Aponte v. Aponte, Unpublished Decision (2-15-2001)
Aponte v. Aponte, Unpublished Decision (2-15-2001)
Opinion of the Court
The parties, plaintiff-appellee, Gloria I. Aponte, and defendant-appellant, Dr. Carlos J. Aponte, were married on June 4, 1968. The couple had two children from the marriage, a daughter, Gloria (DOB August 8, 1969), and a daughter, Audrey (DOB March 15, 1978). When the couple married, the appellant was attending medical school in Columbia, South America. Upon their arrival in the United States, the appellant completed an internship at Lutheran Medical Center in Cleveland and his residency at Metro General Hospital. Appellant then pursued a fellowship in rhumatology for two years at The Cleveland Clinic.
The appellant has been a licensed physician for over twenty-five (25) years. The appellant owns and operates his own practice. The appellee has testified that she was involved in all aspects of her husband's business and that she did assist him at his office. Appellee has also testified that she does some volunteer work at Fairview General Hospital, The Cleveland Clinic, and The Cleveland Ballet.
This case arises out of the initial complaint filed by the appellee on January 21, 1997, against her husband, Carlos J. Aponte, seeking a divorce, spousal support, restraining orders, attorney fees and equitable relief. This matter was assigned to the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, in an attempt to resolve the issues of the case. The case was then assigned to a domestic court judge. A trial was held, the trial court heard substantial testimony and exhibits were submitted for review by the court. On November 24, 1999, after submissions by the parties of post-trial briefs and proposed journal entries, the trial court issued a nineteen (19) page judgment entry. On December 15, 1999, the defendant-appellant, Dr. Aponte, filed this timely notice of appeal.
The appellant has set forth the following assignments of error:
I. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN THE DIVISION AND ALLOCATION OF ASSETS.
II. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN CHARGING THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT AGAINST DEFENDANT.
III. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN SETTING SPOUSAL SUPPORT.
IV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN REQUIRING THE DEFENDANT TO MAINTAIN A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY AS SECURITY FOR SPOUSAL SUPPORT.
V. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN AWARDING, AS ADDITIONAL SPOUSAL SUPPORT, ATTORNEY FEES IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000.00.
VI. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN REQUIRING DEFENDANT TO PAY PLAINTIFF'S INCOME TAXES FOR 1998 REGARDLESS OF HOW TAX RETURNS WERE FILED.
VII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN ALLOCATING AND ORDERING THE DISBURSEMENT OF $38,641 TO PLAINTIFF AS PART OF THE DIVISION OF PROPERTY.
VIII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN ORDERING DEFENDANT TO PAY ALL TAXES AND PENALTIES PERTAINING TO THE DISBURSEMENT OF $88,641.00.
The appellant's first assignment of error is without merit. In reviewing the trial court's decision, this Court must use an abuse of discretion standard. The term abuse of discretion connotes more than an error of law or of judgment; it implies that the court's attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable. Huffman v. Hair Surgeon, Inc. (1985),
In appellant's first assignment of error, he questions the trial court's distribution of the marital estate. In domestic relations cases, we give broad deference to the trial court. Huff v. Huff (unreported), 2000 Ohio App. LEXIS 5874, citing, Martin v. Martin (1985),
The relevant factors to be considered by the trial court in making a division of marital property are: (1) the duration of the marriage; (2) the assets and liabilities of the spouses; (3) the desirability of awarding the family home; (4) the liquidity of the property to be distributed; (5) the economic desirability of retaining intact an asset or an interest in an asset; (6) the tax consequences of the property division upon the respective awards to be made to each spouse; (7) the costs of sale, if it is necessary that an asset be sold to effectuate an equitable distribution of property; (8) any division or disbursement of property made in a separation agreement that was voluntarily entered into by the spouses; and (9) any other factors that the court expressly finds to be relevant and equitable. R.C.
After reviewing the record, this court finds no evidence that the trial court's actions amounted to an abuse of discretion in making its property division. Upon review of the judgment entry, the trial court properly considered the factors necessary to review when making a determination of the division of marital property, including the appellee's age, background, education, job skills, and current health condition. The court's property division, though unequal, was nevertheless equitable when viewed in the context of this particular case. Therefore, appellant's first assignment of error is without merit.
In appellant's second assignment of error, appellant argues that the court abused its discretion in charging the entire amount of the home equity line of credit to the appellant. Appellant's second assignment of error is without merit.
