Kinworthy v. Kinworthy

2010 Ohio 4547

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: September 27, 2010
• Docket: 1-10-23
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Kinworthy v. Kinworthy, 2010-Ohio-4547.]

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

DAVID R. KINWORTHY, CASE NO. 1-10-23

PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,

v.

RUTH A. KINWORTHY, nka LAMAN, OPINION

DEFENDANT-APPELLEE.

Appeal from Allen County Common Pleas Court Domestic Relations Division Trial Court No. DR 87 02 0754

Judgment Affirmed

Date of Decision: September 27, 2010

APPEARANCES:

F. Stephen Chamberlain, for Appellant

James R. Kirkland, for Appellee Case No. 1-10-23

PRESTON, J.

{¶1} Plaintiff-appellant, David. R. Kinworthy (hereinafter “David”),

appeals the Allen County Court of Common Pleas’ judgment denying his motion

to terminate or, alternatively, modify his spousal support obligation and awarding

$5,250 in attorney’s fees to his former wife, defendant-appellee, Ruth A.

Kinworthy, n.k.a. Laman, (hereinafter “Ruth”) for defending the action. For the

reasons that follow, we affirm.

{¶2} On April 29, 1958, David and Ruth were married in Lima, Ohio.

(July 13, 1988 JE, Doc. No. 20). On July 13, 1988, the parties were divorced by a

final judgment and divorce decree. (Id.). The divorce decree provided, in pertinent

part, that David maintain Ruth as an irrevocable beneficiary of his life insurance

policies to the extent of $100,000 as long as he remained a common pleas judge

and an alimony award existed. (Id.). Should David retire, be defeated in an

election, or re-enter private practice, then he was ordered to maintain Ruth as an

irrevocable beneficiary of his life insurance policies to the extent of $45,000. (Id.).

{¶3} The court further ordered that David pay Ruth $22,000 per year

($1,833/month) in alimony, subject to the continuing jurisdiction of the court.

(Id.). In reaching this amount, the court noted that David was then earning an

annual salary of $73,750, plus $2,200 per year for some part-time employment.

(Id.). The court reserved continuing jurisdiction to modify spousal support “as to

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a change in circumstances, including but not limited to [David’s] retirement.”

(Id.).

{¶4} On April 8, 1992, Ruth filed a motion for modification of spousal

support seeking a $500 per month increase because her living expenses increased

and David’s annual salary increased. (Doc. No. 29). On April 30, 1992, David

filed an answer and counter-motion seeking an order that spousal support be

modified to a fixed number of years. (Doc. No. 33). On September 18, 1992, the

trial court denied both Ruth and David’s motions. (JE, Doc. No. 40). Spousal

support, thus, continued in the previous amount of $22,000 per year

($1,833/month).

{¶5} On November 5, 1997, David filed a second motion seeking a

termination of support because Ruth had received a $134,000 inheritance. (Doc.

Nos. 42-43). David also asked the court to terminate his life insurance obligation

if it terminated his support obligation. (Id.). On January 12, 1998, Ruth filed a

motion seeking an increase in spousal support. (Doc. No. 56). On June 5, 1998,

the trial court denied Ruth’s motion but granted David’s motion, in part, reducing

his spousal support obligation $800 per month for a total obligation of $1,033 per

month ($12,396/year). (Doc. No. 76).

{¶6} On May 17, 2007, David filed a motion to terminate spousal support

and terminate his life insurance obligation. (Doc. No. 86). Prior to the hearing,

some discovery disputes arose, which resulted in Ruth filing a motion to compel

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and request for attorney’s fees. (Doc. Nos. 98, 103). On December 17, 2007, the

matter proceeded to hearing. On April 8, 2008, the trial court issued its decision

denying David’s motion to terminate spousal support and awarding Ruth

attorney’s fees. (Doc. No. 112). The trial court, however, did not determine the

amount of attorney’s fees owed by David, but rather, set the matter for a further

hearing. (Id.).

{¶7} On May 5, 2008, David filed an appeal to this Court, which was

assigned appellate case no. 1-08-26. (Doc. Nos. 117, 120). However, on May 21,

2008, this Court dismissed the appeal sua sponte for lack of final appealable order,

because the trial court did not resolve the amount of attorney’s fees owed by

David. (Doc. No. 121).

