STATE OF LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT
15-22
JAMES NICHOLAS ARTERBURN
VERSUS
KAREN ANN POWERS ARTERBURN
**********
APPEAL FROM THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, NO. C-2007-6667 HONORABLE DAVID BLANCHET, DISTRICT JUDGE
ULYSSES GENE THIBODEAUX CHIEF JUDGE
Court composed of Ulysses Gene Thibodeaux, Chief Judge, John D. Saunders, and Marc T. Amy, Judges.
JUDGMENT AMENDED AND AFFIRMED AS AMENDED.
Philip Collins Kobetz P. O. Box 80275 Lafayette, LA 70598-0275 Telephone: (337) 291-1990 COUNSEL FOR: Plaintiff/Appellee - James Nicholas Arterburn
Theodore Glenn Edwards, IV P. O. Drawer 2908 Lafayette, LA 70502 Telephone: (337) 237-1660 COUNSEL FOR: Defendant/Appellee - Andre Doguet, Gordon & Assoc., ACCPA Karen Ann Arterburn In Proper Person 11015 Wilshire Chase Drive Johns Creek, GA 30097 Telephone: (337) 349-8433 Defendant/Appellant - Karen Ann Powers Arterburn THIBODEAUX, Chief Judge.
Karen Ann Powers Arterburn appeals from a judgment partitioning
the community property between herself and her former husband, James Nicholas
Arterburn. For the following reasons, we amend the judgment to decrease the
amount owed by Karen Ann Powers Arterburn to James Nicholas Arterburn from
$458,029.79 to $204,874.85, and we affirm in all other respects.
I.
ISSUES
We must decide:
(1) whether the trial court’s partition of community property was fundamentally erroneous;
(2) whether the trial court manifestly erred in not considering the appellant’s alleged disability in partitioning the community property;
(3) whether the trial court manifestly erred in denying the appellant an opportunity to call witnesses; and
(4) whether the trial court erred in denying the appellant’s motion to compel discovery.
II.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This matter involves protracted litigation over the partition of
community assets and liabilities between Karen Ann Powers Arterburn (Karen)
and James Nicholas Arterburn (Jim). The family’s sole income derived from Jim’s
medical practices. Expenditures had been lavish and exceeded the husband’s
income. Finances immediately became a battleground. Temporary custody and
use of the family home was first granted to Karen, and Jim was ordered to pay $15,000.00 per month in spousal and child support. He was also ordered to pay all
loans on the heavily mortgaged property, all debts, lines of bank credit, credit card
payments, and all community expenses. Jim also paid cash advances to Karen on
her share of the community.
After their daughter reached majority, Jim was granted custody of
their son and also use of the family home. Jim remarried in May 2010. Karen was
ordered to vacate the family home in May 2011. She relocated to Georgia,
unilaterally moving seven tons of home furnishings from the family home to
another state with her, in violation of the court’s order. She was found in contempt
and ordered to pay for an inventory of the movables and to pay for double-locked
storage facilities.
The trial to partition the property was conducted in two parts, five
days in April 2013, and four days in March/April 2014. In August 2014, the trial
court issued a four-page judgment allocating assets and liabilities to each party and
rendering a money judgment in favor of Jim and against Karen for $458,029.78.
The trial court issued a thirty-one page opinion explaining its reasons for judgment,
charting the community’s assets and liabilities, along with each party’s
reimbursement claims, and setting forth with detail the trial court’s calculation of
the offsets and the equalizing sum owed by Karen.
On appeal, Karen assigns no errors, but objects narratively, and
without specification, to the trial court’s overall division of assets. In her brief,
Karen cites no law, pleading that she is a pro se litigant without access to legal
resources. She lists, however, eight law firms who have previously represented her
in this matter. In her brief, she points to no evidence in the record, which consists
of nine volumes of pleadings, twelve volumes of exhibits, and eight volumes of a
2 sealed record and exhibits from a prior appeal in this court. In spite of
approximately 7,000 pages of documents in this appeal record, Karen asserts that
she has no evidence to support her factual allegations. She does assert four issues
for review, the first of which is a broad and general assertion that the trial court
engaged in a fundamentally erroneous deliberative process. Karen further asserts
that the trial court failed to acknowledge her disability, refused to allow her to call
witnesses, and denied her motion to compel discovery. Because Karen is currently
a pro se litigant who lacks formal training in the law and its rules of procedure, we
will treat her issues as assignments of error and review them as such. See Bernard
v. Lafayette City-Parish Consol. Gov’t., 11-816 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/7/11), 80 So.3d
665, writ denied, 13-971 (La. 6/14/13), 118 So.2d 1088.
