[Cite as Forchione v. Forchione, 2013-Ohio-1761.]
COURT OF APPEALS STARK COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
MARY ANN FORCHIONE : JUDGES: : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. Plaintiff-Appellee/Cross-Appellant : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. -vs- : : ALLAN FORCHIONE : Case No. 2012CA00085 : Defendant-Appellant/Cross- : OPINION Appellee
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, Case No. 2010-DR-01509
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: April 22, 2013
APPEARANCES:
For Appellant: For Appellee:
WENDY J. ROCKENFELDER MARY FORCHIONE 5502 Market Avenue North, Suite B 6478 Palmer Dr. N.W. Canton, Ohio 44721 Canton, Ohio 44718 Baldwin, J.
{¶1} Appellant/Cross Appellee Allan Forchione appeals from the April 4, 2012
Decree of Divorce issued by the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic
Relations Division.
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶2} Appellant Allan Forchione and appellee Mary Ann Forchione were
married on August 9, 1987. Four children were born as issue of such marriage.
{¶3} On December 15, 2010, appellee filed a complaint for divorce against
appellant. Appellant filed an answer and counterclaim on January 11, 2011.
Subsequently, a trial commenced on January 10, 2012.
{¶4} At the trial, testimony was adduced that appellant is employed as a
salesman by Darko, Inc. and that his base pay is $60,000.00 a year. In addition,
appellant is paid commissions. Joseph Nahra, Darco’s controller, testified that,
because of the cash flow of the business, it could take between six and eight months
until appellant was paid his commissions. Appellant’s line one W-2 earnings are as
follows:
2007 $172,315.72
2008 $116,883.35
2009 $145,806.17
2010 $152,655.12
2011 $145,890.17
{¶5} At trial, appellant testified that he was owed $105,00.00 in commissions
from 2011. {¶6} The trial court, in its Decree, found that appellant’s average annual gross
income for the period from 2007 to 2011 was $150,000.00 and that appellee’s imputed
annual gross income was $25,000.00. The trial court ordered appellant to pay
spousal support to appellee in the amount of $2,666.67 a month for 99 months and
ordered that spousal support would terminate upon either party’s death, appellee’s
remarriage or appellee’s cohabitation with a non-related male. The trial court also
ordered that appellant maintain life insurance on his life, “naming the wife as
irrevocable beneficiary in an amount sufficient to satisfy his obligation of the property
settlement and spousal support, during the pendency of his support obligation.”
{¶7} With respect to the property settlement, the trial court, in order to achieve
equity in the division of marital property, ordered appellant to pay appellee the sum of
$17,823.00. The trial court awarded appellant his 2011 unpaid commissions from
Darko in the amount of $105,617.28. The trial court also ordered appellant to pay
child support for the two children who were not emancipated.
{¶8} Appellant now appeals from the April 4, 2012 Decree of Divorce, raising
the following assignments of error on appeal:
{¶9} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ORDERING THE APPELLANT TO
SECURE A SPOUSAL SUPPORT OBLIGATION TERMINABLE UPON DEATH WITH
LIFE INSURANCE.
{¶10} “II. THE TRIAL COURT’S DIVISION OF MARITAL PROPERTY WAS
UNEQUAL AND INEQUITABLE BECAUSE IT FAILED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE TAX
CONSEQUENCES OF A $105,000 COMMISSION DUE FROM THE APPELLANT’S EMPLOYER AND THE SAME AMOUNT WAS USED TO ESTABLISH CHILD
SUPPORT AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT.
I
{¶11} Appellant, in his first assignment of error, argues that the trial court erred
in ordering appellant to secure a spousal support obligation terminable upon death
with life insurance.
{¶12} In the case sub judice, the Decree provides that spousal support would
terminate upon either party’s death. As is stated above, the Decree further orders
appellant to maintain life insurance on his life, “naming the wife as irrevocable
beneficiary in an amount sufficient to satisfy his obligation of the property settlement
and spousal support, during the pendency of his support obligation.” Appellant now
argues that because his spousal support obligation terminates on his death, the trial
court abused its discretion in requiring him to maintain life insurance to secure his
spousal support obligation.
