Evjen v. Evjen

409 S.W.2d 271, 1966 Mo. App. LEXIS 563
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 3, 1966
DocketNo. 24383
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 409 S.W.2d 271 (Evjen v. Evjen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Evjen v. Evjen, 409 S.W.2d 271, 1966 Mo. App. LEXIS 563 (Mo. Ct. App. 1966).

Opinion

SPERRY, Commissioner.

Plaintiff, Orpha Janet Evjen, sued defendant, Martin Ingvold Evjen, for divorce. Defendant answered plaintiffs petition and filed cross-petition for divorce. At the conclusion of a lengthy and warmly contested trial on the various issues presented, the court found the issues for plaintiff and against defendant on plaintiff’s petition for divorce, and for plaintiff and against defendant on defendant’s cross-petition. It was adjudged and decreed that the bonds of matrimony contracted between the parties be dissolved and that plaintiff be forever freed from the obligations thereof; that the costs be paid by defendant; that defendant pay to plaintiff the sum of $250.00 per month as alimony until further order of the court; that defendant pay to plaintiff, as her attorney’s fees, the sum of $600.00; and that defendant’s cross-petition be dismissed. Defendant appeals.

The transcript consists of three hundred twenty-five pages of testimony. The testimony was highly conflicting on the chief issues presented. We will review the case upon both the law and the evidence as in suits of an equitable nature. The judgment will not be set aside unless it is clearly erroneous, and due regard shall be given to the opportunity of the trial court to judge of the credibility of witnesses. Missouri Supreme Court Rule 73.01(d), V.A.M.R. Where the proper disposition of this kind of case depends largely upon the credibility of the witnesses, as it does here, the rule of deference above mentioned is applicable. Thomas v. Thomas, 288 S.W.2d (Mo.App.) 689, 696.

Plaintiff’s claim for relief is based upon indignities. Defendant contends that the court erred in rendering the judgment herein because plaintiff’s evidence failed to establish that defendant’s conduct was such as to constitute indignities sufficient to support a decree of divorce; that defendant was not legally accountable for his acts and was incapable of avoiding their commission due to his mental illness; that defendant was entitled to a decree of divorce on his evidence of abandonment and general indignities. He also contends that the court erred in failing to make and enter findings of facts. The record is silent as to the making of any request of that nature, and the matter is not mentioned in the motion for new trial. We will not consider the point.

Plaintiff offered the testimony of two witnesses tending to prove that her general reputation is good. She testified in her own behalf to the effect that she and defendant were married in Minnesota in 1935, and lived together there, as husband and wife, until 1957, when defendant was required to move to Kansas City by Montgomery Ward, his employer; that there were three children of the marriage, all now being mature ; that they purchased a home in Kansas City for $16,000.00 and spent $2500.00 repairing and remodelling; that they paid these items in cash, but that, in order to defray college expenses for the children, they later borrowed $14,000.00 on the home; that they have made payments thereon since; that there now remains an unpaid balance; that the title is in their joint names; that it is now occupied by defendant; that plaintiff kept the home throughout the years of their marriage and did not work outside the home until about April of 1963; that defendant had, for years, urged her to work at something in order to add to the family income and that, with his approval, she became a real estate saleswoman in March, 1963.

She stated that during the years of the marriage defendant travelled a great deal; that he would give her the pay check which she deposited and that the proceeds were used for the entire family; that, prior to coming here, they had some marital trou[273]*273bles; that he often used abusive language toward her; that they were not happy; that such conduct grew worse after 1957; that, while she was working on remodelling the house they bought in Kansas City, on one occasion he called her a bitch, a liar, a son of a bitch; that he used profane language to her; that such language and conduct has continued over a long period of years; that it has been worse since 1957; that, on an occasion in Springfield, Missouri, when they were there for their daughter to participate in a beauty contest, he created a scene at the motel, refused to pay the motel bill and otherwise was rude in the lobby in the presence of other guests.

She stated that, for many years, he had urged her to do sales work outside of the home in order to add to the family income; that, in December, 1962, she began training as a real estate saleswoman with his approval; that in March or April, 1963, she was employed on commission, by a Mr. Wandell, who operated a real estate agency; that Mrs. Wandell contacted her; that Mr. and Mrs. Wandell were living separately but were operating the office together; that defendant approved and referred a number of clients to her from among Wards employees; that he eventually became critical of her being gone from home so much; that he began charging her with being intimate with Wandell; that he harassed her in her work; that he would come to the office and create unpleasant scenes; that he would visit her “open houses” thereby interfering with her sales work; that she would try to explain that she was not guilty of any misconduct but that he continued such conduct; that they had not slept together or had any marital happiness for a long time prior to her leaving the home in February, 1964; that she bought a home, made a down payment, and moved into it; that while she was remodelling it he came to the house, abused her and struggled with her in the presence of Mr. Wandell and other workmen; that he had called her a god damn bitch and a whore. She filed this suit on March 2, 1964.

Mr. Wandell testified generally to the same facts as did plaintiff, as to defendant’s course of conduct after plaintiff’s employment with his agency by Mrs. Wandell, from whom he was then separated although they worked together in the business. He stated that Mrs. Wandell tried to explain to defendant the nature of plaintiff’s work, which required her to work at night, but that he continued to harass Mr. Wandell by coming to the office and creating disturbances; that he called Wandell time after time and charged him with misconduct with plaintiff. He stated that on one occasion defendant almost ran over witness, plaintiff and two customers in witness’s parking lot. He stated that, although he is now divorced, he still loves his former wife and has never had any interest in plaintiff except in a business way; that he finally had to terminate her employment, in April or May 1964, because of defendant’s constant harassment of the business, by telephone, personally at the office, and at houses which were being shown for sale. It would serve no useful purpose to recite specific happenings and incidents which, if his testimony and that of plaintiff is to be believed, indicates a continuous course of conduct on defendant’s part such as would render plaintiff’s condition in life intolerable.

Such testimony was to the effect that he repeatedly called her a liar, a bitch, a son of a bitch, a whore, charged her with sleeping with Wandell and with running with other men; and that such conduct continued over a course of more than a year.

Defendant testified to the effect that the parties had no real marital problems until plaintiff started working for Wandell; that she began staying out late at night and until early hours in the morning; that Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
409 S.W.2d 271, 1966 Mo. App. LEXIS 563, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/evjen-v-evjen-moctapp-1966.