For the reasons that follow, we affirm the judgment in favor of Jim
and against Karen but reduce the amount of the money judgment based upon a
typographical error in one reimbursement claim, and based upon record evidence
in three other reimbursement claims.
III.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
An appellate court may not set aside a trial court’s findings of fact in
the absence of manifest error or unless it is clearly wrong. Stobart v. State,
Through DOTD, 617 So.2d 880 (La.1993); Rosell v. ESCO, 549 So.2d 840
(La.1989). A two-tiered test must be applied in order to reverse the findings of the
trial court: (a) the appellate court must find from the record that a reasonable
factual basis does not exist for the finding of the trial court; and (b) the appellate
court must further determine that the record establishes that the finding of the trial
3 court is clearly wrong (manifestly erroneous). Mart v. Hill, 505 So.2d 1120
(La.1987).
The trial court is vested with great discretion in effecting a fair
partition of community property. Collier v. Collier, 00-1263 (La. App. 3 Cir.
7/18/01), 790 So. 2d 759, writ denied, 01-2365 (La. 12/7/01), 803 So.2d 30. Even
where the appellate court believes its inferences are more reasonable than the fact
finders, reasonable determinations and inferences of fact should not be disturbed
on appeal. Arceneaux v. Domingue, 365 So.2d 1330 (La.1978). Additionally, a
reviewing court must keep in mind that if a trial court’s findings are reasonable
based upon the entire record and evidence, an appellate court may not reverse said
findings even if it is convinced that had it been sitting as trier of fact it would have
weighed that evidence differently. Housely v. Cerise, 579 So.2d 973 (La.1991).
The basis for this principle of review is grounded not only upon the better capacity
of the trial court to evaluate live witnesses, but also upon the proper allocation of
trial and appellate functions between the respective courts. Canter v. Koehring
Co., 283 So.2d 716 (La.1973).
IV.
LAW AND DISCUSSION
Fundamentally Erroneous Deliberative Process
The lack of specificity in this assertion would require this reviewing
court to manufacture errors, which we will not do. But, we will address some of
Karen’s more discernible complaints scattered throughout her appellate brief. Her
complaints regarding the trial court’s finding that she was not free from fault in the
divorce and, therefore, not entitled to permanent spousal support are res judicata.
4 This court previously found in Appeal No. 12-34 that Karen did not file a timely
appeal of the judgment denying permanent spousal support, and the Louisiana
Supreme Court denied her application for supervisory writs on June 15, 2012. See
Arterburn v. Arterburn, 12-34 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/22/12), 82 So.3d 570 (unpublished
opinion) (motion to dismiss granted), writs denied, 12-943, 12-1004 (La. 6/15/12),
90 So.3d 1066, and 90 So.3d 1068.
Karen further complains that the trial court failed to inform her of her
constitutional rights, including her right to counsel. There is no such right to free,
court-appointed counsel in civil community property partition cases. Indigent
parents in child abuse and neglect cases are afforded legal representation pursuant
to La.Ch.Code art. 571, and La.R.S. 15:185.1. The criminally accused indigent is
allowed court appointed counsel if his offense is punishable by imprisonment,
pursuant to La.Const. art. I, § 13. See also State v. King, 97-1249 (La.App. 3 Cir.
3/6/98), 707 So.2d 1374, distinguishing civil versus criminal proceedings and the
right, or lack thereof, to free counsel. Karen’s contention that she is entitled to
free, court-appointed counsel in this partition case is unsupported and without
merit in this appeal.
