Art gallery owner sued for not supporting ex-lover

Contributed by Rosie Cisneros

After ending a three-year relationship, one Californian decided to sue, claiming her ex-lover violated an oral contract.

Christopher Hill, owner of the Christopher Hill Gallery in downtown St. Helena, allegedly tricked Emma Dipadova into moving in with him, investing in his gallery and bearing his child. She maintains they agreed she would cut back or give up her career to help his gallery while he supported her for life. She also claims he unjustly fired her from working at the gallery after taking a leave of absence while pregnant.

Dipadova accuses him of violating a business partnership and of a pact they made, by ending their relationship. Allegedly Hill also gave police a false report causing her arrest during a rental car incident. According to Hill, her claims have no merit.