Eudy v. Eudy

215 S.E.2d 782, 288 N.C. 71, 1975 N.C. LEXIS 883

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: June 26, 1975
• Docket: 124
• Status: Published

Opinion

BRANCH, Justice.

Plaintiff contends that the Court of Appeals erred in granting a new trial because her complaint failed to allege that either she or defendant were residents of the State of North Carolina for six months next preceding the filing of her complaint.

G.S. 50-8, in part, provides that in all actions for divorce plaintiff shall set forth in his or her complaint that complainant or defendant has been a resident of the State of North Carolina for at least six months next preceding filing of the complaint. Prior to the enactment of Chapter 590 of the 1951 Session Laws, the Court acquired no jurisdiction in an action for absolute divorce or in an action for divorce from bed and board unless plaintiff filed with his complaint an affidavit containing the required statutory averments, one of which was the above-quoted residency requirement. The filing of this affidavit was mandatory. Absent all required averments, the Court had no jurisdiction, and the action was subject to dismissal by the Court, either ex mero motu or upon motion duly made. Carpenter v. Carpenter, 244 N.C. 286, 93 S.E. 2d 617; Hodges v. Hodges, 226 N.C. 570, 39 S.E. 2d 596; Nichols v. Nichols, 128 N.C. 108, 38 S.E. 296. On the other hand, when the proper affidavit was filed, the Court acquired jurisdiction in divorce actions. Kinney v. Kinney, 149 N.C. 321, 63 S.E. 97. The 1951 Act eliminated the necessity for the affidavit, but the Act now codified as G.S. 50-8 requires plaintiff, inter alia, to set forth in his or her complaint an allegation that complainant or defendant has been a resident of North Carolina for at least six months next preceding the filing of the complaint. Thus, the allegations required by G.S. 50-8 are indispensable, constituent elements of a divorce action and must be established either by the verdict of a jury or by a judge, as the pertinent statute may permit. G.S. 50-10; Pruett v. Pruett, 247 N.C. 13, 100 S.E. 2d 296.

The statutory changes eliminating the necessity for the filing of the affidavit and allowing a judge in some cases to become the trier of facts in divorce actions do not change the fundamental precepts that jurisdiction over the subject matter of divorce is statutory and that all averments required by the statute must be both alleged in the complaint and found by the finder of fact to be true before a divorce judgment may be entered. G.S. 50-10; Wicker v. Wicker, 255 N.C. 723, 122 S.E. 2d 703; Israel v. Israel, 255 N.C. 391, 121 S.E. 2d 713; Martin v. Martin, 253 N.C. 704, 118 S.E. 2d 29; Pruett v. Pruett, supra; Carpenter v. Carpenter, supra; Ellis v. Ellis, 190 N.C. 418, 130 S.E. 7.

Where jurisdiction is statutory and the Legislature requires the Court to exercise its jurisdiction in a certain manner, to follow a certain procedure, or otherwise subjects the Court to certain limitations, an act of the Court beyond these limits is in excess of its jurisdiction. Burtnett v. King, 33 Cal. 2d 805, 205 P. 2d 657; 20 Am. Jur. 2d Courts § 151 at 497. In instant case plaintiff failed to allege the residential requirements expressly required by G.S. 50-8, and the Court therefore was without jurisdiction to grant plaintiff a divorce from bed and board unless, as plaintiff contends, the pleadings were amended by the rule of “litigation by consent” pursuant to G.S. 1A-1, Rule 15(b) (hereafter cited as Rule 15(b)). We turn to consideration of the effect of this rule upon the facts of this case.

Rule 15(b) reads as follows:

When issues not raised by the pleadings are tried by the express or implied consent of the parties, they shall be treated in all respects as if they had been raised in the pleadings. Such amendment of the pleadings as may be necessary to cause them to conform to the evidence and to raise these issues may be made upon motion of any party at any time, either before or after judgment, but failure so to amend does not affect the result of the trial of these issues. If evidence is objected to at the trial on the ground that it is not within the issues raised by the pleadings, the court may allow the pleadings to be amended and shall do so freely when the presentation of the merits of the action will be served thereby and the objecting party fails to satisfy the court that the admission of such evidence would prejudice him in maintaining his action or defense upon the merits. The court may grant a continuance to enable the objecting party to meet such evidence.

We discussed the rationale of this rule in Roberts v. Memorial Park, 281 N.C. 48, 187 S.E. 2d 721. We quote from that case:

The thrust of this rule seems to destroy the former strict code doctrine of variance by allowing issues to be raised by liberal amendments to pleadings and, in some cases, by the evidence. Under 15 (b) the rule of “litigation by consent” is applied when no objection is made on the specific ground that the evidence offered is not within the issues raised by the pleadings. In such case the statutory rule, in effect, amends the pleadings to conform to the evidence and allows any issue raised by the evidence to go to the jury. Even when the evidence is objected to on the ground that it is not within the issues raised by the pleadings, the court will freely allow amendments to present the merits of the case when the objecting party fails to satisfy the court that he would be prejudiced in the trial on its merits. The far-reaching effect of this statutory rule is emphasized by the burden placed on the objecting party to specify the grounds of objection and to satisfy the court that he will be prejudiced by the admission of the evidence or by litigation of the issues raised by the evidence. The objecting party must meet these requirements in order to avoid “litigation by consent” or allowance of motion to amend. [Original emphasis.]

