Dinunzio v. Dinunzio, Unpublished Decision (7-28-2006)

2006 Ohio 3888
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 28, 2006
DocketNo. 2005-L-124.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 2006 Ohio 3888 (Dinunzio v. Dinunzio, Unpublished Decision (7-28-2006)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dinunzio v. Dinunzio, Unpublished Decision (7-28-2006), 2006 Ohio 3888 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Peter DiNunzio, Sr., appeals the Judgment Entry of Divorce of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, terminating his marriage to plaintiff-appellee, Ellen DiNunzio, and dividing the marital estate. For the following reasons, we affirm the decision of the court below.

{¶ 2} Peter and Ellen DiNunzio were married in Cleveland, Ohio, in September 1962, the year that Peter arrived in America from Italy. Four children were born as issue of the marriage, all emancipated adults: Peter, Jr., David, Diana, and Joan. Ellen quit working outside the home in 1962 when she became pregnant. Since that time, she has been a homemaker and has raised the children. After the birth of Joan in 1968, Ellen began to suffer from paranoid schizophrenia. Ellen's condition has required her hospitalization on several occasions during the course of the marriage.

{¶ 3} Until 1982, Peter worked as a carpenter, for which he currently receives a pension. In 1982, Peter formed D N Builders, Inc. As incorporated, Peter owned 93 percent of D N Builders and Peter, Jr. owned 7 percent. Peter and Peter, Jr. have been the only owners and permanent employees of D N Builders. Initially, D N Builders primarily did commercial renovation. Peter managed the company and Peter, Jr. handled the finances and bookkeeping, on account of Peter's limited ability in English. Peter, Jr. was a teenager when D N Builders was formed. Peter, Jr. has worked for D N Builders his entire adult life. Since 1982, D N Builders has been the sole means of financial support for the DiNunzio family and has provided for the education of the other DiNunzio children. Besides Peter and Peter, Jr., none of the other members of the DiNunzio family took an active part in the business. D N Builders was run informally as a "family" business. Peter, Jr. received a salary that varied from year to year.

{¶ 4} D N Builders came to be involved in home construction. In 1994, Primavera Development Limited Partnership was formed for the purpose of developing a housing subdivision. Peter owned a 37½ percent interest in Primavera Development; D N Builders owned another 37½ percent; and Elio Iafelice, a family friend of the DiNunzios, owned 25 percent. Primavera Development acquired a tract of land in Mentor, Ohio, which it proceeded to subdivide and improve. Although some lots in the development were sold bare, it has been the preferred practice to sell the lots with houses built by D N Builders. For this purpose, D N Builders constructed a model home at 9290 Angelina Circle. In 1998, Peter, Ellen, and Peter, Jr. moved into the house at 9290 Angelina Circle which also houses the business office of D N Builders. At the time the present action was initiated, eight lots in the Primavera development remained unsold.

{¶ 5} In 1993, Diana and her husband, Charles Murray, moved into a house at 5106 Forest Road, Mentor, built by J P Partners, a partnership formed by Peter, Jr. and John Ciancibello. This house remained titled in Peter, Jr.'s name and Diana made payments to Peter, Jr. for the house.

{¶ 6} Since 1995, David has lived at a house at 9314 Lake Shore Boulevard, Mentor, titled in Peter's name. David did not pay any part of the purchase price for the home and did not pay rent, although he has spent time and money renovating the house.

{¶ 7} In 1998, Joan and her husband purchased a D N house at 5431 St. Peters Way in the Primavera development and next to the residence at 9290 Angelina Circle where Peter, Ellen, and Peter, Jr. resided.

{¶ 8} In 2000, Peter was diagnosed with severe coronary artery disease resulting in by-pass surgery and the receipt of social security disability benefits. Also in 2000, Peter purchased a condominium in Delray Beach, Florida. Peter continued to work at D N Builders as a consultant.

