Gray•Duffy Obtains Motion for Summary Judgment for Defendant in $30 Million Palimony Claim

July 2024

Plaintiff met the wealthy Defendant in 1995 when she was 14 years old and he was 60 years old. Plaintiff did not have a home at the time and alleged that in 1997, the Defendant offered for her to move into his condominium and the two began having a sexual relationship. She further alleged that during the period of cohabitation, the Defendant promised to provide for her financial stability throughout her life. In 2018, the Defendant suffered an accident rendering him partially incapacitated, and in 2020, he passed away.

In July 2019, Plaintiff filed a complaint and subsequent amended complaint against the firm’s client as Successor Trustee of the Decedent’s trust, claiming entitlement to $30 million in financial support.

Managing Partner Michael Eisenbaum proved during the alleged time the Plaintiff was providing companionship to the Decedent in exchange for financial support, Plaintiff and the Decedent were not cohabitating, and therefore, did not meet the legal requirements for palimony. After more than four years of litigation, the Court issued its order in March 2024, granting a Motion for Summary Judgment for the firm’s client and entitling them to a recovery of lawsuit costs.

Please Note: This article is necessarily general in nature and is not a substitute for legal advice with respect to any particular case. Readers should consult with an attorney before taking any action affecting their interests.