Bailey v. Bailey

140 P.2d 693, 60 Cal. App. 2d 291, 1943 Cal. App. LEXIS 520
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedAugust 25, 1943
DocketCiv. 14071, 14109
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 140 P.2d 693 (Bailey v. Bailey) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bailey v. Bailey, 140 P.2d 693, 60 Cal. App. 2d 291, 1943 Cal. App. LEXIS 520 (Cal. Ct. App. 1943).

Opinion

DORAN, J.

In the court below defendant and appellant was granted an interlocutory decree of divorce from plaintiff and respondent upon the ground of extreme cruelty as set up in appellant’s cross-complaint. Both parties concede the propriety of the decree of divorce, but appellant has taken this appeal from that portion of the decree which purports to make an award of the community property of the parties. The portion of the decree from which this appeal is taken reads as follows: “It is further ordered adjudged and decreed that Laura H. Bailey the Cross-Complainant herein, be awarded any and all monies deposited in the name of Laura H. Bailey at the Bank of America, Lancaster Branch, Lancaster, California, and the caracul sheep, numbering 11 head more or less, now in the possession of the said cross-complainant. It is further ordered, adjudged and decreed, that plaintiff and cross-defendant is hereby awarded all of the community property interest of the parties hereto in any and all real or personal property of the parties hereto and that from this day henceforth said interest shall be the separate property of said plaintiff and cross-defendant.” Appellant also contests the recital in the decree that findings of fact and conclusions of law were duly waived by the parties. Appellant has also taken a separate appeal from an order awarding appellant the sum of $50 for costs on her appeal from the interlocutory decree in question and the sum of $50 for attorney fees on appeal. Counsel for the respective parties have stipulated that these two appeals may be consolidated.

The contention that findings of fact and conclusions of law owere not waived is supported by the reporter’s transcript, certified as correct and settled by the trial judge, wherein the following appears:

“Me. Elvrtjm (appellant’s counsel): There will be findings of facts? The Court: I don’t know as you need them unless you want them. Mr. Briskin (respondent’s counsel): I don’t think so. Mr. Elvrum:: This court is not deciding as to that joint tenancy matter ? The Covet : I cannot touch it. Mr. Briskin: We will have findings and conclusions of law, and facts. Mr. Elvrum : Yes. . . .” The record does not subsequently show any waiver of this demand for findings.

*293 Appellant’s principal contention as to the error of the trial court in the disposition of the community property of the parties is based upon the proposition that in granting a divorce for extreme cruelty the innocent or prevailing spouse is entitled to more than one-half of the community property. In presenting her argument, however, appellant has ignored the fact that the record clearly indicates that the trial court made an award of $100 per month alimony to appellant in lieu of appellant’s interest in the community property in question, although the decree did not recite that the award of alimony was in lieu of community property. No appeal has been taken from that portion of the decree, which reads as follows: “It is further ordered adjudged and decreed that cross-defendant shall pay to cross-complainant the sum of $100 per month commencing upon the 6th day of October, 1942 and payable $100 per month on the 6th day of each and every month thereafter until further order of court.” At the trial the court expressly stated that this award was being made instead of an interest in the community property. The court also indicated that the state of appellant’s health was a factor in fixing the amount of the monthly payments. That portion of the decree from which the appeal is taken is plainly not severable from that in which appellant was awarded alimony; and it is therefore proper here to review the award of money to appellant along with the portion of the decree contested by appellant. (Milo v. Prior, 210 Cal. 569, 571 [292 P. 647].)

Respondent and his brother are farmers, operating as partners upon some 240 acres of land, engaged in the business of raising alfalfa hay. This partnership was formed prior to the marriage of appellant and respondent. Before the marriage respondent and his brother as partners acquired 40 acres of land by purchase and took another 40 acres under lease, and have farmed both parcels as partners ever since. After the marriage of appellant and respondent and during coverture another 40 acres was purchased by the partnership and 160 acres was acquired in joint tenancy, in the name of respondent’s brother, as a single man, and respondent and appellant, husband and wife. The bulk of the real and personal property in which appellant claims a community interest is involved in the farming operations of the partnership. Appellant and respondent were married in 1930. The farm *294 ing operations appear to have lost money until 1941. The partners each drew $50 a month from the partnership. The value of the real property, other than the 160 acres in joint tenancy mentioned above, was not established, nor was any evidence given as a basis for the establishment of its value. The personal property, live stock and farm machinery connected with the farming operations at the time of the trial appears to have had a value of between four and five thousand dollars. At that time the partnership had about $1,200 in the bank, subject to the payment of the month’s bills. There was no evidence of the amount of profits derived from the farming operations since 1941, though there was some basis given for an estimate. Respondent in his complaint alleges a community property interest of the parties in the approximate sum of $5,000. In passing, attention should be called to section 2419(e) of the Civil Code, wherein it is provided that a partner’s right in specific partnership property is not community property.

As to evidence of property other than that involved in the partnership, respondent has a 20-payment policy of life insurance, the face value of which is not shown by the record. The policy was taken out when respondent was 15 years of age. The annual premium thereon is $70.71, and during the marriage of appellant and respondent the total sum of $777.81 was paid in premiums on the said policy. There is a 1942 Chevrolet automobile purchased by respondent, but there does not appear to be any equity therein. During their marriage the parties acquired a certain Bentonite mining claim located in the county of San Bernardino. There is some evidence that the necessary assessment work has not been kept up on this claim. The proceeds derived from a lease on this claim were divided equally between the parties as the same were received. The evidence reveals that the bank account in the Bank of America, Lancaster Branch, was derived from appellant’s share of the proceeds from the Bentonite mine and from the proceeds of the sale of butter and eggs made by appellant. It is apparent from the record that the parties intended this money to be appellant’s separate property. The caracul sheep were purchased by appellant partly from funds out of this account and partly through a loan from appellant’s father. It is thus apparent that the sheep also constitute the separate property of appellant. The *295 record reveals that the trial court considered the 160 acres held in joint tenancy as the separate property of the parties; and in this view the court appears to have been correct. (Siberell v. Siberell, 214 Cal. 767 [7 P.2d 1003].)

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Bluebook (online)
140 P.2d 693, 60 Cal. App. 2d 291, 1943 Cal. App. LEXIS 520, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bailey-v-bailey-calctapp-1943.