{¶ 9} In December 2001, Diana filed for divorce from Charles and had him removed from the residence at 5106 Forest Road. Charles was allowed to stay at the Angelina Circle residence by Peter and Peter, Jr. These events precipitated a crisis in the DiNunzio family, dividing the family along gender lines.1 In the same month, Ellen ceased taking her medicine and was admitted to Laurelwood psychiatric hospital. At this time, she determined to divorce Peter. Ellen remained hospitalized until January 2002.

{¶ 10} In January 2002, Peter, Jr. initiated legal proceedings to have Diana expelled from the residence at 5106 Forest Road. It was ultimately determined that Diana would be allowed to purchase the Forest Road property from Peter, Jr. SeeDiNunzio v. Murray, 11th Dist. No. 2003-L-213, 2005-Ohio-4047.

{¶ 11} In February 2002, on the recommendation of Ellen's doctor, Peter, Jr. initiated proceedings to have Ellen declared incompetent and to have himself appointed guardian for Ellen. This action was opposed by Joan, who filed a counter-application seeking to have herself appointed Ellen's guardian should Ellen be found incompetent.

{¶ 12} In June 2002, Peter quitclaimed to David the property at 9314 Lake Shore Boulevard and quitclaimed to Peter, Jr. properties at 9093 Lake Shore Boulevard and 9256 Lake Shore Boulevard.

{¶ 13} In July 2002, the probate court determined Ellen to be competent and denied the applications for guardianship.

{¶ 14} In October 2002, Peter transferred his 93 percent interest in D N Builders, represented by 697 shares of stock, to Peter, Jr. No consideration was paid for any of the transfers of property or stock.

{¶ 15} On November 22, 2002, Ellen filed a Complaint for Divorce, Spousal Support, Division of Property, Attorney Fees, Distributive Award and Other Relief and a Motion for Ex Parte Restraining Orders on the Parties, thereby formally commencing the present litigation. In addition to Peter, Peter, Jr., David, Iafelice, D N Builders, and Primavera Development were also named as defendants. Restraining orders were issued to all parties prohibiting the alienation of the parties' property "provided that this restraining order shall not prevent the normal operation of any business." In the course of the proceedings, numerous motions to show cause have been filed by both parties. Further effort was made to have Ellen declared incompetent.

{¶ 16} In July 2003, Peter, Jr. encumbered the Angelina Circle residence by executing a mortgage deed and promissory note in favor of First Merit Bank NA on behalf of D N Builders. Peter, Jr. used $150,000 of this money to purchase property located at 9338 Lake Shore Boulevard, titled in his name, for future development. The other $77,000 was used for other business expenses.

{¶ 17} In September 2003, as a result of Peter, Jr.'s encumbering the Angelina Road property, Ellen moved the court to join First Merit Bank and Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland as new party defendants. Although the motion to join was granted, these parties were ultimately dismissed from the action.

{¶ 18} The matter proceeded to trial before a magistrate on September 16, September 17, September 21, and October 8, 2004. At the time of trial, Ellen was 70 years old and Peter was 66 years old. The magistrate's decision was issued on October 18, 2004.

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

Related

Katz v. Katz
2014 Ohio 1255 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2014)
Brady v. Brady, 2007-P-0059 (4-4-2008)
2008 Ohio 1657 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2008)
Harkey v. Harkey, 2006-L-273 (3-7-2008)
2008 Ohio 1027 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2008)
Mitchell v. Mitchell, 2007-P-0023 (2-29-2008)
2008 Ohio 833 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2008)
Scott v. Scott, 2007-T-0059 (2-8-2008)
2008 Ohio 530 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2008)
Moser v. Moser, 2006-P-0047 (8-10-2007)
2007 Ohio 4109 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2007)
Dinunzio v. Dinunzio, 2006-L-106 (5-25-2007)
2007 Ohio 2578 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2007)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2006 Ohio 3888, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dinunzio-v-dinunzio-unpublished-decision-7-28-2006-ohioctapp-2006.