Yeshiareg Mulugeta v. Dimitri Misailidis

• Court: West Virginia Supreme Court
• Decided: June 13, 2017
• Docket: 16-0494
• Status: Separate

Opinion

No. 16-0494 - Yeshiareg Mulugeta v. Dimitri Misaildis FILED June 13, 2017 released at 3:00 p.m. RORY L. PERRY, II CLERK

SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

OF WEST VIRGINIA

LOUGHRY, C. J., concurring, in part, and dissenting, in part:

I concur with the majority’s decision insofar as it directs the circuit court to

correct a mistake in the marital allocation worksheet and clarify that Husband’s premarital

portion of his 401K retirement account was $249,685.00. Likewise, I agree with the

majority’s decision to affirm the family’s court findings pertaining to the classification of

certain assets and the equitable division of the parties’ marital property. I dissent, however,

to the reversal of the family court’s award of spousal support. We have long held that

“[q]uestions relating to alimony . . . are within the sound discretion of the court and its action

with respect to such matters will not be disturbed on appeal unless it clearly appears that such

discretion has been abused.” Syl., in part, Nichols v. Nichols, 160 W.Va. 514, 236 S.E.2d

36 (1977). In this case, there was no basis to conclude that the family court abused its

discretion by failing to grant Wife a permanent spousal support award greater than $4,000

per month.

The majority hinges its decision on the family court’s “imputation of income”

to Wife, finding that it “constituted a clear abuse of discretion, requiring reversal” of the

spousal support award. This reasoning has no basis in fact, however, because Wife actually

stipulated that she was able to be employed and able to earn at least $24,000 per year with

her medical degree and master’s degree in public health.1 Given Wife’s stipulation, it cannot

reasonably be said that the family court abused its discretion by attributing income to her.

Furthermore, the record reflects that the family court considered all the relevant

statutory factors2 in determining that a $4,000 monthly spousal support award was fair and

equitable under the circumstances. In that regard, the family court recognized the substantial

amount of real property and investments3 Wife has received through equitable distribution

and the ability of those assets to generate as much as $5,000 in monthly income. The family

court noted that Wife would receive one-half of the proceeds from the sale of the marital

home, which was valued at more than $400,000, and that now, at age 62, she is able to utilize

her investment and retirement accounts without incurring penalties. In addition, Wife is

1 In both her petition for appeal of the family court’s order and her brief submitted to this Court, Wife acknowledged and accepted $2,000 per month of attributed income. The family court order actually states that the parties stipulated that Wife could earn at least $25,000 per year. 2 “It is not necessary to make specific findings as to each statutory [spousal support] factor recited but only those applicable and appropriate to the case.” Banker v. Banker, 196 W.Va. 535, 549, 474 S.E.2d 465, 479 (1996) (quoting Burnside v. Burnside, 194 W.Va. 263, 275 n.30, 460 S.E.2d 264, 276 n.30 (1995). 3 Through equitable distribution, Wife received the parties’ rental property in Ocean City, Maryland and her half of the parties’ Ameritrade account, which was $800,000. In addition, Wife has a separate retirement account in the amount of $200,000.

eligible to receive social security retirement benefits based upon Husband’s contribution

which will provide her with more monthly income.

Although there is a significant disparity in the parties’ income, the evidence

reflects that Wife actually increased her monthly expenses by voluntarily moving from

Berkeley County, West Virginia, to Montgomery County, Maryland, which has a higher cost

of living because of its proximity to Washington, D.C. In addition, Wife chose the parties’

condo in Montgomery County that was subject to a mortgage for her residence. Wife refused

to take possession of the parties’ other condo in the same location that was not encumbered

by a mortgage.4 Yet, even with a mortgage, the record reflects that wife has sufficient

income to meet all her monthly expenses.5

We have held that “[u]nder the clearly erroneous standard, if the findings of

fact and the inferences drawn by a family [court judge] are supported by substantial evidence,

such findings and inferences may not be overturned even if a circuit court may be inclined

to make different findings or draw contrary inferences.” Syl. Pt. 3, Stephen L.H. v. Sherry

L.H., 195 W.Va. 384, 465 S.E.2d 841 (1995), superceded by statute on other grounds as

stated in Sharon B.W. v. George B.W., 205 W.Va. 594, 519 S.E.2d 877 (1999). Elaborating

4 Husband received the other condo through equitable distribution. 5 According to the parties’ testimony, the condo Wife received was valued at $550,000 and the mortgage debt was $150,000.

further, we explained that “if the lower tribunal’s conclusion is plausible when viewing the

evidence in its entirety, the appellate court may not reverse even if it would have weighed

the evidence differently if it had been the trier of fact.” 195 W.Va. at 396. 465 S.E.2d at 195

(citation omitted). The majority has clearly turned a blind eye to these well-established

precepts as its flawed analysis reflects that it has engaged in a de novo weighing of the

evidence to reach its desired result.

While family courts must consider financial need when making spousal support

determinations, alimony may not be awarded to equalize the parties’ income. Stone v. Stone,

200 W.Va. 15, 488 S.E.2d 15 (1997). In this case, the family court found that a $4,000

monthly spousal support award was appropriate given the parties’ earnings and earning

ability, the distribution of the marital property, the parties’ education, and their ages. In light

of the foregoing and given the deference afforded to the family court, I would have affirmed

its decision with respect to the spousal support award. Accordingly, I concur, in part, and

dissent, in part.