Musleve v. Musleve, 2007ca00314 (8-4-2008)

2008 Ohio 3961
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 4, 2008
DocketNo. 2007CA00314.
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 2008 Ohio 3961 (Musleve v. Musleve, 2007ca00314 (8-4-2008)) 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
Musleve v. Musleve, 2007ca00314 (8-4-2008), 2008 Ohio 3961 (Ohio Ct. App. 2008).

Opinion

OPINION *Page 2
{¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant Margaret Musleve appeals the October 4, 2007 Judgment Entry of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, granting a final decree of divorce between Appellant and Defendant-appellee Jeffrey Musleve.

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶ 2} The parties were married on June 4, 1983. There were three children born of the marriage. At the time of trial, two of the children were emancipated.

{¶ 3} Appellee is a Chief Financial Officer for Blackhawk Accounting, earning $105,000.00 per year. Appellant is employed part-time as a pharmacist with Finney Drugs, capable of earning $83,200 per year if employed full-time.

{¶ 4} On October 4, 2007, the trial court granted a final entry decree of divorce distributing marital assets and liabilities, along with awarding custody of the one minor child.

{¶ 5} On November 2, 2007, Appellant filed the within appeal, asserting as error:

{¶ 6} "I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ALLOCATING 2 AMOUNTS OF WIFE'S (APPELLANT) FINNEY'S 401K LINCOLN FINANCIAL RETIREMENT AS AN AWARD TO WIFE WHEN ONLY 1 AMOUNT EXISTS. THE TRIAL COURT'S PROPERTY AWARD TO WIFE IN FINAL ENTRY LISTED 2 AWARDS TO WIFE: FINNEY'S 401K AMOUNT $34,293 AND LINCOLN FINANCIAL AMOUNT $41,626.

{¶ 7} "II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ALLOCATING AN "AWARD' FROM THE COLLEGE ADVANTAGE ACCOUNT; THAT NEVER EXISTED (TO AWARD.) *Page 3 PLAINTIFF WAS "AWARDED' THE AMOUNT OF $31,100 BASED ON THE FRAUDULENT TESTIMONY OF DEFENDANT. THE DEFENDANT COMMITTED PERJURY.

{¶ 8} "III. THE TRIAL COURT'S DIVISION OF PROPERTY LISTED IN THE KIKO INVENTORY WAS UNFAIRLY PREJUDICIAL TO THE APPELLEE THAT INCLUDED THE PLAINTIFF'S (APPELLANT) GIFTS AND FAMILY HEIRLOOMS AWARDED TO THE APPELLEE.

{¶ 9} "IV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ALLOWING THE DEFENDANT (APPELLEE) TO KEEP THE DODGE DAKOTA TRUCK WHILE THE PLAINTIFF (APPELLANT) CONTINUES TO PAY FOR THE TRUCK.

{¶ 10} "V. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT INCLUDING THE APPELLEE'S WELLPOINT STOCK AS A MARITAL ASSET.

{¶ 11} "VI. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY SKIPPING THE SONY CREDIT CARD THAT STILL HAS A BALANCE OF THE BEDROOM SUITES THAT THE DEFENDANT (APPELLEE) REMOVED FROM THE PLAINTIFF'S (APPELLANT) HOME. PLAINTIFF (APPELLANT) CONTINUES TO PAY FOR THE SONY CREDIT CARD AS MENTIONED IN THE TRANSCRIPTS.

{¶ 12} "VII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY OMITING [SIC] THE 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE AS A MARITAL ASSET TO DIVIDE, AS IT WAS PURCHASED WITH THE FAMILY'S HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT ON 9-14-02.

{¶ 13} "VIII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY RECORDING ONLY HALF OF THE SERIES EE BONDS VALUE AND BY ALLOWING THE DEFENDANT (APPELLEE) TO *Page 4 KEEP ALL OF THE BONDS (INCLUDING BONDS THAT WERE EXCLUSIVELY IN THE PLAINTIFF'S (APPELLANT'S) NAME).

{¶ 14} "IX. THE TRIAL COURT OMITTED THE $85,090.86 KEY BANK ACCOUNT (ENDING IN 0123) THE DEFENDANT (APPELLEE) DEPOSITED FUNDS INTO TRACED BACK TO THE YEAR 2000.

{¶ 15} "X. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY LETTING THE DEFENDANT (APPELLEE) KEEP $17,681 FROM THE KEY BANK MM ACCOUNT ENDING IN #1937 THAT ACTUALLY BELONGED TO THE PLAINTIFF'S GREAT UNCLE WILLIAM H. BANKS.