{¶8} On June 5, 2008, David filed a Civ.R. 54(B) motion to certify the

April 8, 2008 judgment as a final order for purposes of appeal. (Doc. No. 122).

On June 25, 2008, the trial court granted the motion and “* * * assign[ed] th[e]

matter for further hearing as soon as practicable given the varying schedules of the

Court and Counsel.” (Doc. No. 123).

{¶9} On July 23, 2008, David filed a subsequent appeal to this Court, and

on January 20, 2009, this Court reversed. Kinworthy v. Kinworthy, 3d Dist. No. 1-

08-43, 2009-Ohio-187. (Doc. Nos. 124, 128). As an initial matter, we found that

we lacked jurisdiction to consider David’s assignment of error relative to the trial

court’s award of attorney’s fees since the trial court’s judgment entry failed to

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specify the amount of attorney’s fees owed to Ruth. Id. at ¶¶12-13. Although we

rejected most of David’s arguments on appeal relative to the trial court’s denial of

his motion to terminate or modify his spousal support obligation, we did find that

the trial court’s use of Plaintiff’s exhibit four’s $5,261.13 figure for David’s

retirement income was arbitrary, and thus, an abuse of its discretion. Id.

Therefore, we remanded the matter to the trial court with instructions to

recalculate David’s retirement income “* * * to exclude any income monies

associated with service credit purchased by David subsequent to June 1, 1988

(8.754 years) but to include any amortized PLOP payments received by David” in

accordance with the divorce decree. Id. at ¶27 (emphasis in original).

{¶10} On May 29, 2009, David filed another motion to terminate or reduce

spousal support. (Doc. No. 129). On June 5, 2009, the trial court held a hearing on

the issues of David’s retirement income and attorney’s fees. On June 22 and 23,

2009, respectively, Ruth and David filed written closing arguments. (Doc. Nos.

130, 131).

{¶11} On August 13, 2009, the trial court ordered the parties to submit the

following calculations:

1. The income the court should use for spousal support purposes. 2. The amount of monies they claim should be excluded as “monies associated with service credit purchased by David subsequent to June 1, 1988 (8.754 years)[”] and the evidence in the record that supports their position.

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3. The amount of monies they claim the court should “include” as “amortized” PLOP payments received by David” and the evidence in the record that supports their position.

(Order, Doc. No. 133). Ruth and David filed their supplemental closing

arguments with calculations on September 14, 2009 and October 9, 2009,

respectively. (Doc. Nos. 134, 137). Ruth filed a reply to David’s supplemental

closing argument on October 29, 2009. (Doc. No. 138).

{¶12} On January 29, 2010, the trial court issued its judgment, finding as

follows:

1. The Plaintiff’s monthly retirement income is $5,981.47. 2. The Plaintiff has gross monthly retirement income of $6,929.86. 3. The Plaintiff’s gross monthly retirement excludes $1,388.74, the amount of service credit purchased by the Plaintiff’s subsequent to June 1, 1988. 4. The Plaintiff’s monthly retirement income includes $440.35 representing the amortized PLOP payments he received. 5. The Defendant is awarded the sum of $5,250.00 as attorney fees.

(JE, Doc. No. 139). The trial court denied David’s motion to terminate spousal

support and awarded judgment against David for attorney fees in the amount of

$5,250. (Id.).

{¶13} On February 25, 2010, David filed his notice of appeal. (Doc. No.

140). David now appeals raising two assignments of error for our review. We

elect to address the assignments of error out of the order they are presented in his

brief.

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ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. II

THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED ERROR PREJUDICIAL TO THE PLAINTIFF IN [THE] CALCULATION OF THE PLAINTIFF’S INCOME THEREBY COMMITTING ERROR IN DENYING THE MOTION TO TERMINATE SPOUSAL SUPPORT.

