Famed Boca eatery’s caviar pie ain’t big enough for 2
Tags: Dennis Max, divorce, Max's Grille, Patti Max
| Tuesday 8 September 2009 5:40 pm
Patti
Because of a post-nup that guaranteed $5 million to his wife if Boca restaurateur Dennis Max cheated on her, again, the 2000 divorce between the owners of the iconic Max’s Grille in Mizner Park made national news.
Nearly 10 years later, the War of the Maxes isn’t over.
According to court records, Dennis now wants out of his obligation to pay ex-wife Patti 40 percent of the management fee for their popular Boca grill, which they co-manage.
“I don’t know what it’s all about,” said Patti’s lawyer, West Palm Beach divorce honcho Joel Weissman, about the court filing. “But I can guess that, since the economy has hit the restaurant business hard, there isn’t as much money as there used to be.”
Through the late 1980s and 90s, Dennis, 64, and Patti Max, 55, were considered visionaries in South Florida’s foodie biz. They introduced a healthier, more sophisticated California-style cuisine to the land of the greasy spoon. Caviar pies called to diners who otherwise would do burgers. At one point, the Maxes co-owned 17 joints throughout SoFla, including Cafe Max in Pompano Beach, Brasserie Max in Plantation and Max’s Grille in Palm Beach Gardens.
Dennis
But by his own admission, Dennis went through a mid-life crisis as the couple’s empire grew, and his roving eye came back to haunt him. He cheated on Patti, which led her to obtain the now famous post-nup then a divorce amid accusations that Dennis impregnated a Ukrainian beautician.
What Dennis now objects to is a clause in their settlement that reads he would have to pay Patti until the restaurant is sold. It was supposed to be unloaded months after the divorce. It never happened.
And now, Dennis wants Patti out. He paid her an undisclosed amount for years, said his lawyer, even though he didn’t have to.
“He’s just a nice guy,” said Boca attorney Phil Schwartz.“The way we read their marital settlement, he didn’t have to pay her beyond September 2001, when they were going to sell. Most people out there would have stopped paying.”
There was never a Max’s Grille in CityPlace. It is in Mizner Park in Boca.
Tell us why the public should care about such nonsensical, insignificant garbage.
Is it any surprise that fed on a steady diet of kind of drivel, the bulk of our population is made up of morons?
A post nup? Now Tucker makes sense.
She is beautiful. Why would he cheat on her, he should have felt fortuneate to have such a gem oh well, pay up sucker!
f—n boca. nothing but bitches and a__ H___.
As a former chef that worked for the Max’s, the best place they had was Maxaluna..that was their cutting edge property. It was after he cold Cafe Max to Oliver Saucey, his chef there. Maxaluna opened in the mid 80’s before the Grill and Prezzo…it’s a shame that it has all come to this….
Play…I couldn’t agree more! But then again, we read the story, didn’t we? GUILTY!
why are these private details put in the paper. it is a contractual dispute between 2 people. Now that the lawyers are involved, it would be a shock if either of them get anything now.
who friggen cares. Just another case of a typical rich a-hole who cant keep it in his panties. Has a hot wife, still wants more…blah blah. Same old garbage.
As someone that has personal knowledge of the Maxes divorce settlement agreement which certainly wasn’t 5 million, I have no idea why Mr. Weissman would attribute this ridiculous action to the economy. Dennis started this crap back in early 2006 way before the economy took a dump. What also makes no sense is the Phil Schwartz comment that Dennis is a “nice guy” for paying Patti. Clearly, Dennis agreed to pay her until the restaurant was sold and now years later regretting he made the deal; he’s trying to use legal trickery and misuse the court system to avoid living up to an agreement. Just goes to show you that you don’t have to be smart to be a lawyer - just greedy.
It’s not Patti’s fault the married ended. Dennis is infamous for his cheating and running around. Patti took him back many times and tried to make the marriage work, and when Dennis continued his extra marital affairs she just had enough. The post-nup was in place for many years, and if she wanted to enforce the post-nup she would have gotten even more, but in the end she compromised and settled for less. Such a shame that Patti is being put thru this…she’s a wonderful woman and business person. Her staff loves her, her customers love her, and once upon a time Dennis loved her too. No, greed and greed alone is the reason Dennis is pursuing this in the court. Shame on him…
Why would any judge allow this nonsense and what court would entertain a greedy ex-husband. Hasn’t he done enough to this poor women who gave her life and slaved in his business? Why so he could take all the glory, treat her poorly and now take her money? Poor Patty - the only mistake she made was not leaving him fast enough. Anyone who knows her - knows he would be NOWHERE without her.
