Friend-Novorska v. Novorska

545 S.E.2d 788, 143 N.C. App. 387, 2001 N.C. App. LEXIS 302

• Court: Court of Appeals of North Carolina
• Decided: May 15, 2001
• Docket: COA00-254
• Status: Published

Opinions

GREENE, Judge.

Doris Friend-Novorska (Plaintiff) appeals an order filed 7 September 1999 awarding Plaintiff temporary alimony from James C. Novorska (Defendant).

This case was originally heard by this Court based on Plaintiffs appeal from an alimony order entered on 17 October 1997. See Friend-Novorska v. Novorska, 131 N.C. App. 867, 509 S.E.2d 460 (1998) (Friend-Novorska I). The following facts are based on the facts recited in Friend-Novorska P. Plaintiff and Defendant were married on 13 February 1982 and separated on 30 June 1995. No children were born to the marriage. Plaintiff filed a complaint against Defendant on 3 January 1996, seeking postseparation support, alimony, equitable distribution, and attorney’s fees. Subsequent to a hearing on Plaintiffs claim for alimony, the trial court made the following pertinent findings of fact: Plaintiff has monthly expenses of $3,089.00 “ ‘to maintain the standard of living to which she has become accustomed during the last several years of the marriage’ Plaintiff has an available net income of $1,745.22 per month from her employment and “ ‘is in need of a contribution on a monthly basis of $1,343.78 to meet her monthly living needs’ Defendant has a net monthly income from his employment of $4,077.00 and a net investment income of approximately $810.00 per month; and Defendant has “ ‘actual present monthly expenses [of] $3,758.00.’ ” Based on its findings of fact, the trial court awarded Plaintiff alimony in the amount of $600.00 per month for 30 months.

On appeal, this Court held that “[i]n making its decision to award a monthly amount of alimony substantially less than [Plaintiff’s] needs, the trial court erroneously relied on [Defendant’s] desire to purchase a new house and car.” Id. at 869, 509 S.E.2d at 461. Because Defendant argued before this Court in Friend-Novorska I that the trial court erred by considering his investment income, this Court also held “the trial court was correct in considering [Defendant’s] investment income.” Id. at 370, 509 S.E.2d at 462. Additionally, this Court held that because the parties offered evidence regarding Defendant’s alleged marital misconduct, the trial court erred by failing to make findings of fact regarding whether “the existence of the factor was or was not supported by the greater weight of the evidence.” Id. Finally, this Court noted the trial court “set[] forth no reasons for the 30-month duration of the award.” Id. This Court, therefore, held: “On remand, the trial court must make a new award of alimony and make specific findings justifying that award, both as to amount and duration. Those portions of the order declaring [Plaintiff] to be a dependent spouse and [Defendant] to be a supporting spouse are affirmed.” Id. at 870-71, 509 S.E.2d at 462. Accordingly, this Court affirmed in part and vacated and remanded in part the decision of the trial court. Id. at 871, 509 S.E.2d at 462.

On remand, the trial court did not hear additional evidence regarding Plaintiff’s claim for alimony. In an order filed 7 September 1999, the trial court made the following pertinent findings of fact:

H. An equitable distribution order was entered in this cause . . . on July 24, 1997, from a hearing held May 28, 1997. Pursuant to the judgment of equitable distribution, . . . [P]laintiff received an unequal distribution of the marital property in her favor. . . . [P]laintiff received assets with a date of separation net value of $92,205.83, which was 55% of the marital estate, and .. . [Defendant received assets with a date of separation net value of $75,441.13, or 45% of the marital estate. ...

L. ... [P]laintiff was earning an annual salary of $17,280.00 working part-time at the date of separation. At the time of trial, . . . [P]laintiff worked full-time with University of North Carolina Hospital at an annual salary- of $29,000.00 per year[.] . . . [Pjlaintiff has $1,745.22 per month net income available to her to meet . . . monthly expenses. . . . This is a permanent, full-time position which provides . . . [P]laintiff with health insurance at no cost, dental insurance, disability insurance and a retirement plan which requires a six percent (6%) deduction from her salary arid the State of North Carolina matches her contribution at the same rate.

