Marriage of Kinney

Montana Supreme Court

Marriage of Kinney

Opinion

No. 96-689

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

1997 IN RE MARRIAGE OF JACK N. KINNEY,

Petitioner and Respondent,

and SANDRA L. ROBERTS NELSON-KINNEY,

Respondent and Appellant. APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Fifth Judicial District,

In and for the County of Jefferson,

The Honorable Frank M. Davis, Judge presiding. COUNSEL OF RECORD:

For Appellant:

Sandra L. Roberts Nelson-Kinney, Pro Se, Clancy, Montana

For Respondent:

Eric Rasmusson, Attorney at Law, Boulder, Montana

Submitted on Briefs: May 22, 1997

Decided: June 9 I 1997 Filed:

MEMORANDUM

Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c), Montana Supreme Court 1995 Internal Operating Rules, the following decisionshallnot be cited asprecedentand shall be published by its filing as a public document with the Clerk of the SupremeCourt and by a report of its result to State Reporter Publishing Company and West Publishing Company.

This is an appeal,pro se, by SandraL. Roberts Nelson-Kinney. Sandraappealsfrom the final decreeof dissolution issuedby the Fifth Judicial District Court, Jefferson County. She disagreeswith the distribution of real property. We affirm.

The parties were married on January 19, 1982, and their marriage was dissolved on October 9, 1991. The October 9, 1991, decreeof dissolution disposedof all matters except the issueof disposition of real property, due to the interest of a third party. The real property at issue is located at 78 and 80 Alhambra Road, Clancy, Montana.

On or about April 9, 1996, Jack N. Kinney filed his request to finalize the decree of dissolution. The District Court held a hearing on May 2, 1996. After the hearing, the District Court entered findings of fact, conclusionsof law, and a final decree of dissolution. The District Court awarded the real property at issueto Jack.

Following entry ofthe District Court’s findings of fact, conclusionsof law, and decree, Sandra, appearing pro se, filed an appeal. This Court summarizes Sandra’sassertions, statements,and arguments in her initial brief as follows: (1) alleged marital misconduct by Jack, (2) Sandra’sallegeddesireto reconcile with Jack; (3) re-open the entire proceedings, including the 1991decreeof dissolution; (4) District Court JudgeFrank M. Davis, attorney

2 Bob Cummings, counselfor Jack, and the entire legal systemhasconspiredto deprive Sandra of the Clancy property; (5) other judicial proceedings she was involved with in some capacity; (6) allegationsthat Jackphysically, sexually, and emotionally abusedSandraduring the course of the marriage; and (7) Jack’salleged link to white supremacist groups. This Court concludes that the foregoing arguments are irrelevant and do not concern the issue before this Court.

In the District Court’s findings of fact, conclusions of law, and decree, Judge Davis found that Jack and his brother, Ken, purchasedthe real property in July 1981, and that they made all the payments and improvements thereon. The District Court determined that there was no credible or admissibleevidenceof any financial contribution made by Sandrafor the purchaseof the property. The District Court also consideredsuch factors as the length of the marriage, the comparative agesand health, employment statusand skills, respective income, respective contributions, and source of property. These factors, as set forth in 5 40-4-202, MCA, were resolved by the District Court in favor of Jack and against Sandra.

Having reviewed the entire record in this case, we conclude that there was no reversible error committed by the trial court and we agreewith the District Court’s rationale and decisionin its findings of fact and conclusionsof law datedNovember 6, 1996,and final decree of dissolution entered on November 22, 1996.

Affirmed.

3

June 9, 1997

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that the following certified order was sent by United States mail, prepaid, to the following named: SANDRA L. ROBERTS NELSON-KINNEY 80 OLD ALHAMBRA ROAD CLANCY MT 59634 ERIC RASMUSSON ATTORNEY AT LAW PO BOX 581 BOULDER MT 59632-0587

ED SMITH

CLERK OF THE SUPREME COURT

STATE OF MONTANA

Reference

Status
Published