Palimony - Notable Cases

Notable Cases

  • In 1982, pianist Liberace was sued for US$113 million in palimony by his partner Scott Thorson. Though most of Thorson's claim was dismissed, he received a US$95,000 settlement.
  • Judy Nelson filed a palimony suit against women's tennis star Martina Navratilova after their breakup in 1991.
  • In 1996, Van Cliburn was sued by former partner Thomas Zaremba for a share of his income and assets following a 17-year relationship ending in 1994. Zaremba's palimony case was dismissed for lack of written agreement, along with claims for emotional distress and that Cliburn subjected him to the fear of AIDS through Cliburn's alleged unprotected liaisons with third parties.
  • Canadian figure skater Brian Orser was sued by a former lover in 1998, outing Orser in the process.
  • In 2004, comedian Bill Maher was sued for US$9 million by his ex-girlfriend, Nancy Johnson a.k.a. "Coco Johnsen". On May 2, 2005, a California Superior Court judge dismissed the case.
  • In 2010, in the Indian case of D. Velusamy vs D. Patchaiammal, Markandey Katju, a judge of the Indian Supreme Court, referred to the concept of palimony while delivering judgment. This case is also notable for the heavy use of 'Wikipedia' and 'Google' by the learned Justice in the judgment, which was later criticised in some quarters, notably by the Additional Solicitor General of India, Indira Jaising.

Read more about this topic:  Palimony

Famous quotes containing the words notable and/or cases:

    “In one notable instance, where the United States Army and a hundred years of persuasion failed, a highway has succeeded. The Seminole Indians surrendered to the Tamiami Trail. From the Everglades the remnants of this race emerged, soon after the trail was built, to set up their palm-thatched villages along the road and to hoist tribal flags as a lure to passing motorists.”
    —For the State of Florida, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)

    “For the most part, we are not where we are, but in a false position. Through an infirmity of our natures, we suppose a case, and put ourselves into it, and hence are in two cases at the same time, and it is doubly difficult to get out.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)