Schloss v. Schloss

160 S.E.2d 5, 273 N.C. 266, 1968 N.C. LEXIS 586

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: March 20, 1968
• Docket: 281
• Status: Published

Opinion

Laice, J.

Our sole concern upon this appeal is with an order awarding subsistence and counsel fees to the plaintiff pendente lite in her action for alimony without divorce. The rights of the parties are governed by G.S. 50-16, since this litigation began prior to the repeal of that statute by the Session Laws of 1967, chapter 1152. The 1967 Act provides expressly that it shall not apply to pending litigation.

The pertinent provisions of G.S. 50-16 are:

“If any husband shall separate himself from his wife and fail to provide her * * * with the necessary subsistence according to his means and condition in life * * * or if he be guilty of any * * * acts that would be * * * cause for divorce * * * from bed and board, the wife may institute an action * * * to have a reasonable subsistence and counsel fees allotted and paid * * *. Pending the trial and final determination of the issues * * * such wife may make application * * * for an allowance for such subsistence and counsel fees, and it shall be lawful for such judge to cause the husband * * * to pay so much of his earnings * * * as may be proper, according to his condition and circumstances, for the benefit of his said wife * * * having regard also to the separate estate of the wife. * * *” (Emphasis added.)

G.S. 50-7 provides:

“The superior court may grant divorces from bed and board:

“(1) If either party abandons his or her family. * * *

“(4) Offers such indignities to the person of the other as to render his or her condition intolerable and life burdensome.”

It is undisputed that since the separation of the plaintiff and the defendant he has paid all of the plaintiff’s household bills and, in addition, has paid the plaintiff $100.00 per week. We have held, however, that a husband may be deemed to have abandoned his wife within the meaning of G.S. 50-7(1), and so be liable for alimony-under G.S. 50-16, notwithstanding the fact that, after cohabitation is brought to an end, he voluntarily provides her with adequate support. Richardson v. Richardson, 268 N.C. 538, 151 S.E. 2d 12; Thurston v. Thurston, 256 N.C. 663, 124 S.E. 2d 852; Pruett v. Pruett, 247 N.C. 13, 100 S.E. 2d 296. Whether his withdrawal from the home, followed by such support, constitutes an abandonment which is ground for suit by the wife for divorce from bed and board, and therefore ground for suit by her for alimony without divorce under G.S. 50-16, depends upon whether his withdrawal from the home was justified by the conduct of the wife. See: Deal v. Deal, 259 N.C. 489, 131 S.E. 2d 24; Pruett v. Pruett, supra; Ollis v. Ollis, 241 N.C. 709, 86 S.E. 2d 420; Caddell v. Caddell, 236 N.C. 686, 73 S.E. 2d 923. This being true, the complaint in this action, which alleges such withdrawal without justification, is not demurrable for the failure of the wife to allege therein the amount of support supplied to her by the husband since his withdrawal from the home. Therefore, the demurrer ore tenus filed by the defendant in this Court on that ground is overruled.

If, upon the trial of the action on the merits, it is determined that the husband’s withdrawal from the home was without justification, notwithstanding his voluntary payments for the wife’s subsistence thereafter, the court may award permanent alimony to the wife pursuant to G.S. 50-16. Thurston v. Thurston, supra; Butler v. Butler, 226 N.C. 594, 39 S.E. 2d 745.

We are not here concerned with the right of the plaintiff to permanent alimony. Before permanent alimony may be awarded, the issues raised by the pleadings must be passed upon by a jury. Davis v. Davis, 269 N.C. 120, 152 S.E. 2d 306. An award pendente lite may, however, be made by the judge, and he is not required to set forth in his order any findings of fact where, as here, there is no allegation of adultery by the wife, though it is better practice for such findings of fact to be made and set forth in the order. Myers v. Myers, 270 N.C. 263, 154 S.E. 2d 84; Deal v. Deal, supra; Creech v. Creech, 256 N.C. 356, 123 S.E. 2d 793; Holloway v. Holloway, 214 N.C. 662, 200 S.E. 436. The order granting or denying an award of subsistence pendente lite, with or without counsel fees, whether or not containing findings of fact, is not a final determination of and does not affect the final rights of the parties. Davis v. Davis, supra; Deal v. Deal, supra; Fogartie v. Fogartie, 236 N.C. 188, 72 S.E. 2d 226.

