Florida Panthers Skate on After Owner’s Divorce

Posted by Jose Lambiet , March 29, 2012 Print

There’ll be no nightmarish Los Angeles Dodgers scenario in the divorce of Florida Panthers owner Cliff Viner.

Viner and his missus of 20 years, socialite Jill Viner, were divorced so amicably that no one knew!

Still, Gossip Extra found the paper trail showing the Viners flew to Key West last fall and were divorced in one week.

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I’m told Cliff’s interest in the National Hockey League-contending Panthers was included in the marital assets to be divided up. But unlike the dog fight over baseball’s Dodgers in the divorce of businessman Frank McCourt, Mrs. Viner gave up her stake in the team in exchange for other goodies.

“This matter is personal and private in nature,” according to a statement from the Panthers. “It had had absolutely no impact on the operations of the Florida Panthers. The franchise is currently . . . in the cusp of clinching a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and is the healthiest it has ever been.”

While financials records and details of the settlement were sealed, some of it popped up in Palm Beach county court last week for enforcement. The Viners live in Boca Raton.

Court papers indicate the Missus also quick-deeded the couples two homes, a 14,000-square-foot mansion and a $1.7 million penthouse on the beach, to Cliff.

“Cliff and Jill wanted to do this privately,” said Cliff’s lawyer, Jeff Fisher. “They resolved everything amicably. They’re both great people.”

This story first appeared today in my column in the Miami Herald

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