Gallagher v. Gallagher

181 So. 2d 47, 248 La. 621, 1965 La. LEXIS 2239
Supreme Court of Louisiana·Decided December 13, 1965·No. 47797·Published·Cited by 29 cases

Opinion

SUMMERS, Justice.

Jo Ann Joris Gallagher instituted suit against her husband James Albert Gallagher for separation from bed and board on account of cruel treatment. In her petition the plaintiff wife prayed for a dissolution of the community, custody of the two minor children, issue of the marriage, and she also sought a rule against the husband to fix alimony pendente lite for herself and the children.

The husband answered, denying the cruel treatment, and reconvened seeking a decree of separation from bed and board in his favor by reason of abandonment by the wife. In his answer he conceded that the wife was entitled to the custody of the children but denied his ability to pay alimony even for his children.

The suit was tried on the merits on May 15, 1964, and continued to May 21, 1964, at which time the trial was completed. There was judgment rejecting the wife’s demand for a separation from bed and board and in favor of the husband against the wife decreeing a separation from bed and board on the grounds of abandonment. Custody of the children was awarded to the wife.

During the course of the trial, on May 15, 1964, the husband testified that he was not employed and had not been employed since early in April of 1964; and later, during the trial on May 21, 1964, he again testified that he was unemployed and had no income. On this latter date he also testified on cross-examination that he was not the owner of a 1964 Buick automobile he was then driving.

The trial judge assigned reasons which disclose that his judgment was based particularly upon the credibility and reliability of the husband’s testimony. In his reasons he stated that he was not impressed with the accuracy of the testimony of Mr. Jones, one of the wife’s witnesses, “nor his veracity, nor his ability to remember; hut was impressed with the testimony of the defendant. Although the defendant certainly had an interest, and certainly is a more interested witness * * * his demeanor on the stand, the way he answered the questions, indicated that he was giving an answer that impressed the Court with his effort to give truthful testimony.”

The wife appealed, and the Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment in favor of the husband. Meanwhile, on September 14, 1964, during the pendency of the ap *625 peal, the wife’s rule for alimony pendente lite against the husband was tried. On the trial of that rule it was proven by documents and testimony that the husband was employed by Acadian Mortgage Corporation on May 15, 1964 through May 31, 1964 and thereafter at a net monthly salary of $719.53.

After the judgment of the trial court was affirmed by the Court of Appeal the wife applied to that court for. a rehearing and filed therewith, on October 19, 1964, a motion to remand the case to the trial court. The motion to remand was based upon newly discovered evidence establishing the fact that the husband had testified falsely upon.the trial of the merits of the suit for separation from bed and board concerning his employment and the ownership of the Buick automobile. Attached to the motion to remand was a transcript of the evidence taken at the hearing on the rule for alimony pendente lite on September 14, 1964 and the following documents: Application for Certificate of Title and Motor Car Registration showing that title to the Buick automobile was registered in the name of the husband on May 18, 1964; Department of Revenue Sales Tax Return, showing payment of sales tax on the Buick automobile by the husband as purchaser; chattel mortgage executed by the husband on May 18, 1964 affecting the Buick automobile; certificate of the Secretary of State with an. extract of the meeting of shareholders of Ford Mortgage Corporation showing the change of name to Acadian Mortgage Corporation executed by the husband as president of Ford Mortgage Corporation on May 13, 1964 and filed of record in the office of the Secretary of State of Louisiana on May 29, 1964. The testimony and documents established conclusively that the husband was employed by Acadian Mortgage Corporation on May 15, 1964 and that he had title to the Buick automobile as owner on May 18, 1964 and thereafter, both of which facts he denied in his testimony of May 15 and 21, 1964 on the trial of the issue of separation on its merits.

The Court of Appeal granted a rehearing and then found, in view of the contradictions shown by the transcript and documents attached to the motion to remand, that the husband had testified falsely during the trial on the merits of the separation suit and that his testimony “should be accorded little, if any, weight in determining the merits of the separation suit.” The court then proceeded to consider the record, excluding the husband’s tesimony, and found the evidence to be uniform and convincing that the husband was guilty of such cruelty as to render their living together insupportable within the contemplation of Article 138(3) of the Civil Code.

Thereafter the husband applied to this court for writs of review which we grant *627 ed but “limited to the question of whether the case should have been removed (remanded) to the trial court.” (Parentheses added.)

We are of the opinion that the Court of Appeal erred when it considered, for the first time, the documents and the record of the testimony adduced on September 14, 1964 at the trial of the rule to fix the alimony of the wife pendente lite, which were attached to the motion to remand, in order to reverse the trial court on the issue of separation from bed and board. This evidence formed no part of the record of the trial of the separation suit on its merits. However, it is not only obvious that that evidence has a bearing upon the controversy; but- it is apparent that it is vital evidence, for it seriously affects the credibility of the husband’s testimony, which was an all-important factor in arriving at the judgment in his favor initially.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Gallagher v. Gallagher, 181 So. 2d 47, 248 La. 621, 1965 La. LEXIS 2239 (La. 1965).

181 So. 2d 47 (Gallagher v. Gallagher) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Joann Place v. Melba Ricard
Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2022
Joe Turnage v. City of Alexandria
Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2018
Adoption of N.B.
140 So. 3d 1263 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2014)
Adoption of N. B.
Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2014
State ex rel. T.H.
140 So. 3d 911 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2014)
State in the Intrest of T. H.
Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2014
Woods v. Cousins
102 So. 3d 977 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2012)
Denoux v. Vessel Management Services, Inc.
983 So. 2d 84 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 2008)
BWS JR. v. Livingston Parish School Bd.
936 So. 2d 181 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 2006)
Jackson v. Royal Insurance Co.
704 So. 2d 424 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1997)
Prescott v. Parish of Jefferson
694 So. 2d 468 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1997)
GEO CONSULTANTS INTERNATIONAL v. Professional Roofing and Const., Inc.
672 So. 2d 1002 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1996)
Archer v. Tudor Const. Co.
649 So. 2d 1251 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1995)
Webber v. Berry
609 So. 2d 1175 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1992)
Deris v. Lee
581 So. 2d 1072 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1991)
Sutton v. Montegut
544 So. 2d 1181 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1989)
Lozes v. Lozes
542 So. 2d 603 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1989)
Franklin v. City of Baton Rouge
525 So. 2d 674 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1988)
Placid Refining Co. v. Privette
523 So. 2d 865 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1988)