Nelson v. Nelson

795 So. 2d 977, 2001 WL 726077
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedOctober 1, 2001
Docket5D99-826
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 795 So. 2d 977 (Nelson v. Nelson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nelson v. Nelson, 795 So. 2d 977, 2001 WL 726077 (Fla. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinion

795 So.2d 977 (2001)

Jesse J. NELSON, Appellant/Cross-Appellee,
v.
Betty J. NELSON, Appellee/Cross-Appellant.

No. 5D99-826.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.

June 29, 2001.
As Corrected on Grant of Rehearing October 1, 2001.

*979 Michael R. Riemenschneider of O'Brien, Riemenschneider & Kancilia, P.A., Melbourne, for Appellant/Cross-Appellee.

Scott Krasny of Krasny and Dettmer, Melbourne, for Appellee/Cross-Appellant.

SHARP, W., J.

The former husband Jesse Nelson (Jesse) appeals from a final judgment of dissolution rendered February 8, 1999, and the former wife Betty Nelson (Betty) cross appeals. Jesse raises several points on appeal, which we summarize: (1) the trial court's valuations of certain marital assets are not supported by substantial competent evidence, and it resulted in an inequitable distribution of assets to him, (2) the trial court abused its discretion in requiring him to pay Betty monthly sums in excess of his ability to pay, and (3) the trial court abused its discretion in requiring him to maintain life insurance to secure his alimony obligations to Betty. We agree Jesse is entitled to some relief as discussed below.

Betty argues on her cross appeal that the trial court erred in not granting her a perfected security interest in the stock of Nelson Engineering and that she should have been awarded all of her attorney's fees, based on the disparity of the parties' incomes. We affirm the trial court on the cross appeal.

The Nelsons had a long-term marriage; thirty-eight and one-half years. They were blessed with five children, all adults at the time of the dissolution. Jesse graduated from high school, but Betty did not complete high school. He was 65 years old at the time of the dissolution and Betty was 61. Betty had suffered various health problems, but at the time of the dissolution was doing well. Jesse was in good health with no plans for retirement.

The parties married when both were very young and had few assets. The considerable wealth and assets they accumulated over the time of their marriage were properly classified by the trial court as marital. During the latter part of their marriage, they enjoyed a high standard of living, which encompassed a summer home in Tennessee, vacations overseas, yachts, and new cars. The source for the parties' good fortune and income was and is Nelson Engineering Company, which the parties jointly owned.

The parties separated in March of 1995 and Betty filed a petition for dissolution in November of 1996. The trial court selected December 31, 1996 as the date upon which to value Nelson Engineering, as well as the parties' certificates of deposit. It *980 also selected March 14, 1996 as the date chosen to value other corporations and assets owned by one or both of the parties. The court explained this was because they were controlled and managed by Jesse, and the court had in evidence a financial statement dated March 14, 1996, sworn to as accurate by Jesse. No other proof of value was presented at trial, of values for those assets close to the date of the parties' separation. It chose to accept the values shown on the financial statement. The parties were able to stipulate and agree to the valuation of the real estate properties owned by them.

The court distributed the parties' assets as follows:

                 Jesse:                                          Betty:
Nelson Engineering             1,520,000    All certificates of deposit        215,000
Government Bonds                  58,000    Retirement Plan                    123,000
A.G. Edwards Account             113,000    IRA w/A.G. Edwards                  14,000
Ginnie Mae bonds                 125,000    Funds removed from                   6,000
Blue Water                       330,000      Grandkids account
Excel Tel Services               300,000    Bass Boat                            2,500
Pexin Farms                      211,000      1989 Jaguar                       11,300
Retirement Plan                  244,000    Personal Property—                  20,000
IRA w/A.G. Edwards                14,000      Melbourne Property:
Funds Grandkids account           10,000    Timeshare                            6,000
Pontoon boat                       2,500    ¼ acre, Bay County, FL             7,425
31 foot Scarab boat               17,000    Lots 455, 456 InletBch. Heights     20,000
1985 Jaguar                        8,500    Lot 106, Riviera Beach               4,350
1992 Corvette                     24,000    Marital Residence—2781             181,000
Property; 253 Terrance Ave.,      67,500      Pineapple Ave., Melbourne
  Melbourne ($80,000 less                     (300,000 less mortg. 118,000)
  mortg. 12,500)                            Part of Lots 3 & 4, Block F,       189,000
Funds received—                  113,000      Almar Subdivision
  New England Life                            (250,000 less mortg. 61,000)
  Insurance policies                        42 acres, sections 34, 35,          21,500
                                              Levy County, FL
TOTAL:                        $3,157,500    Sections 34, 35                      3,000
                                            Levy County, FL
                                            (22,000 less mortg. 19,000)
                                            Lots 12 & 14, Buttons Subdiv.          100
                                              Seminole County, FL
                                            Tract 8, Chas. Hedrick Property
                                              Sevier County, TN                 14,700
                                            Residence; Sevier County, TN       103,600
                                            Lot & Furnishings, as above         10,000
                                            10.5 acres, Sevier County, TN       35,000
                                            Harrisburg Bridge property
                                              Sevier County, TN                 12,000
                                            Tracts 1 & 2, Jones Cove Rd.
                                              Property; Sevier County, TN      102,400
                                            ½ interest in Tracts 4-9,
                                              Cocke County, TN                  34,500
                                            TOTAL:                           $1,135,37

However, these totals do not reflect the court's additional awards to Betty to equalize the distribution of marital assets. It required Jesse to pay Betty $11,500.00 in cash on January 1, 1999, and to execute a promissory note in the principal amount of $1,000,000.00 with interest at 7.75%. Based on the court's valuations of the marital *981 assets, Jesse received $2,158,500.00 and Betty received $2,144,375.00.

I. VALUATION OF MARITAL ASSETS.

A. Nelson Engineering Company.

At the time of the parties' dissolution, the parties' most valuable asset and the primary source of their income was Nelson Engineering Company. Each owned 50% of the stock in the company. Jesse began the company in 1981. Betty was at first reluctant to have him leave his salaried job. However, she also worked for the company doing clerical and administrative jobs, until she retired in 1993. After she retired, the company continued to pay her a salary of $110,000.00 through 1998. Three of the parties' sons and a daughter also worked for the company. Jesse was the company's CEO, through the time of the parties' dissolution.

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

Related

Duke v. Duke
211 So. 3d 1078 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2017)
Norwood v. Anapol-Norwood
931 So. 2d 951 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2006)
Kelly v. Kelly
925 So. 2d 364 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2006)
Moss v. Moss
829 So. 2d 302 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2002)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
795 So. 2d 977, 2001 WL 726077, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nelson-v-nelson-fladistctapp-2001.