Eichmann v. Eichmann

485 N.W.2d 206, 1992 S.D. LEXIS 47, 1992 WL 80997

• Court: South Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: April 22, 1992
• Docket: 17447
• Status: Published

Opinions

AMUNDSON, Justice.

Arthur Eichmann (Art) appeals the alimony provisions of a judgment and decree of divorce from Sandra Eichmann (Sandra). We reverse the award of alimony and remand.

FACTS

Art and Sandra were married on August 1, 1980, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It was the second marriage for both parties. Art was approximately 39 years of age at the time of the marriage and Sandra was about 34. Within the first month of the marriage, Art was diagnosed as a diabetic. This brought about a change in his lifestyle. He could no longer drink and, as a consequence, he no longer wanted to go out drinking and dancing with Sandra as they had before their marriage. Eventually Sandra began going out without Art and this increased in frequency during the course of the marriage. Art was also diagnosed as being partially impotent and this caused a breakdown in the parties’ sexual relationship.

Sandra was also ill during much of the marriage, suffering from a chronic circulatory problem in her legs that had its onset just prior to the marriage. She has been declared disabled and unable to work for purposes of receiving social security disability benefits and her own ill health also contributed to a breakdown in the parties’ sexual relationship. As the marriage deteriorated, Sandra consulted several counselors for depression related to the parties’ marital problems. However, Sandra’s problems did not prevent her from active social involvement as she was able to travel frequently and spent much time in local bars.

In the spring of 1989, Sandra began an extra-marital relationship with a man she met at a local bar. The man was from Arizona and began exchanging long-distance phone calls with Sandra after their meeting. Sandra also saw the man when she took a trip to Las Vegas in August, 1989. Only a “couple of weeks” after returning from this trip, Sandra asked Art for a divorce.

On December 5, 1989, Art filed a summons and complaint for a divorce from Sandra on the grounds of extreme cruelty. Sandra subsequently answered and counterclaimed for a divorce on the same grounds. The action was tried on August 15-16, 1990, and, on August 31, 1990, the trial court entered its memorandum decision in the matter. On October 11, 1990, the trial court entered formal findings of fact and conclusions of law and on December 11, 1990, a judgment and decree of divorce was entered granting both parties a divorce on the grounds of extreme cruelty. On December 21, 1990, Sandra moved the trial court to vacate its judgment pursuant to SDCL 15-6-60(b) (relief due to mistake, inadvertence, excusable neglect, etc.) on the basis that it did not properly reflect the memorandum decision.¹ The motion was granted after a hearing and, on December 27, 1990, the trial court entered a new judgment and decree of divorce granting both parties the divorce and awarding alimony to Sandra. The final judgment also purported to incorporate the trial court’s memorandum decision as part of its findings of fact and conclusions of law and to amend the formal findings and conclusions to the extent they were inconsistent with the memorandum decision. Art now appeals the award of alimony to Sandra.

ISSUE

WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN AWARDING ALIMONY TO SANDRA?

The trial court’s final judgment awarded Sandra alimony as follows:

[Art] shall pay to [Sandra] alimony in the amount of $200.00 a month for twenty (20) months and the sum of $400.00 a month thereafter until [Sandra] reaches the age of 65 years, remarries or dies. Art essentially contends the trial court abused its discretion in making this award because its findings of fact fail to support the award.

This court’s standard of review of an award of alimony is well established:

It is clear “that a trial court’s alimony award will not be disturbed ‘unless it clearly appears that the trial court abused its discretion.’ ” Abuse of discretion is a very high standard that cannot be easily overturned. Abuse of discretion is defined as “ ‘a discretion exercised to an end or purpose not justified by, and clearly against, reason and evidence.’ ” [Tesch v. Tesch, 399 N.W.2d 880, 884 (S.D.1987) ], sets forth the frequently quoted factors the trial court should consider when setting an alimony award. They are[:]

“the length of the marriage; the respective earning capacity of the parties; their respective financial condition after the property division; their respective age, health, and physical condition; their station in life or social standing; and, the relative fault in the termination of the marriage.”

Caughron v. Caughron, 418 N.W.2d 791, 793 (S.D.1988) (citations omitted). It is equally clear that the trial court’s findings on the above factors must support its conclusion on an award of alimony. See, e.g. Fox v. Fox, 467 N.W.2d 762 (S.D.1991) (where trial court’s findings justified award of alimony, no abuse of discretion occurred in determination that wife was entitled to alimony); Wallahan v. Wallahan, 284 N.W.2d 21 (S.D.1979) (findings of fact covering all required factors for awarding alimony supported the award). See also, Goehry v. Goehry, 354 N.W.2d 192 (S.D.1984) (award of alimony must be soundly and substantially based on the evidence).

