Calif appeals court rules in domestic partners case

AP via SFGate ^ | 5/7/8

[SmithL]

Santa Ana, CA (AP) -- People who mistakenly believe they are registered as domestic partners in California have the same rights as those who fulfilled terms of the state's Domestic Partner Act, an appeals court ruled.

There is "no sound reason" to deprive persons of their rights if they "reasonably believed" they had registered as domestic partners, a panel of the state 4th District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

That reverses an Orange County court ruling which denied a gay man's 2006 petition to dissolve a domestic partnership. The man and his partner signed and notarized a 2003 partnership agreement, but the partner contended it was never filed with the California secretary of state and therefore no partnership had been formed.

The reversal allows Darrin Ellis, 35, of Newport Beach, to try to show he had a good-faith belief there was a registered domestic partnership in order to seek property and other assets acquired during his relationship with David Arriaga, 44.

[SmithL]

I guess one pretend-marriage is as good as any other pretend-marriage.

[YourAdHere]

What if someone “reasonably believed” they paid their taxes last year but didn’t, or “reasonably believed” the gun was unloaded when it really wasn’t?

[Slapshot68]

And CA wonders why it’s in a cash crisis when they have cases like this costing everyone’s time.

[BubbaBasher]

I bet if they “believed” they didn’t have to pay taxes the judgement would have gone the other way. I believe the State of CA should pay me $1,000,000. Since when did the belief of a contract hold the same power as an actual contract?

[Liberty Valance]

So now it’s all about the benjamins...

[donna]

I mistakenly believe that Barbra Streisand is my registered domestic partner. Look where I'm gonna live!

[NormsRevenge]

I guess one pretend-marriage is as good as any other pretend-marriage.

huh? wow

the clintons are a good example in that case, I guess. ;-)