Are the Hogan’s using this ‘divorce’ as a strategic move to protect their assets in a possible civil suit involving the wreck that critically injured their son Nick’s good pal John Graziano.

Kimberley Kohn, a Tampa attorney who represents Ed Graziano, the father of injured passenger John Graziano lawyer seems to think so.

As we are all well aware, Linda Bollea filed a petition for a divorce last week against her husband of nearly 24 years Terry Bollea aka Hulk Hogan), who seemed shocked to learn this news from a reporter calling for comment.

In the petition she seeks a split of the couple’s assets, including a Belleair mansion and Clearwater Beach home with combined assessed values topping $7.9-million.

Graziano’s lawyer says a divorce could be one step the Bolleas could take to try to protect assets. That’s because it could cut Terry Bollea’s assets in half, she said.

Nick Bollea faces a felony charge of reckless driving with serious bodily injury, and attorneys for John Graziano’s estranged parents have said they intend to file a lawsuit as a result of the crash.

But if the Supra and the Viper are not registered to both parents, it could be harder to go after Mrs. Bollea individually, Kohn said. The mother’s degree of control over who used the vehicles would have to be determined.

Kohn said she would proceed with a civil suit as if the couple were married. She and attorney George Tragos, who represents Graziano’s mother Debra, will handle any civil suit, which she expects will be filed in 2008.