Legal Blow! Forensic Expert Says Bethenny Frankel & Jason Hoppy Should Share Custody

Bethenny Frankel seemingly scored a legal victory last week in her bitter custody battle against Jason Hoppy when she was awarded a trial date to gain primary custody of their daughter Bryn, but now RadarOnline.com exclusively learned the hearing actually came as a low blow to the RHONY star when a forensic expert concluded that both parties were actually fit to parent the 8-year-old.

As RadarOnline.com previously reported exclusively, Frankel, 47, filed documents in December 2017 asking for a trial to gain primary custody as well as full decision-making rights for Bryn. The judge granted her wish and a trial was date set for March 2019.

When the couple faced off in court last March, Frankel was denied her request to get immediate full custody of the child, and sources tell RadarOnline.com that's when the judge ordered forensic expert Dr. Ravitz to determine the custody arrangement.

In his conclusions, Dr. Ravitz recommended that the custody arrangement not be changed and that both parents get 50/50, according to the informant.

Jason's lawyers contacted Bethenny’s attorneys and asked to resolve her motion according to Dr. Ravitz’s recommendations, but in their hearing last week Bethenny was still determined to fight for primary custody.

"Dr. Ravitz’s report supported Jason’s position that the custody arrangement should not be changed," the insider explained.

In last week's hearing, the Judge indicated that since the parties could not agree, he would set an evidentiary hearing on custody during the March 2019 date. Sources tell RadarOnline.com exclusively the judge also said that by scheduling the hearing in March, "there was still time for the parties to resolve the custody issue if they were so inclined."

"What occurred in court was not a 'legal victory' for either party," the insider added. "The Judge continued the current 50/50 custody arrangement which would be considered a victory for Jason, if for anyone."

Following the announcement of the March 2019 trial, Hoppy’s attorney, Robert Wallack, had brought Frankel's late lover Dennis Shields’ overdose into the picture.

“Dennis Shields, died as a result of a drug overdose. It’s been reported that he was addicted to Oxycodone,” Robert Wallack told RadarOnline.com. “Considering Mr. Shields’ addiction, we have real, legitimate concerns that Ms. Frankel was allowing him to be around Bryn, and to take care of her. This doesn’t just constitute a lapse in judgment, this was downright dangerous parenting."

But Hoppy’s allegations were slammed by a RadarOnline.com insider last week.

“She’s clearly of sane mind to know what atmosphere her and her child should be in. So, for anyone to accuse her or remind her of those allegations is unfair,” the source told RadarOnline.com.

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