IN T H E C O U R T O F A P P E A L S O F T H E S T A T E O F M IS S IS S IP P I

N O . 2 0 1 5 -C A -0 0 6 4 6 -C O A

J O H N R . B E L L A P P E L L A N T

v
.

L O R I M . B E L L A P P E L L E E

D A T E O F JU D G M E N T : 0 3 /1 2 /2 0 1 5
T R IA L JU D G E : H O N

. J. L A R R Y B U F F IN G T O N C O U R T F R O M WH IC H A P P E A L E D : C A R R O L L C O U N T Y C H A N C E R Y C O U R T

, F IR S T JU D IC IA L D I S T R IC T A T T O R N E Y S F O R

A P P E L L A N T : K IM B E R L Y P . T U R N E R
R O B E R T W. L O N G
A T T O R N E Y S F O R

A P P E L L E E : JO N A T H A N R Y A N T A Y L O R

A L A N D . L A N C A S T E R
N A T U R E O F T H E C A S E : C IV IL - D O M E S T IC R E L A T IO N S
T R IA L C O U R T D I S P O S IT IO N : G R A N T E D A P P E L L E E ’ S P E T IT IO N F O R
M O D IF IC A T IO N O F C H I L D S U P P O R T ; F O U N D A P P E L L A N T IN C O N T E M P T F O R
F A IL U R E T O P A Y C H IL D S U P P O R T A N D O T H E R E X P E N S E S F O R

T H E C H IL D ; A WA R D E D A P P E L L E E A JU D G M E N T O F $ 3 7 ,8 3 2 .3 5 F O R

T H E T O T A L A R R E A R A G E ; O R D E R E D A P P E L L A N T T O
P A Y $ 3 0

, 5 0 0 O F S T U D E N T -L O A N D E B T ; A WA R D E D A P P E L L E E $ 1 ,0 0 0 IN A T T O R N E Y ’S F E E S
D I S P O S IT IO N : A F F IR M E D IN P A R T ; R E V E R S E D A N D
R E N D E R E D IN P A R T : 1 2 /0 6 /2 0 1 6
M O T IO N F O R

R E H E A R IN G F IL E D : M A N D A T E IS S U E D :

B E F O R E L E E , C .J ., B A R N E S A N D IS H E E , J J

.

B A R N E S , J ., F O R T H E C O U R T :

¶1

. Jo h n B ell (Jack ) ap p eals th e j u d g m e n t o f th e C h an cery C o u rt o f C arro ll C o u n ty

o n

h is p etitio n f

o r m o d if icatio n o f th e p arties’ ag reed f in al j u d g m en t o f d iv o rce. T h e ch an cello rf

o u n d a m aterial ch an g e in circu m stan c es reg ard in g J ack ’s e a r n i n g s s i n c e th e en try o f th e

j u d g m en t o f d i v o r c e ; th eref o re, th e ch an cello r red u c e d J ack ’s ch ild su p p o r t. H o w e v er,

b ecau se J a c k h a d a g reed to p ay p riv ate-sch o o l tu itio n f o r th e p arties’ m in o r d au g h ter,

K i n sley

, an d h is ex -w if

e L o ri B ell’s stu d en t lo an s at t h e tim e o f th e d iv o rce, th e ch an cello r

ru led Jack w o u ld still b e r e q u ired to p ay th e tu i tio n an d o n e

- h alf o f th e s tu d en t-lo an d eb t.

Jack ap p eals, c laim in g th e trial co u rt w as in erro r f o r in clu d in g p r iv ate-sch o o l tu itio n w ith in

h is ch ild -su p p o rt o b lig atio n

. H e a lso co m p lain s th at th e trial c o u rt sh o u l d n o t h av e aw ard ed

L o ri a lu m

p -su m am o u n t f

o r stu d en t-lo an in d eb ted n ess o r $ 1 ,0 0 0 in atto rn ey ’s f ees. F in d i n g

erro r o n ly in th e g ran t o f atto rn ey ’s f ees, an d a slig h t m iscalcu latio n in t h e stu d en t-lo an

in d eb ted n ess, w e af

f irm in p art an d rev erse an d ren d er in p art.

S T A T E M E N T O F F A C T S A N D P R O C E D U R A L H I S T O R Y

¶2

. In M arch 2 0 1 0

, th e ch an c ery co u rt e n tered L o ri an d J ack ’s ag reed f in al j u d g m en t o f

d iv o r ce b ased o n irreco n c ilab l e d if f eren ces. T h ey h ad b een m a rried sin ce N o v em b er 1 9 9 9

.

