Postema v. Postema

471 N.W.2d 912 (1991)

Facts

P and D were married in 1984. D was employed as a cost accountant and P worked as a licensed practical nurse and attending school for an associate's degree in nursing so she could become a registered nurse. When the parties married, it was planned that D would enroll in law school and that P would postpone her schooling and work full time to support them while D attended school. D went to Wayne State, and P went to work and earned $53,000 while D was in law school. P also assumed the primary responsibility of maintaining the household, cooking, cleaning and running all errands. D did work as a law clerk and earned $12,000. D's education was financed through student loans of $15,000. D graduated and worked at a starting salary of $41,000. P then resumed her classes. However, the parties separated that year, 1987. For most of the marriage, the parties fought with each other. The trial court found that the breakdown of the marriage was D's fault, made D responsible for his student loan, split everything else down the middle and then valued the law degree at $80,000 and gave P a $32,000 award based on that value and equalization of the shares and to be paid in installments of $371.55 at 7% interest until paid. No party got alimony. D appealed and W cross-appealed.