Kraemer v. Kraemer

382 P.2d 394, 79 Nev. 287, 1963 Nev. LEXIS 111
CourtNevada Supreme Court
DecidedJune 6, 1963
Docket4538
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 382 P.2d 394 (Kraemer v. Kraemer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nevada Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kraemer v. Kraemer, 382 P.2d 394, 79 Nev. 287, 1963 Nev. LEXIS 111 (Neb. 1963).

Opinion

*289 OPINION

By the Court,

Thompson, J.:

Margaret Kraemer filed suit for divorce, alleging extreme cruelty and requesting alimony. Additionally she charged that William, her husband, had conspired with Ralph Larrabee (who was also named a defendant) to deprive her of an interest in the Forty-Niner Motel, Las Vegas, Nevada. William answered, pleading a prior interlocutory California decree obtained by Margaret as res judicata. He and Larrabee also denied the conspiracy charge. After trial the district court entered a judgment with which neither Margaret nor William was pleased. William appealed, assigning errors, and Margaret filed a cross-appeal, doing the same. Larrabee is here as a respondent to Margaret’s cross-appeal. The appeal and cross-appeal require us to dispose of the following questions: (1) Is the California interlocutory decree a final judgment and res judicata as to alimony? (2) Was Margaret lawfully entitled to a Nevada divorce on the grounds of extreme cruelty or three years’ separation without cohabitation? (3) Did the lower court correctly find that William had no interest in the motel, and were certain incidental orders relating to the receivership thereof lawfully entered ? The evidence relevant to each question will be related as that question is discussed.

(1) Margaret first instituted suit in California. William answered. On March 27, 1961, the California court granted Margaret an interlocutory decree of divorce and ordered William to pay alimony of $200 a month for 24 months. Within two months Margaret sued again for divorce, this time in Nevada. William appeared. *290 Inter alia he pleaded the California interlocutory decree as res judicata to Margaret’s renewed request for alimony. The lower court rejected the defense and awarded Margaret the lump sum of $10,000 as alimony. This, we think, was error. In taking judicial notice of California law as expressed in reported court opinions of that state (Choate v. Ransom, 74 Nev. 100, 323 P.2d 700) we find that, though the interlocutory decree is not a final judgment determining marital status (Estate of Dargie, 162 Cal. 51, 121 P. 320; Estate of Seiler, 164 Cal. 181, 128 P. 334; 1 California Family Law, Armstrong, at 248), it is deemed final in all other respects. (Pereira v. Pereira, 156 Cal. 1, 103 P. 488, 23 L.R.A.,N.S., 880; Huneke v. Huneke, 12 Cal.App. 199, 107 P. 131; Borg v. Borg, 25 Cal.App.2d 25, 76 P.2d 218; Overell v. Superior Court, 29 Cal.App.2d 418, 84 P.2d 789; Parnham v. Parnham, 32 Cal.App.2d 93, 89 P.2d 189; Wilson v. Superior Court, 31 Cal.2d 458, 189 P.2d 266). In Wilson the court stated, inter alia: “The right to alimony, like other financial and property rights of the parties, is properly at issue at the time the cause of action for divorce is tried and determined, and the ensuing interlocutory decree is intended to bring an end to all matters so litigated and in controversy * * In Estate of Abila, 32 Cal.2d 559, 197 P.2d 10, the California Supreme Court held that an interlocutory decree of divorce terminates the obligation of support in the absence of a provision therefor. There is no jurisdiction to grant it later unless the right has been reserved. In the instant case, the right was not reserved, nor did Margaret or William appeal from the interlocutory decree. The time within which they could have done so- passed before the Nevada case was tried. The doctrine of res judicata forbids relitigatio-n of the alimony issue in Nevada. 1

(2) The basis of Margaret’s request for divorce in California was William’s cruelty. An interlocutory decree was granted to her on that ground. Her later suit *291 in Nevada was also predicated on extreme cruelty. However, near the end of trial, she was permitted to amend to plead three years’ separation without cohabitation as an additional cause. The court deemed the complaint as thus amended denied by William, but refused him a continuance for the purpose of preparing a defense to the new cause of action. The court found that each ground for divorce was supported by the evidence. However,, the decree was entered on the ground of three years’ separation without cohabitation, the court believing that the prior California interlocutory decree was res judicata as to the ground of extreme cruelty.

On appeal William’s contention is two-fold; first, that the record does not reflect that their separation was voluntary on the part of at least one spouse (Caye v. Caye, 66 Nev. 78, 203 P.2d 1013, 211 P.2d 252; Sutherland v. Sutherland, 75 Nev. 304, 340 P.2d 581; Pearson v. Pearson, 77 Nev. 76, 359 P.2d 386), with the result that a claim for relief, based upon the ground of three years’ separation without cohabitation, was not proven; and, second, that in any event he should have been granted a continuance to prepare his defense to that charge. It is not necessary to answer either contention. The ground of extreme cruelty was satisfactorily proven. The California interlocutory decree is not a final judgment as to that issue (Estate of Dargie, 162 Cal. 51, 121 P. 320; Estate of Seiler, 164 Cal. 181, 128 P. 334; Crayne v. Crayne, 54 Nev. 205, 13 P.2d 222, 84 A.L.R. 716), and the judgment granting Margaret a divorce may properly be affirmed on that ground. (Cf. Nelson v. Sierra Construction Corp., 77 Nev. 384, 364 P.2d 402, where we again acknowledged the rule that a correct judgment will not be reversed simply because it was based on the wrong reason.)

(3) Margaret’s prime concern in this case is over the loss of her interest in the Forty-Niner Motel. Though this circumstance has produced unfortunate consequences for her, there appears to be no legal basis upon which we may accord her relief. She was purchasing the motel when she married William. The purchase price was $120,000. She paid $30,000 down, plus a diamond, *292 and a mink coat. The balance was evidenced by two promissory notes totaling $85,500, secured by separate trust deeds on the property. After the marriage, William loaned Margaret $43,065 with which to enlarge and improve the motel. This was done. They became embroiled in recriminations. William sued to recover the sum loaned. He was successful. Kraemer v. Kraemer, 76 Nev. 265, 352 P.2d 253. Seeking to satisfy his judgment, William requested the Clark County sheriff to sell Margaret’s interest in the motel at execution sale.

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Bluebook (online)
382 P.2d 394, 79 Nev. 287, 1963 Nev. LEXIS 111, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kraemer-v-kraemer-nev-1963.