Kennedy v. Kennedy
Kennedy v. Kennedy
Opinion of the Court
On December 23, 1947, in tbe divorce suit brought by Dorothy Jane Kennedy, plaintiff, against Robert H. Kennedy, defendant, on stipulation of parties, an order withdrawing defendant’s an
On June 16,' 1948, the court entered a decree nunc .pro tunc as of December 23, 1947. It was filed on June 22, 1948, and became final on June 23, 1948. The provisions of the decree were as follows: It gave plaintiff a divorce and the custody of the 2 minor children until they reach the age of 17 or until the further order of the court, subject, however, 'to a right of visitation, but giving plaintiff the right to take the children out of the State of Michigan, provided she reported to the friend of the court the addresses where the children were staying. Defendant was ordered to pay the friend of the court for the plaintiff the sum of $25 a week for the support of each child, and to pay plaintiff $5,000 as a property settlement, he havjng a net equity valued at $10,000 in a house purchased with his funds. Further details appear in the record on file in this Court in Kennedy v. Kennedy, 325 Mich 613, referred to herein as the original divorce case.
On June 15,1948, defendant by new counsel moved to set aside the stipulation and order withdrawing answer which preceded the interlocutory decree of December 23, 1947. The motion was denied on June .22, 1948. On July 6, 1948, 14 days after the final decree was entered, defendant filed a claim of appeal.
On Spetember 8, 1949, we held in 325 Mich 613, that the record showed neither jurisdiction nor cruelty. The difficulty arose through the neglect to
Upon the remanding of the case, defendant filed a cross bill charging plaintiff with neglect of the children, with extravagance, intoxication, and principally, with her living in a married state in Trinidad with Mr. X, whom she married before the time to appeal from the decree had expired, in fact, only 10 days before an appeal was taken. Mr. X was later identified as Mr. Morrow. An answer to the cross bill denying all charges therein was filed. Plaintiff also filed an amended bill charging defendant with extreme cruelty consisting of excessive and unreasonable demands for cohabitation and contrary to the order of her physician forbidding it, because of a physical breakdown while carrying her first baby; that she was refused medical care which she was in need of after having given birth to 3 children in 3 years; with cruelty and indifference toward the children; with intoxication on frequent occasions; penuriousness; inadequate support forcing her to do sewing for others to obtain money and remaking worn clothes for herself; and, after their separation, with vile and abusive curses and threats. We shall not elaborate on the charges and counter charges appearing in a record of 660 pages. Suffice it to say that the testimony disclosed that defendant was guilty of extreme cruelty, as found by the trial judge.
We conclude, therefore, that the divorce was propferly granted to plaintiff. An independent examination of the record shows that a reconciliation is almost impossible.
:' The trial court in its second decree decreased the award to plaintiff from $5,000 to $1,000 for property settlement and alimony. Plaintiff is clearly entitled to this amount.
The most important question is the custody of the-2 minor children and what is best for them. In the
The children were given the name of Morrow when they were taken to Trinidad. Since their return to Michigan, they have been enrolled in school under the name of Kennedy and are so known. We have béen assured at the oral argument that there will be no further attempt to change their name. The court retains its jurisdiction to determine what is best for the children during their minority. .
The decree is affirmed, but without costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- KENNEDY v. KENNEDY
- Status
- Published