ELIZABETH, New Jersey – Illness has forced a sudden delay in the start of the divorce trial of former New Jersey governor James McGreevey and his estranged wife Dina Matos McGreevey. Court officials have told In Session that there will be no new negotiations today.

On Monday, talks between the couple broke down, forcing the trial. Dina Matos McGreevey was already wearing her dark sunglasses when she stepped out of the elevator with her attorney, John Post and left through the back door of the courthouse here in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The smile on her face didn’t waver, and just minutes later we learned things were not on track for a settlement in the second next phase of the couple’s divorce trial.

Jim McGreevey was already gone when his attorney, Stephen Haller, told the media here the case will now proceed to an open trial with witnesses…the first being the former governor himself. Hallar said that absolutely no progress was made on the issues of child support, alimony and equitable distribution of assets and liabilities. He went on to say these financial issues are more contentious than the child custody phase, which the couple finally agreed on late last week. That settlement is sealed.

Matos McGreevey is asking for child support and alimony along with damages in the amount of approximately $600,000, to compensate for the lifestyle she says she lost in her early exit as first lady of the Garden State. She’s also claiming fraud, because she says the former governor induced her to marry him only to further his political career when he fully knew he was homosexual.

Haller said he believes the trial will last two weeks, and also said there is almost no doubt the fraud claim, which will be addressed separately, will end up at trial. In Session’s cameras are in the courtroom, and we will bring you live action as soon as it starts.

–Jean Casarez, In Session correspondent