Cash-strapped Jocelyn Wildenstein is playing cat and mouse with her exasperated creditors who say they can’t slap foreclosure papers on the famed socialite because she’s dodging their envoys.
Court documents obtained by DailyMail.com show Wildenstein has defaulted on a $4,500,000 mortgage she took out ten years ago on her sprawling Manhattan apartment.
But every time reps for Modern Bank turn up at her Trump World Tower residence to serve the summons they say the feline-featured debtor fails to answer.
Concierge and security staff at the glitzy high rise have also refused to help and threatened to call police on anyone who tries to drop off the paperwork.
The bank’s surveillance operatives have even resorted to staking out the premises but on both occasions failed to spot Wildenstein, who turns 72 on Thursday.
‘Catwoman’ Jocelyn Wildenstein, 72, has been allegedly dodging court envoys after she defaulted on her $4.5M mortgage on her sprawling Manhattan apartment (Pictured with fiance Lloyd Klein)
Attempts to serve the socialite with foreclosure papers have failed as concierge and security staff at the glitzy high rise have also refused to help and threatened to call police on anyone who tries to drop off the paperwork
Reps for Modern Bank have turned up at her Trump World Tower residence to serve the summons but they say the feline-featured debtor fails to answer (Pictured, fiance Lloyd Klein reclining in the lavish apartment)
Wildenstein paid around $6 million for three apartments, but borrowed millions more to turn it into the eight-bedroom, six-bathroom residence and deck it out in an opulent art deco interior
The mother-of-two snapped up adjoining apartments in 2001 before buying a third and knocking them into one giant pad that takes up nearly the entire 51st floor.
She paid around $6 million for all three but borrowed millions more to upgrade the eight-bedroom, six-bathroom residence and deck it out in an opulent art deco interior.
In a separate legal action, DailyMail.com can also reveal the Trump World Tower itself is also chasing her for $81,332 in unpaid common charges dating back to November 2014.
Wildenstein became the world’s most infamous divorcee in 1999 when she landed a then-record $2.5 billion settlement from her late ex-husband, the art dealer Alec Wildenstein.
But she’s been candid about her depleted finances in recent interviews, accusing her ex-husband’s family of cutting off her multi-million dollar annual maintenance.
‘Jocelyn has made no secret of her precarious financial situation and she’s confident this will all be resolved very soon,’ dished a confidante.
The giant pad with 360 degree views of the Manhattan skyline takes up nearly the entire 51st floor of the luxurious apartment building
Her posh pad was put on the market earlier this year for $12,950,000 but has gone unsold despite the building boasting a spa, pool, and private wine cellar
‘She’s been photographed and given interviews in recent months so it’s a little far-fetched to say she’s in hiding.
‘And it’s understandable that staff are protective of her, she’s been in the building for years and she’s one of the more high-profile residents living there.’
Wildenstein announced she was getting engaged to her 50-year-old fashion designer partner Lloyd Klein in an exclusive interview last month with DailyMail.com.
She splits her time between New York and Miami were the couple have been house-hunting in recent months for a seafront marital home.
Her Trump World Tower pad was put on the market earlier this year for $12,950,000 but has gone unsold despite the building boasting a spa, pool, private wine cellar and access to famed Trump haunt, the World Bar.
The lavish condo was also the scene of the now infamous December 2016 catfight between Wildenstein and Klein, who she scratched and jabbed with scissors before being arrested on assault charges that were later dropped when the pair reconciled.
The papers filed by Modern Bank say they filed for foreclosure in February and their representative Wesley Moise tried to serve a summons and complaint on Wildenstein on February 28.
The lavish condo was also the scene of the now infamous December 2016 catfight between Wildenstein and Klein, who she scratched and jabbed with scissors before being arrested on assault charges that were later dropped when the pair reconciled
Wildenstein announced her engagement to her 50-year-old fashion designer partner Lloyd Klein in an exclusive interview last month with DailyMail.com. Klein bought her a 32-carat diamond ring (pictured)
Wildenstein didn’t answer when staff rang her apartment and neither the concierge nor security would take possession of the papers.
There was no answer when Moise tried again on March 3 and when he attempted one week later to leave the paperwork at the front desk, staff threatened to have him arrested.
‘The concierge objected and called security, who appeared almost instantly,’ the filing says.
She became the world’s most infamous divorcee in 1999 when she landed a then-record $2.5 billion settlement from her late ex-husband, art dealer Alec Wildenstein
‘They immediately had the doors to the building locked and advised him that he would be detained and not allowed to leave the building unless he removed the Complaint and Summons from the concierges’ desk and left with them.
‘In addition, they also threatened to call the police and have him arrested for trespassing.’
The documents go on to say that Moise and another operative mounted a ‘surveillance’ operation on the building on April 4 and April 6.
But despite being stationed on both entrances for four hours at a time they came away from both stake-outs without having seen Wildenstein.
Modern Bank’s attorneys asked David Hryck, a lawyer representing Wildenstein, to accept the writ but when he failed to do so they filed documents asking a judge to grant more time and decide on a new method to serve the paperwork.
‘Plaintiff suggests that serving Wildenstein by regular mail sent to the Premises and/or by regular mail and electronic mail to Mr David Hryck, Esq. would be reasonably calculated to inform Wildenstein and give her appropriate notice of the proceedings,’ the filing reads.
In the separate legal motion for unpaid communal charges, the board of management for Trump world Towers says Wildenstein owes $35,877.22 for apartment 51-A, $23,109.29 for 51-D and $21,749.12 for 51-E.
She owes a further $596.37 for charges relating to a storage cupboard, they allege in papers filed last week in New York Supreme Court.