Bell v. Bell

By Judge Robert P. Doherty, Jr.

Husband and Wife separated almost seventeen years ago on April 17, 1995, when Wife left the marital residence and moved into another house titled in Husband’s name. Wife then sued for a divorce. They had been married approximately twenty years when the suit was filed. Both sides accused the other of fault grounds. The case was initially assigned to a commissioner in chancery. Two years later, the commissioner was made judge pro tem. Little or nothing was done in the case, and it languished. Finally, after approximately fifteen years, a complete gap in activity…