Karen seems to dispute the valuations of the assets, but the record
does not support her broad accusations. For example, the appraiser valued the
house at $990,000.00,1 and fully explained the comparables he used from the same
subdivision. Karen cross-examined him exhaustively, arguing that the house was
worth $1.2 million, and that she saw no individual adjustments for the outdoor
kitchen and fireplace, and the extra expenses put into the pool. The appraiser
explained that he adjusted upward for the outdoor amenities, that they all came
1 The dwelling itself was insured for $659,000.00.
5 under the pool and patio category, and that he gave the maximum addition allowed
for the category. He explained that individual embellishments had an enjoyment
value that did not translate into dollars in an appraisal context. It is well-settled
that a trial court may not substitute its opinion for that of testifying experts or
completely disregard such testimony, when the testimony is well grounded and
based upon good reasoning. See State, DOTD v. Yan Willet, 386 So.2d 1023
(La.App. 3 Cir.), writ denied, 392 So.2d 692 (La.1980); State, DOTD v. Tynes, 433
So.2d 809 (La.App. 1 Cir.), writ denied, 437 So.2d 1153 (La.1983); and Domino v.
Domino, 233 La. 1014, 99 So.2d 328 (La.1957).
Karen further asserts that there was an inequitable distribution of
assets but fails to assert error in the trial court’s math, its method of calculation, its
listing or valuing of any particular asset, the balance owed on any liability, or the
court’s allowance on any reimbursement, all of which are painstakingly explained
and charted in the trial court’s thirty-one-page reasons for ruling. It is the
appellant’s burden to designate support in the record for the assertions and
assignments of error raised in the appellant’s brief. Pursuant to Uniform Rules—
Courts of Appeal, Rule 2-12, the appellant’s argument “shall include a suitable
reference by volume and page to the place in the record which contains the basis
for the alleged error.” Not only does Karen fail to support her allegations by
referring to the record, she fails to allege or identify the errors with enough
specificity for this court to address. Notwithstanding, we have reviewed the trial
court’s overall method of calculation and have found no error in the methodology.
The trial court valued the total assets of the community at $1,488,005.88,
allocating $1,477,430.88 to Jim and $10,575.00 to Karen. The trial court
determined the liabilities at $1,045,341.02, allocating all of the liabilities to Jim
6 and none to Karen. 2 This was not error under the governing statute, La.R.S.
9:2801, because Karen had no income with which to pay the community’s
liabilities. Under La.R.S. 9:2801(A)(4)(c): “The court shall consider the nature
2 The trial court’s charts contained the following basic information; we have added comments parenthetically in italics to clarify findings in the record:
Loc./ Court’s Allocated Allocated Description of Community Asset s With Value to Karen to James Family home in Lafayette (Bahlawar appraisal not refuted by other expert JNA $ 990,000.00 $ 990,000.00 testimony)
Contents of the family home, including art, KAA 182,492.74 182,492.74 antiques, and Steinway grand piano JNA 32,195.30 32,195.30
2003 Acura MVX KAA 10,575.00 10,575.00
James N. Arterburn, M.D., APMC, (flow JNA -0- -0- through entity)(no assets; no receivables)
50% Ownership Gastroenterology Clinic of JNA 70,393.00 70,393.00 Acadiana, Inc. (CPA Thibodeaux used book value approach; operating agreement required valuation at ½ book value in event of member’s death or divorce)
16.66% Ownership Lafayette General JNA 125,438.00 125,438.00 Endoscopy Center (value per CPA Martin hired by firm per operating agreement)
401(K) (per Smith Barney statements) JNA 76,911.84 76,911.84
Infusion Center (not a community asset; was -0- -0- phased out with sale of endoscopy center)
Total Community Assets ($1,488,005.88) 10,575.00 1,477,430.88
Court’s Allocated Allocated Description of Community Liabilities Value To Karen To James
Whitney Bank-Family Home 1st Mtg. $ 621,997.39 $ 621,997.39
Whitney Bank-Home Equity Mtg. (No. 3337) 146,613.46 146,613.46
Whitney Bank-Personal Credit Line (No. 5046) 46,730.17 46,730.17 Debt Owed-P.P. Arterburn Trust (loan/debt signed by both spouses in 1997) 230,000.00 230,000.00
Total Community Liabilities 1,045,341.02
7 and source of the asset or liability, the economic condition of each spouse, and any
other circumstances that the court deems relevant.” While under La.R.S.
9:2801(A)(4)(b) and (d), the court is required to provide each spouse with an equal
net distribution, under La.R.S. 9:2801(A)(4)(c), the court “may divide a particular
asset or liability equally or unequally or may allocate it in its entirety to one of the
spouses.”