When a man marries he assumes, and the law imposes upon him, the obligation to provide his wife reasonable support. Wilson v. Wil son, 261 N.C. 40, 134 S.E. 2d 240. This duty rests upon the husband irrespective of the wife’s ownership of property and of her having a separate income of her own. It continues to rest upon him after he withdraws from the home and separates himself from his wife without justification. So long as the parties live together and the husband provides for the wife a reasonable support, consistent with her comfort, welfare and safety, the law leaves to his discretion the selection of the home and the standard of living to be maintained therein. See Sprinkle v. Ponder, 233 N.C. 312, 64 S.E. 2d 171. Under those circumstances, the law leaves it to the discretion of even a wealthy husband to make provision for a future rainy day, even though it may appear to his wife that he is making provision for a flood in an arid climate. When, however, he separates himself from his wife without justification, the normal influences toward generosity are no longer present. In that event, if the parties, themselves, are unable to agree upon the subsistence to be supplied, the wife is entitled to a court order directing the husband to perform this duty and the court must determine the amount to be paid by the husband.

The amount so to be awarded is in the discretion of the court, but this is not an absolute discretion and unreviewable. Martin v. Martin, 263 N.C. 86, 138 S.E. 2d 801; Ipock v. Ipock, 233 N.C. 387, 64 S.E. 2d 283; Butler v. Butler, supra; Kiser v. Kiser, 203 N.C. 428, 166 S.E. 304. The statute provides that the amount shall be “a reasonable subsistence” and shall be determined “according to his condition and circumstances.” The financial ability of the husband to pay is a major factor in the determination of the amount of subsistence to be awarded. Sayland v. Sayland, 267 N.C. 378, 148 S.E. 2d 218. The wife of a wealthy man, who has abandoned her without justification, should be awarded an amount somewhat commensurate with the normal standard of living of a wife of a man of like financial resources.

The fact that the wife has property of her own does not relieve the husband of the duty to support her following his unjustified abandonment of her. Sayland v. Sayland, supra. Nevertheless, the statute expressly provides that the earnings and means of the wife are matters to be considered by the judge in determining the amount of alimony to be awarded. “It is a question of fairness and justice to both.” Sayland v. Sayland, supra. The purpose of the award is to provide for the reasonable support of the wife, not to punish the husband or to divide his estate.

This is especially true of an allowance for subsistence pendente lite. In Sguros v. Sguros, 252 N.C. 408, 114 S.E. 2d 79, Higgins, J., speaking for the Court, said:

“A -pendente lite order is intended to go no further than provide subsistence and counsel fees pending the litigation. It cannot set up a savings account in favor of the plaintiff. Such is not the purpose and cannot be made the effect of an order.”

The purpose of the award of support pendente lite is to provide for the reasonable and proper support of the wife in an emergency-situation, pending the final determination of her rights. It has not yet been determined that the defendant was not justified in separating himself from the plaintiff. It is apparent from an examination of “Exhibit A,” attached to the complaint, that it includes numerous items unrelated to her needs during the pendency of the litigation, such as the purchase of a new automobile every three years, replacement of draperies and rugs, trips, painting the home, and other items. Her estimates of other expenses appear to be rather liberal. However, it is well settled that the amount to be awarded for support pendente lite rests in the sound discretion of the hearing judge, and his determination will not be disturbed in the absence of a clear abuse of that discretion. Miller v. Miller, 270 N.C. 140, 153 S.E. 2d 854; Sayland v. Sayland, supra; Griffith v. Griffith, 265 N.C. 521, 144 S.E. 2d 589; Harris v. Harris, 258 N.C. 121, 128 S.E. 2d 123; Mercer v. Mercer, 253 N.C. 164, 116 S.E. 2d 443.