In this instance, the issue of whether the trial court’s findings of fact support the award of alimony to Sandra is a question that eludes meaningful appellate review. This is due to a disparity and inconsistency among the various documents in the settled record which the trial court attempted to utilize as its findings of fact and conclusions of law. As a particular example of this inconsistency, we note the determination of the relative fault of the parties in the termination of the marriage. In its original memorandum decision², the trial court stated, “[a] divorce will be granted to each party on grounds of the extreme cruelty of the other party. The evidence of extreme cruelty on each side is minimal.” The trial court’s formal findings and conclusions, however, are much more harsh and critical in laying blame for the breakdown of the marriage on Sandra. The findings specifically state that Sandra was guilty of extreme cruelty toward Art in her frequent absences from the marital home and in her extra-marital relationship. Moreover, the conclusions grant Art the divorce on the grounds of extreme mental cruelty. A turnabout occurred yet again in the trial court’s final judgment which states that extreme mental cruelty existed on each side, as well as irreconcilable differences, and that a cause of action existed in favor of both parties. The judgment itself grants both parties the divorce.

Also vexing, due to its inconsistency, is the trial court’s ultimate determination on the issue of alimony. The memorandum decision states, “[Sandra] is entitled to alimony. She should receive $200 a month for 20 months and thereafter $400 a month until [Art] reaches 65 years of age. [Sandra’s] death or remarriage will terminate any further alimony payments.” (emphasis added). In direct contradiction, the trial court’s formal findings and conclusions state, “[n]either party shall pay alimony to the other.” In yet another determination, the trial court’s final judgment states, “[Art] shall pay to [Sandra] alimony in the amount of $200.00 a month for twenty (20) months and the sum of $400.00 a month thereafter until [Sandra] reaches the age of 65 years, remarries or dies.” (emphasis added). Thus, is Art to pay alimony until he reaches age 65, is he to pay any alimony, or is he to pay until Sandra reaches age 65? We are left to speculate.

In Wilson v. Wilson, 434 N.W.2d 742 (S.D.1989), this court was similarly confronted with inconsistencies between the formal findings and conclusions and those in a memorandum opinion incorporated therein by reference. After pointing out the inconsistencies, we held, “[t]he foregoing inconsistencies render the trial court’s findings clearly erroneous and prevent an appropriate, meaningful review as to the equity of the property division. Therefore, it is necessary to remand this matter to the trial court for clarifieation[.]” Wilson, 434 N.W.2d at 744. The same is true in any attempt by this court to review the award of alimony in the present case. Accordingly, we remand this matter to the trial court for entry of findings of fact and conclusions of law relative to each of the factors considered in awarding alimony, such findings and conclusions to be supportive of the trial court’s ultimate determination concerning alimony.

This holding implies no impropriety in the trial court’s attempt to incorporate its memorandum decision in its findings and conclusions. Such a procedure is clearly permitted by SDCL 15-6-52(a) and has been repeatedly endorsed by this court. However, where the incorporation creates irreconcilable inconsistencies in the findings and conclusions that prohibit meaningful appellate review, remand for clarification is necessary. We acknowledge the trial court’s attempt in its final judgment to amend its findings and conclusions to the extent they are inconsistent with its memorandum decision. However, even assuming the propriety of making this attempt in a judgment, it is of little value as it places this court in the posture of determining where the inconsistencies lie. Given the various possible interpretations of the documents utilized as findings and conclusions in this case, this determination is not clear and, in effect, indirectly places this court in the role of fact finder, a role we decline to fill.

Reversed and remanded.

MILLER, C.J., and WUEST and SABERS, JJ., concur. HENDERSON, J., specially concurs in part and dissents in part.

1 . Although we do not pass on the propriety of this foundation for the motion for relief, we do find it questionable in view of previous statements by this court that, "it is the trial court’s prerogative to re-think a decision from the bench or a memorandum decision." State v. Tapio, 459 N.W.2d 406, 410 (S.D.1990) (emphasis added). It may well be that the granting of this motion contributed to the confusion in the record that is discussed below.

2 . The memorandum decision was not incorporated by reference in the trial court's formal findings of fact and conclusions of law as allowed by SDCL 15-6-52(a). The trial court attempted to incorporate the memorandum in its findings by referencing the memorandum in its final judgment. We also note the final judgment contains what appear to be additional detailed findings concerning property valuations that would have been more appropriately contained in the formal findings of fact and conclusions of law. We find no authority in the rules of procedure for incorporation of a memorandum decision in the findings and conclusions by reference in a judgment and remind trial courts that a judgment should be confined to, "the final determination of the rights of the parties in an action or proceeding.” SDCL 15-6-54(a).