Here, the trial court found that Jim’s net assets were $432,089.86
(1,477,430.88 - 1,045,341.02), while Karen’s net assets were $10,575.00
(10,575.00 - 0). The trial court found that the difference between Jim’s net and
Karen’s net was $421,514.86, and that Jim owed Karen one half (½) of the
difference, or $210,757.43, which is the correct result. See David v. David, 12-
1051 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/10/13), 117 So.3d 148, writ denied, 13-1541 (La. 10/7/13),
122 So.3d 1023. Stated another way, the overall net assets of the community were
$442,664.86 ($1,488,005.88 - $1,045,341.02). Jim and Karen were each entitled to
one half of the overall net assets, or, $221,332.43 each. Jim received $210,757.43
too much, and Karen received $210,757.43 too little. Thus, Jim owed Karen
$210,757.43 as an equalizing payment on the community assets and liabilities. See
Mexic v. Mexic, 577 So.2d 1046 (La.App 4 Cir. 1991). Accordingly, the trial
court’s method of calculation for the equalizing payment is not erroneous.
However, the calculation does not end there because each party is
entitled to allowable reimbursements for separate funds that he or she used to pay
community debts, or separate debts of the other spouse, after the community
regime ended. The trial court found that Karen had support for $12,100.72 in
8 reimbursements, 3 and that Jim had support for $680,887.94 in reimbursements.
Each party’s claims offset the claims of the other spouse, resulting in a total
reimbursement to Jim of the difference, or $668,787.22. Thus, the trial court found
that Karen owed Jim $668,787.22 in reimbursements between the filing of suit in
2007 and the time of trial. When the amount Jim owed Karen, $210,757.43, was
subtracted from the amount Karen owed Jim, $668,787.22, the trial court found
that Karen owes Jim $458,029.79. See David, 117 So.3d 148. We find no error in
the trial court’s method of calculation. We now turn to the general law on
reimbursements.
Due to the lack of specificity in Karen’s brief, we are not directed to a
particular reimbursement to which Karen objects. In general: “Except as provided
in Article 2363, all obligations incurred by a spouse during the existence of a
community property regime are presumed to be community obligations.”
La.Civ.Code art. 2361. “A separate obligation of a spouse is one incurred by that
spouse prior to the establishment of a community property regime, or one incurred
during the existence of a community property regime though not for the common
interest of the spouses or for the interest of the other spouse.” La.Civ.Code art.
3 The trial court’s charts contained the following figures; we have added clarifications in italics.
Court’s Reimbursements owed to Karen Determination
Funds received from sale of Lafayette General Imaging (½ of $11,100.00) (this is the $ 5,550.00 only reimbursement claimed by Karen on her detailed descriptive list)
Expert Witness Fees paid to Gordon and Associates, ACCPA (½ of $2,727.75) 1,363.87
Progressive Security Insurance Payment to James (½ of $978.36) 489.18
Value of 2003 BMW 330CI traded in by James Arterburn ( ½ of $9,395.33) 4,697.67
Total Reimbursements to Karen Arterburn $ 12,100.72
9 2363. “When a spouse uses separate funds to pay a community obligation, that
spouse is entitled after termination of the community to reimbursement for one half
of the amount paid. La.Civ.Code art. 2365. “An obligation incurred before the
date of a judgment of divorce for attorney fees and costs in an action for divorce
and in incidental actions is deemed to be a community obligation.” La.Civ.Code
art. 2362.1. “Reimbursement shall be made from the patrimony of the spouse who
owes reimbursement.” La.Civ.Code art. 2358.1.
While the reimbursement liability for payments made on community
obligations is generally limited to a spouse’s share of the net community assets, if
the obligation was “incurred for the ordinary and customary expenses of the
marriage, or for the support, maintenance, or education of children of either spouse
in keeping with the economic condition of the spouses, the spouse is entitled to
reimbursement from the other spouse regardless of the value of that spouse’s share
of all community property.” La.Civ.Code art. 2365. The burden of proof is on the
party claiming reimbursement. Charles v. Charles, 05-129 (La.App. 1 Cir.
