Carpenter v. Carpenter

HOLOHAN, Chief Justice.

This suit concerns the disposition of a death benefit which became payable upon the death of John R. Carpenter, a longtime employee of the City of Mesa. John’s former wife Opal sought a share of the death benefit. The superior court granted judgment to Opal awarding her the proceeds of the group life insurance policy on the life of John and one-half of the value of John’s retirement account as of the date of the dissolution of the marriage of John and Opal on September 27, 1974. The trial court also awarded Opal $6000 in attorney’s fees. The value of the death benefit…