Gag Order Sought in Kidney Donor Divorce Battle

Dwanell Batista went to court in Nassau County, New York, on January 12, 2009 seeking a gag order from the judge regarding her divorce from her husband, her request was denied. News reports state that during a press conference Dr. Batista claims his wife began an affair shortly after he donated his kidney to her. A gag order was also requested by the law guardian for the couples school age children, according to the New York Post, because the news reports have made it "hard for them to go to school."

Dr. Richard Batista and Dwanell Batista's divorce has been an ongoing battle for four years. It only recently became public when the vascular surgeon sued his estranged wife asking for his kidney back - or $1.5 million. That's the amount he says his kidney is worth, since he doesn't expect a judge to order Dwanell to return the kidney.

Believe it or not, according to news reports in the NY Post and Newsday, the Batista's were happy once. They have three children, even though Dwanell Batista has had three kidney transplants, the last one after her kidneys failed during her third pregnancy in 2001. They reportedly lived in a million dollar home in Massapequa. A divorce action was filed by Dwanell Batista in 2005. Both parties are 44 years old.

Dwanell Batista's lawyer alledged in court yesterday that the doctor became "hyper suspicious" and would go so far as "sniffing her underwear" to see if she was having an affair. Richard Batista's lawyer, well known Long Island divorce attorney Dominic Barbara, has claimed that after sacrificing his kidney for her, Mrs Batista treated his client "like dirt."