandonis said New York doesn’t recognize common-law marriages, but does recognize contracts between two unmarried cohabitants.
“There wasn’t a written contract but an expressed oral agreement, which is recognized in New York courts,” Catasandonis said. “They decided years ago that she was going to be the domestic partner, and she was going to provide the domestic services while he devoted all his time to becoming a hip-hop artist.”
Catsandonis added, “Whatever profits he was able to achieve would be divided equally, and he had promised her and their son that they could live in the house. He breached that contract.”
Catsandonis explained further that the relationship between 50 Cent and Tompkins could be classified as a “common-law” marriage or a marriage in which there was no marriage ceremony, but the couple hold themselves out as husband and wife.
Catasandonis said he hopes this case will makes common-law marriages legal again in New York, and provide protection for those in common law.
“We are moving into the modern era where people are not getting married any but are common law husband and wife,” Catsandonis said.
As to why Catasandonis decided to open a matrimonial law practice, he said it was because “the matrimonial field is skyrocketing as there is so much dissolution of marriages.” Learning about conflict
Catsandonis grew up on Duncan Avenue with his parents and older brother, and attended Public Schools 17 and 25 and Xavier High School in New York.
Then it was off to the University of Chicago, when he majored in political science.
In particular, he was led to consider the legal field due to his study of the formation and dissolution of the legendary Ottoman Empire, which for over 600 years controlled much of Southeastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
“Studying the conflicts that arose amongst various nations during the Ottoman Empire is a great lesson on strategy, conquering your opponent, and that the best defense is offense,” Catsandonis said.
Catsandonis received his law degree from the Cardozo Law School of Yeshiva University in New York. Involved locally
While Catsandonis has achieved success in the world of law, it has not moved him away from his hometown.
Catsandonis is also involved in various community groups such as the West Side Neighborhood Association and the Lincoln Park Advisory Committee.
He also ran for councilman in the city’s Ward B in 2005 and plans to run again in the 2009 election “under the right circumstances.”
“The best gift ever from my parents was to have me grow up in this wonderful, diverse city,” Catsandonis said. “I have friends from all different nationalities; it’s like the United Nations.”
Catsandonis continued, “It is also where I learned to resolve conflict and to be sensitive to others’ needs.” Comments on this story can be sent to rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com Sidebar 50 Cent in JC
Any story with 50 Cent and Jersey City is not complete without mention of the shooting that took place in Sept. 2003 when a security guard who worked for rapper 50 Cent allegedly fired shots outside the Doubletree Hotel in Jersey City as the rapper was checking into the hotel.
William Floyd, who was among the rapper’s entourage on Sept. 9, was initially charged with weapons possession.
However, Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor Patrick Doherty, who prosecuted the case, said last week that charges were dismissed after there was not enough evidence to present to a grand jury. – RK