Kimmel v. Kimmel

2012 Ohio 3306
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 23, 2012
Docket16-11-11
StatusPublished

This text of 2012 Ohio 3306 (Kimmel v. Kimmel) 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
Kimmel v. Kimmel, 2012 Ohio 3306 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

[Cite as Kimmel v. Kimmel, 2012-Ohio-3306.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT WYANDOT COUNTY

NICHOLAS G. KIMMEL,

PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, CASE NO. 16-11-11

v.

ALISHA K. KIMMEL, OPINION

DEFENDANT-APPELLEE.

Appeal from Wyandot County Common Pleas Court Domestic Relations Division Trial Court No. 09-DR-0120

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: July 23, 2012

APPEARANCES:

Kevin P. Collins for Appellant

James M. Ruhlen for Appellee Case No. 16-11-11

SHAW, P.J.

{¶1} Plaintiff-appellant Nicholas G. Kimmel (“Nick”) appeals the October

10, 2011 judgment of the Wyandot County Court of Common Pleas dividing the

marital estate and designating defendant-appellee Alisha K. Kimmel (“Alisha”)

residential parent of the parties’ three children.

{¶2} Nick and Alisha were married July 20, 1996. Three children were

born during the marriage: Julie, born August, 1997, Travis born February, 2000,

and Bryce born November, 2003. Throughout the marriage Nick worked

primarily as a mechanic and Alisha was primarily a stay-at-home mom. Alisha

occasionally did some sewing work out of the home and eventually started

working part-time as a waitress at Jac-N-Do’s pizza.

{¶3} Nick and Alisha separated in October or November of 2009 and Nick

filed for divorce on grounds of incompatibility on November 19, 2009. Alisha

filed her answer and counterclaim for divorce December 8, 2009.

{¶4} On December 9, 2009, temporary orders were issued designating Nick

as residential parent of the parties’ three children. On December 13, 2010, Alisha

was granted residential parent status of the parties’ three children.1

1 Throughout the proceedings there were instances of domestic violence between Nick and Alisha. Alisha was convicted of domestic violence from one incident. Nick and Alisha were both charged with domestic violence from another incident. Nick pled no contest to those charges. Nick filed for multiple civil protection orders against Alisha. Later, Nick was investigated by Job and Family Services for allegations of physical child abuse. It was after these allegations that residential parent status was changed to Alisha.

-2- Case No. 16-11-11

{¶5} On March 29, 2010, the Magistrate conducted an in camera interview

of the parties’ children. The Magistrate found that the children had sufficient

reasoning ability to express their wishes and concerns. On June 21, 2010, the

Magistrate conducted a second interview with the parties’ children wherein the

children expressed their desire to reside with their mother.

{¶6} On July 6, 2010, the divorce action was stayed due to the parties filing

for bankruptcy. On January 6, 2011, upon completion of the bankruptcy

proceedings, the case was reactivated.

{¶7} On March 8-9, 2011, the final divorce hearing was held before the

Magistrate.

{¶8} On April 28, 2011, the Magistrate filed her decision. As part of the

Magistrate’s 37-page decision, Nick was awarded assets valued at $51,464 and

Alisha was awarded assets valued at $13,078. In order to make the distribution

equal, the Magistrate ordered Nick to pay $19,193 to Alisha. A portion of that

money would come from the sale of several of the parties’ vehicles at auction.2

{¶9} The April 28, 2011 Magistrate’s decision also designated Alisha as

residential parent of the parties’ three children. Nick was given parenting time in

accordance with the local rules.

2 As Nick was a mechanic, the parties had several vehicles that were not used as primary transportation.

-3- Case No. 16-11-11

{¶10} On May 10, 2011, Nick filed his preliminary objections to the

Magistrate’s decision challenging factual and legal findings of the Magistrate. On

August 9, 2011, Nick filed supplemental objections to the Magistrate’s decision.

On August 26, 2011, Alisha filed a response to Nick’s objections.

