Case Title: Wardwell v. Clapp

Citation: 168 Vt. 592, 720 A.2d 862

Docket Number: 

State: vermont

Court: Vermont Supreme Court

Date: 1998-07-15T00:00:00Z

Document:
Wardwell v. Clapp  (97-233); 168 Vt. 592; 720 A.2d 862

[Filed 15-Jul-1998]

                                ENTRY ORDER

                      SUPREME COURT DOCKET NO. 97-233

                            FEBRUARY TERM, 1998

Elizabeth Wardwell (Clapp)      }     APPEALED FROM:
                                }
                                }
     v.                         }     Chittenden Family Court
                                }
Michael Clapp                   }
                                }     DOCKET NO. 1042-22-89Cndm

       In the above-entitled cause, the Clerk will enter:

       Defendant appeals from a family court order making certain short-term
  adjustments in his spousal maintenance obligation, directing payment of
  arrearages, providing remedies in the event of his failure to meet the
  maintenance obligations, and denying his motion for modification under 15
  V.S.A. § 758.  Defendant claims the family court erred by (1) considering
  defendant's subjective intent in making employment choices following an
  unexpected job termination, (2) referencing his current spouse's income in
  the context of defendant's ability to meet maintenance obligations to his
  former spouse, and (3) ordering garnishment according to the terms of a
  previously issued, and allegedly invalid, family court garnishment order. 
  We affirm.

       The parties were divorced in 1993, and defendant was ordered to pay
  plaintiff maintenance in the amount of $24,000 per year.  This Court
  affirmed the divorce and maintenance order.  See Clapp v. Clapp, 163 Vt.
  15,