In Re Marriage Of Huntington

14 Cal. Rptr. 2d 1 (1992)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

H is a wealthy man with a net worth in excess of $15 million. At the time of the marriage, w was 28 years old and H 47. W had been working as a dental hygienist, earning about $30,000 a year, but stopped working shortly before the marriage when H told her it would not be necessary for her to work. The day before the marriage, the parties entered into a premarital agreement providing for their property to remain separate. The parties' standard of living during the marriage was extremely high. W spent about $6,000 a month on clothes alone. H had at least $500,000 per year in disposable income. H and W had been married on August 24, 1985, and separated three years and seven months later on March 28, 1989. H then filed a petition for dissolution of marriage on April 27, 1989. W testified that she did not wish to return to work as a dental hygienist because it was a stressful, 'dead-end' job with no advancement, she had lost her contacts, she would be 'rusty' if she went back, her license had expired and she would have to take a test to revive it, as well as 'brush- up' courses. W presented three expert witnesses who testified that she was not emotionally prepared to immediately begin self-supporting employment. H offered two expert witnesses to refute W's evidence. The court awarded her 6 months alimony and no attorney fees. W appealed.