Lawsuits such as Marvin v. Marvin, based on alleged express or implied contracts between cohabiting partners, have come to be known as "palimony suits" (by analogy to a claim for alimony in a dissolution of marriage).  At the end of 1999, actor Jack Klugman successfully defended a $5 million palimony suit brought against him by his former female companion Barbara Neugass.  The case went to trial and the jury ruled in favor of Klugman after but two hours of deliberation.  After the verdict Ms. Neugass opined that the jury was blinded by Klugman's celebrity status.