{¶13} As noted by this Court in Campbell v. Campbell, 5th Dist No. 12 AP
0001, 2012 -Ohio- 3059, paragraph 15, “’[a] clear majority of Ohio's appellate courts
that have addressed the issue have concluded that an order to maintain life insurance
to secure spousal support is within the discretion of the trial court; a court is not
required to make the order, but may do so within certain limits.’ Vlah v. Vlah, Geauga
App.No. 97–G2049, 1997 WL 750812 (internal emphasis deleted).” In Matics v.
Matics, 5th Dist. No.1995CA00114, 1996 WL 132244, the appellant argued that the
trial court erred in requiring him to maintain life insurance naming his children and the
appellee as beneficiaries for as long as his child support and spousal support obligations remained executory. In rejecting the appellant’s argument, this Court, in
Matics, stated, in relevant part, as follows: “In support of this assignment of error,
appellant cites to the case of Addy v. Addy (1994), 97 Ohio App.3d 204.
{¶14} “The court in Addy found that the trial court erred in requiring a husband
to maintain life insurance for security of spousal support payments because spousal
support terminates upon the death of either party under R.C. 3105.18(B), unless the
trial court's order expressly provides otherwise. Id. at 211. The judgment entry in Addy
did not provide for payments to continue beyond the obligor's death. Thus, the court
determined that the trial court abused its discretion in requiring the husband to
maintain such a policy.
{¶15} “In the case sub judice, appellant was ordered to maintain a life
insurance policy to cover both his spousal support and child support obligations. We
do not find that the trial court abused its discretion in ordering appellant to maintain
the policy. Although the court's holding in Addy clearly contradicts our finding in this
case, we are not bound by a decision issued by the Court of Appeals, Franklin County.
We find that it is within a trial court's discretion to require this of an obligor. Appellant
failed to submit any evidence that the court abused its discretion.” Id at 3.
{¶16} Because there is no evidence in this case that the trial court abused its
discretion in ordering appellant to maintain life insurance, appellant’s first assignment
of error is overruled.
II
{¶17} Appellant, in his second assignment of error, argues that the trial court’s
division of marital property was unequal and inequitable because the trial court failed to account for the tax consequences of approximately $105,000.00 in commissions
due from appellant’s employer and because the same income was used to establish
child support and spousal support.
{¶18} A trial court must divide the marital property equally or, if an equal
division is inequitable, the court must divide the marital property equitably. R.C.
3105.171(C)(1). A trial court has broad discretion in dividing marital assets and
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[Cite as Forchione v. Forchione, 2013-Ohio-1761.]
COURT OF APPEALS STARK COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
MARY ANN FORCHIONE : JUDGES: : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. Plaintiff-Appellee/Cross-Appellant : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. -vs- : : ALLAN FORCHIONE : Case No. 2012CA00085 : Defendant-Appellant/Cross- : OPINION Appellee
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, Case No. 2010-DR-01509
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: April 22, 2013
APPEARANCES:
For Appellant: For Appellee:
WENDY J. ROCKENFELDER MARY FORCHIONE 5502 Market Avenue North, Suite B 6478 Palmer Dr. N.W. Canton, Ohio 44721 Canton, Ohio 44718 Baldwin, J.
{¶1} Appellant/Cross Appellee Allan Forchione appeals from the April 4, 2012
Decree of Divorce issued by the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic
Relations Division.
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶2} Appellant Allan Forchione and appellee Mary Ann Forchione were
married on August 9, 1987. Four children were born as issue of such marriage.
{¶3} On December 15, 2010, appellee filed a complaint for divorce against
appellant. Appellant filed an answer and counterclaim on January 11, 2011.
Subsequently, a trial commenced on January 10, 2012.