2/10/06), 923 So.2d 786. A trial court’s findings as to whether reimbursement
claims have been sufficiently established are reviewable under the manifest error
standard of review. Kline v. Kline, 98-1206 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/10/99), 741 So.2d
670. Pursuant to La.Civ.Code art. 2367:
If separate property of a spouse has been used during the existence of the community property regime for the acquisition, use, improvement, or benefit of community property, that spouse is entitled to reimbursement for one-half of the amount or value that the property had at the time it was used. The liability of the spouse who owes reimbursement is limited to the value of his share of all community property after deduction of all community obligations.
10 Buildings, other constructions permanently attached to the ground, and plantings made on community property with separate property of a spouse during the existence of the community property regime are community property. The spouse whose separate property was used is entitled to reimbursement for one- half of the amount or value that the separate property had at the time it was used. The liability of the spouse who owes reimbursement is limited to the value of his share in all community property after deduction of all community obligations.
The liability limitation to the value of the spouse’s share of the
community, which in this case was $221,332.43 each, only applies to expenditures
made during the marriage. Louisiana Civil Code Article 2367’s Revision
Comments explain:
(a) This Article regulates reimbursement rights between the parties for the use of separate property or the making of buildings, other constructions permanently attached to the ground, and plantings only when the use or making is done during the existence of the legal regime. The rights of the former spouses for expenses and works made after termination of the community of acquets and gains are governed by the rules of co- ownership in Articles 804 and 806.
Accordingly, pursuant to La.Civ.Code art. 806:
A co-owner who on account of the thing held in indivision has incurred necessary expenses, expenses for ordinary maintenance and repairs, or necessary management expenses paid to a third person, is entitled to reimbursement from the other co-owners in proportion to their shares.
If the co-owner who incurred the expenses had the enjoyment of the thing held in indivision, his reimbursement shall be reduced in proportion to the value of the enjoyment.
Thus, payment of community obligations, necessary expenses, and
ordinary maintenance and repairs on the family home that were made by Jim after
the regime terminated and while Karen occupied the home, are reimbursable to
11 him at 50% by Karen, the other 50% co-owner of the property, with no limitation
to her $221,332.43 share of the net assets. Our jurisprudence has found the
following expenses reimbursable: One-half termite inspection cost, and one-half
mortgage payments, tax payments, and insurance premiums on community
residence made following termination of community, as they were necessary to
maintain community property and to preserve its value. Goines v. Goines, 09-994
(La.App. 5 Cir. 3/9/11), 62 So.3d 193, writ denied, 11-0721 (La. 5/20/11), 63
So.3d 984; See also Kline, 741 So.2d 670; and see Norman v. Norman, 99-2750
(La.App. 4 Cir. 7/12/00), 775 So.2d 18 (necessary expenses that enhance the value
of the property are reimbursable, such as waterproofing, tree removal, pest control,
floor and roof replacement, garage repair, filling in swimming pool, yard
restoration, side walk replacement, homeowner’s association dues, and installation
of an alarm system). See also La.Civ.Code art. 804.
Karen had possession of the family home for forty-two months. In
addition to child support and interim spousal support, the trial court ordered Jim to
make all mortgage payments and to pay all house-related expenses that would later
be determined either as support owed, or, as advances upon Karen’s part of the
community. The housing expenses included the first mortgage, the equity
mortgage, city and parish property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and
homeowner’s association dues. The court specified that one-third of the payments
would be allotted as spousal support, one-third would be allotted as additional
child support for their teenage daughter, and one-third would be allotted as
additional child support for their younger son. When it was determined that Karen
was not entitled to permanent spousal support, the trial court found that one-half of
one-third of the housing expenses were reimbursable to Jim from that date forward.
12 When the daughter reached maturity, the trial court found that one-half of two-
thirds of the payments were reimbursable from that date forward. And when the
younger son, at age fourteen, wanted to live with his father, and custody
transferred to Jim, uncontested by Karen, all of Jim’s payments for housing
expenses were found reimbursable for the remainder of Karen’s use of the house.
Jim was not reimbursed for these housing expenses after Karen moved
to Georgia and he began using the house again. The trial court painstakingly
applied the fractions to the applicable periods of time, based upon the well-
documented evidence in the record,4 which Karen has not disputed. All payments
of liabilities, including mortgages, loans, lines of credit, credit cards, balances,
expenses and repairs paid by Jim were supported with work-sheets, bank
statements, cancelled checks, invoices, and trial testimony.
