Schumann v. Schumann, Unpublished Decision (1-13-2005)

2005 Ohio 91
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 13, 2005
DocketNos. 83404, 83631.
StatusUnpublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 2005 Ohio 91 (Schumann v. Schumann, Unpublished Decision (1-13-2005)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Schumann v. Schumann, Unpublished Decision (1-13-2005), 2005 Ohio 91 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

JOURNAL ENTRY and OPINION
{¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant Terrie S. Schumann ("appellant") appeals the trial court's judgments of July 30, 2003 and September 18, 2003, favoring defendant-appellee Michael A. Schumann ("appellee"). Having reviewed the arguments of the parties and the pertinent law, we hereby affirm.

I.
{¶ 2} According to the case, appellant filed for divorce against appellee on December 10, 1998. Appellee filed his answer and counterclaim on or about December 14, 1998. The case proceeded to trial on all issues on October 29, 31, December 31, 2001, January 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, February 26, March 7, 13, April 1, 2, 3, 4, 22, 23, 2002, and January 13, February 21, March 17, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25, 27, 2003.

{¶ 3} The court issued its final judgment entry of divorce on about September 18, 2003, some 23 months after the trial proceedings began and four years and nine months after appellant filed her complaint for divorce. Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal on October 17, 2003. Appellee filed a notice of cross appeal on or about October 21, 2003.

{¶ 4} According to the facts, appellant and appellee were married on January 2, 1982. Two children were born to appellee and appellant: Lauren and Jennifer. Lauren was born on April 19, 1984 and is now emancipated. Jennifer was born on April 19, 1989 and is now 15 years old.

{¶ 5} Appellant informed appellee that she was unhappy with the marriage, citing the fact that appellee was significantly older than she was and that she did not want to be his caretaker later in life.1 In addition, appellant was involved in a relationship with another man in the community, Mark Hanna ("Hanna").2 Hanna testified at trial that the relationship became sexual and they would meet secretly as often as five times a week during their affair.3 The sexual affair between appellant and Hanna lasted for eighteen months.4

{¶ 6} Consequently, the parties physically separated in December of 1998 and have lived separate and apart from each other since then. The trial court determined that the marriage lasted for 16 years, from January 2, 1982 until appellant filed her complaint for divorce on December 8, 1998.

{¶ 7} The parties owned a marital residence in Pepper Pike worth more than $1,500,000 with a balance of $280,000 remaining on the mortgage.5 The parties maintained an extravagant lifestyle during their marriage. Appellant and appellee owned valuable personal possessions, including artwork, antiques, furnishings, jewelry and other personal items. In addition to tangible items of property, the parties had bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and retirement benefits.6 The children attended private schools during the marriage and both appellant and appellee had memberships at exclusive country clubs.

{¶ 8} Appellee Michael Schumann worked at I. Schumann Co. for many years. I. Schumann Co. was formed in 1917 by his grandfather and he was a vice-president of this company throughout most of the marriage, until 1995 when he became president and CEO. Appellee has been employed in that capacity since that date.

{¶ 9} On March 11, 1999, an agreed judgment entry was executed by the parties providing for the temporary support of appellant and the minor children. Appellee was ordered to pay $3,000 per month and to make credit card payments up to the amount of $15,000 per month available for appellant's use. In addition, appellee agreed to pay all of the expenses of the parties at the marital residence, and other such expenses, including, but not limited to, significant tuition for the parties' minor children at private school, activities, camp, transportation, private lessons at the racquet club, and the Jewish Community Center.7

{¶ 10} The parties reserved the right for further hearings on the issue of temporary support. On July 1, 1999, appellant filed an affidavit for temporary support claiming new monthly expenses in an amount exceeding $35,000. Later, the trial magistrate ordered child support in the amount of $6,900 per month for the parties' one child still residing with appellant. In addition, the trial court ordered appellee to pay $14,500 per month for spousal support, resulting in a total temporary support payment of $21,400 per month.8

II.
{¶ 11} Appellant's first assignment of error states the following: "The trial court erred and abused its discretion in finding that I. Schumann Company and related entities were appellee's separate property based upon the `agreement' of December 29, 1981." Appellant's second assignment of error states the following: "The trial court erred and abused its discretion in its division of property."

{¶ 12} Due to the substantial interrelation between appellant's first and second assignments of error, we shall address them together. Appellant argues that the trial court erred in finding that appellee's company was separate property; however, we do not find merit in appellant's argument.

{¶ 13} An appellate court reviews the overall appropriateness of a trial court's property division pursuant to divorce proceedings under an abuse of discretion standard. Kelly v.Kelly, Hamilton App. No. C-950597, 1996-Ohio-2390. An abuse of discretion connotes more than an error of law or judgment; it implies an unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable attitude.Blakemore v. Blakemore (1983), 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219. A trial court has broad discretion in making a division of marital property in domestic relations cases. Berish v. Berish (1982),69 Ohio St.2d 318.

{¶ 14} In the case sub judice, the evidence adequately demonstrates that the agreement reached by the parties on December 29, 1981 was valid and binding on the parties. The trial court weighed the evidence and found that both parties had adequate time to review and understand the agreement executed on December 29, 1981. Indeed, the trial court addressed these issues in its September 18, 2003 judgment entry of divorce when it stated the following:

{¶ 15} "The contract, as executed by the parties on December29, 1981, was understood by both parties; and the contract wasdesigned to protect both parties in case of divorce or the deathof either party. * * * {¶ 16} "Each party had adequate time to review and read thecontract. Each party had the opportunity to seek and obtain legaladvice and counsel concerning the terms, conditions,consequences, and legal requirements of the contract. Neitherparty was subject to surprise, neglect, fraud, duress, undueinfluence, coercion, or other act or influence which causedeither party to be in a subordinate negotiating position orunable to understand the contract. {¶ 17} "The Court finds specifically that the parties entered

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2005 Ohio 91, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schumann-v-schumann-unpublished-decision-1-13-2005-ohioctapp-2005.