Daigle v. Daigle

626 So. 2d 140, 1993 WL 437663
CourtMississippi Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 28, 1993
Docket92-CA-0562
StatusPublished
Cited by82 cases

This text of 626 So. 2d 140 (Daigle v. Daigle) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mississippi Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Daigle v. Daigle, 626 So. 2d 140, 1993 WL 437663 (Mich. 1993).

Opinion

626 So.2d 140 (1993)

Eddie DAIGLE, Jr.
v.
Shannon Marie Decuir DAIGLE.

No. 92-CA-0562.

Supreme Court of Mississippi.

October 28, 1993.

*142 Vicky F. Williams, Billy G. Bridges, Bridges & Williams, Brandon, for appellant.

Randy A. Clark, Stanfield Carmody & Coxwell, Jackson, for appellee.

Before PRATHER, P.J., and SULLIVAN and JAMES L. ROBERTS, Jr., JJ.

JAMES L. ROBERTS, Jr., Justice, for the Court:

This appeal comes from a judgment in the Chancery Court of Hinds County granting Shannon Marie DeCuir Daigle separate maintenance, and denying Eddie Daigle, Jr., a divorce on the ground of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm in part and reverse and render in part.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Eddie and Shannon were married on August 19, 1967. Two children were born of the marriage, Shawnette, born in 1970, and Kevin, born in 1976.

Eddie moved out of the marital home on August 12, 1988. Shannon filed a Complaint for Separate Maintenance on August 3, 1989, alleging that Eddie was guilty of adultery and desertion. The Chancery Court entered a Temporary Order on October 12, 1989, awarding Shannon custody of Kevin, granting child support and maintenance of $3,500.00 a month, as well as use of the marital home. Eddie filed his answer to the Complaint for Separate Maintenance on May 14, 1991, denying Shannon's charges. He also filed a counterclaim for divorce on the ground of Shannon's habitual cruel and inhuman treatment. Eddie alleged that Shannon's misconduct was the cause of their separation, and therefore, she was not entitled to separate maintenance. Alternatively, Eddie sought an irreconcilable differences divorce.

The Chancellor entered a Judgment for Separate Maintenance for Shannon, and dismissed Eddie's counterclaim for divorce with prejudice.

Eddie testified that he moved out of the marital home because he had had enough; there was too much pressure; and the marriage was unbearable. While Eddie testified that a main reason for the separation was due to their sexual problems, under cross-examination, he admitted that he and Shannon had engaged in sexual relations during *143 the last few months before Eddie moved out of the marital home. He also admitted that it was possible that his sexual attention had shifted from his wife to his girlfriend, Pat Gary.

There were a few specific instances that Eddie addressed pertaining to his claim that Shannon brought on this separation. The first instance involved Shannon throwing a glass at him in their bedroom. The second involved Shannon taking a golf club to the window of the office of the woman with whom Eddie was involved, Pat Gary, an employee of Eddie's. He also testified that Shannon had told him that she had rather see him [Eddie] dead than see him move out. Eddie also claimed that there was constant bickering, and that Shannon was constantly complaining about how much he worked.

Shannon denied that she moved out of the marital bedroom. She also addressed the glass-breaking instances. Shannon testified that she discovered her husband on the telephone late one night talking to Pat Gary. Eddie told her that he had strong emotional feelings for Pat Gary. Shannon stated that she got mad and threw the glass, and that she had not aimed for Eddie. Regarding the golf club instance, Shannon testified that she had received a letter from Eddie on Mother's Day weekend, May 1989, in which he told her that the marriage was over and that he wanted a divorce. Shannon stated that she was very upset. Shannon testified that she went to the office and broke the glass out of Pat Gary's office window. She said that it was a Sunday, and no one was around. Furthermore, she owned a one-half interest in the building. Shannon said that such behavior was "out of character" for her. Eddie had also admitted that it was out of character for her.

In December 1991, Eddie contacted Shannon and told her that he might be returning home after the first of the year. Shannon testified that she was suspicious, since it was getting close to a hearing on the separation. Shannon told the court that she asked Eddie if he would be willing to go to counselling as a condition of his returning home, and he told her no. Shannon said that she called Eddie back and he told her that he was not coming back.

At the time of the separation, Eddie deeded certain property to Shannon. In October 1991, Shannon's assets totalled $307,658.95, including $70,000.00 in cash and certificates of deposits.

