By Stacy St. Clair and Steve Schmadeke

Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO

--The already divided Drew Peterson defense team has become even more fractured. One attorney has quit the case and another has accused the chief lawyer, Joel Brodsky, of sending inappropriate emails, including one that suggested the lawyer should shoot himself.

The infighting has spun so far out of control since Peterson's conviction this month, even defense team member Joseph Lopez--who is known for wearing hot pink socks to court and famously proclaiming that the framers of the U.S. Constitution "would barf" on the evidence against Peterson--called the situation over-the-top.

"I've never seen anything like it," Lopez said. "Obviously there's a lovers' quarrel going on. I don't want any part of it."

Lopez and attorney Ralph Meczyk confirmed Monday that Darryl Goldberg, who handled much of the scientific and medical-related testimony at the trial, has quit the case. Goldberg rarely participated in the Peterson team's twice-daily trial media conferences and often seemed unamused by his co-counsels' behavior outside the courtroom.

Goldberg could not be reached for comment and has not yet filed the paperwork to withdraw from the case. He will be the fifth attorney to leave the defense team since Peterson's 2009 arrest.

Brodsky, who has overseen Peterson's legal strategy for nearly five years, denied any knowledge of the resignation. However, he alluded to "quitters" in a vague comment on his Facebook page last week.

"NO WINNERS OR LOSERS ONLY FIGHTERS AND QUITTERS," the post read. "I am a fighter and we are going to get this verdict reversed on appeal."

Brodsky's Facebook page also prompted another round of squabbling with former Peterson attorney Steve Greenberg, who was fired shortly after a Will County jury convicted Peterson of killing his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Greenberg had opposed Brodsky's decision to call Savio's divorce attorney as a witness, a move that jurors said tipped the scales in the prosecution's favor and led to their guilty verdict.

On the day of Greenberg's termination, Brodsky took to his Facebook page and posted a 415-word statement, blaming Greenberg for not making timely objections and preventing key prosecution witnesses from testifying.