Justis v. Justis

384 N.W.2d 885, 1986 Minn. App. LEXIS 4140

• Court: Court of Appeals of Minnesota
• Decided: March 25, 1986
• Docket: C1-85-1371
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION

FORSBERG, Judge.

David Justis appeals from the judgment and decree and from the trial court's denial of his motion for amended findings or a new trial, the trial court’s decision on division of marital property, maintenance, child support, custody, and attorney’s fees. We affirm.

FACTS

David and Joyce Ann Justis were married May 14,1970. David, appellant in this action, began medical school shortly before the parties were married. Respondent, Joyce, supported David and paid part of his medical school tuition. During appellant’s final year of medical school, 1973, the parties’ first child, Natasha, was born. Respondent took a six-week maternity leave from her job.

After appellant completed medical school, respondent continued working as an operating room nurse. She accumulated additional college credits, through her employment at a college, which enabled her to obtain a teaching certificate. She has never worked as a teacher. In 1978, following the birth of Nicole, the parties’ second child, respondent quit working and has not worked since then. Neither her nursing license nor her teaching certificate are current. The parties have had three more children, twins born in 1980, and a daughter born in 1982.

Appellant is employed by Emergency Physicians Professional Association (EPPA). He is also a shareholder in EPPA. His employment contract guarantees him a minimum annual salary of $72,-301, based on a forty-hour work week. He receives substantial overtime income, for time worked in excess of forty hours, and bonuses from EPPA. He also earns approximately $1,000 per year teaching at a local college. Based on tax returns, the court found appellant’s gross income for the four years preceding the dissolution to be:

1981 $72,285

1982 $80,245

1983 $89,039

1984 $80,273

Appellant’s employment benefits include a pension plan and a profit sharing plan, the profit sharing plan is collectible at retirement. The present value of his pension plan was found by the trial court to be $70,153.02.

In October, 1983, appellant borrowed $30,000 from his profit sharing plan to consolidate loans on the parties’ two cars and a boat. Appellant is repaying the loan at 14V2% interest, the monthly payments are approximately $700. The trial court added the $30,000 loan to the present value of the profit sharing plan and found the total value of the plan to be $107,468.58.

A temporary order issued by the trial court on April 10, 1984, authorized appellant to sell the boat and apply the proceeds from the sale to reduce the encumbrance on the boat. Approximately $9,000 of the loan from the profit sharing account was attributable to the boat. Appellant sold the boat in January, 1985, for $12,325. He deposited $9,700 of the proceeds in a money market account and spent the remainder on living expenses and reduction of some marital debts. The trial court found this use of the boat sale proceeds to be in contravention of the order. Consequently, it ordered appellant to pay respondent’s attorney’s fees with the money market funds.

A few weeks prior to filing for divorce, appellant withdrew $14,612.40 from a trust account set up, under the Uniform Gift to Minors Act, for the parties’ daughter, Nicole.

The trial court also found that appellant diverted the parties’ 1983 tax refund of $707 to a post office box and cashed it without respondent’s knowledge or consent.

The court ordered sole legal custody of the parties’ five children to respondent. The court found appellant’s net monthly income, based on his contract pay plus his overtime pay, to be approximately $4,500 and ordered support in accordance with the child support guidelines. The court’s findings acknowledged that fluctuations in appellant’s income would sometimes cause the child support amount, $1,935, to exceed the guidelines but found the occasional upward deviation appropriate given the ages of the children, the children’s needs, the disparate incomes of appellant and respondent, and the standard of living the children would have enjoyed had the marriage not been dissolved. The court assigned the profit sharing debt entirely to respondent.

The trial court divided the marital assets and debts as follows:

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ISSUES

1. Did the trial court err in its division of marital property?

2. Did the trial court err in refusing to order joint legal custody?

3. Did the trial court err in its award of child support?

4. Did the trial court err in awarding respondent $750 per month maintenance for a period of five years?

5. Was the trial court biased against appellant, entitling him to a new trial?

6. Did the trial court err in ordering appellant to pay respondent’s attorney’s fees?

ANALYSIS

I.

Property Settlement

The trial court has broad discretion in property divisions and the court’s decision will not be reversed absent a clear abuse of discretion. Bogen v. Bogen, 261 N.W.2d 606, 609 (Minn.1977).

Minn.Stat. § 518.58 (1984) governs the trial court’s division of marital property. The court is required to make

a just and equitable division of the marital property of the parties without regard to marital misconduct, after making findings regarding the division of property.

Id. In arriving at a just and equitable division, the court is to take into consideration

the age, health, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate, liabilities, needs, opportunity for future acquisition of capital assets, and the income of each party.