M. . . . [Defendant has a Bachelor of Administration Degree . . . which he obtained prior to the marriage [.] . . . [D]efend-ant . . . earns an annual gross salary of $80,000.00. Based on [Defendant's amended financial affidavit submitted at trial, and his Own testimony, his actual present monthly expenses are $3,758. This is based on [Defendant presently having rent of $745 per month for an apartment, and no payments to make on his present vehicle. According to [Defendant's affidavit, his net monthly income from his employment ... is $4,077. . . . According to [Defendant’s 1996 Federal Income Tax return, [D]efendant has additional income of $196 per month from interest, dividends and refunds. . . . [Defendant also recognized capital gains in 1996 of $12,404 due to the sale of securities.¹

Q. . . . [P]laintiff presented into evidence a financial affidavit with regard to her necessities of utilities, food, clothing, cosmetics and shelter [as] evidence [of] a need of $2,394.00 per month excluding maintenance on the property which . . . [P]laintiff testified is $350.00 per month. . . . [P]laintiff also submitted an amended affidavit and testified that her expenses had decreased in some respects and increased in others. . . .

R. Based upon the testimony, the Court finds the reasonable fixed expenses of . . . [P]laintiff to be $1,802.00 per month. Therefore,... [Plaintiff's total reasonable needs are $2,685.00 per month and . . . [Plaintiff's shortfall for her projected needs, after applying her income, is approximately $939.78 per month.

S. ... [P]laintiff was awarded an unequal distribution in her favor and is able to re-allocate her resources to meet her reasonable needs, including, but not limited to, refinancing the marital residence without depleting her separate estate.

V. The Court has considered the evidence presented by both parties as it relates to the factors, set forth in North Carolina General Statute[] § 50-16.3A(b), and finds facts related to those factors as follows:

(1) The marital misconduct of either of the spouses. The Court considered the evidence presented by... [P]laintiff relating to . . . [Defendant’s friendship with several women prior to separation. Both parties had friends of the opposite sex during the course of the marriage. Neither party committed illicit sexual marital misconduct during the course of the marriage and prior to the date of separation.

(2) The relative earnings and earning capacities of the spouses. This is a mid-life second marriage for both of the parties. Both of the parties had selected careers and been educated for their career plans prior to this marriage. At the time of trial, both parties were earning to their full capacity and both parties’ relative earnings were based upon their educational background and employment history that each obtained prior to this marriage.

(8) The standard of living of the spouses established during the marriage. The parties lived beyond their means during the last four years of their marriage as a result of expenditures by the parties during the marriage of funds and assets received by . . . [Djefendant from his mother’s estate. The inflated standard of living established by the parties during the last four (4) years of their marriage resulted from... [Djefendant inheriting approximately $200,000.00 from his mother’s estate.

(9) The relative education of the spouses and the time necessary to acquire sufficient education or training to enable the spouse seeking alimony to find employment to meet his or her reasonable economic needs. Upon separation of the parties, . . . [Djefendant voluntarily provided support for . . . [Pjlaintiff from July, 1995, to the entry of the post separation support to June 14, 1996, to enable her to work herself into a full-time position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, commensurate with her education and training. Additionally, . . . [Defendant voluntarily agreed to continue post separation support to . . . [Pjlaintiff by a consent order dated June 14, 1996, thus allowing . . . [P]laintiff to complete her training such that she could accept a full-time position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in order to meet her reasonable economic needs. Both parties are currently employed to their full capacity and neither needs to be re-trained in order to seek employment or to meet their reasonable economic needs.

(11) The property brought to the marriage by either spouse. The parties expended approximately $100,000.00 of... [Defendant’s separate property which he received from his mother’s estate during the last several years of their marriage, thus creating an inflated standard of living for the parties during that period of time.

(13) The relative needs of the spouses. . . . Both parties have the ability to meet their relative needs in order to subsist in the future. The Court recognizes that certain expenses will have to be cut and re-allocated by both parties in order to live within their means which was not the case during the last few years of the parties’ marriage.

(15) Any other factor relating to the economic circumstances of the parties that the court finds to be just and proper. Dining the course of the marriage . . . [Pjlaintiff shared all residences with . . . [Defendant and at times . . . [Defendant’s son. At the time of trial, . . . [Pjlaintiff is not sharing her residence with another person and continues to live in the same home with the same square footage and acreage as when two people occupied the residence. . . . [P]laintiff’s current residence is greater than she needs to maintain her standard of living established during the marriage; however, . . . [P]laintiff voluntarily chose to retain the house and 5.47 acres which is subject to the mortgage of approximately $139,000.00 at the date of this trial.... [P]laintiff has not sought a roommate and refuses to refinance the debt on her residence.

The trial court then concluded as a matter of law, in pertinent part:

Based upon the factors set forth in North Carolina General Statute § 50-16.3A(b), the [c]ourt concludes that a term of alimony for thirty consecutive months from October, 1997 to April, 2000, in the amount of $600.00 per month is reasonable and equitable based on the findings of fact made by this Court....

Additionally, the trial court concluded that “[P]laintiff is not entitled to an award of attorney[’s] fees.”

