Michel v. Michel

484 So. 2d 829
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedFebruary 25, 1986
DocketCA 84 1308
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 484 So. 2d 829 (Michel v. Michel) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Michel v. Michel, 484 So. 2d 829 (La. Ct. App. 1986).

Opinion

484 So.2d 829 (1986)

Elizabeth Dubus MICHEL
v.
Melvin M. MICHEL.

No. CA 84 1308.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

February 25, 1986.

*830 Allen M. Posey, Jr., Baton Rouge, for plaintiff-appellee Elizabeth Dubus Michel.

Chapman L. Sanford, Baton Rouge, for defendant-appellant Melvin M. Michel.

Before LOTTINGER, COLE and CRAIN, JJ.

COLE, Judge.

This is a suit to partition community property.

The parties were married on February 4, 1956. A judgment of separation, based on mutual fault of the parties, was rendered on January 13, 1981. The plaintiff, Elizabeth Dubus Michel, filed a petition seeking a partition of community property. After trial, ending August 1, 1983, the parties entered into a written stipulation as to certain issues. The remaining issues were presented for the trial court's adjudication. Judgment was rendered on December 28, 1983, with comprehensive written reasons. The defendant, Melvin M. Michel filed this appeal and the plaintiff answered raising several additional questions for review.

I.

CLAIMS FOR REIMBURSEMENT

This appeal raises three issues as to reimbursement, two by Mr. Michel and one by Mrs. Michel.

1. Payment of the family home mortgage note.

From September of 1980 through April of 1983, Mr. Michel made monthly mortgage payments in the amount of $948.90 on the family home located at 809 Mouton Street in the City of Baton Rouge. The parties have stipulated the total of these payments amount to $29,825.00. The trial court denied the reimbursement sought by Mr. Michel of one-half the stipulated total. The trial court correctly stated:

"LSA-C.C. Article 155 provides that the Judgment of Separation carries with it the dissolution of the community of acquets and gains and thereafter the parties occupy the status of co-owners of the property. The general rule of law is to the effect that a co-owner has the right to use the common property without the payment of rent. Arcemont v. Arcemont, 162 So.2d 813 (La.App. 4th Cir.1964). Further, it is also well settled that a co-owner in possession is entitled to be reimbursed expenses for the preservation of the common property following the judgment of separation of bed and board. Arcemont v. Arcemont, supra, and Kennedy v. Kennedy, 391 So.2d 1193, (La.App. 4th Cir.1980)."

However, the trial court erred in this instance when it provided:

"Nevertheless, equity commands a determination that where as in this case one co-owner is successful in barring another co-owner from any use of the premises, reimbursement for expenses should be denied."

It is a fact Mrs. Michel was denied an effective use of property which she co-owned because Mr. Michel obtained a contempt order embodying such a denial. However, to deny Mr. Michel reimbursement for expenses paid to preserve this property because he sought a contempt order is not an appropriate remedy. The appropriate remedy for Mrs. Michel in this instance was to obtain a partition by licitation of the property or to seek review of *831 the contempt ruling because it took from Mrs. Michel the use of her property. It is clear the payments accrued to Mrs. Michel's benefit as co-owner. Foreclosure and monetary loss to both parties would have resulted from failure to satisfy the mortgage obligations.

As well it would be equitable to allow Mr. Michel to be charged a reasonable rent for his use of this house to the exclusion of Mrs. Michel. However, as the trial court has already noted, the law is well settled a co-owner can not be charged rent. Therefore, Mr. Michel is entitled to reimbursement from the date the petition for separation was filed, September 23, 1980,[1] in the amount of $14,912.50, the stipulated total of payments, $29,825, divided by two.

2. Installation of a new walkway for the family home.

The trial court held:

"The parties have agreed that an old walkway to the front of the house at 809 Mouton Street was removed prior to their separation. Following their separation, Melvin Michel completed the new walkway at a cost of $1,266.00. The court is of the opinion that the work was necessary and the improvement enhanced the house. Sharp v. Zeller, 114 La. 549, 28 So. 449. Accordingly, Mrs. Michel should recompense Mr. Michel to the extent of one-half or the sum of $633.00."

In her answer to appeal, Mrs. Michel raises this conclusion as error, although it is not raised or argued in brief. We find this assignment to be without merit. The trial court's conclusion is a determination of fact which we find supported by our examination of the record. See Arceneaux v. Domingue, 365 So.2d 1330 (La.1978).

3. $6,580 in interest paid by Mr. Michel.

The facts concerning this payment by Mr. Michel are provided by the trial court which stated:

"The parties agree that Melvin Michel paid $6,580.00 in interest on sums owed by the community originally represented by promissory notes. Further relevant facts concerning this issue which are agreed to by the parties are as follows:
Prior to the filing of an action for separation there existed community promissory notes totaling TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED TEN AND NO/100 ($26,310.00) DOLLARS. MELVIN MICHEL, after termination of the community, executed one note in the amount of TWENTY-NINE THOUSAND, ELEVEN AND 39/100 ($29,011.39) DOLLARS. The proceeds received from the execution of that note were issued to pay the community notes totaling TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED TEN AND NO/100 ($26,310.00) DOLLARS, plus a ONE THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED AND NO/100 ($1,500.00) DOLLARS separate indebtedness of MELVIN MICHEL, plus a ONE THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED AND NO/100 ($1,200.00) DOLLARS debt, the status of which is disputed. The note was later separated, extended, and partially paid through the sale of community assets. The parties have agreed that MELVIN MICHEL paid SIX THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY AND NO/100 ($6,580.00) DOLLARS in interest on that portion of the large note that was used to pay community debts. The parties have settled the issue concerning the ONE THOUSAND, *832 FIVE HUNDRED AND NO/100 ($1,500.00) DOLLARS separate debt of MELVIN MICHEL and have settled on an interest figure attributable to the ONE THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED AND NO/100 ($1,200.00) DOLLARS debt which interest figure is included in the SIX THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY AND NO/100 ($6,580.00) DOLLARS stipulated interest.
It is agreed that MELVIN MICHEL paid SIX THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY AND NO/100 ($6,580.00) DOLLARS in interest on the consolidation, renewal, and extension of such notes."

La.Civ.Code art. 2365 provides:

"If separate property of a spouse has been used to satisfy a community obligation, the spouse, upon termination of the community property regime, is entitled to reimbursement for one-half of the amount or value that the property had at the time it was used.
Reimbursement may only be made to the extent of community assets, unless the community obligation was incurred for the ordinary and customary expenses of the marriage, or for the support, maintenance, and education of children of either spouse in keeping with the economic condition of the community.

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Bluebook (online)
484 So. 2d 829, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/michel-v-michel-lactapp-1986.