Davis v. Davis

268 N.W.2d 769, 1978 N.D. LEXIS 172
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 13, 1978
DocketCiv. 9473
StatusPublished
Cited by30 cases

This text of 268 N.W.2d 769 (Davis v. Davis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Davis v. Davis, 268 N.W.2d 769, 1978 N.D. LEXIS 172 (N.D. 1978).

Opinions

PAULSON, Justice.

The plaintiff, Lyle James Davis [hereinafter Lyle], and the defendant, Paula Catherine Davis [hereinafter Paula], were married in Grand Forks on July 23, 1972. Paula had previously been married and divorced. There were two children born as the issue of her first marriage, namely, Rachel Ann, born March 4, 1970, and Mary Carolyn, born July 7, 1971, both of whom were adopted by Lyle in 1975. Two children were born as issue of their marriage, namely, Michael James Davis, born October 28, 1973, and Patrick Lyle Davis, born September 9, 1975.

Lyle commenced this divorce action in November of 1976, alleging irreconcilable differences. On November 24, 1976 Paula answered, denying the allegations of the complaint and requesting a dismissal of the [771]*771action. On March 30, 1977, pursuant to the stipulation of the parties, Paula amended her answer and also counterclaimed, alleging adultery, and praying for a divorce, custody of the four children, child support, alimony, and an equitable division of the property. The action was tried to the court on September 1 and 2, 1977, and judgment was entered on November 15,1977. Thereafter Lyle moved for a new trial and, after a hearing, the court, on February 2, 1978, entered an order denying a new trial.

Lyle appealed from the judgment and from the order denying a new trial. The court granted a divorce to Paula on the ground of adultery. The district court awarded the following property to Paula: (1) the homestead, subject to the mortgage; (2) the personal property therein; (3) the custody of the four minor children; (4) child support in the sum of $200.00 per month for each child; (5) alimony in the sum of $1,600.00 per month; (6) her personal checking account; and (7) the sum of $80,000.00 as a cash settlement, which sum was divided as follows: $10,000.00 payable to Paula within 90 days after the date of the judgment, the remaining balance of $70,000.00, plus interest, payable in thirty-six equal monthly installments with interest at the rate of 7 percent on the unpaid balance, the first payment to commence October 1, 1982, except that the annual interest payments in the amount of $4,900.00 per year shall be paid on or before 30 days following each anniversary date of the judgment, commencing in 1978 and continuing in 1979,1980, and 1981, and through September 30,1982. The interest payments were to be in addition to other child support and alimony.

The court awarded to Lyle the following property: (1) all of his stock in Davis Jewelry, Inc.; (2) the Trepanier building; (3) all bank accounts presently in his name; (4) all other stock presently owned by him; (5) all personal property presently in his possession; and (6) the residence at Manvel, North Dakota, subject to indebtedness.

Lyle has appealed from that part of the divorce judgment in which the trial court divided the parties’ property, and awarded alimony and attorney fees.

We are first confronted with the question of whether or not Lyle’s motion for a new trial, based solely upon newly discovered evidence, which motion was denied by the district court, limits Lyle’s appeal to this single issue. When a party appeals from an order denying a new trial, the review in this court is limited to those grounds which were presented to the district court. However, when there is an appeal from the judgment, the appeal is not limited to those issues raised in a motion for a new trial. All issues which were properly preserved at the trial and raised on appeal are reviewable.

We shall now discuss the issues presented to this court, which are as follows:

(1) Whether or not the trial court’s distribution of property and the award of alimony were clearly erroneous.
(2) Whether or not the trial court committed reversible error in its application of the law concerning the distribution of property under the divorce decree to the children.
(3) Did the trial court err in finding that the appellee did not have sufficient moneys to pay her attorney fees and that the amount of $2,853.70 was reasonable?

Lyle requests this court to reverse the trial court’s award to Paula of $1,600.00 per month alimony and also the property award to Paula of $80,000.00. Lyle also requests this court to reduce the attorney fees which the trial court awarded to Paula’s attorney. However, Lyle does not contest the ground upon which Paula was granted a divorce. Nor does he appeal the award of custody of the four minor children to Paula, the award of $200.00 monthly support payments for each of the minor children during their respective minorities, or the award to Paula of the Belmont home, together with its furnishings.

The court has adopted the rule that the review of the judgment on appeal is limited to whether or not the findings of [772]*772fact are clearly erroneous within the provisions of Rule 52(a) of the North Dakota Rules of Civil Procedure, and, thus, we will not set aside those findings unless they are clearly erroneous. This court stated in Haugeberg v. Haugeberg, 258 N.W.2d 657, 659 (N.D.1977):

“A finding of fact is clearly erroneous when, although there is some evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made. Kostelecky v. Kosteleeky, supra 251 N.W.2d 400 (N.D.1977); Rambel v. Rambel, 248 N.W.2d 856 (N.D.1977); In re Estate of Elmer, 210 N.W.2d 815 (N.D.1973).”

The trial court’s determinations on matters of child support, alimony, and division of property are treated as findings of fact, and our review of such matters on appeal is limited by Rule 52(a), N.D.R.Civ.P. Haugeberg, supra.

In determining whether the trial court erred in dividing the property between Lyle and Paula, we are governed by the provisions of § 14-05-24, of the North Dakota Century Code, which grants to a district court in a divorce action the power to make such an equitable distribution of the real and personal property as may seem just and proper. Section 14-05-24, N.D.C.C., provides as follows:

“14-05-24. Permanent alimony — Division of property. — When a divorce is granted, the court shall make such equitable distribution of the real and personal property of the parties as may seem just and proper, and may compel either of the parties to provide for the maintenance of the children of the marriage, and to make such suitable allowances to the other party for support during life or for a shorter period as to the court may seem just, having regard to the circumstances of the parties respectively. The court from time to time may modify its orders in these respects.”

This court must also give consideration to § 14-05-25, N.D.C.C., which provides:

“14-05-25. Security for alimony— Disposition of homestead. — The court may require either party to give reasonable security for providing maintenance or making any payments required under the provisions of this chapter, and may enforce the same by appointment of a receiver or by any other remedy applicable to the case.

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Bluebook (online)
268 N.W.2d 769, 1978 N.D. LEXIS 172, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/davis-v-davis-nd-1978.