Wilkerson v. Wilkerson, Unpublished Decision (3-15-2004)
Wilkerson v. Wilkerson, Unpublished Decision (3-15-2004)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} The parties were originally married on September 14, 1976 and divorced on April 9, 1979. They remarried in 1980, but neither Ruby nor Dean could remember the date of the remarriage. There are two minor children of the marriage.
{¶ 3} Dean met Ruby while in the armed forces in Korea. Ruby has a sixth grade education. Early in the marriage, Ruby worked as a sales clerk for two businesses, an ice cream store and a furniture store, which were owned by the parties. The trial court found that "she speaks and understands English, but she is not 100% fluent and she does not read English well."
{¶ 4} Dean provided the financial support for the family. He manages five rental properties owned by the parties, which are located on Vine Street in Cincinnati, Ohio. The properties were appraised at $264,750, although Dean testified that he believed the properties to be worth at least $300,000.
{¶ 5} Dean filed for divorce on June 13, 2001. While the divorce action was pending, the parties sold their home. Each received approximately $79,000 in net proceeds from the sale. Both parties bought new homes. Ruby placed $25,000 down on a home costing $193,000. Dean purchased his new home for $190,000. Ruby pays $1,650 per month in mortgage payments, while Dean pays $700 per month in mortgage payments.
{¶ 6} A hearing was held before the magistrate on June 3, 2002 and a decision issued on June 25, 2002. Dean filed objections to the decision. The trial court overruled the objections. A final decree of divorce was rendered on December 2, 2002. Ruby appeals raising one assignment of error. Dean has filed a cross-appeal raising two assignments of error.
{¶ 7} Assignment of Error No. 1 on Appellant's Appeal:
{¶ 8} "It is Error for the trial court to fail to find the Annual Income of Plaintiff-Appellant to be $150,000 per year where plaintiff signed documents indicating that his annual income was $150,000 and where plaintiff asserted his fifth amendment right not to testify as to the accuracy of his income as listed on his tax returns."
{¶ 9} Ruby did not object to the magistrate's decision within 14 days. See Civ.R. 53(E)(3)(b). Consequently, it was well within the trial court's discretion to approve and adopt the magistrate's decision absent finding an error of law or other defect on the face of the decision. Civ.R. 53(E)(4)(a).
{¶ 10} This court has previously held that failure to object to the magistrate's decision constitutes a waiver of the right to appeal any finding of fact or conclusion of law under Civ.R. 53(E)(3)(b). See Daley v. Daley, Warren App. No. CA2003-02-028, 2004-Ohio-916; Elfers v. Elfers, Clermont App. No. CA2002-11-088, 2003-Ohio-4614. Ruby has failed to file any objections to the magistrate's decision; therefore, she has waived any error and cannot contest on appeal the findings of fact and conclusions of law contained therein. Accordingly, Ruby's assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 11} Assignment of Error No. 1 on Appellee's Cross-Appeal:
{¶ 12} "The Amount and duration of spousal support ordered by the trial court was an abuse of discretion."
{¶ 13} Dean argues that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding Ruby $2,500 per month in spousal support. He argues that the trial court did not take into account Ruby's award of half the value of the marital business.
{¶ 14} In cases involving a marriage of long duration, parties of advanced age, or a homemaker spouse with little opportunity to develop meaningful employment outside the home, a trial court may, in the proper exercise of its discretion, award spousal support for an indefinite period. Kunkle v. Kunkle
(1990),
{¶ 15} Pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 16} "(a) The income of the parties, from all sources, including, but not limited to, income derived from property divided, disbursed or distributed * * *;
{¶ 17} "(b) The relative earning abilities of the parties;
{¶ 18} "(c) The ages and the physical, mental, and emotional conditions of the parties;
{¶ 19} "(d) The retirement benefits of the parties;
{¶ 20} "(e) The duration of the marriage;
{¶ 21} "(f) The extent to which it would be inappropriate for a party, because that party will be custodian of a minor child of the marriage, to seek employment outside the home;
{¶ 22} "(g) The standard of living of the parties established during the marriage;
{¶ 23} "(h) The relative extent of education of the parties;
{¶ 24} "(i) The relative assets and liabilities of the parties, including but not limited to any court-ordered payments by the parties;
{¶ 25} "(j) The contribution of each party to the education, training, or earning ability of the other party * * *;
{¶ 26} "(k) The time and expense necessary for the spouse who is seeking spousal support to acquire education, training, or job experience so that the spouse will be qualified to obtain appropriate employment, provided the education, training, or job experience, and employment is, in fact, sought;
{¶ 27} "(l) The tax consequences, for each party, of an award of spousal support;
{¶ 28} "(m) The lost income production capacity of either party that resulted from that party's marital responsibilities;
{¶ 29} "(n) Any other factor that the court expressly finds to be relevant and equitable."
