Johnson v. Cyklop Strapping Corp

In Johnson v. Cyklop Strapping Corp., 220 N.J. Super. 250, 257-58, 531 A.2d 1078 (App.Div.1987), certif. denied, 110 N.J. 196, 540 A.2d 18 (1988), an adult, age eighteen child filed a complaint in New Jersey, suing both her divorced parents for financial assistance to defray the cost of her college education. 233 N.J. Super. at 131, 558 A.2d 61. The child's parents were divorced in Florida in 1976 when plaintiff was age six. Ibid. The Florida decree awarded custody of plaintiff to her mother and required her father to pay child support. Ibid. In 1977, the mother moved to New Jersey with plaintiff, while the father remained in Florida. Ibid. In her complaint, plaintiff asserted that since she was age twelve, her father promised her a college education, and encouraged plaintiff to move to Florida to establish a residency there to reduce the cost of college tuition. Ibid. In 1987, the plaintiff accepted his offer and moved to Florida. Ibid. Difficulties between the plaintiff and her father occurred and, in 1988, the plaintiff returned to New Jersey to resume living with her mother; however, plaintiff was told by her mother that she was not welcome. Ibid. The father was served with the plaintiff's suit in Florida; however, the trial court granted the father's motion to dismiss based upon a finding of a lack of personal jurisdiction. Id. at 132, 558 A.2d 61.