{¶4} At the trial, testimony was adduced that appellant is employed as a
salesman by Darko, Inc. and that his base pay is $60,000.00 a year. In addition,
appellant is paid commissions. Joseph Nahra, Darco’s controller, testified that,
because of the cash flow of the business, it could take between six and eight months
until appellant was paid his commissions. Appellant’s line one W-2 earnings are as
follows:
2007 $172,315.72
2008 $116,883.35
2009 $145,806.17
2010 $152,655.12
2011 $145,890.17
{¶5} At trial, appellant testified that he was owed $105,00.00 in commissions
from 2011. {¶6} The trial court, in its Decree, found that appellant’s average annual gross
income for the period from 2007 to 2011 was $150,000.00 and that appellee’s imputed
annual gross income was $25,000.00. The trial court ordered appellant to pay
spousal support to appellee in the amount of $2,666.67 a month for 99 months and
ordered that spousal support would terminate upon either party’s death, appellee’s
remarriage or appellee’s cohabitation with a non-related male. The trial court also
ordered that appellant maintain life insurance on his life, “naming the wife as
irrevocable beneficiary in an amount sufficient to satisfy his obligation of the property
settlement and spousal support, during the pendency of his support obligation.”
{¶7} With respect to the property settlement, the trial court, in order to achieve
equity in the division of marital property, ordered appellant to pay appellee the sum of
$17,823.00. The trial court awarded appellant his 2011 unpaid commissions from
Darko in the amount of $105,617.28. The trial court also ordered appellant to pay
child support for the two children who were not emancipated.
{¶8} Appellant now appeals from the April 4, 2012 Decree of Divorce, raising
the following assignments of error on appeal:
{¶9} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ORDERING THE APPELLANT TO
SECURE A SPOUSAL SUPPORT OBLIGATION TERMINABLE UPON DEATH WITH
LIFE INSURANCE.
{¶10} “II. THE TRIAL COURT’S DIVISION OF MARITAL PROPERTY WAS
UNEQUAL AND INEQUITABLE BECAUSE IT FAILED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE TAX
CONSEQUENCES OF A $105,000 COMMISSION DUE FROM THE APPELLANT’S EMPLOYER AND THE SAME AMOUNT WAS USED TO ESTABLISH CHILD
SUPPORT AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT.
I
{¶11} Appellant, in his first assignment of error, argues that the trial court erred
in ordering appellant to secure a spousal support obligation terminable upon death
with life insurance.
{¶12} In the case sub judice, the Decree provides that spousal support would
terminate upon either party’s death. As is stated above, the Decree further orders
appellant to maintain life insurance on his life, “naming the wife as irrevocable
beneficiary in an amount sufficient to satisfy his obligation of the property settlement
and spousal support, during the pendency of his support obligation.” Appellant now
argues that because his spousal support obligation terminates on his death, the trial
court abused its discretion in requiring him to maintain life insurance to secure his
spousal support obligation.
{¶13} As noted by this Court in Campbell v. Campbell, 5th Dist No. 12 AP
0001, 2012 -Ohio- 3059, paragraph 15, “’[a] clear majority of Ohio's appellate courts
that have addressed the issue have concluded that an order to maintain life insurance
to secure spousal support is within the discretion of the trial court; a court is not
required to make the order, but may do so within certain limits.’ Vlah v. Vlah, Geauga
App.No. 97–G2049, 1997 WL 750812 (internal emphasis deleted).” In Matics v.
Matics, 5th Dist. No.1995CA00114, 1996 WL 132244, the appellant argued that the
trial court erred in requiring him to maintain life insurance naming his children and the
appellee as beneficiaries for as long as his child support and spousal support obligations remained executory. In rejecting the appellant’s argument, this Court, in
Matics, stated, in relevant part, as follows: “In support of this assignment of error,
appellant cites to the case of Addy v. Addy (1994), 97 Ohio App.3d 204.
{¶14} “The court in Addy found that the trial court erred in requiring a husband
to maintain life insurance for security of spousal support payments because spousal
support terminates upon the death of either party under R.C. 3105.18(B), unless the
trial court's order expressly provides otherwise. Id. at 211. The judgment entry in Addy
did not provide for payments to continue beyond the obligor's death. Thus, the court
determined that the trial court abused its discretion in requiring the husband to
maintain such a policy.