{¶11} On October 3, 2011, the trial court entered a 20-page Judgment Entry

finding that “while some objections [to the Magistrate’s decision] were sustained,

they were collectively too insignificant to cause this Court to do anything but

adopt the decision of the Magistrate.” (Doc. No. 168). The Magistrate’s decision

was then adopted and made the order of the court.

{¶12} On October 10, 2011, the trial court entered a Judgment Entry titled

“Decree of Divorce” specifically enumerating the terms already established in the

Magistrate’s decision and the trial court’s October 3, 2011 Judgment Entry. It is

from this judgment that Nick appeals, asserting the following assignments of error

for our review.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF APPELLANT BY DIVIDING THE MARITAL ESTATE INEQUITABLY AND UNEQUALLY.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II

THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DESIGNATING ALISHA TO BE THE CHILDREN’S RESIDENTIAL PARENT.

-4- Case No. 16-11-11

First Assignment of Error

{¶13} In his first assignment or error, Nick argues that the trial court

inequitably divided the marital estate. Specifically, Nick argues that the trial

court’s valuation of the marital residence was improper, that the trial court’s

valuations of four of the parties’ vehicles credited to Nick were improper, that the

trial court improperly credited Nick with all of the 401(k) funds, and that the trial

court failed to recognize that Nick incurred debt when he redeemed a recreational

“camper” from the bank after it had been repossessed.

{¶14} It is well-settled that trial courts have “broad discretion to determine

what property division is equitable in a divorce proceeding. The mere fact that a

property division is unequal, does not, standing alone, amount to an abuse of

discretion.” Cherry v. Cherry, 66 Ohio St.2d 348 (1981), paragraph two of the

syllabus. A trial court’s decision allocating marital property and debt will not be

reversed absent an abuse of discretion. Jackson v. Jackson, 3d Dist. No. 11-07-11,

2008-Ohio-1482, ¶ 15, citing Holcomb v. Holcomb, 44 Ohio St.3d 128, 131

(1989). An abuse of discretion is more than a mere error; it implies that the

court’s attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore v.

Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219 (1983). When applying the abuse of discretion

-5- Case No. 16-11-11

standard, a reviewing court may not simply substitute its judgment for that of the

trial court. Id

Marital Residence

{¶15} Nick first argues that the court erred in valuing the marital residence

at $94,340. Nick claims on appeal that the appropriate valuation of the marital

residence was $68,000, the amount that Nick claims he reaffirmed on the debt of

the residence after the parties went through bankruptcy.

{¶16} When the parties separated, Nick maintained the marital residence

and Alisha moved out. Alisha stated that she did not want the residence and had

no idea how much it was worth. (Tr. Vol. II at 336). When the parties went

through bankruptcy proceedings the marital residence was valued at $94,340.

(Def.’s Ex. A). At the final divorce hearing, in testimony that the trial court

described in its review of the objections to the Magistrate’s decision as a

“confusing mess,” Nick claimed that he felt the marital residence was worth

$50,000. (Doc. No 168); (Tr. Vol. I at 155). The Magistrate reasoned that it

defied common sense for Nick to reaffirm a debt of $68,000 on a residence worth

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Related

Jackson v. Jackson, 11-07-11 (3-31-2008)
2008 Ohio 1482 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2008)
Swain v. Swain, Unpublished Decision (1-6-2005)
2005 Ohio 65 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2005)
Erwin v. Erwin, Unpublished Decision (5-30-2006)
2006 Ohio 2661 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2006)
Cherry v. Cherry
421 N.E.2d 1293 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1981)
Blakemore v. Blakemore
450 N.E.2d 1140 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1983)
Miller v. Miller
523 N.E.2d 846 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1988)
Holcomb v. Holcomb
541 N.E.2d 597 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1989)
Bechtol v. Bechtol
550 N.E.2d 178 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1990)
Davis v. Flickinger
674 N.E.2d 1159 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1997)
Goldfuss v. Davidson
679 N.E.2d 1099 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1997)
Goldfuss v. Davidson
1997 Ohio 401 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1997)

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2012 Ohio 3306, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kimmel-v-kimmel-ohioctapp-2012.