The allowance of $1,500 per month for the support of the plaintiff alone is exceedingly liberal in view of her ownership of the home, free and clear of encumbrances, and other resources. There were no children born of this marriage. The plaintiff's children by her first marriage are grown and only one of them continues to reside with her. The defendant’s wealth was accumulated prior to his marriage to the plaintiff, a circumstance which somewhat distinguishes this case from Mercer v. Mercer, supra. Nevertheless, in view of the defendant’s own affidavit as to the standard of living established by his generosity in providing for the plaintiff and her children prior to the separation, and in view of his acknowledged ability to maintain the plaintiff in somewhat luxurious manner, we do not find such an abuse of discretion by the hearing judge as would justify setting aside his determination of the subsistence to be paid her pendente lite.

The award of counsel fees rests upon a different basis. Apart from statute, there is no duty upon the husband, before or after separation, to furnish his wife with legal counsel, whether he or another be the adverse party to her controversy. The award of counsel fees accompanying an award of permanent alimony, pursuant to G.S. 50-16, is to be made only after the merits of the controversy have been determined by a jury. Davis v. Davis, supra. The purpose of the allowance of counsel fees pendente lite is to enable the wife, as litigant, to meet the husband, as litigant, on substantially even terms by making it possible for her to employ adequate counsel. See: Stanback v. Stanback, 270 N.C. 497, 155 S.E. 2d 221 (counsel fees awarded on final judgment); Myers v. Myers, supra; Deal v. Deal, supra; Harrell v. Harrell, 253 N.C. 758, 117 S.E. 2d 728; Mercer v. Mercer, supra; Fogartie v. Fogartie, supra; Oliver v. Oliver, 219 N.C. 299, 13 S.E. 2d 549.

The award of counsel fees is not a necessary consequence of the award of subsistence. 27 Am. Jur., Husband and Wife, § 414. In the usual case, the wife is indigent or without substantial income of her own and the support allowance made to her is barely enough to provide her with the necessities of life. In such case, the requirement that the husband also pay her counsel fees is necessary to assure her a fair trial of their controversy. This is the purpose of the allowance of counsel fees, not punishment of the husband. The wealth of the husband has a direct and substantial bearing upon what is a reasonable amount to be awarded for the subsistence of the wife, since it is a factor in determining the standard of living which she may reasonably expect him to maintain for her. The wealth of the husband, however, has less bearing upon the value of the services rendered to the wife by her attorney. It does, of course, have a bearing upon the maximum fee which he is able to pay.

In the present case, less than two months elapsed between the separation and the entry of the order. The order directed the husband to pay |2,500 to the wife’s counsel “as a fee for services rendered to date.” (Emphasis added.) There is nothing to indicate that the wife consulted her counsel prior to the husband’s departure from the home. No evidence was introduced at the hearing by the plaintiff except her verified complaint, a short affidavit by her with reference to the effect of the full allowance prayed for upon the husband’s income tax liability, and a copy of the joint income tax return. The entire evidence for the defendant consisted of his counter affidavit and three very short affidavits of other persons. Nothing in the record indicates that extensive preparation for the hearing was necessary or was made. The only documents in the record which would appear to have been prepared by the wife’s counsel were the complaint, an order to show cause, an order for continuance, the above affidavit with reference to the income tax liability, and the •final order.

There is an obvious inconsistency in an order which allows a wife subsistence payments designed to enable her to live in a manner suitable for the wife of a wealthy man and which allows her counsel fees on the theory that she is indigent and unable to employ counsel. The plaintiff alleges in her complaint that she is the owner of a $48,000 residence which is free of encumbrances, she owns a new automobile and has over $13,000 in bank accounts and other investments. When to these resources there is added by the court’s order an income from her husband at the rate of $18,000 per year, it cannot be said, in the absence of any findings of fact, that she is financially unable to pay a reasonable fee to her attorney and so is unable to employ counsel to represent her in her litigation with her husband.

In the absence of any findings of fact by the hearing judge, and without prejudice to the rights of either party upon the final hearing of this litigation, we conclude that the order from which the defendant appeals should be, and it is hereby, modified by striking therefrom the allowance of counsel fees and, as so modified, should remain in effect subject to the further orders of the superior court. This does not mean that the plaintiff’s attorney is not entitled to a reasonable fee for his services. The question is simply, Who is to pay it? It is not necessary that we, at this time, determine what is a reasonable fee for the services rendered by the plaintiff’s counsel prior to the order of 14 June 1967, and we make no such determination. That is a matter to be determined by negotiation between attorney and client.

Modified and affirmed.

HusKINS, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.