Divorce in CA Halts Growth in WI

As reported by the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel on September 4, $30 million for a new sports complex in Juneau County is being held up in divorce proceedings in Los Angeles County.

Carmen Zumwalt, currently suing her husband, Damon Zumwalt, for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court, isn't interested in her soon-to-be ex-spouse's latest business venture.

The Zumwalt's reside in California, a community property state. During property division, all property acquired during a marriage there is divided equally. Carmen's divorce petition reads, "I believe that this is not an appropriate time for Damon to spend millions of dollars of revenue to commence a new business in Mauston, Wisconsin."

Damon Zumwalt, known for providing security at the Olympics and other major sporting events, is the founder and CEO of Contemporary Service Corporation and has an office in Milwaukee.  The proposed Woodside Sports Complex would serve young athletes between the ages of 8 and 13.  

The plans were announced in January, though Greg Bires, chairman of the Town of Lemonweir, hasn't heard from Zumwalt since last spring.  He said, "We really had high hopes.  We felt it would be a great attraction. It was going to be a great asset. Right now, I know absolutely nothing.  There has been no activity."

The Zumwalt's home, the "Northridge Compound" - a term coined by Carmen Zumwalt - serves not only her family of 4 adult children and one under 18, but also serves as the corporate headquarters and for the facilities of the company.  The living space includes the family home, a guest house, and gym, along with employees working in two separate office buildings on the same land.

The Wisconsin property, Woodside Ranch Resort and Conference Center, owned by the couple, is just opposite where the 200-acre new facility was to be built.  The complex was to include a 50,000 square-foot new indoor facility, 17 baseball tournament fields - with additional fields for soccer, rugby, lacrosse and field hockey - and two different villages to house the young athletes.

Zumwalt's partners in the construction were former major-league player Reggie Smith and Los Angeles attorney Lloyd Pantell.  Bires said both Smith and Pantell now want out of the project. 

One attorney in the case said that Carmen has reiterated that she has no desire in seeing the complex constructed and she wrote in her statement, "I object to any further investment of revenue from CSC and to the acquisition of additional loans for the expansion of the Woodside Ranch Resort pending further investigation.  I do not want my community property placed at risk for this project without my prior consent."

No court order has been issued to prevent Damon Zumwalt from moving forward on the construction project. Damon Zumwalt's attorneys also represent Frank McCourt, while Carmen Zumwalt's attorneys are from the same firm representing Jamie McCourt - The McCourt's high-profile divorce battle is also making headlines.

If you need a qualified attorney to help with your divorce, please contact a family lawyer in our directory for one conveniently located near you.