Time is money for dithering Merkin

Disgraced hedge-fund honcho Ezra Merkin’s litigious ways just cost him a cool $300,000.
The 60-year-old Park Avenue resident — once thought to be a savvy money man but who was unmasked as an investor who put billions of dollars of his funds’ cash at the doorstep of convicted Ponzi King Bernie Madoff — must pay a New Jersey doctor the sizeable sum in added interest that has accrued while he fought the case in court.
A New York appeals court smacked down Merkin’s attempt to sidestep the added 9 percent interest charge when it refused to hear his case.
Coupled with the $1.7 million he has already received, the i෴nterest briౠngs Dr. Noel Wiederhorn’s total 🌺to $2 million — most of it investment cash he entrusted wit𓂃h Merkin but lost.

Wiederhorn, a pediatrician f✤rom Wyck♏off, NJ, claimed he didn’t know Merkin was funneling the money to Madoff.

Merkin spent years battling the award in court, including a countersuit against Wi🦩ederhorn for $1.6 million in legal fees, which was knoc♚ked down.

The former president of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue, who owns an 18-room duplex in the ultra posh 740 Park Avไe., finally coughed up the $1.7 million in January after exhausting his every option for appeal.

A spokesman for Merkin declined to comment.

Wie✅derhorn’s lawyer, David Bamberger, said he intends to release the cash ✱to the good doctor from escrow as soon as next week.

Bamberger said the appeals court deꦦcision could push Merkin to pay up when it comes to future arbitration awards.

Other burned Merkin investors are awꦑaiting a piece of a $410 million settlement hashed out last year between Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and the alleged fraudster.

The settlement is beiꦜng blocked by Madoff trustee Irving Picard, who claims he gets first rights to any Madoff-related funds.