Id.

Appellant argues the court erred in awarding the respondent $131,516 in marital assets while awarding him $115,593 in assets and apportioning, in addition, the entire $30,000 marital debt to him.

In dividing marital property the trial court is to make a just and equitable property division. Minn.Stat. § 518.58. However, the property division need not be mathematically equal to be just and equitable. Johns v. Johns, 354 N.W.2d 564, 566 (Minn.Ct.App.1984).

While the court did not make an express finding that it was awarding a disproportionate share of the marital property to respondent, we find, in reviewing the judgment and decree, that the court made the findings required by Minn.Stat. § 518.58 as well as findings that justify the disproportionate division. The findings indicate that respondent’s vocational skills are outmoded, her licenses are not up to date; she received the homestead which is in need of substantial repair; she has been out of the work force for many years; appellant is employed in a high-paying profession; appellant is in a better position to acquire future capital assets; respondent has no income except child support and maintenance; respondent is the custodian of five young children, she is unable to work for the immediate future; and respondent received almost no liquid assets in the property division.

Taking these findings into consideration, we hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion in awarding respondent a disproportionate share of the marital estate. The evidence supports the trial court’s determination, thus we must affirm even if we would have reached a different result originally. Posselt v. Posselt, 271 Minn. 575, 576, 136 N.W.2d 659, 660-61 (1965). Moreover, the absence of an express finding that it was awarding respondent a larger share of marital assets is not a fatal defect. See Giencke v. Haglund, 364 N.W.2d 433, 435 (Minn.Ct.App.1985) (modification of child support without express finding that changes made prior order unfair).

Appellant argues that the court erred in valuing his profit sharing plan by adding the loan amount to the present value, which reflects a deduction for the loan amount.

The loan taken from appellant’s profit sharing plan is secured by a legally enforceable note, repayable at 14V2% interest over a three year period. The trial court found that the note was, in effect, an asset of the profit sharing account and, as such, increased the profit sharing account’s value. The present value of appellant’s profit sharing plan consists of both the $77,468 equity and the $30,000 debt. We cannot say that the court abused its discretion in valuing the plan in this manner.

Appellant argues that the trial court abused its discretion in not assigning the $30,000 marital debt to both parties. Debt is apportionable as part of the marital property settlement. Filkins v. Filkins, 347 N.W.2d 526, 529 (Minn.Ct.App.1984). However, Filkins does not require the trial court to apportion marital debts. The division of marital debts is treated in the same manner as division of assets. Dahlberg v. Dahlberg, 358 N.W.2d 76, 80 (Minn.Ct.App.1984).

Here the respondent’s only income consists of child support and maintenance paid by appellant. Apportioning part of the debt to her would severely limit the minimal financial resources needed to support herself and the parties’ five children. “[A] party to a dissolution may be held liable for marital debts even though the other party receives the benefit of payment.” Dahlberg v. Dahlberg, 358 N.W.2d at 80. The trial court did not err in considering the debt along with the assets in the property division and apportioning the debt to appellant.

Appellant argues that the trial court erred in not awarding him a lien on the marital homestead. The award of the homestead equity was part of the whole property settlement, which we hold is just and equitable. The court did not abuse its discretion in awarding the homestead to respondent free and clear of appellant’s claims.

The trial court ordered appellant to maintain existing life insurance of $610,000 for the benefit of the parties’ children. See Minn.Stat. § 518.64, subd. 4 (1984). We hold the court did not abuse its discretion in ordering appellant to maintain existing life insurance or its equivalent.

Finally, appellant argues the court’s findings that he “secreted and disposed of [funds from Nicole’s trust account] as he saw fit” are unjustified since appellant spent the money for marital debts and living expenses. The finding is supported by the evidence, thus is not clearly erroneous. The findings of fact do not indicate whether the trial court took the trust account, the boat sale proceeds, or the tax refund into account when it divided the marital estate. However, it was within the court’s discretion to do so, since these were all arguably marital funds. Swanstrom v. Swanstrom, 359 N.W.2d 634, 638 (Minn.Ct.App.1984).

II.

Joint Custody

Appellant claims the court erred in denying his request for joint legal custody of the parties’ children. He agrees that physical custody in respondent will serve the best interests of the children.

“A determination of child custody must be based on the best interests of the child.” Heard v. Heard, 353 N.W.2d 157, 161 (Minn.Ct.App.1984). When joint custody is sought, the court must consider, in addition to the factors of Minn.Stat. § 518.17(1) (1984), the factors specified in Minn.Stat. § 518.17(2) (1984):

These factors deal with the ability of parents to relate cooperatively in parenting decisions and bear mostly on the award of joint legal custody; joint legal custody is defined as the equal participation of parents in decisions on the upbringing of a child.