{¶14} In his second assignment of error, David argues that the trial court

erred in calculating his retirement income for purposes of ruling on his motion to

terminate spousal support. Specifically, David argues that the trial court failed to

account for several mandatory deductions, including: Medicare reimbursement;

health care deduction; and federal and state income taxes. We find no error in the

trial court’s calculation of David’s retirement income as he argues, and thus, no

error in its decision to deny the motion to terminate spousal support.

{¶15} A trial court has broad discretion in determining whether or not to

modify an existing spousal support award. Mottice v. Mottice (1997), 118 Ohio

App.3d 731, 735, 693 N.E.2d 1179; Schultz v. Schultz (1996), 110 Ohio App.3d

715, 724, 675 N.E.2d 55. Absent an abuse of discretion, a trial court’s decision to

modify or not modify a spousal support award will not be disturbed on appeal.

Bostick v. Bostick, 3rd Dist. No. 1-02-83, 2003-Ohio-5121, ¶8, citing Booth v.

Booth (1989), 44 Ohio St.3d 142, 144, 541 N.E.2d 1028. An abuse of discretion

is more than an error in judgment; it signifies that the trial court’s attitude was

unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore (1983), 5

Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140. When applying an abuse of discretion

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standard, an appellate court may not substitute its judgment for that of the trial

court. Berk v. Matthews (1990), 53 Ohio St.3d 161, 169, 559 N.E.2d 1301.

{¶16} The trial court, on remand, determined that David’s gross retirement

benefit was $6,929.86. (Jan. 29, 2010 JE, Doc. No. 139). This amount included

monies associated with the 8.754 years of credit David purchased after June 1,

1988. (Apr. 11, 2008 OPERS Letter, Plaintiff’s Ex. 1); (June 5, 2009 Tr. at 10).

The trial court then found that the portion of David’s gross retirement benefit

associated with the 8.754 years of service David purchased after June 1, 1988 was

$1,388.74.1 (Apr. 11, 2008 OPERS Letter, Plaintiff’s Ex. 1); (June 5, 2009 Tr. at

8-9, 11). The trial court subtracted this amount from David’s gross monthly

benefit amount. Then, the trial court determined that David’s gross monthly

retirement benefit was $440.35 less than it would have been due to the $70,224

Partial Lump Sum Option Payment (PLOP) he received. (June 5, 2009 Tr. at 15).

The trial court added this amount to David’s gross monthly benefit amount. As a

result, the trial court calculated that David’s adjusted gross monthly retirement

benefit was $5,981.47 ($6,929.86 - $1,388.74 + $440.35). The trial court’s

computation is supported by the exhibits in the record, and furthermore, was based

primarily upon David’s own calculations. (Apr. 11, 2008 OPERS Letter,

1 The trial court appears to have arrived at this number from David’s calculations submitted in his supplemental closing arguments. (Doc. No. 137). This number is equal to the number of years of service David purchased divided by the total years of service times David’s gross monthly pension benefit. (8.754/43.671 = 20.04% x $6,929.86 = $1,388.74).

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Plaintiff’s Ex. 1); (Supplemental Closing Argument, Doc. No. 137). Additionally,

the calculations are consistent with our instruction to the trial court on remand: to

recalculate David’s retirement income “* * * to exclude any income monies

associated with service credit purchased by David subsequent to June 1, 1988

(8.754 years) but to include any amortized PLOP payments received by David” in

accordance with the divorce decree. Kinworthy, 2009-Ohio-187, at ¶27 (emphasis

in original). David’s sole complaint with the trial court’s calculation is that it did

not account for several mandatory deductions, including both federal and state

income taxes as well as health insurance. The record indicates that the trial court

was aware that its figure of $5,981.47 was before all of these deductions when it

ruled on David’s motion. We simply are not persuaded that the trial court’s

recalculation of David’s income was erroneous, and neither are we persuaded that

the trial court’s decision to deny David’s motion2 was an abuse of its discretion.

{¶17} David’s second assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. I

THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED ERROR PREJUDICIAL TO THE PLAINTIFF IN FINDING THAT THE PLAINTIFF VIOLATED LOCAL RULE 20.09 OF THE ALLEN COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS AND OTHERWISE COMMITTED DISCOVERY VIOLATIONS THAT REQUIRE SANCTIONS. 2 We note that the trial court explicitly incorporated its previous findings into its new judgment entry. Thus, its decision to deny David’s motion to terminate was based upon all the evidence that had been before it previously, as well as the new evidence of David’s adjusted gross monthly retirement benefit determined on remand. (Jan. 29, 2010 JE, Doc. No. 139). We rejected many of David’s other arguments relative to his continued spousal support obligation in the previous appeal and need not reconsider those issues again here.