{¶15} “In the case sub judice, appellant was ordered to maintain a life
insurance policy to cover both his spousal support and child support obligations. We
do not find that the trial court abused its discretion in ordering appellant to maintain
the policy. Although the court's holding in Addy clearly contradicts our finding in this
case, we are not bound by a decision issued by the Court of Appeals, Franklin County.
We find that it is within a trial court's discretion to require this of an obligor. Appellant
failed to submit any evidence that the court abused its discretion.” Id at 3.
{¶16} Because there is no evidence in this case that the trial court abused its
discretion in ordering appellant to maintain life insurance, appellant’s first assignment
of error is overruled.
II
{¶17} Appellant, in his second assignment of error, argues that the trial court’s
division of marital property was unequal and inequitable because the trial court failed to account for the tax consequences of approximately $105,000.00 in commissions
due from appellant’s employer and because the same income was used to establish
child support and spousal support.
{¶18} A trial court must divide the marital property equally or, if an equal
division is inequitable, the court must divide the marital property equitably. R.C.
3105.171(C)(1). A trial court has broad discretion in dividing marital assets and
liabilities in a divorce action. Cherry v. Cherry, 66 Ohio St.2d 348, 421 N.E.2d 1293
(1981). Accordingly, an appellate court is limited to a determination of whether, under
the totality of the circumstances, the trial court abused its discretion in dividing the
property. Holcomb v. Holcomb, 44 Ohio St.3d 128, 131, 541 N.E.2d 597, 599 (1989).
The term “abuse of discretion” implies more than just an error of law or judgment; it
implies that the court's attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable.
Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140, 1142 (1983).
{¶19} Appellant initially argues that the trial court erred in not taking into
account the tax consequences of the unpaid 2011 $105,617.28 in commissions due
to appellant from his employer in dividing the marital property. As is stated above, the
trial court awarded appellant the $105,617.28 in dividing the marital property.
{¶20} As a general rule, a trial court must consider “the tax consequences of
the property division upon the respective awards to be made to each spouse.” R.C.
3105.171(F)(6). However, a trial court does not abuse its discretion by not taking note
of the tax consequences if the evidence in that regard is speculative. James v. James,
101 Ohio App.3d 668, 688, 656 N.E.2d 399 (2nd Dist. 1995), citing Day v. Day, 40
Ohio App.3d 155, 159, 532 N.E.2d 201 (10th Dist. 1988). {¶21} In the case sub judice, the tax consequences are speculative. Appellant
did not provide the trial court with evidence as to exactly how much in taxes appellant
would owe on the $105,617.28. Appellant argues that he paid $17,880.00 in taxes in
2010 on income of $163,273.00 for an average tax rate of about 11% and that,
because his income for 2012 is about the same, his average tax rate for 2012 will be
lower than 11%. However, appellant is merely speculating.
{¶22} Appellant also argues that the trial court erred in using the same
$105,000.00 in commissions to establish child and spousal support. We disagree.
There is no evidence that the approximately $105,000 was used in determining
appellant’s average income for the period from 2007 through 2011. The $150,00.00
figure used by the trial court as appellant’s annual gross income for purposes of child
and spousal support was arrived at by averaging the income figures for 2007 through
2011. These figures did not include the $105,617.28 in commissions earned in 2011
but not yet paid at the time of the trial.
{¶23} Appellant’s second assignment of error is, therefore, overruled. {¶24} Accordingly, the judgment of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas,
Domestic Relations Division, is affirmed.
By: Baldwin, J.
Gwin, P.J. and
Delaney, J. concur.
HON. CRAIG R. BALDWIN
HON. W. SCOTT GWIN
HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
CRB/dr IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR STARK COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
: Mary Ann Forchione : : Plaintiff - Appellee : JUDGMENT ENTRY Cross - Appellant : : -vs- : : Case No. 2012-CA-00085 Allen Forchione : : : Defendant - Appellant : Cross - Appellee
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Opinion on file, the judgment of the
Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division is affirmed. Costs
assessed to appellant.