In this case, the trial court required the appellant to pay the entire home equity line of credit used to fund an irrevocable trust established by the appellant and the appellee to create an educational trust for the parties' child, Audrey. The court found that the appellant inappropriately obtained the home equity line of credit upon the marital residence and, therefore, should be liable for the entire sum.
This court must use the same abuse of discretion standard as applied to the prior assignment of error. Therefore, the result must be so palpable and grossly volatile of fact and logic that it evidences not the exercise of will but perversity of will, not the exercise of judgment but defiance thereof, not the exercise of reason but rather of passion or bias. * * * State v. Jenkins (1984),
Based upon this high standard of review, we find that the trial court's judgment did not amount to an abuse of discretion. Therefore, appellant's second assignment of error is without merit.
In appellant's third assignment of error, the appellant argues that the trial court abused its discretion in the calculation of spousal support. This assignment of error is without merit.
At the outset, "Ohio courts have held that, when making an initial award of spousal support, the trial court must demonstrate that it considered all of the statutory factors." Glick v. Glick (1999),
Upon this court's review of the testimony and the trial court's judgment entry, it appears that the court did list some of the factors found in R.C.
Appellant alleges in his fourth assignment of error that the trial court erred in requiring the appellant to maintain a life insurance policy as security for spousal support. Appellant's fourth assignment of error has merit.
The trial court decreed that, effective December, 1, 1999, the appellant must maintain a life insurance policy in the amount of five-hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00), and shall name the appellee as the irrevocable beneficiary. The court further stated that this policy shall be kept in place until such time as the appellant's spousal support obligation terminates. The spousal support payments in this case are subject to the death of either party; or the remarriage of the appellee, Gloria I. Aponte; or the cohabitation with an unrelated male.
According to R.C.
In a case similar to the case at bar, this court has also held that "by requiring plaintiff-appellant to maintain defendant-appellee as a beneficiary, the trial court is not necessarily securing payment of plaintiff-appellant's spousal support obligations and is, in effect, providing defendant-appellee with a spousal support award after the death of plaintiff-appellant." Oatey v. Oatey (April 25, 1996), Cuyahoga App. Nos. 67809 and 67973, unreported, 1996 LEXIS 1685, see, Addy v. Addy (1994),
In his fifth assignment of error, Appellant claims the trial court erred in awarding, as additional spousal support, attorney's fees in the amount of $50,000.00. Appellant's fifth assignment of error is without merit.
When a trial court awards attorney fees, the court must consider the same factors considered when making an award of spousal support. Glick v. Glick (1999),
The Court finds further that, after considering the factors that are set forth in Swanson v. Swanson (1976),
48 Ohio App.2d 85 ; Ohio Revised Code Section3105.18 ; and Rule Twenty-one (21) of the Local Rules for the Division of Domestic Relations, the Defendant, Carlos J. Aponte, should be obligated to pay reasonable attorney fees of the Plaintiff, Gloria I. Aponte, in the amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00). The Court finds that the Plaintiff, Gloria I. Aponte's attorney fees were reasonable and necessary in this matter.
A review of the trial court's decision does not show evidence to constitute an abuse of discretion in the awarding of attorney fees to the appellee. The trial court stated that upon consideration of Swanson, R.C.
Therefore, appellant's fifth assignment of error is overruled.
In Appellant's sixth assignment of error, he alleges that the trial court erred in requiring defendant to pay plaintiff's income taxes for 1998, regardless of how the tax returns were filed. Appellant's sixth assignment of error is without merit.
In dividing marital property, the trial court is required to consider the tax consequences of the division. R.C.
The appellant's Seventh assignment of error states that the trial court erred and abused its discretion in allocating and ordering the disbursement of $38,641.00 to plaintiff as part of the division of property.
This court has previously discussed this matter in appellant's first assignment of error, and we reassert our determination in this assignment of error. Therefore, appellant's seventh assignment of error is without merit and overruled.
In appellant's eighth assignment of error, he claims that the trial court erred and abused its discretion in ordering defendant to pay all taxes and penalties pertaining to the disbursement of $88,641.00.
Based on this court's prior findings, appellant's eighth assignment of error is rendered moot.
Judgment affirmed in part, reversed in part.
It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant costs herein taxed.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
PATRICIA A. BLACKMON, P.J., AND JAMES J. SWEENEY, J., CONCUR.
_______________________________ FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., JUDGE
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.