I wonder how this would be different if she had officially wed, in say, Massachussetts...

Navratilova Sued by Former Partner

Nine years after they met and unofficially wed in a ceremony in New Hampshire, tennis legend Martina Navratilova is being sued by her former partner, Toni Layton, who is claiming "emotional, mental and physical trauma" after Navratilova suddenly left her.

Layton said: 'Martina has got a fight on her hands. Without any warning, my life came crashing down around me. I was kicked out on the streets with only the clothes on my back.'

According to the Daily Mail, Layton is demanding a share of the four multi-million dollar homes that the pair purchased while together, though she could be entitled to more if her allegation that the couple agreed to "evenly share" all funds and assets attained by either while they were together is true. The lawsuit claims that among these items are a classic Mercedes Benz, two Land Rovers, a Jeep, a speed boat, two scooters, and two all-terrain vehicles.

Layton realizes that her chances of winning the lawsuit in Florida, which doesn't recognize gay rights, are weak.

'Marti makes out she's a champion of gay rights and sees herself as an icon for the gay and lesbian community. She has publicly urged people who are gay to 'come out' and stand up for their homosexuality.'

'Yet here she is, hiding behind Florida's antiquated anti same-sex laws, trying not to give me a fair deal for those eight years I was there for her at every minute of the day and night.

'If I was a man, married or not, I'd be entitled to half of everything that she earned during those years together. But because I'm a woman, it seems, rather conveniently, she believes I'm entitled to next to nothing.

'Marti knew that when she decided it was time to get rid of me and move on with her life. And that is why I am having to sue for a breach of our partnership.'

This isn't the first time Navratilova's private affairs have been aired. In strikingly similar circumstances, she was sued by another former partner in 1991 for $7.5 million.

Layton is also intent on getting something out of her broken heart.
'I was left an emotional wreck, with nothing to show for eight years of my life. I still suffer nightmares today. It's something I don't think I will ever properly recover from.

'But what I want now is justice. Justice for all those lost, wasted years.'

Oh dear. Martina would be a very very difficult person to live with.

yes, she sounds very fickle. Makes serious committments and then....she's done.

quite a statement, tealsea, considering that you don't know the first thing about Martina's side of the story.

What I'm left wondering is if this Toni Layton worked for those eight years. Did she hold down a 40-hour a week/50-week a year job like the rest of us? Or did she just, um, "live off the fat of the land"?? If she didn't work and just mooched, what the hell is she complaining about? She was able to live the high life for eight years, travel the world, meet all sorts of people, see and do things she would likely never have been able to do on her own. I'd jump at the chance to do that for eight weeks. Heck, after some really sh*tty days at work, give me eight DAYS of that life and I'd be thrilled.

Exactly, remember there are ALWAYS two sides to a story.

Whatever Martina's side of this story is, there is one thing that seems fairly irrefutable...Martina is really bad at picking partners. She's been sued by pretty much every ex she's had.

It might help if she picked partners who had similar economic status. The one with the money always has more power, gay or str8.

I don't? Hmmm. I thought I knew enough to make the statement. Oh welll then. I guess you are right. (not)
Well, bottom line, this happens to nongay people, I suppose we should be careful and watchful. I think Martina is a bit naive....and careless. Some people are greedy. Can you imagine??

This whole story is a disgusting display of Martina's hypocrisy when it comes to her pocketbook.

It's so sad that a role model for so many young (and old) lesbians is basically claiming that her gay relationship was invalid to get out of giving her ex-lover more money. At least when Chrissy gets divorced, she whips out her checkbook. That's What Chrissie Would Do.

Neither of these tramps I mean champs is doing too well in distinguishing love from war. But don't let that stop you from throwing stones on behalf of the straight conservative chick.

Tealsea, did you live with Martina and her now ex-? You sound like you did.

The funniest tabloid account I've seen had "details" about Martina figuring out ways to question and discredit some of Chris's achievements. GOAT-like attitude.