Caron v. Caron, No. Fa-93-527206 S (Feb. 22, 1996)

1996 Conn. Super. Ct. 1331-G
CourtConnecticut Superior Court
DecidedFebruary 22, 1996
DocketNo. FA-93-527206 S
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1996 Conn. Super. Ct. 1331-G (Caron v. Caron, No. Fa-93-527206 S (Feb. 22, 1996)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Connecticut Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Caron v. Caron, No. Fa-93-527206 S (Feb. 22, 1996), 1996 Conn. Super. Ct. 1331-G (Colo. Ct. App. 1996).

Opinion

[EDITOR'S NOTE: This case is unpublished as indicated by the issuing court.]MEMORANDUM OF DECISION RE: COMPLAINT FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE CT Page 1331-H The plaintiff wife commenced this action for a dissolution of the parties' marriage on the ground of irretrievable breakdown. The writ and complaint were returnable to this court on July 20, 1993. Thereby, the plaintiff also sought custody and support of the minor child, alimony, an equitable division of the parties' property, and other equitable relief The defendant husband filed an answer admitting the allegations of the complaint, and thereby submitted to the jurisdiction of this court. The defendant also filed a cross complaint seeking a dissolution of the marriage, custody and support of the minor child, alimony, an equitable division of the parties' property, attorney's fees, and other equitable relief.

Each party was represented by counsel at trial. Each party testified, and submitted financial affidavits, documentary evidence, and proposed orders for the consideration of the court. Only the defendant submitted a child support guidelines worksheet for the court's attention.

On November 21, 1995, during the course of the trial, the parties agreed that certain orders should be entered concerning the minor child. These included joint legal custody, with the plaintiff maintaining the child's primary residence. The defendant would have visitation scheduled on Wednesday afternoons from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, extended to 8:30 pm if no school was scheduled for the following day. Holiday visitations were to take place as follows: Thanksgiving — in even numbered years the defendant should have the child from Wednesday evening preceding Thanksgiving until 6:00 pm on the following Sunday. Christmas — every year the plaintiff should have the child with her on Christmas eve until 11:00 am of Christmas morning, with the defendant having the child for the balance of Christmas day. The child should spend the first half of each Christmas vacation with the plaintiff, and the second half with the defendant. Mid-SchoolVacations — The parties should alternate care of the minor child for the February and April school vacations; and, in the event there is only one such vacation scheduled for any school year, that too should be alternated. Summer vacations — Each party should be entitled to two uninterrupted weeks of summer vacation with the minor child, with each vacation week to commence on a Friday and end on a Sunday. The court has incorporated these agreements into its memorandum of decision. CT Page 1331-I

The court had invited the parties to submit briefs addressing paragraph 4j. of the defendant's proposed custody agreement, submitted under date of November 21, 1995. This proposal requested the court to order that "[t]he mother shall not move to other than Hartford or Litchfield counties without giving the father written notice of the move so that the child's best interest concerning contact with both parents may be addressed by the court." Neither party provided the court with written arguments on this issue.

I
From the evidence presented, the court finds as follows:

The plaintiff, Anna R. Caron, was married to the defendant, Robert Caron, in New Britain, Connecticut on July 12, 1975. The parties have one child, born to them during the course of the marriage, Nathan Caron (born March 27, 1985). The plaintiff is a life-long resident of the state of Connecticut. Neither party, nor the child, has been the recipient of public assistance.

The plaintiff, who is forty-seven years old, has pursued a successful career as a teacher of science and technology in the Newington public school system: she has taught anatomy, physiology, biology, computer science and other courses at the middle school, junior high school and high school level for twenty-six years. The plaintiff received an undergraduate degree in biology from the institution now known as Central Connecticut State University. During the course of this marriage, the plaintiff has also earned a masters degree in special education, and her "sixth year" certificate in education. The defendant did not contribute support, financial or otherwise, to these academic endeavors pursued by the plaintiff.

The plaintiff currently earns gross wages of approximately $62,000.00 per year. Because of the longevity of her employment, she will not likely receive salary increases in the future, although she intends to remain at her current job until Nathan reaches majority age. The plaintiff does not participate in the Social Security System, due the nature of her employment. In lieu thereof, she makes regular contributions to the State Teacher's Retirement fund. The defendant did not contest the plaintiff's financial affidavit which submitted, at the time of trial, that those contributions were worth "$70,500+". In 1992, prior to the commencement of this litigation, the plaintiff began purchase of CT Page 1331-J an annuity plan sponsored by the Aetna. At the time of trial, including contributions made during 1993 and 1994 when this action was pending, that annuity plan was valued at $22,550.00. The defendant raised no contest to the valuation of this annuity.

The defendant is nearly forty-nine years old. He served with the United States Air Force from 1967 through 1971. He was employed at Dunham Bush when the parties met, but was subject to frequent lay-offs at that job. The defendant has had various periods of employment and unemployment throughout the marriage. His only full time, continuous employment was at Colt's, where he started work in approximately 1980 and stopped in 1982. He did not earn income from work outside the home on a regular basis from 1982 until the commencement of this litigation, when the plaintiff told him to find work.

Very recently, the defendant obtained employment. He is currently working twenty to twenty-five hours a week at Stop and Shop. He is also currently working eight to fifteen hours a week at the United States Post Office, sorting and delivering mail in Avon, Connecticut. The defendant hopes to obtain full time employment with the post office. He currently earns total gross wages of $21,146.32.

The defendant took college classes from 1975 through 1984. He received tuition and support stipends through the GI bill while so engaged. Thereafter, the defendant received a B.S. degree in Industrial Technology from Central Connecticut State University. The defendant is well above average in intelligence, and excels in mathematics and electronics. The defendant can be very charming in public settings, such as trade shows. However, he has not been industrious or diligent in securing employment in any occupation which would make use of his education and training. The defendant has had an injury to his lower back, for which he has sought. but did not receive, disability benefits. Notwithstanding this condition, he is able to play golf once a week, pulling a cart to transport golf clubs during this activity.

In 1981, the plaintiff and the defendant constructed their current homestead at 56 Duane Lane in Burlington, Connecticut. Both parties contributed physical labor to the construction. The plaintiff was responsible for choosing the design of the home, and for dealing with sub-contractors who worked on the project. CT Page 1331-K

For the great part of their marriage, the defendant dominated the plaintiff physically, emotionally, and financially. The defendant has a history of alcohol abuse and a propensity to attempt to use physical and verbal violence as a means of resolving disputes and to assert himself.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Hall v. Hall
439 A.2d 447 (Supreme Court of Connecticut, 1982)
Wilkens v. Wilkens
523 A.2d 1371 (Connecticut Appellate Court, 1987)
O'Neill v. O'Neill
536 A.2d 978 (Connecticut Appellate Court, 1988)
Paddock v. Paddock
577 A.2d 1087 (Connecticut Appellate Court, 1990)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1996 Conn. Super. Ct. 1331-G, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/caron-v-caron-no-fa-93-527206-s-feb-22-1996-connsuperct-1996.