The issues are whether: (I) the trial court on remand erred by making new and/or additional findings of fact when this Court vacated the order of the trial court in Friend-Novorska I; (II) the trial court’s findings of fact are sufficient to support the amount and duration of its award of alimony under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.3A(b); and (III) the trial court’s findings of fact support its conclusion “[P]laintiff is not entitled to an award of attomey[’s] fees.”

I

Plaintiff argues the trial court was “bound by its own findings of fact” made in its 17 October 1997 order because it took no new evidence on remand. Plaintiff, therefore, contends the trial court erred by making new and/or additional findings of fact on remand, including its finding of fact regarding the contribution needed by Plaintiff to meet her monthly expenses.

In Friend-Novorska I, this Court affirmed the decision of the trial court that Plaintiff was a dependent spouse and Defendant was a supporting spouse. Additionally, this Court held “the trial court was correct in considering [Defendant’s] investment income.” The remainder of the trial court’s decision was vacated and remanded to the trial court for “a new award of alimony” and “specific findings justifying that award.” The term “vacate” means: “To annul; to set aside; to cancel or rescind. To render an act void; as, to vacate ... a judgment.” Black’s Law Dictionary 1548 (6th ed. 1990). Thus, the vacated portions of the 17 October 1997 order were void and of no effect. On remand, therefore, the trial court was free to reconsider the evidence before it and to enter new and/or additional findings of fact based on the evidence, with the exception that the trial court was bound on remand by any portions of the 17 October 1997 order affirmed by this Court in Friend-Novorska I. Accordingly, the trial court on remand was bound by its previous finding of fact regarding Defendant’s investment income and by its previous conclusion that Defendant was a supporting spouse and Plaintiff was a dependent spouse. On remand, the trial court did not make new and/or additional findings regarding Defendant’s investment income² or regarding its conclusion Defendant was a supporting spouse and Plaintiff was a dependent spouse. In regard to the remaining portions of its 7 September 1999 order, the trial court did not err by making new and/or additional findings of fact, including its finding of fact regarding the contribution needed by Plaintiff to meet her monthly expenses.

II

Plaintiff argues the trial court’s findings of fact do not support the amount and duration of its alimony award. We disagree.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.3A, which governs actions for alimony, states, in pertinent part: “The court shall exercise its discretion in determining the amount, duration, and manner of payment of alimony.” N.C.G.S. § 50-16.3A(b) (1999). In determining the amount, duration, and manner of payment of alimony, the trial court must consider the sixteen factors set forth in section 50-16.3A(b) and “make a specific finding of fact on each of the factors in subsection (b) ... if evidence is offered on that factor.” N.C.G.S. §§ 50-16.3A(b), 50-16.3A(c) (1999). Additionally, section 50-16.3A(c) provides: “The court shall set forth the reasons for its award or denial of alimony and, if making an award, the reasons for its amount, duration, and manner of payment.” N.C.G.S. § 50-16.3A(c). The issue of what constitutes sufficient “reasons for” the amount, duration, and manner of payment of an alimony award has previously not been addressed by this Court. However, because the statutory scheme provided in section 50-16.3A is similar to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-20 (equitable distribution of marital and divisible property), the findings of fact required to support an equitable distribution award under section 50-20 provide guidance as to the findings of fact required to support an alimony award under section 50-16.3A.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-20(c) provides twelve factors the trial court must consider when determining the equitable distribution of marital and divisible property. N.C.G.S. § 50-20(c) (1999). As with section 50-16.3A, the trial court must make findings of fact under section 50-20 regarding any of the factors for which evidence is introduced at trial. Armstrong v. Armstrong, 322 N.C. 396, 406, 368 S.E.2d 595, 600 (1988). Section 50-20 further provides: “In any order for the distribution of property made pursuant to [N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-20], the court shall make written findings of fact that support the determination that the marital property and divisible property has been equitably divided.” N.C.G.S. § 50-20(j) (1999). Findings of fact are sufficient to “support the determination” an equitable division has been made when findings of fact have been made on the ultimate facts at issue in the case, and the findings of fact show the trial court properly applied the law in the case. Armstrong, 322 N.C. at 405-06, 368 S.E.2d at 600; Atkinson v. Chandler, 130 N.C. App. 561, 566, 504 S.E.2d 94, 97 (1998). The weight given each factor, however, is within the discretion of the trial court, and the trial court is not required to specifically state the weight given each factor to “support the determination” an equitable distribution has been made. White v. White, 312 N.C. 770, 777-78, 324 S.E.2d 829, 833 (1985). Additionally, the weight given each factor by the trial court must be upheld on appeal absent a showing of abuse of discretion. Id. at 777, 324 S.E.2d at 833 (“trial court may be reversed for abuse of discretion only upon a showing that its actions are manifestly unsupported by reason”). Thus, because the discretionary powers granted to the trial court in equitable distribution actions is similar to the discretion granted to the trial court in alimony actions, see id. (comparing “wide discretionary powers” granted to the trial court in equitable distribution actions, alimony actions, and child support and custody actions), we hold the findings of fact required to support the amount, duration, and manner of payment of an alimony award are sufficient if findings of fact have been made on the ultimate facts at issue in the case³ and the findings of fact show the trial court properly applied the law in the case. The findings of fact need not set forth the weight given to the factors in section 50-16.3A(b) by the trial court when determining the appropriate amount, duration, and manner of payment, as the weight given the factors is within the sound discretion of the trial court.

