Schueneman v. Schueneman

591 N.E.2d 603, 1992 Ind. App. LEXIS 657, 1992 WL 98934
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 14, 1992
Docket20A04-9102-CV-42
StatusPublished
Cited by25 cases

This text of 591 N.E.2d 603 (Schueneman v. Schueneman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Schueneman v. Schueneman, 591 N.E.2d 603, 1992 Ind. App. LEXIS 657, 1992 WL 98934 (Ind. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

MILLER, Judge.

Richard Schueneman appeals the trial court's disposition of marital property between him and his former wife of twenty-four years, Carol Schueneman. Richard argues the trial court abused its discretion in the way in which it divided the marital property and in the value it assigned to certain assets. We affirm the court's decision in part and reverse and remand for the following reasons: 1) the trial court erred in failing to dispose of all of the marital property; and 2) the court erred in failing to enter reasons why awarding Carol the entire interest in her pension plan was just and reasonable.

FACTS

Richard and Carol Schueneman divorced after twenty-four years of marriage. Five children were born to the couple: Mary, now age 26; Richard, 25; Therese, 23; Joann, 21; Janice, 19. Carol filed for divorce on September 28, 1988. On October 17, 1988, Richard and Carol entered into an agreement which was adopted by the trial court as a provisional order, and which provided, among other things, that Richard was to pay

"all truck expenses, his long distance phone charges, his medical and dental expenses, Visa and Mastercard bills, his car payment, all expenses of court-ordered counselling, income proportionate share of children's medical, dental, orthodontia, prescription expenses and insurance premiums on insurance in his name."

Appellant's Brief, 42-8. On August 31, 1989, the court dissolved the marriage. After a hearing, the court entered a final dissolution of marriage decree and an order distributing the parties' assets on October 8, 1990.

The trial court determined the parties' marital property, including a mobile home, cars, various small bank accounts, and personal property, was worth $81,752, and liabilities were $31,418. In addition, the parties held a substantial escrow account which was funded with the proceeds from a lawsuit (Day lawsuit). While the divorce was pending, both parties were each advanced $10,000 from the account. After mutual obligations were paid from the ac count and after the court set aside $15,000 for the children's education, about $27,000 was left in the account. The court divided these assets evenly. However, Carol, then 52, was awarded her vested interest in a pension plan at the Elkhart General Hospital and Richard was awarded all interest in RA Schueneman, Inc. Finally, both parties were ordered to pay for half of the medical and insurance expenses for their children while the children are in college.

DISCUSSION

Our standard of review is well settled. We may not reweigh the evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses. Im re Marriage of Davidson (1989), Ind.App., 540 N.E.2d 641. We consider only the evidence *606 most favorable to the trial court's disposition of the property. Id. The division of property is left to the discretion of the trial court and this determination will not be reversed on appeal unless the trial court abused its discretion. Clark v. Clark (1991), Ind.App., 578 N.E.2d 747. A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and cireumstance before it. Id.; Dahnke v. Dahnke (1989), Ind.App., 585 N.E.2d 172.

I Assets and Liabilities

Richard argues the trial court abused its discretion 1) by not allowing him credits for liabilities he paid and 2) in the way in which it valued certain assets. First, he argues that a debt to First State Bank of Middlebury which the court ordered him to pay was $3,809.54 instead of the $2,287.00 the court found it to be. Therefore, Richard argues, he should be credited an additional $1,022.54. Richard testified he got a loan from First State Bank for $3,809.54; however, there is evidence-a letter from the bank-that the balance on the loan is $2,217.98. (R. 161). The trial court did not err in finding the debt to be $2,217.98.

Richard further contends he should be given credit for paying the following debts: 1) Dr. Thomas-$487.60; 2) GTE-$292.53; 3) Mastercard and Visa Accounts-$666.385 each; and 4) Sam's Tire-$300.00 ($2,363.18 total). Carol argues Richard agreed to pay these expenses by the court's provisional order dated October 17, 1988; therefore, the trial court did not err by not giving Richard credit for these payments.

We agree with Carol. According to the court's provisional order, Richard agreed to pay his long distance phone bills, doctor bills, truck expenses and the Mastercard and Visa bills. Further, Carol presented evidence that Dr. Thomas's bill and the Visa and Mastercard bills were Richard's obligations. Carol's exhibit 1-which was placed in evidence without objection-lists the parties' assets and liabilities and compares the values assigned to them by Carol to the values assigned by Richard. The exhibit also contains a column for "up to date information". Next to Dr. Thomas's name the notation "Hus. paid $410.00 his bill" appears. The notation "Hus. Obliga." appears next to the listings for both the Mastercard and Visa bills. Further, Richard testified he and Carol had agreed he would pay the telephone bill, and Carol would pay the rest of the utilities. Finally, it is undisputed that the bill from Sam's Tire was a corporate liability; therefore, the court could have determined it was a truck expense, which Richard agreed to pay. This evidence was before the court and considered by it in making its final disposition of the parties' property. We must decline Richard's invitation to reweigh the evidence.

Richard also argues the trial court abused its discretion in the value it assigned certain assets. Although the parties stipulated to the value of many of their assets, the evidence of the value of the remaining assets was conflicting. In each case, however, the value assigned by the trial court was supported by the evidence. 1 Therefore, we find no abuse of discretion.

*607 Finally, Richard argues the trial court erred by not providing for the disposition of a camera, photographs which Carol had agreed to give to Richard, three antique crocks Richard's mother had given him, and his brother's engine stand.

It is the trial court's duty to divide all the property of the parties. Ind.Code 81-1-11.5-11; Nill v. Nill (1992), Ind.App., 584 N.E.2d 602; Riddle v. Riddle (1991), Ind. App., 566 N.E.2d 78. Contrary to Richard's argument, the trial court's order did state Richard was to receive "fishing and camera equipment"; therefore, the camera was included in the final order. Carol agreed she would give Richard one-half of the photographs of their children. If Carol has not given Richard the photos, as Richard asserts in his brief, on remand, he should request the court to enter an order requiring Carol to do so. Further, it is undisputed that Carol had the three crocks Richard requested the court award to him. On remand, the court should order disposition of these crocks. Finally, the engine stand belonged to Richard's brother, not to Richard or Carol. The trial court's duty is to dispose of the marital property.

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Bluebook (online)
591 N.E.2d 603, 1992 Ind. App. LEXIS 657, 1992 WL 98934, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schueneman-v-schueneman-indctapp-1992.