Meyer v. Meyer, 2006ca00145 (2-4-2008)

2008 Ohio 436
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 4, 2008
DocketNo. 2006CA00145.
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 2008 Ohio 436 (Meyer v. Meyer, 2006ca00145 (2-4-2008)) 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
Meyer v. Meyer, 2006ca00145 (2-4-2008), 2008 Ohio 436 (Ohio Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

OPINION *Page 2
{¶ 1} Plaintiff-Appellant Kimberly Meyer ("Wife") appeals the October 27, 2006 Judgment Entry/Decree of Divorce entered by the Licking County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, which divided the parties' marital assets and debts, awarded spousal support, denied child support, and recalculated temporary orders. Defendant-appellee is Randall Meyer ("Husband").1

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶ 2} Husband and Wife were married on March 26, 1983, in Columbus, Ohio. Three children were born as issue of said union, to wit: Randall, Jr. (DOB 4/16/87)2; Megan (DOB 1/19/89); and Samantha (DOB 6/15/91). On July 22, 2004, Wife filed a Complaint for Divorce in the Licking County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division. Husband filed an Answer and Counter-Claim for Divorce. The trial court issued temporary orders.

{¶ 3} The matter came on for final hearing on May 18, May 19, and June 21, 2006. Prior to the commencement of the hearing on May 18, 2006, the parties advised the court they had entered into seven stipulations relative to the date and duration of the marriage; the children; the trial court's jurisdiction; the grounds upon which the divorce should be granted; the sale of marital real property; and each parties' residential parent status. Husband and Wife then presented evidence as to the remaining issues.

{¶ 4} In the mid-to-late 1980s, Husband started his own company, Randy Meyer Masonry, Inc. Husband and Wife were equal shareholders in the business. Wife worked as the receptionist for the company and also handled the payroll. Pursuant to *Page 3 their accountant's advice, Wife was paid $400/week. Wife stopped working briefly during her pregnancy with Randall, Jr. Around this time, the parties purchased the marital residence located at Windy Hollow Road, Johstown, Licking County, Ohio. The parties subsequently purchased 110+ acres of real property in Muskingum County, Ohio, which they improved with a pole barn and other structures. Randy Meyer Masonry was the parties' primary source of income.

{¶ 5} In 2001, with monies Husband received as an inheritance from his mother's estate, the parties purchased real property and built a residence at 7031 Stanhope Place, in University Park, Florida. The home is located in a gated country club community. In February, 2004, the parties made a trial move from Licking County, Ohio, to the Stanhope property in Florida. They planned to operate and maintain Randy Meyer Masonry in Ohio, and hoped to acquire another business interest in Florida. In anticipation of such acquisition, the parties obtained a home equity loan on the Licking County property in the amount of $350,000. Husband and a Florida neighbor, Stephen Wolfson, subsequently purchased a tree business, Ultimate Tree. Husband withdrew $275,000 from the home equity line to purchase his share of the business. Wife had no involvement in this business arrangement. With the money the tree business generated, Husband and Wife were able to pay off a significant amount of debt they had incurred, and were able to meet monthly expenses. Wife returned to Ohio, in the summer of 2004.

{¶ 6} As the result of a number of accidents, including an employee stealing a company truck and totaling the vehicle, and a tree falling on an employee, which caused the liability and Workers' Compensation insurance rates to increase dramatically, *Page 4 Ultimate Tree failed. On or about September 1, 2005, Husband moved to Daytona Beach, where he became employed as a superintendent for a utility and pipe company, earning a salary of $1000/week. Husband quit this job after approximately one month as he was working 60 hours each week and was not receiving benefits. With permission from the trial court, the parties auctioned the assets of Randy Meyer Masonry. The proceeds were subsequently delivered to each party.

{¶ 7} According to Wife, during the pendency of the matter, Husband disposed of a number of assets, which should have been subject to division. Those items were a 2000 Pontiac Bonneville, for which Husband received $10,000; all or substantially all of the household goods, furniture, furnishings and appliances from the Stanhope residence, for which he received approximately $12,000; equity accrued from life insurance in the amount of $63,203.61; and a 1988 Mercedes Convertible as a trade-in for another vehicle ($10,000).

{¶ 8} Husband conceded he sold the Pontiac, but noted he used the money to pay bills. With respect to the household goods, furniture, furnishings and appliances from the Stanhope property, Husband stated the parties originally intended to sell the house and contents together, however, two weeks before closing, the buyers decided they did not want the contents. Husband contacted Wife about her buying the furniture because moving or storing such would be cost prohibited. Wife did not want to purchase the furniture; therefore, he had no choice but to sell the contents. Husband acknowledged he withdrew money from his life insurance, but explained such was done in order to pay the parties' debts, the mortgage on the Stanhope property, the utilities on all three properties, and car and health insurance premiums. As for Ultimate Tree, *Page 5 Husband testified there were no assets left to be split between him and Wolfson, and he believed all of the debts had been resolved.

{¶ 9} Wife is 43 years old. She completed the 11th grade of high school, but did not graduate or earn a GED. As stated, supra, Wife worked for Randy Meyer Masonry as an office worker, and never earned more than $400/week. Wife's 2004 Form 1040 indicates she earned $16,524 that year. Husband is 47 years of age and a high school graduate. The 2002 tax returns for Randy Meyer Masonry listed $334,678 as the gross receipts of the business. The gross receipts were one half of that amount on the 2003 tax returns. The parties' accountant testified Husband had the potential to earn $52,000/year. The parties contributed almost equally to separate retirement funds.

{¶ 10} On the morning of the last day of trial, Wife requested the trial court interview Samantha, and designate Wife as the girl's residential parent and legal custodian. Wife argued a change of circumstances had taken place as Samantha had returned to Ohio from Florida after completing the school year, and was living with Wife The trial court declined Wife's request. Wife filed a motion for reconsideration, which the trial court denied.

{¶ 11} The trial court issued its Judgment Entry/Decree of Divorce on October 27, 2006. It is from this entry Wife appeal, raising the following assignments of error:

{¶ 12} "I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN REFUSING TO INTERVIEW THE PARTIES' MINOR DAUGHTER UPON THE MOTION OF PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT.

{¶ 13} "II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT PAYMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT BY APPELLEE TO APPELLANT WOULD BE UNJUST, INAPPROPRIATE AND NOT IN THE CHILDREN'S BEST INTEREST. *Page 6

{¶ 14} "III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ORDERING THAT PROFIT PROCEEDS, ASSETS, AND DEBTS OF ULTIMATE TREE BE SPLIT EQUALLY BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

{¶ 15} "IV.

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Bluebook (online)
2008 Ohio 436, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/meyer-v-meyer-2006ca00145-2-4-2008-ohioctapp-2008.