Winn v. Winn

482 P.2d 16, 206 Kan. 737, 1971 Kan. LEXIS 351
CourtSupreme Court of Kansas
DecidedMarch 6, 1971
DocketNo. 45,915
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 482 P.2d 16 (Winn v. Winn) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Winn v. Winn, 482 P.2d 16, 206 Kan. 737, 1971 Kan. LEXIS 351 (kan 1971).

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Kaul, J.:

In this appeal plaintiff-appellant, Thelma B. Winn, attacks a divorce decree in the following particulars: (1) The trial court abused its discretion in refusing to tax as costs witness fees of two experts, hired by plaintiff in the preparation of her case; (2) the division of real and personal property was not just and reasonable; and (3) the alimony awarded plaintiff was not fair, just and reasonable.

The parties were married in 1948. A few months later defendantappellee, George L. Winn, was called into the military service and spent ten months in Korea. Thelma worked while George was in the service, and on his return the parties had sufficient funds to purchase a new automobile for George’s use in his employment as a traveling salesman for an office supply company. A few months after George’s return from the service, the parties purchased the [738]*738Kansas Fire Equipment Company for approximately $3,000. Most of the purchase price was raised by selling the new automobile.

In 1954, the parties purchased a competitor’s business consisting of two used vehicles, and service account lists for approximately $8,000.

Their business continued to prosper and in 1957, the parties purchased the business of another competitor — located in Hutchinson —which was merged with the Wichita enterprise.

Earnings of the business continued to increase, and the parties accumulated both real and personal property. Ry 1967 the total income from all sources had grown to more than $38,000.

While the parties prospered in their business endeavors, their marital relationships deteriorated. Thelma filed this action on March 8,1968.

A son and a daughter were born during the marriage. David was fifteen years of age and Martha Lee eleven when the divorce action was filed.

The action was tried in two parts. Thelma was granted a divorce, custody of Martha Lee, and child support in the amount of $150 per month. George was awarded custody of David.

The case then proceeded to trial on the questions of division of property and alimony. There was some conflict in the testimony concerning the value of the residence and other real and personal property; the only serious conflict, however, related to the value of the fire equipment business.

Thelma was awarded alimony in the amount of $100,500.00, payable $500 per month for 36 months and $750 per month for 110 months, terminable on death or remarriage. The alimony award was made a judicial lien on real estate and life insurance awarded to George.

The trial court then proceeded to divide the assets of the parties, taking into account their considerable liabilities. The residence was awarded to Thelma and the business to George. Under the valuations arrived at by the trial court, the total net value of the assets amounted to $102,614.00. Assets valued at $48,000 were awarded to Thelma, and net assets of $54,614, including the business valued at $34,274, were awarded to George. George was ordered to pay all outstanding obligations, which totaled more than $40,000.00.

Thelma filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment, which was overruled and this appeal followed.

[739]*739In her first point on appeal, Thelma contends the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to hear testimony of her two expert witnesses concerning their fees and subsequently in denying allowance of such fees as costs in the case. The two witnesses were a real estate broker, who testified as to the value of the real property, and an accountant, who gave his valuation of the fire equipment business.

At the conclusion of his testimony on direct examination, the real estate broker was asked the amount of his fee for making his appraisals. Defendant’s counsel objected on the ground the fee was not a pertinent item. The objection was sustained. A like ruling was made when an objection was made to a similar question put to the accountant.

Plaintiff contends that even though the taxing of costs under K. S. A. 1970 Supp. 60-1610 (/) rests solely in the judicial discretion of the trial court, discretion was abused here because evidence of costs was completely excluded.

Defendant points out that when plaintiff filed her petition she also filed, pursuant to K. S. A. 60-1607 (d), an application for a restraining order, temporary child custody, partial attorney fees, court costs, etc. The trial court, ex parte, granted plaintiff’s application, directing defendant to pay $200 advance attorney fees, $25 court costs, and $710 monthly for plaintiff’s care and support for herself and children pending trial of the divorce action. A week later, in an adversary proceeding initiated by defendant, the $710 per month was reduced to $510. In the course of the pretrial proceedings plaintiff made no claim that experts were necessary in the preparation of her case, nor did she request funds for such purpose.

Apparently, the trial court took the view that if plaintiff deemed experts necessary in the preparation of her case she should have included a request therefor in her application under 60-1607 (d), when a hearing to determine the matter could have been had prior to trial.

In addition to the allowance to plaintiff on her application, under 60-1607 (d), costs and attorneys’ fees were awarded under K. S. A. 1970 Supp. 60-1610 (/). The journal entry of judgment discloses that plaintiff’s attorneys were allowed a fee of $7,500, which defendant was directed to pay in addition to the costs of the action. Presumably, the costs included statutory witness fees authorized by K. S. A. 60-2003, and fixed at five dollars per day by K. S. A. 1970 Supp. 28-125.

[740]*740K. S. A. 1970 Supp. 60-1610 (/) reads:

“Costs and attorneys’ fees may be awarded to either party as justice and equity may require.”

Under 60-1607 (d) and 60-1610 (/), supra, the district court is vested with wide discretion in the allowance of costs and attorneys’ fees. Such discretion will not be disturbed unless an abuse of discretion clearly appears from the record. (Brooker v. Brooker, 199 Kan. 783, 433 P. 2d 363; and Craig v. Craig, 197 Kan. 345, 416 P. 2d 297.)

Under the circumstances related, we find no showing here which would justify disturbing the trial court’s ruling in this regard.

The basic controversy in this appeal is plaintiff’s dissatisfaction with the trial court’s division of property and allowance of alimony. Plaintiff states her position in these terms:

“. . . the division of property was not done according to statute, K. S. A. 1967 Supp., 60-1610 (b), and that the trial court abused its judicial discretion in denominating the $100,500.00 payment to be made to Appellant as alimony subject to death, remarriage or further order of the Court and the equity and justice require then the trial court’s judgment be modified to make the payment of said $100,500.00 part of the division of property and not alimony and that Appellant be allowed interest on the payment thereof.”

Plaintiff further submits that in addition to the property division she should be awarded $300 per month as alimony subject to her death, remarriage or further order of the court.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
482 P.2d 16, 206 Kan. 737, 1971 Kan. LEXIS 351, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/winn-v-winn-kan-1971.