Huffine v. Huffine

74 N.E.2d 764, 48 Ohio Law. Abs. 430, 36 Ohio Op. 56, 1947 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 218
CourtVan Wert County Court of Common Pleas
DecidedApril 30, 1947
DocketNo. 19466
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 74 N.E.2d 764 (Huffine v. Huffine) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Van Wert County Court of Common Pleas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Huffine v. Huffine, 74 N.E.2d 764, 48 Ohio Law. Abs. 430, 36 Ohio Op. 56, 1947 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 218 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1947).

Opinion

OPINION

By McNEILL, J.:

On January 14, 1947, plaintiff filed his petition for divorce against defendant and alleged that she continually had improper associations with other men, that she neglected both plaintiff and their children, and that she had used vile and [432]*432abusive language toward plaintiff and their children. To this, defendant filed a general denial and cross petition. Upon hearing for temporary alimony and temporary custody of the minor children, their custody was reposed in the plaintiff. Prior to trial, defendant asked leave to withdraw her answer and cross petition and file an amended answer. Leave was granted and defendant filed an answer setting up the defense of condonation.

Plaintiff has satisfactorily proved the allegations of his petition. These acts have not been denied by defendant, but defendant has testified that on several occasions since the filing of this suit, and continuing almost until the day of this trial, that plaintiff has maintained marital relations with her.. Plaintiff has denied these acts, but has admitted that since the petition has been filed that he and defendant have lived under the same roof with no one present but their minor children, claiming, however, that they have occupied separate bedrooms and that he has not resumed marital relations with the defendant since the time of filing of this suit.

Neither party has been a satisfactory witness, both having been very belligerent. The plaintiff particularly has been inclined to “hedge” whenever possible and has tried to shade ©very bit of testimony to his advantage if at all possible. There is no doubt in the Court’s mind that one of the parties to this action has committed perjury as there can be no reconcilliation of their testamony in regard to the resumption of marital relations. However, from the testimony presented to the Court, it is impossible for this Court to determine which of the parr ties is telling the truth.

As plaintiff’s allegations have been proved, the sole issue is that of condonation.,

The Court is able to find but nineteen reported cases in Ohio upon the subject of condonation. To aid in reaching a decision in this cause, it is felt that a brief review of these cases is imperative. These decisions are pertinent, whether directly in point or not, as they do set out our general doctrine of condonation, and many points in their decisions, although not particularly applicable in this case, have influenced the decision of this Court.

Although not recognized by statute, condonation as a defense to divorce actions has long been recognized in this state. Mansfield v Mansfield, Wright 284; McDwire v McDwire, Wright 354; Barnes v Barnes, Wright 475; Questel v Questel, Wright 491; Miller v Miller, 4 Abs 108; 19 Oh Ap 518; Wilms v Wilms, 22 Abs 128; Wilson v Wilson, 21 Abs 131. How[433]*433ever, for condonation to operate, it has been held that the cohabitation or resumption of marital relations must be with full knowledge of all the acts by the wrongdoer, Rousey v Rousey, 7 Abs 467, and that the cohabitation must be voluntary and not induced by fear, intimidation, or secured by trick or artifice. Rex v Rex, 9 Abs 338; 39 Oh Ap 295; 177 N. E. 527.

The forgiveness, however, is a conditional forgiveness and is conditioned upon the implied promise of the aggressor that he will not repeat any of the acts of aggression and, if such acts are 'repeated, the injured party may allege and set forth all acts prior to the condonation in addition to the acts subsequent. Shock v Shock, Dayton 331; Kleinhenz v Kleinhenz, 22 Abs 658. It has been held that there must be some corroboration of the subsequent act, Henry v Henry, 11 O Dec. Rep. 781; 29 W. Law Bul. 115, but the prior acts are supporting testimony to the subsequent acts, Kleinhenz v Kleinhenz, supra, and it is not necessary that such a subsequent act be of such a nature as would support a divorce action of itself. If such an act shows a breach of the conditional forgiveness, then all acts complained of, whether previously condoned or not, may be alleged. Weller v Weller, 35 Abs 631; 42 N. E. 458; Smith v Smith, 15 Abs 536.

