Greene v. Greene, Unpublished Decision (6-29-2004)

2004 Ohio 3529
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 29, 2004
DocketCase No. 03-CA-85.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2004 Ohio 3529 (Greene v. Greene, Unpublished Decision (6-29-2004)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Greene v. Greene, Unpublished Decision (6-29-2004), 2004 Ohio 3529 (Ohio Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant Paula Greene appeals from the August 11, 2003, and August 26, 2003, Judgment Entries of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶ 2} Appellant Paula Greene and appellee Michael Greene were married on October 24, 1992, in Licking County, Ohio. No children were born as issue of such marriage.

{¶ 3} On February 6, 2002, appellant filed a complaint for divorce against appellee in the Licking County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division. Appellee, on March 7, 2002, filed an answer and counterclaim. Pursuant to a temporary restraining order filed on February 11, 2002, appellant was granted temporary exclusive possession of the marital residence.

{¶ 4} Following a hearing on appellant's Civil Rule 75 motion for temporary orders, the Magistrate, as memorialized in an order filed on April 23, 2002, ordered appellee to pay the vehicle loan on appellant's automobile and the first and second mortgages, real estate taxes, and homeowners' insurance on the marital residence and to obtain and maintain vehicle insurance for appellant's vehicle.1 After appellee filed a motion to set aside the Magistrate's order, the trial court, pursuant to a Judgment Entry filed on June 4, 2002, modified the Magistrate's order by ordering appellant to pay the second mortgage on the marital residence. The trial court, in such entry, noted that appellee "will be responsible for the first mortgage, car and home insurances, real estate taxes, [and] both car loans . . ."

{¶ 5} Subsequently, on June 5, 2002, appellant filed a Motion for Contempt, seeking an order finding appellee in contempt for violating the Magistrate's April 23, 2002, order by failing to "pay the bills of the residence." Appellant, in her motion, also sought an order requiring appellee to immediately bring current all delinquent payments and/or to reimburse appellant for the payments that she had to make to protect her credit and to pay appellant's attorney's fees and expenses. In a supplemental motion filed on June 18, 2002, appellant sought an order from the trial court requiring appellee to reimburse her for car and homeowners insurance. Appellant, in her motion, alleged that, due to a lapse in time before appellee reinstated the insurance on appellant's vehicle and the marital residence, she was forced to pay the same in order to maintain insurance.

{¶ 6} An oral hearing before a Magistrate was held on July 19, 2002. As memorialized in a Judgment Entry filed on July 25, 2002, the Magistrate found appellee in contempt for "failure to pay on certain marital debts and obligations previously ordered." The Magistrate, in such entry, sentenced appellee to thirty days in jail and ordered that such sentence be suspended if appellee purged his contempt by complying with all court orders. The Magistrate further stated that the suspended sentence would come on for review at the time of the final divorce trial. Moreover, the Magistrate, in her entry, stated as follows: "[i]f defendant has fully complied with all court orders between July 19, 2002, and the date of the final trial, then the court will consider defendant to have purged his contempt and the suspended sentence will be vacated. If it is determined from the clear and convincing evidence at the final trial that defendant has failed to fully comply with the court's temporary orders, then the suspended sentence may be imposed at that time without delay." Finally, the Magistrate stated that appellant's motion for reimbursement of monies paid by her on obligations that appellee was ordered to pay would be considered at the final trial.

{¶ 7} A final contested divorce trial before a Magistrate was held on November 12, 2002. The Magistrate, in a decision filed on February 6, 2003, recommended that the parties be granted a divorce, that appellee be ordered to pay appellant $38,862.86 to equalize the distribution of assets, and that appellant not be awarded spousal support. The Magistrate, in her decision, further stated that all temporary orders would "remain in full force and effect until such time as the final decree of divorce is filed in this matter."

{¶ 8} Both parties filed objections to the Magistrate's decision. Thereafter, on March 31, 2003, appellant filed a Motion for Contempt against appellee, alleging that appellee had violated the Magistrate's April 23, 2003, order "requiring him to pay the bills of the residence," including, but not limited to, the first mortgage and real estate taxes on the residence. A hearing on such motion was scheduled for April 15, 2003.

{¶ 9} The trial court, in an April 7, 2003, Opinion addressing the parties' objections, scheduled an oral hearing regarding spousal support for May 8, 2003, and ordered the parties to bring a copy of their 2002 income tax return and any and all W2's and/or 1099's. The trial court, in its opinion, noted that issues regarding equalization would also be considered at the hearing.

{¶ 10} Thereafter, pursuant to a Judgment Entry filed on July 1, 2003, the trial court ordered appellee to pay appellant $250.00 per month in spousal support for one year, commencing June 1, 2003. While the trial court agreed that appellee should pay appellant to equalize the distribution of assets, the trial court changed the amount of the equalization payment from $38,862.86 to $35,035.86.

{¶ 11} A Judgment Decree of Divorce was filed on August 11, 2003. Pursuant to a Judgment Entry filed on August 26, 2003, the trial court denied appellant's March 31, 2003, Motion for Contempt, stating, in relevant part, as follows: "[t]he Court finds that this particular motion was filed after the final divorce trial was conducted on November 12, 2002, and after the Magistrate's Decision from that trial was filed on February 6, 2003. Moreover, the Judgment Entry filed July 25, 2002, provided an opportunity to plaintiff to offer evidence at the final trial regarding defendant's compliance with the Court's temporary orders.

{¶ 12} "The proper time to have litigated the motion in contempt — a motion alleging failure to comply with the Court's temporary orders — was at the final divorce trial."

{¶ 13} It is from the trial court's August 11, 2003, and August 26, 2003, Judgment Entries that appellant now appeals, raising following assignments of error:

{¶ 14} "I. The Court erred in failing to award the wife her separate property interest in the real estate.

{¶ 15} "II. The Court erred in failing to award the wife any portion of the husband's vacation pay and sick leave.

{¶ 16} "III. The Court erred in awarding the wife payments rather than a division of existing assets.

{¶ 17} "IV. The Court erred in failing to award the wife sufficient spousal support for a suitable length of time.

{¶ 18} "V. The court erred in failing to find the husband in contempt or awarding relief in its Judgment Entry Filed 8/26/03.

{¶ 19} Initially, we note that neither party provided the trial court with a transcript of the proceedings before the Magistrate for the trial court's review of the objections to the Magistrate's Decision.

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2007 Ohio 7011 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2007)

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Bluebook (online)
2004 Ohio 3529, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/greene-v-greene-unpublished-decision-6-29-2004-ohioctapp-2004.