Gosman v. Gosman

309 A.2d 34, 19 Md. App. 66, 1973 Md. App. LEXIS 208
CourtCourt of Special Appeals of Maryland
DecidedAugust 28, 1973
Docket18, September Term, 1973
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 309 A.2d 34 (Gosman v. Gosman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Special Appeals of Maryland primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gosman v. Gosman, 309 A.2d 34, 19 Md. App. 66, 1973 Md. App. LEXIS 208 (Md. Ct. App. 1973).

Opinion

Powers, J.,

delivered the opinion of the Court.

Francis H. Gosman and his wife, Thelma R. Gosman, were married in 1945 and lived together in their home at Beltsville in Prince George’s County until Mrs. Gosman left the home on 10 December 1971. Of their three children only the fourteen year old daughter, Julie, still lived at home. In March, 1972, Mr. Gosman filed in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County a bill of complaint alleging that his wife had deserted him and praying for a limited divorce and custody of their minor child. He alleged in the complaint that he was the sole owner and operator of a retail grocery, freezer meat, restaurant, lounge, and music recording business known as Dawnrose, in Prince George’s County. In addition, he asked that his wife be required to return to him the sum of $48,000.00 which she withdrew from the business bank account at the time she left the family home.

With her responsive pleading to the husband’s complaint, *69 the wife filed a counter complaint for an absolute divorce, alleging that the husband had in November and December 1971 committed adulteries which she had not condoned, as well as numerous previous adulteries which she had condoned. She alleged that “the parties jointly own property consisting of real estate, businesses, corporate stocks, household furnishings, automobiles, and other personal property”, and specifically alleged that she was a joint owner with her husband of a “combination night club, grocery store, liquor store and restaurant”, and that she was unemployed. In her counter complaint the wife prayed for an absolute divorce, alimony, custody of and support for the minor child, counsel fees and money to prosecute her suit, and prayed that the court determine all property rights of the parties in personal property.

Shortly after the filing of these initial pleadings, the parties entered into a stipulation, without prejudice to the rights of either, that the wife should retain the sum of $24,000.00 and return the sum of $24,000.00 to the husband. The evidence indicates that she complied.

Following extensive discovery on behalf of both parties, the case was heard before Judge James F. Couch, Jr. in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County on 26 and 27 September 1972. Counsel thereafter filed written arguments on the issues involved. On 10 November 1972 Judge Couch filed an opinion, and signed and filed a final decree.

In the final decree the complaint of the husband for a limited divorce was dismissed, the wife was granted an absolute divorce against the husband on the ground of adultery; the wife was awarded an interest in Dawnrose in a share equal to twenty-five percent of its fair market value on December 10, 1971, and a share equal to twenty-five percent of the amount of the business checking account on December 10, 1971; the wife was awarded ownership of one half of the furnishings of the family residence; the wife was awarded sole ownership of a 1971 Mark IV Lincoln Continental automobile which was titled in both names; the husband was ordered to pay to the wife the sum of $700.00 a month as alimony; the wife was awarded custody of the *70 minor child and the husband was ordered to pay the sum of $550.00 a month for support and maintenance of the child; and the husband was ordered to pay to the wife the sum of $1,000.00 for the cost of the litigation, in addition to the sum of $1,240.00 for the cost of retaining detectives.

The husband took an appeal from the decree. In his brief and argument here he contends:

1. The evidence was not sufficient to support the finding that he committed adultery in November and December 1971.

2. That even if the evidence was sufficient to prove adultery, the evidence also showed that it was condoned by the wife.

3. That the evidence did not justify the finding that there was a business partnership between the parties.

4. That the evidence did not justify the award of alimony, child support, counsel fees and detectives fees.

The wife filed a cross appeal from that part of the decree which awarded her a 25% rather than a 50% interest in the business known as Dawnrose, after finding that she was a partner in the business. She further asserts that even if the finding of partnership was in error, she was entitled to a 50% share in any event because the property was held as tenants by the entireties prior to severance of the tenancy by the divorce.

We note that neither party appeals from those parts of the decree which gave custody of the minor child to the wife, and which awarded to the wife one half ownership of the furnishings of the family residence and sole ownership of the Lincoln Continental automobile. Likewise neither party complains that with respect to certain personal property in the form of corporate securities, registered in the names of both as joint tenants or as tenants by the entireties, the decree makes no determination of ownership or division other than that effected by operation of law.

We shall refer to additional pertinent facts as we discuss the issues.

*71 The Divorce

In her counter complaint the wife alleged that she had condoned acts of adultery committed by her husband up to October 1971, but that he had committed adultery in November and December 1971 which she had not condoned. She further alleged that the prior condoned adulteries were revived. In his answer the husband admitted those allegations, except as to lack of condonation. He alleged that all alleged acts of adultery had been condoned. By his signed and sworn pleading the husband made condonation the only issue on the question of adultery as the wife’s ground for divorce.

However, the chancellor heard the evidence and decided the issue of adultery on the facts. Testimony of private investigators engaged by the wife showed that on 17 November and on 1 December 1971 the husband was in his night club, called the Big Dipper, a part of the over-all business operation. On those two evenings he paid particular attention to an unescorted young woman who had been described to the investigators by the wife and whom they referred to as Doreen. He sat with her and danced with her. One of the investigators said that the husband and Doreen were holding hands, that he placed his hand on her thigh, and that they kissed each other about the face and neck while dancing. The investigator related that on the 17 November occasion the husband left the table and went into his private office on the same floor. A few minutes later the young woman left the building through the main exit and entered the office through an outside stair and doorway. One investigator remained outside and watched the stair while the other one remained in the night club. Slightly over an hour later the young woman left the office by way of the outside stair. On the 1 December occasion, after sitting at the table with the same young woman for some time, the husband left and entered his office. About five minutes later the young woman entered the office by the same door. About forty five minutes later she came out.

The investigator described in some detail the layout and *72

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Bluebook (online)
309 A.2d 34, 19 Md. App. 66, 1973 Md. App. LEXIS 208, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gosman-v-gosman-mdctspecapp-1973.