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{¶18} In his first assignment of error, David argues that the trial court erred

by finding that he violated Local Rule 20.09 since the rule does not apply to

modifications of spousal support. David also argues that the trial court was

limited on remand to determining the amount of attorney fees that were a direct

result of his purported discovery violations, and that the trial court erred in

granting Ruth attorney fees for the costs of defending the entire action. David

further argues that the trial court erred in awarding attorney’s fees when Ruth

failed to present evidence of a fee agreement or that she paid attorney’s fees.

{¶19} R.C. 3105.73 governs the award of attorney fees and litigation

expenses in domestic relations cases and provides, in pertinent part:

(B) In any post-decree motion or proceeding that arises out of an action for divorce, dissolution, legal separation, or annulment of marriage or an appeal of that motion or proceeding, the court may award all or part of reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation expenses to either party if the court finds the award equitable. In determining whether an award is equitable, the court may consider the parties’ income, the conduct of the parties, and any other relevant factors the court deems appropriate, but it may not consider the parties’ assets.

(C) * * * The court may make an award of attorney’s fees and litigation expenses under this section in addition to making an award of attorney’s fees and litigation expenses under any other provision of the Revised Code or of the Rules of Civil Procedure.

Awarding attorney fees under R.C. 3105.73 is within the sound discretion of the

trial court. Hutta v. Hutta, 177 Ohio App.3d 414, 2008-Ohio-3756, 894 N.E.2d

1282, ¶46, citing Howell v. Howell, 167 Ohio App.3d 431, 2006-Ohio-3038, 855

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N.E.2d 533. Therefore, we review the trial court’s decision for an abuse of

discretion. Hutta, 2006-Ohio-3756, at ¶46. An abuse of discretion is more than an

error in judgment; it signifies that the trial court’s attitude was unreasonable,

arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d at 219. When applying an

abuse of discretion standard, an appellate court may not substitute its judgment for

that of the trial court. Matthews, 53 Ohio St.3d at 169.

{¶20} First, we must reject David’s argument that the trial court was

limited on remand to awarding only those attorney’s fees associated with his

purported discovery violations. As we stated in our previous decision, “[a]n order

that grants a party attorney fees but fails to specify the amount is not a final

appealable order under R.C. 2505.02.” Kinworthy, 2009-Ohio-187, at ¶13, citing

Ft. Frye Teachers Assn. v. Ft. Frye Local School Dist. Bd. of Edn. (1993), 87 Ohio

App.3d 840, 843, 623 N.E.2d 232; Dayton Women’s Health Ctr., Inc. v. Enix

(1993), 86 Ohio App.3d 777, 780, 621 N.E.2d 1262. As such, the trial court’s

prior order granting attorney’s fees was interlocutory, and the trial court retained

jurisdiction to reconsider it, either sua sponte or upon motion, at any time before

entering final judgment. See, e.g., Nilavar v. Osborn (2000), 137 Ohio App.3d

469, 499, 738 N.E.2d 1271; Pitts v. Ohio Dept. of Trans. (1981), 67 Ohio St.2d

378, 379, 423 N.E.2d 1105, Fn.1, citing Civ.R. 54(B) (interlocutory orders are

subject to motions for reconsideration). Additionally, Ruth’s several requests for

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attorney’s fees were not limited to fees associated with David’s purported

discovery violations. (Doc. Nos. 98, 103, 109).

{¶21} Second, we must reject David’s assertion that Ruth failed to present

evidence regarding a fee agreement or her payment of attorney’s fees. The record

contains a billing record from Ruth’s attorney, which clearly shows the attorney’s

hours as well as Ruth’s several payments. (D’s Exs. A-B). Ruth’s attorney also

testified at the hearing regarding the attorney’s fees. (June 5, 2009 Tr. at 25-29).

