Olson divorce case hits snag; Christine blames Lute

But the settlement hit a snag over the timing or need for them to give depositions — a snag Christine Olson blamed on the UA men's basketball coach's efforts to gain some financial advantage, according to a motion filed in Pima County Superior Court late Thursday.

Kathleen McCarthy, Christine Olson's attorney, suggests in her motion a sticking point in the case is the Olsons' prenuptial agreement.

At one point, she writes, documents and information sought by Lute Olson's attorney in December appeared "to be aimed at finding a basis to nullify the prenuptial agreement."

At another point, she said the coach's attorney scheduled Christine Olson's deposition earlier than is normal in divorce proceedings, in an "attempt to end-run the rules with respect to the time the discovery responses were due, and to avoid taking a position on the prenuptial agreement," before receiving Christine Olson's records.

As a result, McCarthy said, Christine Olson doesn't want to sit for a scheduled formal interview on March 17 and Lute Olson does.

McCarthy has asked Judge Sarah Simmons to postpone the interviews for 30 to 60 days. A hearing on the request is scheduled for Tuesday.

According to McCarthy's motion, the Olsons decided to see if they could avoid a "protracted and heavily litigated process" by sitting down with their accountants.

They made so much "phenomenal progress" they agreed between themselves they should postpone their formal interviews "in light of the imminent settlement," McCarthy said.

However, McCarthy said that when she e-mailed attorney Leonard Karp, she learned Karp and Lute Olson want to move forward with the depositions.

Because she thought the depositions had been canceled, McCarthy said she held off on subpoenaing Lute Olson's financial records, such as his contractual relationships and endorsements, one of which is with Nike.

Going forward with the depositions without those documents just guarantees more depositions will have to be scheduled, McCarthy said.

Moreover, McCarthy wrote, "unquestionably, if depositions go forward while settlement is looming, they may very well damage any hope for a resolution of this matter."

At Tuesday's hearing, Simmons could hear the arguments of both sides and either rule from the bench or in writing, McCarthy said. The judge could also give Karp time to respond to her motion in writing.

Karp could not be reached for comment Friday.

Lute Olson filed for divorce in December, on the same day the 25-year University of Arizona coach announced he would not coach this season's Wildcats for "personal reasons." He said he plans to return next season.

He had been on leave since Nov. 4, leaving the program in the hands of his assistant, Kevin O'Neill.

Olson, 73, married the former Christine Toretti, 50, in Las Vegas in 2003.