If the condonation takes place during the pendency of the suit the cause of action abates but may be revived in the' same action where subsequent acts of aggression have taken place by the filing of a supplemental petition. Mears v Mears, 42 Abs 346; 30 OO 177; 15 O Su 61.

When condonation is a defense, it is an affirmative defense and must be specifically alleged. Shiff v Shiff, 36 Abs 626; 45 N. E. (2d) 132; Hepner v Hepner, 39 Abs 449; 38 Abs 609; 51 N. E. (2d) 44; Gugle v Gugle, 40 Abs 230; 57 N. E. (2d) 156; Winnard v Winnard, 62 Oh Ap 351; 16 OO 51; 23 N. E. (2d) 977; Weller v Weller, supra.

The Oourt has set out at some length the holdings of the reported Ohio decisions so that the limited law applicable to. this ease may be examined and applied wherever possible. If there is condonation in this case it must arise solely from the resumption of marital intercourse, as there has been no general forgiveness. If marital intercourse has been resumed, it has been voluntary and has been with full knowledge of the defendant’s aggressions.

However, to arrive at a decision in this case it is necessary to decide two issues that have never been decided in any reported case in Ohio that this Court has been able to discover. These questions are:

[434]*434First: Where plaintiff has full knowledge of defendant’s aggressions and voluntarily commits an act of marital intercourse with defendant, does this act of intercourse in itself constitute condonation?

Second: Where a husband and wife remain under the same roof and the defendant testifies as to. resumption of marital relations, this fact being denied by the plaintiff, what corroborative proof is necessary on the part of the defendant?

. The courts of Ohio have not in a case in point decided whether a single act of marital intercourse acts as condonation. The decisions of sister states are in conflict. Some jurisdictions, and these seemingly being the majority, hold that a single resumption of marital relations, where the same is voluntary and with full knowledge of the acts of the aggressor, is condonation. Wolverton v Wolverton, 163 Ind. 26; 71 N. E. 123; Shackelton v Shackelton, 48 N. J. Eq. 364; 21 Atl. 935; Collins v Collins, 194 La. 446; 193 So. 702; Phinizy v Phinizy, 154 Ga. 199; 114 S. E. 185; La Flamme v La Flamme, 210 Mass. 156; 96 N. E. 62; Harper v Harper, 29 Mo. 301; Perkins v Perkins, 6 Mass. 69; Toulson v Toulson, 93 Md. 754; 50 Atl, 401; Tilton v Tilton, 16 Ky. L. R. 538; 29 S. W. 290; Phillips v Phillips, 102 Ark. 69; 144 S. W. 914; Shirey v Shirey, 87 Ark. 175; 112 S. W. 369; Buck v Buck, 205 Ark. 918; 171 S. W. (2d) 939; Lee v Lee, 51 Ill. App. 565; Carlson v Carlson, 308 Ill. App. 675; 32 N. E. (2d) 365; Masilotti v Masilotti, 150 Fla. 86; 7 So. (2d) 132; Harnett v Harnett, 55 Ia. 215; 7 N. W. 394.

However, other cases have held that resumption of marital intercourse in itself does not constitute condonation. Rushmore v Rushmore, 12 N. J. Misc. 575; 174 Atl. 469; Hawkins v Hawkins, 104 Cal. App. 608; 286 Pac. 747; Doe v Doe, 52 Hun 405; 5 N. Y. Supp. 514; Morton v Morton, 117 Cal. 443; 49 Pac. 557. Other states have made a distinction between cases of adultery and cruelty. Phillips v Phillips, 146 Fla. 311; 1 So. (2d) 186; Arndt v Arndt, 146 Ore. 347; 30 Pac. (2d) 1; Meyer v Meyer, 226 Ky. 278; 10 S. W. (2d) 844.

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Bluebook (online)
74 N.E.2d 764, 48 Ohio Law. Abs. 430, 36 Ohio Op. 56, 1947 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 218, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/huffine-v-huffine-ohctcomplvanwe-1947.