Von Ohlsen v. Von Ohlsen
Von Ohlsen v. Von Ohlsen
Opinion of the Court
In this action for divorce from bed and board the trial court denied defendant’s motion to strike its temporary support order for lack of in personam jurisdiction, and denied permission to appeal the ruling. On motion, we granted permission, and the case is before us on that narrow issue, which we considered significant because of facial conflict between applicable statutes and the provisions of V.R.C.P. 4(e)(3). An order refusing to stay discovery concededly rests upon the same ground, and will not be separately treated in this opinion.
At the root of the issue before us is the “minimum contacts” test dealt with in International Shoe Co. v. Washington, 326 U.S. 310 (1945), and following cases. Under that test, essentially one of fairness, in personam jurisdiction based upon service outside the jurisdiction depends upon the existence of those contacts. Compliance with the procedural requirements governing the manner of service is also a requisite. Pasquale v. Genovese, 136 Vt. 417, 421, 392 A.2d 395, 398 (1978), citing Ackerman v. Kogut, 117 Vt. 40, 51, 84 A.2d 131, 138 (1951). Neither of these requirements, however, is in issue here. The manner of service is not questioned, nor is the adequacy of defendant’s contacts with Vermont, the forum state. The parties, married in 1948, lived together in Vermont for nearly two years prior to separating in February, 1978. They have substantial assets within and without the state. In May or June, 1978, defendant moved to Colorado, following an alleged separation agreement made in Vermont. Personal service on the defendant was effected in Colorado.
The question presented is one of jurisdiction and not mere procedure. This being so, there are two cogent reasons why the provisions of the statute, rather than those of the rule, are controlling. The first is a provision in the very statute then authorizing enactment of the rules, 12 V.S.A. § 1, to the effect that “[t]he rules thus prescribed shall not abridge, enlarge or modify any substantive rights of any person provided by law.” The second is the express provision of V.R.C.P. 82 that “[t]hese rules shall not be construed to extend or limit the jurisdiction of the County (now Superior) Courts . . . .” We have expressly held that these provisions leave the jurisdictional requisites for divorce, here as enacted in 12 V.S.A. § 913(b), unaffected by the Rules of Civil Procedure. Holmberg v. Goslant, 134 Vt. 455, 365 A.2d 250 (1976).
We note in passing that a pending recommendation of the Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Procedure suggests an amendment of V.R.C.P. 4(e) that would reach the result of our holding, but we do not rest our decision upon that recommendation.
The December 27, 1978, order of the Rutland Superior Court is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Marjorie R. Von Ohlsen v. Louis H. Von Ohlsen, Jr.
- Status
- Published