Heard, 353 N.W.2d at 161 (citation omitted). A finding that an award serves the child’s best interests will not be disturbed unless clearly erroneous. Id.

Evidence on each of the factors was presented to the trial court. The evidence supports the trial court’s conclusion that sole legal and physical custody rest with respondent.

III.

Child Support

Appellant objects to the trial court’s consideration of his overtime income in calculating child support. He claims that the court may take only his EPPA contract guaranteed salary into consideration. The trial court found appellant earned substantial overtime income from EPPA in the three years immediately preceding the dissolution.

It is well settled law that the trial court has broad discretion with respect to the support of children. Rutten v. Rutten, 347 N.W.2d 47, 50 (Minn.1984). We will not reverse a trial court’s decision unless that decision is clearly erroneous. Id. at 51. If the determination has a reasonable and acceptable basis in fact, it must be affirmed. DuBois v. DuBois, 335 N.W.2d 503, 507 (Minn.1983). Determination of net income is a question of fact. Letourneau v. Letourneau, 350 N.W.2d 476, 479 (Minn.Ct.App.1984). However,

where the critical evidence is documentary, there is no need for us to defer to the trial court’s assessment of its meaning.

Halper v. Halper, 348 N.W.2d 360, 363 (Minn.Ct.App.1984) (quoting Ploog v. Ogilvie, 309 N.W.2d 49, 53 (Minn.1981)).

Appellant argues that the trial court failed to make a specific finding on his net income as required by Otte v. Otte, 368 N.W.2d 293, 296 (Minn.Ct.App.1985). Otte affirms our holding in Knott v. Knott, 358 N.W.2d 493, 496 (Minn.Ct.App.1984) which requires the trial court to make a reasonable estimate of net monthly income before applying the guidelines.

The court determined appellant’s net income from prior years’ tax returns and pay stubs. It also reviewed appellant’s employment contract. Based on this evidence and on oral testimony the court found appellant’s net income “approximates 4,500 per month.” The court also found:

The amount of child support the Petitioner will be obligated to pay, since it is based on variable amounts of net income, may exceed the statutory guidelines. This departure is appropriate when consideration is given to:

a.) the age of the children and their physical, educational and legitimate extracurricular needs; and

b.) the disparity between the financial resources and needs of the custodial and noncustodial parent; and

c.) the standard of living the children would have enjoyed had this marriage not been dissolved.

These findings satisfy the requirements of § 518.551, subd. 5(e) (1984) for deviation from the guidelines. We conclude, after reviewing the evidence, that the trial court’s determination of net income has a reasonable basis in fact. The court took appropriate notice of appellant’s variable income, which will in some months cause support to exceed the guidelines, and the court made the appropriate findings to justify the occasional deviation.

Moreover, appellant’s tax returns and pay stubs show his overtime income to be a regular and substantial portion of his annual salary. In 1983 overtime income constituted nearly $17,000 of his gross annual income. Contrary to appellant’s argument that the court is forcing him to work overtime to meet his monthly living expenses, the evidence supports the trial court's conclusion that overtime has been a regular, steady source of income for the past several years. Appellant argues that his opportunity to work overtime in the future may decrease. Child support is based on current net income. Minn.Stat. § 518.551, subd. 5 (1984); Kramer v. Kramer, 372 N.W.2d 364, 368 (Minn.Ct.App.1985). The trial court cannot speculate on future income in setting child support.

Appellant argues the court erred in not making findings on his ability to pay child support. The child support guidelines implicitly take into consideration the obligor’s ability to pay. Since we affirm the trial court’s findings of net income, we cannot find the court abused its discretion in applying the guidelines to appellant’s net income to determine his child support obligation. See Halper v. Halper, 348 N.W.2d 360, 363, n. 1 (Minn.Ct.App.1984).

Appellant also claims the court erred in not reducing his net income by $700, the approximate amount of the monthly payment on the profit sharing loan. This debt was apportioned to appellant as part of the property settlement. Shifting the debt to reduce appellant’s net income would defeat the property settlement and visit the effects of the debt on the parties’ children by reducing the amount appellant is legally obligated to contribute to their support. This court has held that “[a]dverse financial consequences of marital dissolutions should be minimized for minor children to the greatest extent possible.” Helland v. Helland, 354 N.W.2d 591, 594 (Minn.Ct.App.1984). The trial court acted within its discretion in not reducing appellant’s net income by the amount of the loan payments.

IV.