However, we do find a typographical error in the charted amount for
reimbursement of 2007 income taxes paid. The record supports the trial court’s
reasons for judgment allowing Jim a reimbursement of $63,483.79. The trial
court’s chart, however, reflects a reimbursement of $64,483.79. Therefore, we will
amend the reimbursement amount by subtracting $1,000.00 to correct this
typographical error.
In addition to the typographical error, we have found three
reimbursements that are not supported in the record. The trial court allowed Jim a
$176,298.21 reimbursement for one half of a $345,976.45 cash inheritance that Jim
asserts was brought into the marriage as his separate property and spent on
community expenses. Jim documents this claim with his bank statement from an
4 The record contains twelve volumes of exhibits pertaining to the parties’ detailed descriptive lists.
13 Omaha account showing a deposit of $356,000.00 in 1984. Handwriting on the
statement indicates that Jim received this money before he met Karen. Louisiana
Civil Code Article 2341 provides in pertinent part:
The separate property of a spouse is his exclusively. It comprises: property acquired by a spouse prior to the establishment of a community property regime; property acquired by a spouse with separate things or with separate and community things when the value of the community things is inconsequential in comparison with the value of the separate things used; property acquired by a spouse by inheritance or donation to him individually[.]
Louisiana Civil Code Article 2340 provides: “Things in the possession of a spouse
during the existence of a regime of community of acquets and gains are presumed
to be community, but either spouse may prove that they are separate property.”
The record reveals that Jim and Karen were not married until May 17, 1986. On
June 5, 1986, the balance on a statement he presented from a Chicago account
purports to show that the remainder of the inherited funds was $48,000.00. This
appears to be the documented amount that Jim brought into the marriage. We
cannot find support for reimbursing funds that are used before the community
property regime legally began. Thus, the one half reimbursement for this claim is
reduced from $172,988.21 to $24,000.00.
We further note that the VISA credit card debt paid by Jim, while
mostly Karen’s separate debt reimbursable at 100% to Jim, also covered
community law firm debts of $6,314.06, as pointed out at trial, for which Jim is
only entitled to one-half reimbursement. Thus, we reduce that reimbursement from
$27,312.54 to $24,145.81.
Additionally, we must delete the reimbursement of $100,000.00 for
one-half of the $200,000.00 donated to Jim by his parents. Funds received during
14 the community property regime are presumed to be community under La.Civ.Code
art. 2340, which creates a rebuttable presumption in favor of the community.
While Jim proved that he received checks made out to him from his parents in that
amount during the marriage, he did not prove that the checks, which he testified to
as gifts, were intended for him and not the community.
Louisiana jurisprudence has firmly established that the only issue with respect to gifts of this nature is whether the donor intended her donation as a gift to the individual or to the community. In answering that question, the intention of the donor controls the identity of the donee or donees. Allbritton v. Allbritton, 561 So.2d 125 (La.App. 3rd Cir.), writs denied, 565 So.2d 445, 454 (La.1990). As stated earlier, the burden of overcoming the presumption of community property set out in LSA-C.C. Art. 2340 rests upon the party who asserts that the property is separate. Id.
Hebert v. Hebert, 94-864, p. 4 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/15/95), 650 So.2d 436, 439.
In Hebert, the court found that neither the proceeds of the mother’s
life insurance policy, nor the monthly checks she gave to her son to pay the
premiums, had been proved to be the son’s separate property because the mother
did not testify as to her intent, and the son’s testimony did not rebut the
presumption of community. Similarly here, Jim testified that his parents gave him
the checks and deposits at the end of every year to be put toward the interest due
on the community debt to the P.P. Arterburn Trust, and to help pay the property
taxes on the community home. Thus, by Jim’s own testimony, the funds were
intended for the benefit of the community, and Jim did not call his parents to
testify otherwise. We, therefore, delete the reimbursement for $100,000.00.
