Gnall v. Gnall

Elizabeth Gnall (plaintiff) and James Gnall (defendant) met in college and married eight years later. After obtaining a master’s degree in computer science, Elizabeth worked as a computer programmer. Elizabeth left work in 1999 when the spouses decided she should become a full-time caretaker for the couple’s three children. James Gnall, a certified public accountant, was consistently employed and eventually became the chief financial officer for Deutsche Bank’s American finance division. By 2008, the year Elizabeth filed for divorce, James’s compensation was approximately $1.8 million. The couple had become accustomed to an upscale lifestyle. In the divorce proceeding, the spouses disputed the appropriate amount of spousal support, or alimony, that Elizabeth should receive. The trial court concluded that although the marriage lasted 15 years, permanent alimony was not appropriate because the spouses were relatively young, well educated, in good health, and employed or employable for good salaries. The court therefore awarded only limited-duration alimony, meaning financial support for a limited time. The appellate division reversed, finding limited-duration alimony inappropriate because the 15-year marriage was not a short-term marriage. The appellate division concluded that permanent alimony was instead proper and remanded for a calculation of the appropriate amount. James appealed to the New Jersey Supreme Court.