By THOMAS W. KRAUSE
The Tampa Tribune

TAMPA - Elijah Dukes was expected in court Friday morning for a divorce and paternity hearing.

He didn’t make it.

A lawyer representing Dukes said he found out about the hearing early Friday morning and assumed Dukes didn’t know about the hearing either. Catherine Real, the attorney for Dukes’ estranged wife, NiShea Gilbert, said the no-show was typical of the troubled outfielder.

“I think this is a traditional drag, stall and delay tactic,” she said.

Real said sheriff’s deputies served Dukes with a subpoena on June 22 that told him about the hearing. The hearing is supposed to address alimony and other issues.

Attorney Peter Meros said he has not yet met with Dukes. Dukes’ aunt asked him to help in the divorce proceedings and he agreed. On Friday morning, Meros said, he heard from Real and was told about the hearing. He ran home, put on a suit and headed to court, he told the judge.

Meros said he was not prepared for the hearing.

Judge Kevin Carey initially seemed inclined to go forward without Dukes. Eventually, however, he rescheduled for Monday.

Carey said the court file shows that Dukes was served paperwork. It does not, however, specifically state that the notice of Friday’s hearing date was included in that paperwork.

Dukes and the sheriff’s deputy who served him must attend Monday’s hearing, Carey said. If Dukes was served the subpoena, he said, the hearing will go forward Monday whether or not Dukes and his attorney are prepared.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays optioned Dukes to the minor leagues last month and placed him on the temporary inactive list after a string of off-field problems, including a marijuana arrest, allegations of spousal abuse and allegations from a 17-year-old girl that he fathered her child.

Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813)259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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