15 Accordingly, we have amended four figures, reducing Jim’s total reimbursements
from $680,887.94 to $427,733.00.5
5 We have recreated the trial court’s chart; added clarifications in italics; bolded and italicized entries that we find to require amendment; and we have entered the amended figures beneath the trial court’s figures:
Court’s Reimbursements owed to Jim Determination
Mardi Gras Expenses deferred to trial ($61,724.98)(court found each had paid ½) $ -00.00-
Cost of Custody Evaluation paid with separate funds (½ of $2,000.00 invoice) 1,000.00
Payments to Whitney Bank on First Mortgage (after fractions & division applied) 76,473.46
Payments to Whitney Bank on Equity Mortgage (after fractions & division applied) 8,481.89
Payments to Whitney Bank on Personal Credit Line (# 5046) (½ of $14,912.79) 7,456.39
Payments of Homeowners Insurance (after fractions & division applied) 13,353.06
Payments of Property Taxes (after prorated and fractions & division applied) 14,175.40
Payments of Homeowners Association Dues (after fractions & division applied) 2,097.50
Home Repairs made with separate funds (½ of $68,567.62) 34,283.81
Cash Advances to Karen on her share of community, with separate funds 55,000.00 (64,483.79) 2007 Income Taxes paid ($133,931.00 prorated; fractions applied = $63,483.79) 63,483.79
Karen’s Attorney and Accounting Fees prior to Divorce on 2/5/09 (½ of $12,586.94) 6,293.47
Payment of Community Credit Card Debt (AMEX #41004) 48,833.00
Payment of Credit Card Debt (VISA #0749) (100% of $20,988.78 for Karen’s (27,312.54) separate debt and ½ of $6,314.06 for community debt to law firms = $24,145.81) 24,145.81
Separate Property used for benefit of community (½ of $200,000.00 in donations (100,000.00) from Jim’s parents evidenced by checks to Jim or deposits in his account, to be used for payment of community debt to Trust and property tax on house =0 in this case) -0-
Separate Property used for benefit of community (½ of $345,976.45 in cash brought (172,988.21) into marriage by Jim, used for community and its expenses)(evidence supported only $48,000.00 brought into marriage, ½ of which is $24,000.00) 24,000.00
Payments of Community Liabilities (interest on community note to P.P. Arterburn Trust (½ of $62,100.00) 31,025.00
Payment of Karen’s storage fees (100% her separate obligation imposed by court for 5,326.67 contemptuous removal of property to Georgia, in lieu of 120 days in jail)
Jim’s Attorney Fees incurred prior to Divorce on 2/5/09 (½ of $24,607.50) 12,303.75
Total Reimbursement Claims of James Arterburn $(680,887.94) $ 427,733.00
16 When Jim’s reimbursements of $427,733.00 are offset by Karen’s
reimbursements of $12,100.72, Karen owes Jim net reimbursements of
$415,632.28. When Jim’s equalizing payment to Karen of $210,757.43 is
subtracted from the $415,632.28 that she owes him, the net amount owed Jim, and
the money judgment against Karen, is $204,874.85. Accordingly, we reduce the
money judgment against Karen from $458,029.79 to $204,874.85.
Karen’s Medical Disability
Karen contends that the trial court erred in failing to acknowledge her
medical disability, which exacerbated her health problems and inhibited her ability
to put on her case. She does not provide this court with the nature of the disability
alleged; nor does she point to any documentation in the 7,000 pages of the record
to support the allegation. Since this is not a personal injury case, and the
appellant’s health is not at issue in this community property dispute, evidence of
disability eight years after the divorce is irrelevant. Thus, the argument on this
issue is without merit.
Denial of Right to Call Witnesses at Trial
Karen contends that she verbally requested witnesses for trial, but her
requests were denied. We found no support for this assertion. The trial court
specifically told her in court that she could bring in witnesses. She did not
subpoena any witnesses; no one volunteered; and she did not attempt to call any
witness.
17 Other Complaints
Likewise, our review of the record reveals that Karen’s other
complaints scattered throughout her brief have no merit. She asserts that she was
bullied and threatened with incarceration. The record reveals that the opposite was
true. On many occasions, Karen openly defied, rebuked, and personally insulted
the trial judge, stating that she could not believe that he was the head of the family
court. When he gave an order, she said, “No.” She told him on the record,
referring to him in the first person, that he did not know what he was doing. In
reading the transcripts and reasons for ruling, we perceived an articulate, well-
reasoned, well-intentioned, patient, and enthusiastic jurist who encouraged and
counseled the Arterburns from the very beginning of this litigation, and who had
the best interest of this family as the goal of his rulings.
