Nina T. Daniel v. Selden L. Daniel

CourtCourt of Appeals of Virginia
DecidedMarch 31, 2020
Docket1189194
StatusUnpublished

This text of Nina T. Daniel v. Selden L. Daniel (Nina T. Daniel v. Selden L. Daniel) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nina T. Daniel v. Selden L. Daniel, (Va. Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Beales, Athey and Senior Judge Haley UNPUBLISHED

Argued at Fredericksburg, Virginia

NINA T. DANIEL MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY v. Record No. 1189-19-4 JUDGE JAMES W. HALEY, JR. MARCH 31, 2020 SELDEN L. DANIEL

FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ARLINGTON COUNTY William T. Newman, Jr., Judge

John K. Cottrell (Cottrell Fletcher & Cottrell PC, on briefs), for appellant.

Laura C. Dove (Mullett Dove Meacham & Bradley, PLLC, on brief), for appellee.

Nina T. Daniel (wife) appeals a final order of divorce. She argues that the circuit court erred

by granting a motion in limine, filed by Selden L. Daniel (husband), and ordering that wife could

not present any evidence. Wife also argues that the circuit court erred by finding that husband had

traced a separate property contribution into the marital home. Wife further argues that the circuit

court erred by imputing income to her and not using husband’s actual gross income for support

purposes. Lastly, wife contests the attorney’s fee award of $30,360 to husband. We find no error

and affirm the decision of the circuit court.

BACKGROUND

“When reviewing a trial court’s decision on appeal, we view the evidence in the light

most favorable to the prevailing party, granting it the benefit of any reasonable inferences.”

Shah v. Shah, 70 Va. App. 588, 591 (2019) (quoting Congdon v. Congdon, 40 Va. App. 255, 258

* Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication. (2003)). The parties married on May 1, 2004, and separated on April 22, 2015. In July 2018,

husband filed a complaint for divorce. Wife subsequently filed, pro se, an answer and

counterclaim, to which husband responded. On September 7, 2018, the circuit court entered a

uniform pretrial scheduling order (the scheduling order), which set a two-day trial beginning

March 26, 2019. The scheduling order also established certain deadlines, including requiring the

parties to exchange witness and exhibit lists fifteen days before the trial.

The parties filed a joint stipulation regarding the admissibility of certain trial exhibits.

Husband timely filed his list of witnesses and exhibits. Husband identified twenty witnesses, as

well as numerous documents relating to real estate, the parties’ incomes, banking and retirement

information, personal property, custody matters, husband’s separate property, and attorney’s

fees. Wife did not file a list of witnesses and exhibits, nor did she file any objections to

husband’s list of witnesses and exhibits.

A few days after the deadline, husband contacted wife about the status of her designation

of witnesses and exhibits, and she admitted that she did not file anything with the circuit court.

Husband subsequently filed a motion in limine and scheduled a hearing on his motion. Husband

argued that wife had disregarded the scheduling order and should be precluded from presenting

any evidence at the final hearing. Husband also filed objections to wife presenting any witnesses

or exhibits at trial.

The night before the hearing on the motion in limine, wife faxed her list of witnesses and

exhibits to husband. At the hearing, husband argued that wife had not fully responded to

discovery and had listed six people who had not been identified in discovery as possible

witnesses. Husband asserted that it would be “unfair and prejudicial” to him if she were allowed

to present any evidence. Wife conceded that she had not fully responded to discovery and that

she did not timely file her list of witnesses and exhibits. She requested a continuance, to which

-2- husband objected, so that she could “cure the [discovery] deficiencies and prepare the case for

trial.” After considering the parties’ arguments, the circuit court granted husband’s motion in

limine and held that wife was “prohibited from presenting evidence, testimony, witnesses, and

exhibits at the trial.” The circuit court entered an order memorializing its ruling; wife endorsed

the order without noting any objections.

On March 26 and 27, 2019, both parties and their counsel appeared before the circuit

court for a trial on equitable distribution, custody, spousal support, child support, and attorney’s

fees. At the beginning of the trial, wife confirmed with the circuit court that she was allowed to

cross-examine witnesses for impeachment purposes. Husband presented evidence from his

brother and sister regarding the parties’ separation, husband’s separate interests in his family’s

partnership, and husband’s relationship with the minor children. Wife did not cross-examine

husband’s brother or sister, except to ask a few questions regarding custody.

Husband testified about real estate, including property that he owned before the marriage

and the marital residence. Husband explained that he and wife had purchased the marital

residence during their marriage. Husband traced the separate funds that he had invested into the

marital residence and argued that they were his separate property.

Husband’s brother testified that husband has a partnership interest in a family business

that manages real estate.1 Husband receives monthly disbursements from the partnership. Stuart

Rosenberg, an expert in accounting, explained husband’s disbursements and opined about

husband’s cash flow after taxes.2 Wife did not cross-examine husband’s brother or Rosenberg.

1 The partnership was established before the parties’ marriage. Husband also has an interest in real estate that he inherited from his parents. 2 Wife stipulated that Rosenberg was an expert in accounting. -3- Husband also testified about the parties’ bank accounts, retirement accounts, and

vehicles. Husband requested that each party keep their own accounts and vehicles.

Husband stated that wife had worked during their marriage but quit her job after the parties’

separation. Husband objected to wife’s resignation because she had provided health insurance and

income to support the children. Husband submitted as exhibits copies of wife’s resume, her

employment records, her salary history, and her educational diplomas and certificates.

Wife cross-examined husband about incidents during the marriage and custody matters, but

not about equitable distribution or support issues. During her cross-examination, husband objected

and argued that wife had exceeded the direct examination, but the circuit court stated that it was

giving her “a little leeway” because it was cross-examination.

At the conclusion of husband’s evidence, wife questioned the circuit court as to whether she

could present any evidence and whether she could testify. The circuit court reviewed the order

granting the motion in limine and confirmed that wife was precluded from testifying or presenting

any evidence. Wife’s counsel acknowledged that because of the pretrial order, his “hands were

tied,” but wife wanted to raise “some serious issues.” Wife did not proffer what those “serious

issues” were.

The parties informed the circuit court that they had agreed to “dispense with closing

arguments” and simply would argue the proposed distribution. Husband also announced that they

had agreed to the division of the banking and investment accounts, personal property, certain debts,

and husband’s separate property. Husband also stated that they had agreed to share equally the

tuition for the children’s school. After husband explained their agreement, wife stated that she no

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