July 1, 2010 | 10:37 am

Daughter Sues, You Lose

Posted by Mihal Levy

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We live in one of the most litigious countries in the world, if not the most litigious.  What can be more outrageous than a country where people can pre-pay for legal services just in case they were to sue someone or be sued?  How about suing your father?  Well, Dana Soderberg, a student at Southern Connecticut State University, did just that - and won.

In 2005, Howard Soderberg signed a contract written by his daughter, Dana, promising to pay tuition and tuition-related expenses until she turned twenty-five.  Two years later, Howard ceased to make tuition payments.  According to the Chicago Law Tribune, Renee C. Berman (Dana’s attorney), stated that Dana needed expensive art supplies since she was an art major and that Howard was late in making payments which forced Dana to take out a $20,000 loan. (Some people put themselves through college, grad school and thereafter, Dana.  I’m just sayin’.)

So Dana did what any loving, forgiving daughter would do and sued her father.  The judge ruled in Dana’s favor for breach of contract and awarded her $47,000.

I will have to be much more careful now when signing contracts with my four-year-old son, or maybe I will just have to let him know that he is responsible for purchasing his own Legos from now on.  It is good to know that you can actually sue a parent and win, however.  Do in-laws count for mental anguish?