Blake Griffin. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Palimony or Marvin actions in California can provide an unmarried partner property and support rights after a relationship has ended. The rights are essentially contractual. Did the parties have an express (written), oral or implied (evidenced by behavior) agreement that the parties will share property or that the promising partner will support the partner after a separation? If so, the aggrieved partner can collect property or support. These actions are hard to litigate because evidence is often lacking and promises become more of a he said/she said affair. This doesn’t mean that people don’t try litigating these actions.
Look at the case of #BlakeGriffin. The Detroit Pistons player was in a relationship with Brynn Cameron and had two children together. She claimed that she and Griffin had planned to get married on July 28, 2017, but that Griffin dumped a prenuptial agreement on her a month before the wedding. They postponed the wedding, and Cameron said Griffin dived straight into a relationship with now ex-girlfriend Kendall Jenner. “The next weekend, on what would have been his wedding day, he was partying in Las Vegas,” her 2018 lawsuit reads.
Cameron alleged that Griffin promised to support her for life, given she abandoned her own career “in order to raise their children and support Griffin so that he could focus on improving [his].” “Cameron was not just the mother of Griffin’s children and their caregiver, she was also a constant support for Griffin — his personal assistant, meal planner, scheduler, stylist, publicist, party planner, nurse, nutritionist, branding expert, therapist, cheerleader, basketball and fitness consultant, and more,” reads the complaint.
Cameron’s attorney summed up the case by stating “He can play above the rim but not above the law.”
It appears Griffin did play above the law, however. The case was dismissed practically on the courthouse steps a year after filing. The couple resolved custody and Cameron got a child support order. This is a far cry from lifetime partner support since Cameron’s children are entitled to child support as a matter of law. Read more about the Griffin case here: https://tinyurl.com/yxepajpr
The Griffin case illustrates how difficult palimony cases are for proving partner support. A couple during a relationship have to contemplate the end of a relationship and the terms of support after the relationship. Who does this?
Palimony actions require care and excellent documentation. Get an initial consultation to review your situation and plan the correct next steps.
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