Ginger A. Galando v. Matthew P. Galando

Court of Appeals of Washington·Decided August 28, 2017·No. 74427-5·Unpublished

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION ONE

In the Matter of the Marriage of No. 74427-5-1 (Consolidated with No. 74428-3-1)

GINGER ANN GALANDO,

Respondent,

UNPUBLISHED OPINION

and

MATTHEW PAUL GALANDO, Appellant. FILED: August 28, 2017 SCHINDLER, J. — Following a lengthy trial, the court entered a decree of dissolution of the marriage of Matthew Paul Galando and Ginger Ann Galando,findings of fact and conclusions of law, a parenting plan, and a child support order. Matthew seeks reversal of the decree, the parenting plan, and the child support order. The Intervenor Successor Trustee of The Joseph A. Galando Descendants' Trust for the benefit of(f/b/o) Matthew Galando seeks reversal of the child support order, the community property marital lien in favor of Ginger, the award of maintenance, and the award of attorney fees. We reverse characterization of gifts as community property, the order to pay college tuition as part of the property division instead of maintenance, and imposition of a parenting plan condition that restricts Matthew from contacting the police. In all other respects, we affirm.

No. 74427-5-1 (Consol. with No. 74428-3-1)/2 FACTS

Twenty-one-year-old Ginger started dating Matthew Galando in 1996. Ginger was earning minimum wage working at a gym. Matthew's parents Joseph and Barbara Galando owned Sea Coast Foods. Matthew worked at Sea Coast Foods. Matthew got Ginger a job working at Sea Coast Foods. After dating three or four months, Ginger and Matthew started living together. The couple moved to work at Sea Coast Foods in California. Matthew purchased a house and paid the mortgage. Ginger paid the household expenses.

On November 25, 1998, Matthew's parents established the Joseph A. Galando Descendants' Trust(JAG Trust) and the Barbara J. Galando Descendants' Trust(BJG Trust)for the support, maintenance, health, and education of their three adult children: Steven, David, and Matthew, and their children and grandchildren. The JAG Trust and the BJG Trust appoints the three sons as trustees. The trust agreement gives the trustees the power to "[e]ffect distribution of property and money in divided or undivided interests" and to "[purchase, sell and/or deal in any and all real estate investments." The trust appoints an "independent Trustee." The trust agreement states the Independent Trustee shall have "any duties and powers delegated to the Independent Trustee by the Trustee." On November 25, 1998, Joseph and Barbara also established the Joseph A. Galando Descendants' Trust f/b/o each of the three adult children: Steven, David, and Matthew.

In 1999, Joseph and Barbara Galando sold Sea Coast Foods to Aurora Foods.

That same year, they divided a portion of the JAG and BJG Trusts into three separate shares that were distributed to the three Decedents' Trusts, including the Joseph A.

No. 74427-5-1 (Consol. with No. 74428-3-1)/3 Galando Descendants' Trust f/b/o Matthew Galando (Trust). Matthew's parents appointed Matthew and an Independent Trustee as trustees of the Trust. The Trust gives Matthew the sole discretion to distribute income and principal for his benefit and the benefit of his children as he "deems reasonable for. . . support, maintenance, health and education."

After the sale of Sea Coast Foods, Matthew and Ginger got engaged and moved back to Washington. From 2000 until 2001, Matthew worked at Aurora Foods. Matthew earned $100,000 plus a $20,000 bonus. Ginger worked at Costco full time. Matthew and Ginger married on July 14, 2000.

At the end of 2001, Matthew quit his job at Aurora Foods. Matthew used Trust funds to pay $1.8 million in cash to purchase property in Redmond and build a house for Ginger and himself. Matthew started a home-theatre installation business, Home Theatre Concepts. In addition to Trust income, Matthew earned approximately $40,000 a year from Home Theatre Concepts. In 2002, Ginger enrolled at the Art Institute of Seattle. But after earning a degree in fashion design, Ginger could only find a job in retail.

Matthew was injured in October 2005 while riding his motocross bike. Matthew underwent a number of surgeries on his ankles. In 2006, Ginger gave birth to their first child G.G. Their second child M.G. was born in 2008. After the children were born, Matthew and Ginger agreed she would not work and stay home to care for the children.

In 2008, Matthew worked as a mortgage banker on commission and earned approximately $24,000 before he was "let go." In 2009, Matthew started a landscaping

No. 74427-5-1 (Consol. with No. 74428-3-1)/4 business, Raven Landscape and Maintenance. In 2010, Matthew started a business selling guitar equipment, Amps Northwest.

Matthew became addicted to pain medication. Matthew withdrew from Ginger and the children and in 2013, he began to exhibit bizarre behavior. Matthew would stay up all night, sleep all day, and experience hallucinations. Matthew started keeping loaded firearms in the bedroom and kitchen. Matthew installed a home security system with surveillance cameras and spent hours watching the surveillance tapes. Ginger was afraid for her safety and the safety of the children.

Ginger insisted Matthew get help. In 2014, Matthew agreed to enroll in a two-

month inpatient rehabilitation center in California. When Matthew returned, he did not spend time with Ginger or the children. On June 5, 2014, Matthew told Ginger he wanted a divorce.

On August 12, 2014, Ginger filed a petition for dissolution. On September 30, the court entered a temporary order. The court appointed a guardian ad litem (GAL) and entered a temporary parenting plan and order of child support. The parenting plan designates Ginger as the residential parent. The court ordered Matthew to pay approximately $1,500 in child support. The child support work sheet lists $7,333 in interest and dividend income and $10,000 a month in income for Matthew. The child support order states Matthew "shall pay 100% of the children's school tuition." The court ordered Matthew to pay Ginger $4,000 a month in maintenance beginning October 1, 2014. The order states Ginger and the children "shall exclusively occupy" the Redmond residence and ordered Matthew to move out by October 12. The order

No. 74427-5-1 (Consol. with No. 74428-3-1)/5 explicitly restrains and enjoins both parties from "transferring, removing, encumbering, concealing, or in any way disposing of any property."

When Matthew did not move out of the house, Ginger obtained a restraining order. Matthew did not comply with the court orders to pay maintenance or school tuition.

On February 12, 2015, the GAL filed a 50-page report. The GAL recommended the court designate Ginger as the residential parent and the children reside with Matthew every other weekend. The GAL recommended Matthew continue to see nurse practitioner Elizabeth Mueller for drug treatment and "individual counseling," "abstain from all use of alcohol and illegal drugs," and obtain urinalysis(UA)testing. The GAL recommended Ginger "enroll in individual counseling."

In late February, Matthew's father contacted Edward Ahrens and requested that he act as the "Successor Independent Trustee." The March 3, 2015 "Appointment of Successor Independent Trustee" states that "as it relates to The Joseph A. Galando Descendant's Trust, f/b/o Matthew P. Galando," Ahrens has "[t]he power and authority to deal with and manage all matters. . . involving trust assets, including but not limited to any real estate issues arising out of Matthew P. Galando's divorce proceedings."

On March 27, Ahrens filed a motion to intervene in the dissolution. The court granted the motion. On April 13, Ahrens (Successor Trustee)filed a motion to modify or revoke the temporary order that allowed Ginger and the children to live in the Redmond house and "preclude the collection of any pecuniary spousal maintenance award from the trust assets."

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