Should not have put a ring on it
Read the texts of the engagement ring surgeon: Jilted suing doc has someexplaining to do
Dr. Craig FischerPhoto via High Tech Surgeon
Dr. Fischer proves that you don't have to be driving to find trouble whiletexting.
The drama between a Houston surgeon, his ex-fiancée and an engagement ring just got juicier.
Craig Fischer, the chief of digestive surgical oncology at Methodist Hospital and an assistant professor of surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, filed a suit on Tuesday against Nichole Johnson to enforce the return of her $73,000 engagement ring and $75,000 in cash from a joint account and future rent on an apartment. His cause of action also accused her of cheating on him, agreeing to marry him in order to get his money, "absconding" with his cash and lying about him on Facebook.
Now Johnson is firing back against a portrayal her attorney Tony Buzbee describes as "simply untrue."
"The doctor broke up with her, and then wanted to get back with her," Buzbee wrote in an email to CultureMap. "After he acted erratically, and made her fearful for her safety, she wouldn’t have anything else to do with him. The texts between them tell the entire story. The doctor has big problems now, because he filed a pleading in court, and swore the factual allegations were true, under oath, and under the penalty of perjury.
"The texts, and other documents, prove that his allegations were false, and he knew they were false when he made them. We will work to ensure there are consequences for filing a false pleading, and then leaking it to the press to hurt someone."
Buzbee sent CultureMap a log of texts between Fischer and Johnson dating from Sept. 22 to Sept. 28, the day after the suit was filed. The texts detail a messy break-up that included an exchange of furniture, modifying a joint lease, and a settling of debts. They also show an emotional Fischer who texts often, swinging between declaring his love, making demands and working with Johnson.
On Saturday, Sept. 24, Johnson texts:
The dress was $3,750...move was $2,000, the lease on this apt is 4,000/mo. Excluding all my utilities. So really it's $4,500 for me to got [sic] it alone. That rent is ours...you are committed to half. To be fair I will take $3k a month-$1k for you. 12mo. Total includes dress, half of move and $12k for rent. $16750. I'm certain it means little to you but I'm losing $2,500 on a BMW K1300 S. It was a down payment (20%) that I will lose since I'm not purchasing. Happy Birthday. ... Anyway when you put that amount in the joint acct at Bank of America...I will transfer it to my own account...we will close the joint one together as it takes both signatures. Please get all of your things out when you can tomorrow and Saturday. Once we have closed the financial aspect of this deal, I will agree on your named being removed from the legal doc at [the apartment]. I have to sign off on it — per Nancy. You must leave keys, clicker and fob or you will be charged $75. Its in the lease... Once you are completely out (by Sat) and paid...I will happily return your ring.
Fischer responds "...... Yes to all that.... I agree.....".
After negotiating furniture, movers, storage and the apartment detail, by Sunday, Fischer asks for the ring again, and Johnson replies by asking for the money she is owed. Fischer responds:
Armani jacket, watch, Yurman necklace, and half of the Paris and Vegas trip.... Then I'll pay the difference I owe you."
That's when the dispute takes a less polite turn, with Johnson threatening "I will sell your ring...try me ... and u are still in the lease, legally u are obligated, for $24k. ... I have been nice. You are an asshole... you deserve nothing." The next text from Fischer begins "I have a lawyer," but he agrees to a "fair accounting" and to "pay [Johnson] what's owed" while asking again for the ring.
Johnson fires back:
Listen, you agreed to pay what is fair for the lease-you owe $24k. I said only $12...more than fair and equitable. ... Put that money in our account and we will proceed...fairly."
Early on Monday Fischer texts that he has transferred the money, and later in the day Johnson confirms she received it, offering to exchange the ring for the apartment keys on Thursday morning. Fischer instead drops off the keys with the apartment manager on Tuesday and says he doesn't want to see her in person (after asking her repeatedly earlier in the week to see him alone), that his parents will pick up the ring when Johnson is back in town and offers her a $12,000 watch he was going to give her for her birthday, which she declines.
On Wednesday morning Johnson says she will leave the ring with the concierge, and asks Fischer to stop texting — but he had already filed the suit with the court on Tuesday afternoon without mentioning it to her.