{¶22} Third, we find that the trial court’s award of attorney’s fees was not

an abuse of its discretion regardless of whether David violated Loc.R. 20.09. As

an initial matter, we agree with David that the trial court’s finding that he violated

Loc.R. 20.09 was erroneous. (Apr. 8, 2008 JE, Doc. No. 112). The rule provides:

Rule 20.09 MODIFICATION OF CHILD SUPPORT

A. Any party with standing in a child support case, and/or the Allen County Child Support Agency (hereinafter CSEA) may file a motion for modification of child support. All motions requesting a modification of child support shall be filed with the Clerk of Courts of Allen County, Ohio. B. Upon filing of any motion for modification of child support, the Clerk of Courts of Allen County, Ohio shall provide pro-se litigants with a copy of the notice designated as DR-5 requiring the responding party to provide the opposing party and the CSEA if the CSEA has filed the motion for review/modification of child support, financial information as set forth therein. The Clerk shall also include a DR-5 notice with the copy of the motion and the summons upon the same. Counsel filing motions shall provide their client with form DR-5. Not later than thirty (30) days after service of the motion upon opposing party, each party shall provide the other and the

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CSEA if the CSEA has filed the motion for review/modification of child support the following financial material: 1. A copy of the parties’ federal income tax return from the previous year. 2. A copy of all pay stubs obtained by the party within the proceeding six (6) months. 3. A copy of all their records evidencing the receipt of any other salary, wages or compensations, from whatever source derived, within the preceding six (6) months. 4. Any other information necessary to properly review the child support order.

(Emphasis added). Loc.R. 20.09’s plain language indicates that it applies to

modifications of child support, not modifications of spousal support.3 That being

said, the trial court’s award of attorney’s fees was, nonetheless, equitable and

reasonable under the circumstances of this case. See, e.g., Davis v. Widman, 184

Ohio App.3d 705, 2009-Ohio-5430, 922 N.E.2d 272, ¶16, citations omitted (“[a]

judgment by the trial court which is correct, but for a different reason, will be

affirmed on appeal as there is no prejudice to the appellant.”).

{¶23} To begin with, David’s answers to Ruth’s interrogatories were

minimal. (Doc. No. 97). David did not provide his first set of answers until

November 26, 2007, even though they were sent to him on August 3, 2007. (Doc.

Nos. 97-98). David requested that Ruth provide him with copies of her W-2 forms

and federal income tax returns from 2004-2006, but he objected to providing those

documents to Ruth. (Doc. Nos. 89, 97). David did not provide this financial

3 We note that David did file a DR-1 form with his original motion to terminate or modify spousal support in compliance with Loc.R. 20.01(D), which provides “[i]n all original and re-opened domestic cases each party shall complete and file a DR-1 form as provided with these rules.” (Doc. No. 90).

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information until December 11, 2007, a few days before the scheduled hearing and

only after Ruth filed several motions for discovery sanctions. (Doc. Nos. 98, 101,

103). As the trial court found, “[David’s] response to [Ruth’s] discovery requests

was neither timely nor complete[, and] [t]he time required for adjudication was

enlarged by the actions and failure to act by [David].” (Jan. 29, 2010 JE, Doc. No.

139). The trial court also found that an award of attorney’s fees was equitable in

this case because: (1) David has substantially more income than Ruth; (2) David,

as an attorney, was able to assist in the prosecution of his own case; and (3)

without the award of attorney’s fees, Ruth would be unable to litigate her rights

and protect her interests. (Id.). Finally, we note that the attorney’s fees in this case

were calculated at the lowest amount possible since Ruth’s counsel agreed to fifty

percent (50%) of the total fees he earned at the lowest, reasonable local rate. (Id.);

(June 5, 2009 Tr. at 25-29). For all these reasons, we cannot conclude that the trial

court’s decision to award Ruth attorney’s fees for defending the action was an

abuse of its discretion.

{¶24} David’s first assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.

{¶25} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the

particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

Judgment Affirmed ROGERS, J., and *SINGER, J., concur.

*(ARLENE SINGER, J., from the Sixth District Court of Appeals Sitting by Assignment)

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