Those in the loop on this one contend, reports Christian Nolan in THE CONNECTICUT LAW TRIBUNE, that the lawsuit is and will probably be rare. I don't agree. The daughter's win in New Haven, Connecticut Superior Court for breach of contract against her father for not paying her college tuition bills could encourage many other type suits. After all, college is a must for the job market and child-parent hostility never ends as a rite of passage.
Dana Soderberg, a child of divorce, had her father Howard Soderberg sign a contract to ensure that he would, says Nolan, "pay her college tuition until she was 25, along with other school expenses such as texbooks, and her car insurance." She was attendeding and did graduate from Southern Connecticut University. The father held up his part of the contract until her senior year. The daughter filed suit. The father represented himself. Although pro se litigation is becoming more mainstream, other parents in this situation might think twice before not getting professional counsel.
Damages totaled $47,000. That included the loan, interest, attorney fees and missed car insurance payments. The daughter's lawyer does not anticipate the defendant will appeal.
I wish it were possible to do this years ago. My children's father said he would pay (the eldest was completing her first year in college) and listed as expenses the amount he claimed for the next three years. The court was impressed and awarded next to nothing for the 2 minor children and their non-working (full time student) mother.
He didn't pay another dollar. Not even a birthday gift. Instead he used this savings to buy a condo.
Posted by: Gloria Wolk | August 05, 2017 at 01:24 PM
where's the consideration in this contract? The article fails to mention why the Judge found an enforceable contract to begin with. From what I can tell, this is nothing more than a gift promise in writing.
Posted by: Heather | July 03, 2010 at 04:21 PM