Scott v. Scott

668 N.E.2d 691, 1996 Ind. App. LEXIS 815, 1996 WL 344204
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 25, 1996
Docket36A05-9506-CV-216
StatusPublished
Cited by47 cases

This text of 668 N.E.2d 691 (Scott v. Scott) 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
Scott v. Scott, 668 N.E.2d 691, 1996 Ind. App. LEXIS 815, 1996 WL 344204 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996).

Opinions

[695]*695GPINION

SHARPNACK, Chief Judge.

Larry Scott appeals the trial court's child support award and the distribution of assets in the dissolution proceedings against his wife, Sharon Seott. Larry raises four issues for our review which we restate as the following five issues: ®

1. whether the doctrine of collateral es-toppel prevented the trial court from determining Larry's potential income in accordance with the Indiana Child Support Guidelines;
2. whether the trial court was required to deduct from Larry's support obligation the social security disability benefits which Larry's son received as a result of Larry's disability;
3. whether the trial court provided an adequate basis for its child support award;
4. whether the trial court failed to make a just and reasonable distribution of the marital property; and
5. whether the trial court abused its discretion by awarding attorney's fees to Sharon.

We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

The facts most favorable to the judgment follow. Larry and Sharon married on August 31, 1975. During the marriage, the couple had two children named Ryan and Nathan. Larry owned and operated Scott Sales & Service, a used car lot, since 1973. In 1981, Larry was burned in an accident and suffered third degree burns on more than one third of his body. Larry continued to own the business.

On March 16, 1994, Sharon filed a petition for dissolution of marriage. On February 28, 1995, the trial court entered its findings of fact and conclusions thereon for the dissolution of the marriage, the amount of child support, and the distribution of assets. Larry now appeals. |

Standard of Review

When reviewing the trial court's findings of fact and conclusions thereon, we apply a two-tiered standard of review. W & W Equip. Co. v. Mink, 568 N.E.2d 564, 569 (Ind.Ct.App.1991), reh'g denied, trans. denied. First, we consider whether the evidence supports the findings. In determining whether findings are clearly erroneous, we construe the findings liberally in support of the judgment. Citizens Progress Co. v. James O. Held & Co., 438 N.E.2d 1016, 1022 (Ind.Ct.App.1982). The findings are clearly erroneous only when a review of the record leaves us firmly convinced a mistake has been made. Cooper v. Calandro, 581 N.E.2d 443, 444-445 (Ind.Ct.App.1991), reh'g denied, trans. denied.

Next, we determine whether the findings support the judgment. A judgment is clearly erroneous when unsupported by the findings of fact and conclusions thereon. DeHaan v. DeHaan, 572 N.E.2d 1315, 1320 (Ind.Ct.App.1991), reh'g denied, trans. denied. In applying this standard, we neither reweigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of the witnesses. Donavan v. Ivy Knoll Apts. Portnership, 537 N.E.2d 47, 50 (Ind.Ct.App.1989). Rather, we consider the evidence that supports the judgment and the reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom. Id. Finally, we must affirm the judgment of the trial court unless the evidence points incontrovertibly to an opposite conclusion. Id.

I

The first challenge raised by Larry is whether the trial court erroneously caleu-lated his potential income, which in turn was used to calculate the child support award. Child support orders are governed by the Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines, which are based on our statutory framework. See Child Supp. G. 1, commentary; see also, Ind. Code § 31-1-11.5-11(c). An award of child support is committed to the sound dis-'eretion of the trial court and will not be overturned unless clearly erroneous. Carr v. Carr, 600 N.E.2d 943, 945 (Ind.1992). An order is clearly erroneous when it is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and cireamstances before the reviewing court. McGinley-Ellis v. Ellis, 638 N.E.2d 1249, 1252 (Ind.1994).

The first step in establishing a child support award is to determine the weekly [696]*696gross income of each parent. To do so, we are bound by the guidelines, which provide in part:

"1. Definition of Weekly Gross Income For purposes of these Guidelines, 'weekly gross income' is defined as actual weekly gross income of the parent if employed to full capacity, potential income if unemployed or underemployed and imputed income based upon 'in-kind benefits....
2. Self-Employment, Business Expenses, In-Kind Payments and Related Issues. Weekly Gross Income from self-employment, operation of a business ... is defined as gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary expenses. In general, these types of income and expenses from self-employment or operation of a business should be carefully reviewed in order that the deductions be restricted to reasonable out-of-pocket expenditures necessary for the production of income. ...
8. Unemployed, Underemployed, and Potential Income. If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, child support shall be calculated based on a determination of potential income. A determination of potential income shall be made by determining employment potential and probable earnings level based on the obli-gor's work history, occupational qualifications, prevailing job opportunities, and earnings level in the community...."

Child Supp. G. 3(A)(I-8).

In 1981, Larry was burned in an accident in which he received third degree burns on approximately 35% of his body. The burns severely limited Larry's use of his left hand and arm, limited his neck movement, and caused extreme sensitivity to heat and cold. In 1982, as a result of the accident, the Social Security Administration ("SSA") determined that Larry was disabled and began to forward social security disability payments to him. Currently, Larry receives $693.00 per month. In addition, Nathan, Larry's youngest son, receives a payment of $178.00 per month as a result of Larry's disability.1

Larry testified at the dissolution proceedings that the disability payments were his sole source of income. However, he still owned the business at that time. Notwithstanding Larry's testimony, the trial court found that Larry was capable of earning additional money based on his ownership of the business. The trial court determined that the business could generate a profit providing income to Larry because:

"The Husband has continued to operate Seott Sales & Service, ostensibly at a nominal profit or at a loss, at least back to 1990, the earliest year addressed by the evidence presented. The Court finds that the success or failure of the business depended primarily upon the Husband efforts, despite assistance contributed by the Wife. He testified that from some point in time not long before the separation of the parties, he has operated the business as an informal partnership with Ryan, the oldest son.

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Bluebook (online)
668 N.E.2d 691, 1996 Ind. App. LEXIS 815, 1996 WL 344204, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scott-v-scott-indctapp-1996.