The lawsuit filed Friday claims "loss of consortium" for Michelle Charron, 44, because of the advanced breast cancer in new wife Cindy Kalish, 39. Loss of consortium is a legal claim long available to spouses, but only newly available to gay and lesbian couples since the state began allowing same-sex marriage Monday. The lawsuit provides a glimpse into the kinds of legal battles involving gay and lesbian unions that Massachusetts courts can now expect.
I'm still not exactly sure what it means, not really.
Of course, I'm not a lawyer either .....
http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/consortium.html
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| con·sor·ti·um [ kən sáwrtee əm, kən sáwrshəm, kən sáwrshee əm ] (plural con·sor·ti·a [ kən sáwrtee ə, kən sáwrshə, kən sáwrshee ə ]) |
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| noun |
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1. combination of organizations for common purpose: an association or grouping of institutions, businesses, or financial organizations, usually set up for a common purpose that would be beyond the capabilities of a single member of the group
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2. right to marital company and affection: the right of husbands or wives to the company, affection, and help of their spouses ( archaic )
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| [Early 19th century. From Latin, “fellowship,” from consors “fellow” (see consort).] |
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  con·sor·ti·al adjective |
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