On Sept. 5, 2023, the New Jersey Appellate Division ruled in favor of the plaintiff, a father represented by Managing Partner Daniel B. Tune, Esq. of Tune Law Group, LLC. Appellate Judges Gilson and Rose affirmed the lower Court’s decision that a father did not have to pay for college for daughters who falsely accused him of sexual abuse.
The Court found that upon turning 18, the children were effectively adults who had chosen not to have relationship with their father, and had gone to extreme lengths to see to it that he would not otherwise be involved in their lives.
The Court considered the governing law and relationship between father and children. The Court ruled that as both daughters wanted nothing to do with their father and had gone to great lengths to make that clear, they had no right to expect him to contribute to college. They had moved beyond the sphere of his influence, and were emancipated.
Of particular note, the Court ruled that the evidence was so clear in this case, the court was able to decide the issue immediately at a motion, and there was no need for a trial (known as a “plenary hearing”), which was a substantial savings in counsel fees.
Mr. Tune concentrates his practice on family law. In 2014, the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys named him “Top 10 Under 40” for Excellence in Family Law. In 2015, he was certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Matrimonial Trial Attorney. Mr. Tune also received the 2012 Community of Light Social Justice Award for his instrumental work in establishing the SAFE’s HAVEN program.
Tune Law Group, LLC provides skilled legal assistance in various family law matters, including divorce, child custody, and alimony. If you need legal help, call 908-434-1061 or complete an online form to schedule a free consultation. Located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, we serve clients in and around Hunterdon County, Monmouth County, Whitehouse, and Tewksbury.