Despite the broad remedial purpose of this provision, however, Rule 15(b) does not permit judgment by ambush. One respected authority on federal practice has succinctly stated the limits of its application, as follows:

The purpose of an amendment to conform to proof is to bring the pleadings in line with the actual issues upon which the case was tried; therefore an amendment after judgment is not permissible which brings in some entirely extrinsic issue or changes the theory on which the case was actually tried, even though there is evidence in the record — introduced as relevant to some other issue — which would support the amendment. This principle is sound, since it cannot be fairly said that there is any implied consent to try an issue where the parties do not squarely recognize it as an issue in the trial. . . .

3 J. Moore, Moore’s Federal Practice ¶ 15.13 [2] at 991-992 (2d ed.). See also 6 C. Wright and A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure: Civil § 1493 at 466-467; Note, 9 Wake Forest L. Rev. 247.

Federal cases amply support the general statement of law given above. In MBI Motor Co., Inc. v. Lotus/East, Inc., 506 F. 2d 709 (6th Cir.), the Court well stated the rule which governs resolution of an amendment-by-consent situation:

We think it clear that if a theory of recovery is tried fully by the parties, the court may base its decision on that theory and may deem the pleadings amended accordingly, even though the theory was not set forth in the pleadings or in the pretrial order. See Wallin v. Fuller, 476 F. 2d 1204 (5th Cir. 1973) ; Monod v. Futura, Inc., 415 F. 2d 1170 (10th Cir. 1969) ; Dering v. Williams, 378 F. 2d 417 (9th Cir. 1967) ; Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(b). However, the implication of Rule 15(b) and of our decision in Jackson v. Crockarell, [475 F. 2d 746 (6th Cir.)], is that a trial court may not base its decision upon an issue that was tried inadvertently. Implied consent to the trial of an unpleaded issue is not established merely because evidence relevant to that issue was introduced without objection. At least it must appear that the parties understood the evidence to be aimed at the unpleaded issue. See Bettes v. Stonewall Ins. Co., 480 F. 2d 92 (5th Cir. 1973) ; Standard Title Ins. Co. v. Roberts, 349 F. 2d 613, 620 (8th Cir. 1965) ; Niedland v. United States, 338 F. 2d 254, 258 (3d Cir. 1964).

Accord: Bettes v. Stonewall Ins. Co., 480 F. 2d 92 (5th Cir.) ; Cole v. Layrite Products Co., 439 F. 2d 958 (9th Cir.) ; Wasik v. Borg, 423 F. 2d 44 (2d Cir.) ; Armstrong Cork Co. v. Lyons, 366 F. 2d 206 (8th Cir.); Systems, Inc. v. Bridge Electronics Co., 335 F. 2d 465 (3d Cir.) ; United States v. 47 Bottles, More or Less, 320 F. 2d 564 (3d Cir.), cert. denied sub nom. Schere v. United States, 375 U.S. 953, 84 S.Ct. 444, 11 L.Ed. 2d 313; Wickahoney Sheep Co. v. Sewell, 273 F. 2d 767 (9th Cir.) ; Freitag v. The Strand of Atlantic City, Inc., 205 F. 2d 778 (3d Cir.) ; Otness v. United States, 23 F.R.D. 279 (D. Alaska).

The cases also fully support the proposition that where evidence claimed to support trial by consent is relevant to an issue explicitly embraced by the pleadings, and there is no indication at the trial that the party introducing the evidence sought to raise a new issue, the pleadings will not be deemed amended by consent under Rule 15 (b). See, e.g., Cox v. Fremont Countg Public Building Authority, 415 F. 2d 882 (10th Cir.) ; Standard Title Ins. Co. v. Roberts, 349 F. 2d 613 (8th Cir.) ; Gallon v. Lloyd-Thomas Co., 264 F. 2d 821 (8th Cir.) ; Maoris v. Sociedad Marítima San Nicolas, S.A., 245 F. 2d 708 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 355 U.S. 922, 78 S.Ct. 364, 2 L.Ed. 2d 353; United States v. City of Brookhaven, 134 F. 2d 442 (5th Cir.) ; Simms v. Andrews, 118 F. 2d 803 (10th Cir.) ; Wirtz v. F. M. Sloan, Inc., 285 F. Supp. 669 (W. D. Pa.), aff’d, 411 F. 2d 56 (3d Cir.).

We note that the Court of Appeals, ex mero motu, properly took note of the question of want of jurisdiction in this case. Lewis v. Harris, 238 N.C. 642, 78 S.E. 2d 715.

