Colasurdo v. Colasurdo

181 P.2d 172, 27 Wash. 2d 860, 1947 Wash. LEXIS 335
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedMay 22, 1947
DocketNo. 30033.
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 181 P.2d 172 (Colasurdo v. Colasurdo) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Colasurdo v. Colasurdo, 181 P.2d 172, 27 Wash. 2d 860, 1947 Wash. LEXIS 335 (Wash. 1947).

Opinion

Jeffers, J.

This is a divorce action, based upon the ground of cruelty, instituted by Jennie Colasurdo against her husband, Angelo Colasurdo. Defendant, by his answer, denied the allegations of cruelty contained in the com *862 plaint, and, by his cross-complaint, he also asked that a decree be awarded to him on the ground of cruelty.

The cause came on for hearing before the court on March 21, 1946, was continued on March 22nd and March 25th, and thereafter continued to March 30, 1946, being concluded on April 8, 1946, as shown by the preliminary statement to the findings of fact. On April 19, 1946, the court made and entered findings of fact, conclusions of law, and an interlocutory decree of divorce favorable to defendant. No motion for a new trial was made.

The court found that the parties were married on May 16, 1925, and ever since have been husband and wife; that as a result of such marriage there had been born two daughters, Theresa, twenty years of age, and Suzanne, sixteen years of age. The court further found that the parties had acquired certain real and personal property during their marriage, among which is the Angelo Cafe, located at 501 Jackson street, in the city of Seattle. A description of the other property is then set out. We quote finding No. 5 in full, as it is undoubtedly the basis of the court’s conclusion relative to which party was entitled to a divorce, and relative to a division of the property.

Finding No. 5:

“That the home of the parties hereto was invaded by two men, and that plaintiff, under the evidence, was very indiscreet with two others; that plaintiff continued her misconduct with one of these men after defendant had attempted to affect a reconciliation, and that she continued to correspond—not only with this soldier, but—to the various members of his family, represented herself to them as a ‘Miss’ Colasurdo, and received assurances from them of their brother’s and son’s love for her and, also, his assurances that he was returning to marry her; when he did return, she discarded him when his affections became so violent that she couldn’t stand him, to take up with another, who is now living in this house with her and a man that comes on the witness stand and testifies that he is in love with her and she is in love with him and that they expect to get married; that plaintiff had ordered the defendant out of his home and then took up with some soldier whose name is unknown, and also had an affair with *863 another soldier and, at the time of the trial, plaintiff was still harboring in her house her lover who had the audacity to come to defendant and say that he was going to stay there unless the defendant protected his wife and daughters from her former lover; that defendant has shown that he is very much in love with his wife and daughters, and the plaintiff has subjected the defendant to cruel treatment and personal indignities, rendering his life burdensome in the extreme, without any just cause or provocation.”

Finding No. 6 states:

“That because of the misconduct of the plaintiff and for the purpose of showing that the defendant on the merits is the injured party and is entitled to a divorce, and also for the purpose of showing among other reasons why the court in making a division of the property, in the exercise of what the court believes to be justice and equity, is awarding a greater portion of the property to the husband, the defendant.”

The finding then sets out and describes certain pieces of real property and certain items of personal property, with the value of each, as fixed by the court. The value of all the property totals the sum of $107,674.25. The finding continues:

“I have placed a top value on the business and on the home property. The appraisal of the business and home property furnished is $65,000.00; that might be high, but I believe that they could be sold for that today;

“That the amount that I find that the plaintiff is entitled to have awarded to her is $20,314.77 made up as hereinafter set forth in the conclusions of law and decree.”

The court concluded that defendant was entitled to an interlocutory decree of divorce; that plaintiff should be denied a divorce and her action dismissed; that defendant should be awarded the following real and personal property: The Angelo Cafe, together with the stock, fixtures, and equipment located therein, which the court, in finding No. 6, determined to be of the value of $30,000; the property referred to as the home property, being lots 23 and 24, in block 25, replat of blocks 8, 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24 of West Seattle Park, together with the household furniture and *864 furnishings located therein; three life insurance policies; cash in Seattle-First National Bank, $2,140.98; defendant’s personal bank account, $600, and his business bank account, $1,100; United States victory loan bonds estimated to be worth $3,468.50; Chrysler automobile, estimated to be worth $1,600; other real estate, all of the estimated value of $86,359.48.

The court further concluded that plaintiff should be awarded the following real and personal property: Lot 6, block 7, of Walker’s Addition to the city of Seattle, with the appurtenances thereunto belonging (being a corner lot at $5,500); balance due on the contract on property located at 1515 E. Olive street, of an estimated value of $3,000; bank balance in International Branch of Seattle-First National Bank, $1,590.91; bank balance in National Bank of Commerce, $1,623.86; 1942 Plymouth automobile estimated to be worth $1,500; diamonds and jewelry worth $4,600; fur coat, $2,000; furs, $500; and other of plaintiff’s wearing apparel and effects personal to herself, of undetermined value. (It will be noted that $7,100 of the $21,-314.77 worth of property awarded to plaintiff is the value placed upon diamonds, jewelry, fur coat, and furs.)

The court further concluded that joint control of the daughters should be awarded to the parties, but that defendant should be charged with the support and education of the daughters during their minority, or until such time as they should marry.

The court further concluded that plaintiff should be permitted to reside in the West Seattle property until either such time as she. should remarry, or such time as both children become emancipated by marriage or otherwise; that defendant should likewise be permitted to make his home in the West Seattle property; that defendant should pay to attorneys for plaintiff the sum of five hundred dollars for their services. An interlocutory decree was entered in accordance with the conclusions of law, and this appeal by plaintiff followed.

*865 The errors assigned are in denying appellant a divorce; in granting respondent a divorce; in awarding to respondent property of the value of $86,359.48 and to appellant property of the value of $21,314.77; in not awarding to appellant at least one half of the community property, excluding gifts of a personal nature theretofore made to her by respondent; in awarding to the parties joint custody of the minor daughters; and in awarding the honie of the parties to respondent and permitting both parties to occupy such home.

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Bluebook (online)
181 P.2d 172, 27 Wash. 2d 860, 1947 Wash. LEXIS 335, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/colasurdo-v-colasurdo-wash-1947.