Divorced from Justice: The Abuse of Women by Divorce Lawyers and Judges

In 1992, Winner, a consultant on women's rights in the courts, wrote the report ""Women in Divorce"" for New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs, and this study is an elaboration of that account. The gist of it is that when a divorce is not amicable, the woman is usually treated unfairly by the courts. Ironically, some of the legislation passed since 1970 to aid women in divorce cases, such as equitable distribution, community property and mediation laws, has had the opposite effect, because it allows lawyers to rack up hours chasing down assets. Winner considers lawyers a major factor in the many injustices divorcing women suffer, largely because many lawyers, in her view, are interested not in fairness but money. Winner offers several valuable solutions ""to shift the balance from a lawyer-centered system to a consumer-driven system."" This book will be important reading for women contemplating divorce. $50,000 ad/promo; author tour. (Oct.)