CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SANTA ANA : Monk Cleared From Paying Alimony

An ex-wife who sought continued support payments after her former husband entered a monastery has lost her court battle. Patrick Meegan gave up an income of $4,700 a month as a successful salesman to “pursue a life of religious observance and prayer” at the Holy Trinity Monastery in St. David, Ariz., according to the opinion of the 4th District Court of Appeal in Santa Ana. Lawyers for the woman, identified as Elizabeth Ann Meegan, had argued that entering a monastery is “no different than if Patrick had simply decided to stop all work and to spend the rest of his life surfing.” But the court rejected her claim to continued spousal support payments of $739 a month. The appellate opinion, written by Justice Henry T. Moore Jr., held that Patrick Meegan was “well motivated” and was not trying to avoid spousal support.