His threat of incarceration was for contempt of court following this
incredibly disrespectful behavior by Karen. When Karen refused to schedule any
visitation whatsoever with her fourteen-year-old son, the trial court almost begged
her to reconsider and to start immediately to repair that relationship before the
alienation became irreparable. She refused, saying that she would fix it when he
was an adult. We further find no support for her complaints regarding unsealing
the record which she herself had sealed. Proper notice was sent to her regarding
the hearing on her motion to lift the seal, and she did not appear.
Denial of Discovery
Karen contends that the trial court should have compelled all
discovery pursuant to her requests, even if the documents had already been
produced to her former attorney, Brad Felder, before he withdrew from her case.
18 She expected new copies and indicated that it was “trickery” by the officers of the
court to refuse to make another copy. At trial, it was determined that Karen never
retrieved her files from an earlier attorney, Andre’ Doguet, who had received
responses to extensive discovery propounded on her behalf. Jim asserts that it was
not his obligation to re-copy thousands of pages of documents, contained in twelve
boxes, because Karen chose not to retrieve her files from her previous attorneys.
The record contains a letter from Brad Felder to Karen, dated in
December of 2011, offering to send her files to another attorney or arrange for her
to pick them up from his office. During trial in March of 2013, Karen asserted that
she did not have Brad Felder’s files because she had them delivered to another
attorney whom she had retained to sue Mr. Felder for malpractice, but that attorney
changed his mind about the representation. Karen admitted that she had never
retrieved the twelve boxes of materials that she had had delivered to him. She
introduced e-mail communications between herself and the attorney, Sera Russell,
and his staff. Karen was notified in July 2012 that Mr. Russell would not represent
her in a malpractice claim against Mr. Felder, but that he would help her get the
twelve boxes of files to another attorney. When Karen called him over eight
months later, she was advised that the file boxes had been put in storage and could
be retrieved at a cost of $156.87, which she did not pay.
The court’s minutes reflect that the court denied Karen’s motion to
compel discovery responses based upon her failure to demonstrate that the
documents had not already been produced. The trial court suggested that Karen re-
file her motion to compel and subpoena Brad Felder to testify as to whether there
was any outstanding discovery that had not been provided. Karen did not do so.
19 Jim asserts that the trial court’s refusal to compel the production of discovery that
had already been produced was not error. We agree.
A trial court has broad discretion in handling discovery matters and an appellate court should not upset a ruling absent an abuse of discretion. Sercovich v. Sercovich, p. 5 (La.App. 4 Cir. 6/13/12), 96 So.3d 600, 603. Under this abuse of discretion standard of review, “[a]n appellate court must balance the information sought in light of the factual issues involved and the hardships that would be caused by the court’s order when determining whether the trial court erred in ruling on a discovery order.” Id., citing Wollerson v. Wollerson, 29,183, p. 2 (La.App. 2 Cir. 1/22/97), 687 So.2d 663, 665.
Favrot v. Favrot, 12-1573, p. 4 (La.App. 4 Cir. 5/1/13), 115 So.3d 1190, 1193, writ
denied, 13-1735 (La. 11/1/13), 125 So.3d 433. In Favrot, the court stated:
The discoverability test under La. C.C.P. art. 1422 entails first asking whether answering the discovery is feasible and practicable. If that answer is in the affirmative, then the court determines whether an answer to the discovery would “expedite the litigation by either narrowing the area of controversy or avoiding unnecessary testimony or providing a lead to evidence.” Industrial Pipe, Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish Council, 12-1348, pp. 7-8 (La.App. 4 Cir. 9/14/12), 100 So.3d 896, 900.
Id. at 1194.
The fourth circuit in Favrot found no abuse of discretion in the trial
court’s refusal to compel discovery when the documents sought had previously
been made available to the appellant for his review and copying, and he chose not
to avail himself of the opportunity to review the requested documents for the more
than eight-month period that the boxes of documents were made available to him.
The court further found that the appellant had ample experience to go through the
boxes to locate the information he needed. Similarly here, Karen had ample
opportunity to obtain the documents; she has a degree in business/finance; she
20 represented herself at trial; she was, therefore, capable of understanding what
documents she needed to prepare her defense and how to locate them.
Accordingly, we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s denial of the motion
to compel discovery.
V.
CONCLUSION
Based upon the foregoing, the money judgment against Karen and in
favor of Jim is amended from $458,029.79 to $204,874.85; and the trial court’s
judgment is affirmed in all other respects. Each party is to bear its own costs for
this appeal.