{¶ 30} The trial court awarded Ruby $2,500 per month in spousal support for life, terminable only upon either parties' death, Ruby's remarriage or Ruby's cohabitation with an unrelated adult male.
{¶ 31} Dean argues that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding Ruby $2,500 per month in spousal support for life. He states in his appellate brief that "[t]he court found that six of the fourteen statutory factors concerning spousal support applied to this case and that based on them permanent support should be awarded." He then surmises that the trial court did not take into consideration that Ruby would earn interest income off of the $148,500 she received for her share of the rental properties. He also argues that the trial court did not consider the additional expenses he will sustain in "buying out" Ruby for her share of the rental properties. Finally he contends that the spousal support will allow her to live in a luxurious lifestyle because she will have at least $148,500 in liquid assets from her share of the rental property with her only obligation a $1,650 per month mortgage payment on her home.
{¶ 32} Dean's contentions are without merit. The trial court considered the factors enumerated in R.C.
{¶ 33} Dean argues that the trial court did not consider the amount of money Ruby would receive for her portion of the rental property or the cost of financing a mortgage on the rental property in order to "buy out" Ruby. We can conclude that the trial court did consider the factors because it stated that it reviewed the factors in R.C.
{¶ 34} Dean's further assertion that the spousal support would allow Ruby to live in a luxurious lifestyle is without merit. He cites to Simoni v. Simoni (1995),
{¶ 35} However, Ruby and Dean have had a marriage of long duration. They have been married for 22 years, but had been together for 26 years.1 The trial court found that Ruby was a 56-year-old woman with a sixth grade education who does not speak fluent English. It noted that Ruby's role was "to provide for the family in the role as a homemaker and to further her husband's business ventures by providing physical labor," although she never received a paycheck for her services to the family's business. The parties do not have pension accounts, but do have some money in savings. It also found that Dean has an average earning capacity of $100,000 per year.
{¶ 36} Upon reviewing the record, we find there is evidence supporting the trial court's findings. We cannot say that the trial court's decision regarding Ruby's spousal support award is so unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable as to amount to an abuse of discretion. Dean's first assignment of error on cross-appeal is overruled.
{¶ 37} Assignment of Error No. 2 on Appellee's Cross-Appeal:
{¶ 38} "The Trial Court abused its discretion in requiring cross-appellant to pay appellant her full interest in their rental properties within one year."
{¶ 39} Dean asserts that the trial court did not consider "the economic harm, tax consequences, and difficulties inherent in obtaining financing" to pay Ruby her share of the value of the rental property.
{¶ 40} The trial court is vested with broad discretion in establishing an equitable division of marital property in a divorce action. Middendorf v. Middendorf,
{¶ 41} Pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 42} The trial court ordered Dean to pay Ruby her share of the rental property, $148,500, in three payments over the course of a year, subject to an 8% rate of interest if he does not make timely payments. Dean maintains that it will be difficult for him to secure a loan. He asserts that to mortgage the properties, he will have to obtain a commercial loan at a higher interest rate. He further argues that the trial court did not consider the tax consequences associated with paying Ruby her share for the rental property. Finally, he asserts that the trial court did not consider the economic viability of obtaining financing for the properties.
{¶ 43} Dean's assertions are without merit. He received approximately $79,000 from the sale of the marital home. He also owns the five rental properties free of any obligation. He is currently leasing the premises and receiving that income. He also testified that he had potential buyers for the properties. He has not shown that it will be difficult for him to secure a loan.
{¶ 44} Tax consequences of property division are proper considerations for the trial court, so long as those consequences are not speculative. Day v. Day (1988),
{¶ 45} Upon a review of the record, we find that the trial court did not act arbitrarily, unreasonably or unconscionably in ordering Dean to pay Ruby for her share of the rental property within one year. We see no abuse of discretion. Dean's second assignment of error on cross-appeal is overruled.
{¶ 46} Judgment affirmed.
Valen, P.J., and Powell, J., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Dean Wilkerson, plaintiff-appellee/cross-appellant v. Chun Cha Wilkerson, defendant-appellant/cross-appellee.
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Unpublished