Hanson v. Hanson
Missouri Supreme Court
738 S.W.2d 429 (1987)
- Written by Robert Schefter, JD
Facts
This case was consolidated for appeal with the case of Graham v. Graham. In both cases, the husbands were the sole partners in an oral surgery practice formed during their respective marriages. Both wives used the same accounting expert at trial, Stephen Smith, who valued the practice at $442,212, including $351,077 as going concern or goodwill value. Both husbands retained Carl Evers as an expert, who valued the practice at $91,000 and concluded that goodwill value did not exist in the practice. A third party, oral surgeon Dr. Thomas Coyle, testified at the Hanson trial that he purchased a similar practice in the area and did not pay a value for goodwill. The Hanson trial court valued the oral surgery practice at $324,862, and Dr. Hanson appealed. The Graham trial court valued the practice at $90,280, and Mrs. Graham appealed the valuation, while Dr. Graham appealed on other grounds. Those appeals were consolidated before the Missouri Supreme Court.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Robertson, J.)
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