Evidence at trial showed that Eddie was the majority stockholder in Daigle & Associates,[1] the primary business of which is insurance. The only two other shareholders were Sam Mason and Pat Gary.[2]

Eddie testified that his financial obligations exceeded his income. He explained to the court that his business had declined. Eddie showed that his income had dropped from an adjusted gross income of $355,954.40 in 1990 to $1,200.00 for the first six months of 1991. However, Shannon's counsel detailed a number of ventures that Eddie had entered into since the separation, including purchasing property in Texas for $330,000.00, and deeding such to Daigle & Associates.

MOTION TO STRIKE SHANNON'S STATEMENT OF FACTS, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE, TO STRIKE THE OBJECTIONABLE PORTIONS

Eddie moves to strike Shannon's statement of facts, or in the alternative, to strike the objectionable portions of the statement of the facts, pursuant to Miss.S.Ct. Rules 28(a)(4) and 27, and Miss.R.Civ.Proc. 12(f).

Eddie cites no case law, and only the rules mentioned above. Rule 28(a)(4) defines the required statement of the case, stating that "[t]here shall follow the statement of facts *144 relevant to the issues presented for review, with appropriate references to the record." Rule 27 describes the contents of motions and responses to this Court. It also gives guidance on determining motions for procedural orders, and other matters inapplicable in the Motion before the Court. Miss.R.Civ. Proc. 12(f) involves motions to strike pleadings before the court.

There appear to be no misstatements regarding the facts of this case, only mischaracterizations brought on by zealous advocacy. It appears that counsel for Shannon began argument of the case in the statement of facts rather than in the argument section of the brief. As long as there are no misrepresentations, this Court can overlook the zealous nature of those portions of the facts. The Motion to Strike Shannon's Statement of Facts is denied.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

On appeal, this Court will not overturn the chancery court unless its findings were manifestly wrong. Lenoir v. Lenoir, 611 So.2d 200, 203 (Miss. 1992) (citing Nichols v. Tedder, 547 So.2d 766, 781 (Miss. 1989)). The chancellor's findings of fact will not be disturbed when this Court finds substantial evidence supporting those findings. Lenoir, 611 So.2d at 203 (citing Tedford v. Dempsey, 437 So.2d 410, 417 (Miss. 1983)).

LAW

I.

WHETHER THE LOWER COURT ERRED IN DENYING EDDIE DAIGLE, JR., APPELLANT, A DIVORCE ON THE GROUND OF HABITUAL CRUEL AND INHUMAN TREATMENT.

Eddie contends the lower court erred in denying him a divorce on the grounds of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment.

This Court has recently restated the basis for divorce on the ground of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment. In order to establish habitual, cruel and inhuman treatment, the evidence should prove conduct that:

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

Related

Kemily Rankin v. Kelvin Rankin
Mississippi Supreme Court, 2021
Chester C. Thornton v. Felicia L. Thornton
Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2021
Martha G. Bradshaw v. Loyd E. Bradshaw
Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2019
Rickey McCarley v. Kellie McCarley
270 So. 3d 218 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2018)
William W. Williams v. Ursel Williams
224 So. 3d 1282 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2017)
Anderson White, II v. Barbara White
208 So. 3d 587 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2016)
Nalonnie Moore Osborne v. Leslie Osborne
202 So. 3d 639 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2016)
Huseth v. Huseth
135 So. 3d 846 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 2014)
Brown v. Brown
142 So. 3d 425 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2013)
Germany v. Germany
123 So. 3d 423 (Mississippi Supreme Court, 2013)
Heimert v. Heimert
101 So. 3d 181 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2012)
Price v. Price
22 So. 3d 331 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2009)
G.B.W. v. E.R.W.
9 So. 3d 1200 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2009)
McIntosh v. McIntosh
977 So. 2d 1257 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2008)
Kumar v. Kumar
976 So. 2d 957 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2008)
Cassell v. Cassell
970 So. 2d 267 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2007)
Oswalt v. Oswalt
981 So. 2d 993 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2007)
Watkins v. Watkins
957 So. 2d 440 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2007)
Jackson v. Jackson
922 So. 2d 53 (Court of Appeals of Mississippi, 2006)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
626 So. 2d 140, 1993 WL 437663, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/daigle-v-daigle-miss-1993.