Maintenance

Appellant argues that the trial court did not consider his ability to pay when it ordered him to pay respondent $750 per month maintenance for five years. Our standard of review for maintenance awards is to determine whether the trial court abused its discretion in light of the statutory guidelines contained in Minn.Stat. § 518.552. Riley v. Riley, 369 N.W.2d 40, 44 (Minn.Ct.App.1985).

Spousal maintenance is properly awarded where the spouse seeking maintenance (1) lacks sufficient property, including marital property apportioned to her, to provide for her reasonable needs, and (2) is unable to support herself through appropriate employment or is the custodian of young children and circumstances make it appropriate that she not be required to seek employment. Minn.Stat. § 518.552, subd. 1(a) and (b) (1984).

The factors to be considered in awarding maintenance are listed in Minn. Stat. § 518.552, subd. 2, and include financial resources of the spouse seeking maintenance and the ability of the person from whom maintenance is sought to pay. Findings are not required on each factor considered.

Minn.Stat. § 518.552, subd. 2(g) (Supp. 1985) requires the court to consider the “ability of the spouse from whom maintenance is sought to meet his needs while meeting those of the spouse seeking maintenance.”

The trial court found respondent’s reasonable monthly living expenses to be $3,200. The court found respondent lacked sufficient property, including marital property apportioned to her, to meet her reasonable needs. Her sole source of income is the $2,689 she receives as maintenance and child support, an amount insufficient to provide for her reasonable needs. The court also found respondent to be the custodian of young children whose circumstances make it appropriate that she not be required at this time to seek full-time employment outside the home.

Appellant’s monthly expenses were entered into evidence, but the trial court did not make a specific finding on his ability to pay. The documentary evidence showed appellant’s monthly expenses to be approximately $1,954. Added to his maintenance and support obligations, which total $2,689, his monthly expenses total approximately $4,643. It is evident, under the circumstances, that appellant’s income is insufficient to meet the total needs of respondent, the children and himself; however, “[e]ach case must be determined on its own facts and no single statutory factor is dispositive.” Riley, 369 N.W.2d at 45.

There is little doubt under findings made by the court that respondent demonstrated need for maintenance. She was awarded no significant liquid marital assets. She received household goods, home equity, interest in appellant’s pension and profit-sharing plan, which will not become payable until retirement, her IRA, $3,117 in stocks and a $1,500 savings bond. The court’s finding that she not be required to work is uncontested by appellant. We hold the trial court did not abuse its discretion in setting maintenance. Faced with a difficult situation, the court evaluated the evidence and arrived at a proper conclusion.

V.

Bias

Appellant claims the trial court demonstrated bias, improperly considering marital misconduct in setting child support, contrary to Minn.Stat. § 518.17, subd. 4 and § 518.552, subd. 2. The findings that appellant claims reflect the court’s bias deal with appellant’s spending the boat sale proceeds in violation of a court order, his cashing and spending a marital tax refund without respondent’s knowledge or consent, and his “surreptitious squandering” of $14,612.40 from Nicole’s trust account following the parties’ separation. Each of these factual findings are supported by the evidence.

The trial court's statements on the record are relevant to the property settlement, and do not reflect bias against appellant.

VI.

Attorney’s Fees

Appellant argues the attorney’s fees are excessively given (1) the simple nature of this case and (2) the cross-examination of appellant by respondent’s attorney. He claims the cross-examination brought up, inappropriately, examples of marital misconduct and warrants a reduced fee award.

Minn.Stat. § 518.14 authorizes awards of attorney’s fees based on the spouse’s need for financial assistance “to carry on or to contest the [dissolution] proceeding.” The trial court has broad discretion to award attorney’s fees and the award will not be disturbed absent a clear abuse of discretion. Solon v. Solon, 255 N.W.2d 395, 397 (Minn.1977).

The court ordered appellant to pay respondent’s attorney’s fees from the money market account set up by appellant from the boat sale proceeds. The court had previously ordered the proceeds applied to reduce the lien on the boat. When the court discovered appellant had not done so, it entered its order. “The court may authorize the collection of money awarded by execution, or out of property sequestered, or in any other manner within the power of the court.” Minn.Stat. § 518.14. Appellant does not claim the court acted outside its powers.

Appellant's claim that this was a simple divorce is unsupported by the record and by the number of complex issues he raises on appeal.

DECISION

The trial court did not abuse its discretion in the division of marital property, the determination of custody, and the orders for child support and maintenance. The trial court was not biased against appellant. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in ordering appellant to pay respondent’s attorney’s fees where respondent needed financial assistance to protect her rights in the dissolution.

Affirmed.