Roberson v. Roberson

1968 OK 40, 439 P.2d 938
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedApril 2, 1968
Docket41816
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 1968 OK 40 (Roberson v. Roberson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Roberson v. Roberson, 1968 OK 40, 439 P.2d 938 (Okla. 1968).

Opinion

BERRY, Justice.

This appeal involves the correctness of a judgment rendered in an action brought by defendant in error, hereafter called plaintiff, for divorce and property settlement. No issue is presented relative to granting plaintiff a decree of divorce. The sole issue considered involves the propriety of the trial court’s purported equitable division of property acquired during coverture.

When the divorce action was filed, May 10, 1965, the parties were past 60 years of age. They were of mature years when *939 married in 1959 in California where both were living, plaintiff then being unemployed. Defendant was employed and earning approximately $395.00 monthly before deductions, out of which he lived, made car payments and had $400~$500 in a bank account. Following their marriage plaintiff handled the family finances. Defendant continued his employment and by economical living there were additional monthly savings. After marriage plaintiff inherited some $1,200.00, out of which household goods valued from $400-$700 were purchased.

In November, 1960, the parties moved back to Lawton, Oklahoma, where each owned property. A joint bank account was opened with an initial deposit of $791.72, accumulated in California. Plaintiff borrowed $1,000.00 from a friend and this sum, together with $1,209.90 defendant received as retirement benefits from former employment, was deposited in the joint account. Thereafter plaintiff received $3,200.00 from sale of her property and defendant sold his property for $3,100.00, both amounts being deposited in the account.

Shortly thereafter the parties paid $13,500.00 for what was described as a rundown 170 acre farm in Johnston County, including one-half the mineral interest. The purchase price was paid $9,800.00 cash, and the remainder upon securing a $3,700.00 School Land Commission loan. From the loan proceeds $700.00 was used to discharge the balance of plaintiff’s loan from the friend. After moving to the farm plaintiff was steadily employed in hospitals in nearby towns, earning $200.00 per month. Defendant was occupied with necessary rebuilding and improving of the farm, cultivating the tillable land and producing a large garden. Additionally, defendant purchased and cared for cattle, a farm team, milk cow and chickens. The parties were thrifty and produced a portion of their living from the land, while regularly supplementing their income by sale of surplus produce, and the cattle raised on the farm. The undisputed evidence estab-' lished $17,000.00 as the minimum value of the improved farm.

Plaintiff was steadily employed during approximately five years on the farm. Apparently she became dissatisfied because her salary went largely for monthly living expenses, although it was made plain she preferred to work regularly, and the parties chose to live on and operate their farm. "/i

Prior to the divorce action . plaintiff complained frequently over expenditure of her earnings while defendant worked but did not. produce a regular income. Admittedly plaintiff insisted defendant should seek regular employment. In deference to such urgings defendant twice had sought employment unsuccessfully in Oklahoma City. The divorce action was precipitated when defendant took his personal effects and left the farm on March 8th, going to a daughter’s home in Moore, Oklahoma. Plaintiff’s testimony was that defendant voluntarily left home. Defendant testified he left temporarily, at plaintiff’s urging, to find employment and satisfy plaintiff’s demands for contribution of regular income.

On May 6, 1965, plaintiff applied for and received a temporary restraining order, enjoining defendant from coming about “the person, property or home” of plaintiff, the petition for divorce was filed May 10th, asking that all real and personal property be awarded plaintiff as her separate and exclusive property. After filing suit plaintiff sold the remaining cattle, the team of horses purchased by defendant for farming, and the' first hay cutting, for amounts totaling $1,400.00. Plaintiff used this money 'for living expenses, payment of unspecified debts, and for prosecution of this action. The sum derived from these sales represents the only affirmative evidence relating to value of personal property owned by the date of the divorce action.

The tenor of plaintiff’s evidence was' that, although the farm was their home by choice and there was no desire to live elsewhere, defendant did not work and did *940 not bring in a regular income. Despite plaintiff’s evidence, there was substantial testimony from others for whom defendant worked for wages, showing defendant was an energetic individual who labored diligently to improve the farm and maintain a home. Defendant cultivated the land ^and harvested crops, raised cattle and hogs which were sold or utilized for food, and also raised a large garden each year for home consumption and canning. In addition to these activities and the usual farm chores, defendant worked on a per day basis for others. Defendant received cash payments from sales of cattle, farm produce, harvesting pecan's and labor.' Plaintiff disclaimed knowledge of the source or disposition of such funds. Cross-exaniination -of plaintiff, however, brought out that defendant used these funds for payment of family obligations, licenses and farm payments, or other necessaries. Additionally, evidence introduced by plaintiff showed that during 1964 alone defendant netted over $1,500.00 from sale of farm livestock, which was used entirely for benefit of the family.

The record clearly shows that upon the marriage defendant contributed both savings and his regular earnings to the joint accumulation, while leaving management and disposition of family funds to plaintiff. The record shows with equal clarity plaintiff felt her own funds should be considered separate assets, for which she was entitled to full accounting plus benefit of any possible enhanced value. Enumeration and balancing of items of contribution and expenditures claimed by plaintiff, assertedly showing lack of financial contribution by defendant, is unnecessary. This marriage began with modest assets which were enhanced by joint efforts. Despite this, plaintiff’s position is that from inception of the marriage what was hers belonged to her and what was defendant’s was hers also.

Plaintiff asked that the farm with improvements, cattle, horses, farm machinery and pickup truck, and all household furnishings be awarded as her separate and exclusive property, together with costs and allowance for attorney’s fees. After granting divorce, the trial court awarded plaintiff the real property, including mineral interest, subject to remaining indebtedness not shown by the evidence. Plaintiff also was awarded all personal property as her separate property. To effect what the trial court considered an equitable division of property, defendant was awarded the 1964 pickup subject to existing indebtedness, plus $3,500.00 money made a lien upon the property until paid.

The evidence does not show plaintiff’s financial resources at the date of marriage. Defendant contributed his savings account, an automobile and to their livelihood after the marriage. To this estate plaintiff contributed $400.00 furniture out of her inheritance. Upon purchase of the property defendant contributed his savings account, retirement benefits and $3,100.00 from sale of his property.

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Related

Mocnik v. Mocnik
838 P.2d 500 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1992)
Meason v. Meason
1985 OK CIV APP 34 (Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma, 1985)
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1983 OK 46 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1983)

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Bluebook (online)
1968 OK 40, 439 P.2d 938, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/roberson-v-roberson-okla-1968.