Rainwater v. Rainwater

After a 22-year marriage during which Barbara (plaintiff) worked full-time, raised the children, and helped support Sam (defendant) through engineering school, Sam's post-degree income rose above $100,000 while Barbara earned about $20,000 as a secretary; the trial court awarded Barbara declining monthly maintenance continuing indefinitely until her death or remarriage, based on her $41,000 annual reasonable needs reflecting the marital standard of living, and Sam appealed, arguing public policy favored a fixed rehabilitative term rather than indefinite support.