Danley v. Danley

163 N.W.2d 71, 1968 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 981
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedDecember 10, 1968
Docket53177
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 163 N.W.2d 71 (Danley v. Danley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Danley v. Danley, 163 N.W.2d 71, 1968 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 981 (iowa 1968).

Opinion

SNELL, Justice.

This appeal involves the property division and alimony awarded plaintiff-wife in a divorce decree.

The trial court granted plaintiff a divorce from defendant on the ground of adultery. The trial court said: “Suffice it to say that the defendant has committed most brazen and culpable breaches of the marital relation and that he has promised to marry his paramour as soon as he can.” The right of plaintiff to a divorce is not contested on appeal. The details of defendant’s extra-marital activities need not be discussed.

Plaintiff and defendant were married in 1941. They are the parents of three children. The two older children are now married and no longer in the family home. A *72 son, Kevin, born August 24, 1951, is at home with his mother, plaintiff herein.

Defendant was an only child. His parents owned two farms, one containing 120 acres and one of 194 acres. From the time of their marriage until defendant’s father died in 1961 plaintiff and defendant lived on one of the farms. Except during 1952 and 1953 while defendant was in the automobile business in Prairie City they operated the two tracts in conjunction with defendant’s parents. The farming operations were not sufficiently successful to provide many conveniences. The farms were encumbered. The house first had electricity in 1943 and water and toilet facilities in 1951. Plaintiff did no field work except to help detassel corn. However, she did farm chores and her work contributed substantially in the farm operation. She has been employed outside the home since April 1962. Her earnings have been used for household and family expenses.

The parties quit farming in 1962. Defendant then went to work in Des Moines selling automobiles. Since September 1963 he has been employed by Vigortone Products, Inc. of Cedar Rapids. He trains and directs salesmen. He is paid a salary and bonus. His taxable wages for 1965 totaled $6,684.03. He also has an expense account for travel. He is now a Division Manager.

I.Defendant’s mother died in March 1964. Defendant then became the owner of the farms. The 120 acre farm was sold in 1964 and the 194 acre farm was sold in 1966.

We quote from the trial court’s findings of fact:

“No attempt will be made to trace the proceeds arising from these sales. While it is true that sizable liens against the properties involved therein were satisfied from the proceeds of the sales it is also true that some of the money so received was used in maintaining a high standard of living for the defendant and his family and in providing the defendant with funds with which to engage in extensive and expensive extramarital activities. The bank deposits to which reference is hereinafter made are, at least in large measure, what remains of the proceeds realized from said sales.”

At the time of trial plaintiff was employed by Look Magazine in Des Moines. Her take-home pay in 1966 was $2,686.14. She drives to and from work and provides transportation for five persons who pay her therefor at the rate of $5 per week each. Her earnings went into the family account from the time she began working until the parties separated.

The following items of property were involved in the trial court’s award:

1. The home property in Prairie City valued at $20,000 and encumbered for $14,-303.21 with interest at 6% per annum and requiring monthly installment payment of $116.65. Title to this property subject to the encumbrances thereon was awarded to plaintiff.

2. The personal property in the home was awarded to plaintiff except for a long list of certain specifically described items awarded to defendant. These items are not in controversy.

3. A 1965 Buick automobile subject to an encumbrance in the sum of $1,281.56 was awarded to plaintiff.

4. Plaintiff was awarded care, custody and control of the minor son, Kevin, subject to the right of visitation by defendant.

5. Defendant was directed to pay $100 per month to the support of the minor son, Kevin, until he attains the age of 21 years, marries or becomes self-supporting, the payments to be made to plaintiff through the office of the clerk of the court.

6. The bank deposits mentioned, supra, representing what was left from the sale of the farms totaled $18,762.39. Of this amount plaintiff was awarded $10,000 “as lump sum permanent alimony.” The remainder subject to certain specified costs was awarded to defendant.

*73 7. In addition to the money on deposit awarded to defendant he was awarded all other property including the following items:

(a) Lot 14 in Valley High Manor, an official plat, now a part of the City of Des Moines, subject to encumbrances thereon. The title to this property was held by defendant and Carolyn Deaton, as tenants in common. Defendant had made the down payment thereon.

(b) The 1967 Buick automobile subject to the encumbrance thereon.

(c) A car purchased by defendant for his and plaintiffs son regarded as the son’s property.

(d) A 1960 Comet automobile purchased by defendant and given to Miss Deaton and apparently now owned by her.

(e) A diamond ring worth $6S0 upon which there remained unpaid the sum of $215.32.

(f) Two bank accounts totalling $910.90.

The trial court also determined the primary liability of the parties on their joint and several obligations. Prior allowances of suit money and attorney fees were confirmed and further allowances made. These items are not challenged on appeal.

Plaintiff appealed claiming that the $10,-000 awarded her was in substance a property settlement and that she should be awarded periodic alimony payments of at least $60 per month to be increased to $100 upon the termination of Kevin’s child support payments.

We agree that some provision and protection of plaintiff’s future should be provided.

Defendant cross-appealed claiming that the $10,000 awarded plaintiff was actually alimony and not a property settlement; that it was more than adequate; more than normally favorable to plaintiff; that no further alimony payments should be required and that defendant should be given an equity of $2,000 in the house in Prairie City at such time as it may be sold in the future. With these propositions we do not agree.

II. In Rider v. Rider, 251 Iowa 1388, 1390, 105 N.W.2d 508, this appears:

“ ‘As to property division and alimony decision, divorce cases are peculiarly dependent on the facts of each case. Specific rules are not too helpful because the facts vary from case to case. The elements to be considered are parties’ age, health, present ability to earn, amount of resources owned by each or both parties, contributions of each to the joint accumulations, the duration of the marriage, indebtedness of each of both, conduct of the guilty party, and any other facts which assist the court to arrive at a just, fair and equitable decision. [Citations] * * *'"

In the case at bar we have considered these same elements.

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163 N.W.2d 71, 1968 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 981, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/danley-v-danley-iowa-1968.