That’s what you get when a good girl marries a rotten guy. Patty - you deserve better and you will get better. Any attorney who has the priveledge to represent you should work his hardest to make sure you get all you deserve and more!! Forget the economy - fair is fair and your share is YOURS!!! Sorry Dennis - try your luck on your next victim…………….
A deal is a deal. She works hard…she deserves her fee until the business is sold!!.
Why is the judicial system allowing this harassement?.
He wants his fee and her fee to?
That’s nonsense!
Why would her laywer make an excuse for her ex?
Hope you win your legal fee’s Patti!
I feel Patti is right even though i am a man you play you pay. He probably wants to rip her of of money due so he can pay for more woman, probably cant get any woman without money. An agreement is made it should be abided by whether the economy is good or bad.
The fact this divorce case is still being tried is ridiculous!!!!!!! It is apparent Dennis wanted to stop paying Patti after the sale of the restaurant,but,no criteria was made if the sale of the restaurant fell through. If Dennis wants to sue someone,he should sue his attorney Phil Schwartz. The issue over the statement in question is nebulous at best. Joel Weissman was was correct in not challenging it because he knew it worked to his client’s advantage. Was this Mr. Schwartz first divorce case? If not,what where you thinking to have overlooked the statement as it clearly left your client at risk? Lesson learned,hire the best legal counsel available when dealing with the law and leave no stone unturned!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Patti should continue to receive her fee as long as the restaurant is not sold.
What is wrong with the court system. I thought once you agreed to a settlement it is final. Where is the judge on this thing? Hope she wins and gets her legal fees back…seems like final is really never final…what a scary thought!
I have watched this couple harmoniously work hand in hand at Max’s Grille in Boca since there divorce. Patti contributes a lot of style and fresh ideas to the restaurant — It certainly wouldn’t be the same without her “Patti” touch. Everything that Dennis has done on his own, since the divorce, has failed –maybe Patti deserves 100% of the Management Fee as I see her there often and not him!! PS Dennis has never done anything “nice” without a motive.
Isn’t it enough that he got caught with his pants down! He should now be a man and live up to the agreement that he signed when divorced. I had to live up to mine. Only a weasel would be squirming at this point so many years later.
It’s not worth the press!
Knowing Dennis for years as I did, he has never lived up to any agreement willingly. It’s no surprise that he is crying now over this Management Fee. I say “Make him honor this agreement” Just because he doesn’t like something now, so many years later, why should his wife suffer. She has always added style and charisma to the Max’s Grille and what he is doing with this frivilous law suit is just giving Max’s Grille bad press.
Dennis, stop complaining–you are responsible! Be mature and live up to your part in your agreement.
Patti put up with his extra marital affairs for years, doesn’t deserve to put up with more cheating.
If the courts allow this then what good are post nups anyway.
Patti is a hard worker, leave her alone.
Pay up !!!!!
Hey, You play you pay bottom line….I`m sure there is enough for every one ..greedy greedy Remember pigs get fed hogs get slaughtered !!!!
Caviar pie not BIG enough? Wasn’t that Pattis recipe? And now that creep is throwing her out!! Really? Max’s Grille is making plenty of $ It’s one of the busiest restaurants in Boca…
Stupid rich people are never happy…
Very simple, a deal is a deal, and till the restaurant is sold , dennis is responsible. very simple, a deal is a deal
Yesterday was the anniversary of 9/11, we are stuck in an endless war & 1/10 people are unemployed..WHO CARES!
As a legal assistant I am DISGUSTED with this still being an issue at court. What is wrong with the Palm Beach County Court systems? To Dennis Max: Just continue to pay her fee or just SELL the BUSINESS! Your wasting everybody’s time and money!
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Why does a court allow this to go on and on…I know lawyers make the BIG BUCKS but where is a fair judge?
Patti is a tremendous asset to Max’s Grille.
Dennis is a complete ASS!