We need reach the question of the effectiveness of Rule 15(b) to cure, a failure to allege this jurisdictional fact if, and only if, (1) sufficient evidence was introduced without objection to show, directly or by legitimate inference, that the parties had been residents of North Carolina for the six months next preceding the commencement of this action and (2) the parties understood, or reasonably should have understood, that the introduction of such evidence was directed to an issue not embraced by the pleadings.

Prior to the 1951 Act, now codified as G.S. 50-8, the question of whether the required affidavit complied with the statute so as to confer jurisdiction upon the Court in a divorce action was a matter to be determined by the trial judge. Upon the effective date of present G.S. 50-8, the statutory requirements for obtaining a divorce became material facts which must be alleged in the complaint and passed upon by the jury or, in proper cases, by a judge sitting as a jury. Carpenter v. Carpenter, supra; Pruett v. Pruett, supra. Thus, since the material facts must be found from the evidence offered, the opportunity to amend by consent does exist. However, the facts of instant case do not present the question of whether required jurisdictional averments may be supplied by the application of the provisions of Rule 15 (b).

The evidence in this case would have supported a jury verdict and judgment for alimony without divorce. The same evidence, properly pleaded, would also have supported a verdict and judgment for divorce from bed and board. Although there was evidence from which the jury could reasonably infer that both plaintiff and defendant had been residents of Union County, North Carolina, for six months next preceding the filing of the complaint in this cause, this evidence was admitted to introduce the witnesses or was casually intertwined with the proof of other material facts clearly embraced by the pleadings. In order for pleadings to be amended to conform to the proof pursuant to Rule 15(b), there must be evidence of an unpleaded issue introduced without objection, and it must appear that the parties understood, or at least reasonably should have understood, that the ■ evidence was aimed at an issue not expressly pleaded. Here, the evidence supports issues embraced by the pleadings without indicating in any manner that the parties introducing the evidence sought to raise a new issue. There is nothing to indicate that the evidence was such that defendant understood or reasonably should have understood that any issue other than those embraced in the pleadings was being tried. Under these circumstances the provisions of Rule 15(b) do not apply so as to amend the pleadings to conform to the evidence. The essential issue of residence simply was not pleaded or tried in this case as is required to support a judgment for divorce from bed and board. We therefore hold that the Court of Appeals correctly vacated the judgment entered in Union County District Court.

Appellant assigns as error the holding of the Court of Appeals that the trial judge erred in awarding alimony. In this regard the Court found that the trial judge failed to make sufficient findings as to the estate, income, earnings, and expenses of defendant. This conclusion points to error on the part of the trial judge in fixing the amount of alimony.

G.S. 50-16.5(a) provides:

Alimony shall be in such amount as the circumstances render necessary, having due regard to the estates, earnings, earning capacity, condition, accustomed standard of living of the parties, and other facts of the particular case.

The trial judge must follow the requirements of this statute in determining the amount of alimony to be awarded, but the determination of such amount lies within his sound discretion. The trial judge’s determination of the amount of alimony is not absolute and unreviewable, but it will not be disturbed absent a clear abuse of discretion. Schloss v. Schloss, 273 N.C. 266, 160 S.E. 2d 5; Sayland v. Sayland, 267 N.C. 378, 148 S.E. 2d 218.

We note that the Court of Appeals relied on Briggs v. Briggs, 21 N.C. App. 674, 205 S.E. 2d 547, to support its conclusion. The Court in that case considered a contention that the trial judge erred in failing to make sufficient findings to support an order of alimony pendente lite as required by G.S. 50-16.8. It is true that this statute specifically requires the judge to find facts from the evidence presented upon a hearing on application for alimony pendente lite. In our opinion this requirement does not refer to the amount of alimony, but refers to the ultimate facts which must be found pursuant to G.S. 50-16.3. We think it pertinent that subsection (b) of that section provides that “the determination of the amount ... of alimony pendente lite shall be in the same manner as alimony. . . .” The language of Briggs itself is consistent with our conclusion. We quote a pertinent passage from that case:

The trial judge in this case found from competent evidence that a marital relationship existed between the parties; that the plaintiff is substantially dependent upon the defendant for her maintenance and support; and that the defendant is capable of making support payments. These findings are sufficient to show that plaintiff is the dependent spouse, and that defendant is the supporting spouse.

Our examination of the relevant statutes and this Court’s interpretation of these statutes leads us to conclude that findings of fact are not required to support the trial judge’s finding of the amount of alimony in action for divorce from bed and board or in action for alimony pendente lite.

The District Court was without jurisdiction to grant a divorce from bed and board. However, the residency requirement of G.S. 50-8 is not applicable in an action for alimony without divorce. Here the pleadings, the evidence, and the issues submitted to, and answered by, the jury support a judgment for alimony without divorce. Therefore, the cause is remanded to the Court of Appeals with direction that it remand to the District Court of Union County for entry of judgment consistent with the jury verdict.

Modified and affirmed.