In the ongoing drama between SAC Capital founder Steve Cohen and his ex-wife, it emerged yesterday that Paul Batista, the New York attorney for ex-wife Patricia, was abruptly kicked to the curb.

The news came as a surprise given that Batista’s civil racketeering suit against the billionaire hedge fund manager, which caused quite a ruckus when it hit, was only filed last month.

The Times, which first reported on the defection, said Patricia’s new counsel is Gaytri Kachroo, known for representing Madoff whistleblower Harry Markopolos. But Batista provided his version of events in a filing with the Manhattan federal court yesterday, saying that after months of constant communication, Patricia “unilaterally — and unexpectedly” cut off all contact.

Bastista says the first hint that Patricia was through with him came as recently as Dec. 30, when he received a call from “a person who described herself as a Boston lawyer.”

“Needless to say, this is a complete surprise to me,” says an e-mail Batista says he wrote to Patricia immediately following the call, and which is included in the filing. “I am at a loss to understand the call I received from the lawyer in Boston — a lawyer, incidentally, of whom I have never heard.”

Apparently, Patricia still has yet to respond.

Batista’s filing says Patricia hired him in April 2009 because he is the author of a book on civil RICO suits.

He also suggests that she still owes him money for his work. Their lawsuit, filed on Dec. 16 to much fanfare, accuses Cohen of cheating her out of money when they divorced 20 years ago and says he admitted to illegal trading.