{¶ 16} "XI. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ALLOWING THE PLAINTIFF'S ADULTERATED WAGE STATEMENT FROM THE DEFENDANT'S ATTORNEY AS A BASIS FOR THE CHILD SUPPORT CALCULATION, EVEN THOUGH THE PLAINTIFF'S EMPLOYER PRESENTED TO THE COURT THE TRUE WAGE STATEMENT.

{¶ 17} "XII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY OMITTING THE BLACKHAWK RETIREMENT OF THE DEFENDANT'S (APPELLEE) FROM THE PROPERTY PAGE OF THE FINAL ENTRY. THE TRIAL COURT SKIPPED THIS MARTIAL ASSET IN THE DIVISION OF MARITAL ASSETS.

{¶ 18} "XIII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY AWARDING THE $600 IN THE FIRST MERIT ACCOUNT TO THE PLAINTIFF (APPELLEE) WHEN THE PLAINTIFF HAD ALREADY OWNED THAT $600 FROM THE EXHIBIT D (MAGISTRATE 7-25-06) PERSONAL SPENDING ALLOCATION. *Page 5

{¶ 19} "XIV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY CHARGING THE PLAINTIFF $2500 FOR CONTEMPT WHEN NO CONTEMPT WAS EVER PROVED BY THE DEFENDANT. THE TRIAL COURT SAW THE SAME (AND MORE) CHECKS WRITTEN BY THE DEFENDANT BUT NEVER CHARGED HIM WITH CONTEMPT."

{¶ 20} Initially, we note, Appellant's brief exceeds the maximum page length prescribed by this Court's Local Rule 10. Accordingly, we shall address only the first thirty pages of Appellant's brief, exclusive of the assigned errors, issues presented and appendices.

{¶ 21} We also note, it is the duty of Appellant, not this Court, to demonstrate her assigned error through an argument supported by citations to legal authority and facts in the record. State v. Taylor(Feb. 9, 1999), 9th Dist. No. 2783-M; App. Rule 16(A)(7). "It is not the function of this court to construct a foundation for [an appellant's] claims; failure to comply with the rules governing practice in the appellate courts is a tactic which is ordinarily fatal."Kremer v. Cox (1996), 114 Ohio app. 3d 41, 60.

I.
{¶ 22} In dividing marital property, a trial court possesses broad discretion to effect an equitable and fair property division. Worthington v. Worthington (1986), 21 Ohio St.3d 73, 21 OBR 371,488 N.E.2d 150; Cherry v. Cherry (1981), 66 Ohio St.2d 348, 20 O.O.3d 318, 421 N.E.2d 1293. Generally, the trial court is vested with broad discretion in determining the appropriate scope of property awards.Berish v. Berish (1982), 69 Ohio St.2d 318, 432 N.E.2d 183. Although its discretion is not unlimited, it has authority to do what is equitable. Cherry v. Cherry (1981), 66 Ohio St.2d 348,421 N.E.2d 1293. A reviewing court should not substitute its judgment for that of the trier-of-fact *Page 6 unless, considering the totality of the circumstances, it finds that the court abused its discretion. Section 3(B), Article IV of the Ohio Constitution: App. R. 12; Briganti v. Briganti (1984),9 Ohio St.3d 220, 459 N.E.2d 896; Kaechele v. Kaechele (1988), 35 Ohio St.3d 93,518 N.E.2d 1197. "The mere fact that a property division is unequal does not, standing alone, amount to an abuse of discretion." Id.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Law Offices of Robert E. Soles, Jr., Co., LPA v. Swinderman
2026 Ohio 730 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2026)
Grippando-Wright v. Smith
2026 Ohio 332 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2026)
Pisani v. Schleig
2025 Ohio 5794 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2025)
State v. Beall
2025 Ohio 5585 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2025)
Foster v. Stuff
2025 Ohio 5584 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2025)
Franks v. Thomas
2025 Ohio 5314 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2025)
Jackson v. Jackson
2024 Ohio 3134 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2024)
In re E.T.
2023 Ohio 3367 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2023)
Tate v. Prime Auto Sales, L.L.C.
2021 Ohio 4417 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2021)
Riley v. Whitehouse
2021 Ohio 3798 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2021)
In re Eberly v. Danley
2021 Ohio 2919 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2021)
Schwamb v. Eckard
2021 Ohio 2825 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2021)
Benick v. Morrow Cty. Health Dist.
2020 Ohio 4443 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2020)
State v. Keeton
2020 Ohio 247 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2020)
In re Estate of Bringman
2018 Ohio 1906 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2018)
Huntington Natl. Bank v. Moore
2011 Ohio 5610 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2011)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2008 Ohio 3961, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/musleve-v-musleve-2007ca00314-8-4-2008-ohioctapp-2008.