Mahoney v. Mahoney

During their roughly eight-year marriage, Melvin Mahoney (plaintiff) earned an MBA over 18 months while contributing no income, during which time June Mahoney (defendant) contributed $24,000 to household support; upon their divorce, June sought reimbursement for her support during Melvin's studies, and the trial court held Melvin's MBA was property subject to equitable distribution but, rather than valuing the degree itself, ordered him to reimburse June $5,000. The appellate court reversed, holding neither a professional license nor degree could constitute property for equitable distribution, and the state supreme court granted review.