In this case, the trial court made extensive findings of fact regarding the parties’ incomes and expenses. The trial court found as fact that Plaintiffs “shortfall for her projected needs ... is approximately $939.78 per month.” In awarding Plaintiff an alimony award of $600.00 per month for 30 months, the trial court considered: Plaintiff received an unequal distribution of the marital property in her favor; Plaintiff is able to “re-allocate her resources to meet her reasonable needs . . . without depleting her separate estate”; both of the parties “had selected careers and been educated for their career plans prior to this marriage”; the parties lived beyond their means during the last four years of their marriage; subsequent to the parties’ separation, Defendant provided support to Plaintiff which enabled Plaintiff to obtain a full-time position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and to “complete her training ... in order to meet her reasonable economic needs”; and “certain expenses will have to be cut and re-allocated by both parties in order to live within their means which was not the case during the last few years of the parties’ marriage.” The record shows the trial court made findings of fact on all of the section 50-16.3A(b) factors for which evidence was presented, and there is no indication in the record that the trial court misapplied the law when making findings on these factors. Additionally, the record does not show the trial court abused its discretion when assigning weight to the section 50-16.3A(b) factors in this case. Accordingly, we must affirm the amount, duration, and manner of payment of the trial court’s 7 September 1999 award of alimony.

Ill

Plaintiff argues the trial court erred by failing to award her attorney’s fees under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.4.

Section 50-16.4 provides, in pertinent part: “At any time that a dependent spouse would be entitled to alimony pursuant to G.S. 50-16.3A, . . . the court may, upon application of such spouse, enter an order for reasonable counsel fees for the benefit of such spouse, to be paid and secured by the supporting spouse in the same manner as alimony.” N.C.G.S. § 50-16.4 (1999). “Before granting an award of attomey[’]s[] fees, the trial court must determine, as a mater of law, that the spouse seeking the award is dependent, and that the spouse is without sufficient means to subsist during the prosecution of the suit and to defray the necessary expenses.” Owensby v. Ownesby, 312 N.C. 473, 475, 322 S.E.2d 772, 773-74 (1984). When an award of attorney’s fees is properly awarded, the amount of the award is within the discretion of the trial court. Id. at 475, 322 S.E.2d at 774.

In this case, the trial court concluded Plaintiff is a dependent spouse. The trial court did not, however, make any findings regarding whether Plaintiff “is without sufficient means to subsist during the prosecution of the suit and to defray the necessary expenses.” The trial court’s conclusion of law that “[P]laintiff is not entitled to an award of attorney[’s] fees” is, therefore, not supported by its findings. Accordingly, the portion of the trial court’s 7 September 1999 order denying Plaintiff attorney’s fees is reversed, and this case is remanded to the trial court for findings on whether Plaintiff is entitled to an award of attorney’s fees. The remaining portions of the trial court’s 7 September 1999 order are affirmed. We reject the additional arguments asserted by Plaintiff in her brief to this Court.

Affirmed in part and reversed in part.

Judge McCULLOUGH concurs. Judge HUDSON dissents.

1 . In its 17 October 1997 order, the trial court found as fact that Defendant had income from “interest, dividends, refunds, and capital gains” of $14,968.00 per year.

2 . In its 17 October 1997 order, the trial court attributed to Defendant $14,968.00 gross income per year from dividends, interest, capital gains, and tax refunds. In its 7 September 1999 order, the trial court attributed to Defendant $14,756.00 gross income per year from these same sources. As the amounts of additional income are not materially different, we affirm the trial court’s findings in its 7 September 1999 order regarding Defendant’s income from dividends, interest, capital gains, and tax refunds.

3 . The ultimate facts at issue in the case are facts relating to the factors set forth in section 50-16.3A(b) for which evidence is presented at trial.