A d au g h ter, K in sley

, w as b o rn o f th e m a rriag e in Ju ly 2 0 0 0

, a n d sh e w as f if teen y ears o ld

at t h e t im e o f th i s ap p eal. L o ri a n d Jack sig n ed a cu sto d y , su p p o rt, an d p ro p e rty -settlem en t

ag reem en t at th e tim e o f d iv o rce. 1 Jack ag reed to p ay $ 1 ,7 0 0 p er m o n th as ch ild su p p o rt, n o t

su b j ect t o red u ctio n a s lo n g as L o ri w as m ak i n g p ay m en t s o n ap p ro x im ately $ 1 3 0 ,0 0 0 in

1 In th e d iv o rce p ro c eed in g s, L o ri, a licen sed an d p racticin g atto rn ey in M ississip p i,

w a s rep r esen ted b y co u n sel; Jack rep resen ted h im self u n d er th e im p ressio n th at L o ri “w o u ld h an d le th e m atter.” O n th e p etitio n f o r mo d i f i catio n , b o t h p arties w ere r ep resen ted b y

co u n sel.

2stu d e n t lo an s th e co u p le h ad am assed

. Jack a l s o ag reed to m ain tain K in sley ’s h ealth

in su r an ce, p ay all h ealth -related ex p en ses n o t co v ered b y i n s u ran c e , f u lly f u n d th e

M ississip p i P rep aid A f

f o rd ab le C o lleg e T u itio n (M P A C T ) p ro g ram to p ro v id e for Ki nsley ’s

co lleg e ed u catio n , an d p a y f o r o n e-h alf th e c o s t o f h er ex tracu rricu lar activ ities. T h e

ag reem en t stated th at L o ri w o u ld p ay th e $ 1 3 0 ,0 0 0 in stu d en t-lo an d eb t, w h ich w as in h er

n am e, ev en t h o u g h th e f

u n d s w ere u sed b y b o t h p arties f o r th eir co lleg e ed u catio n , in retu rn

f o r J ack ’s p ay in g $ 1 ,7 0 0 in ch ild su p p o rt, w h ich w a s o v e r t h e statu to ry g u id elin es

p e r c e n t a g e. A t th e t im e o f th e d iv o rce, Jack w as em p l o y e d as a m e c h an ical en g in eer a t

G r een w o o d U tility

, rep o rtin g an ad j u s t e d g r o s s m o n th ly in c o m e o f $ 3 ,0 7 7

. L o ri w as an

atto rn ey w h o rep o r

t ed an ad j u sted g ro ss m o n th ly

in co m e o f

$ 2 ,5 1 5

. 6 6

.

¶3

. Jack w as laid o f

f f r o m h is G reen w o o d U t ilities em p l o y m en t sh o rtly f

o llo w i n g th e

d iv o r ce. A f

ter a sh o rt tim e at an o th er u tility co m p an y , Jack b eg an w o rk in g at h is m o th er’s

g en eral co u n try sto re. H o w ev er, th e sto re clo sed in A p ril 2 0 1 1 an d w a s so ld

. I n Ju n e, Jack

m o v ed t o D ap h n e, A lab am a, to seek em p lo y me n t an d b e clo ser t o h is th en

- g irlf rien d an d

n o w

- w i f e, Ju lie. B ecau se Jack w as u n em p lo y ed

, h e b e g an p a y i n g o n l y $ 6 2 5 p er m o n th in

ch ild su p p o rt to L o ri in stead o f $ 1 ,7 0 0

. 2

¶4

. In M ay 2 0 1 2

, J ack f iled a p etitio n f

o r m o d i f icatio n o f t h e f

in al j u d g m en t o f d iv o rce.

D u e to h is in ab ility to f

in d stab le em

p lo y m e n t
, Jack so u g h t a red u ctio n i n ch ild s u p p o rt f ro m

2 In Ju ly 2 0 1 1

, J ack p aid L o ri ap p ro x im ately $ 2 5 ,0 0 0 in b ack su p p o rt af ter th e sale

o f h is m o th e r’s sto re.

3$ 1 ,7 0 0 to $ 6 2 5 p er m o n th

, in clu siv e o f all af ter-sch o o l care, h ealth -in su r an c e p rem i u m s, an d

ex tracu r ricu lar activ ities, a s w ell as m o d if i catio n o f h is o b lig atio n t o p ay all o f K in sley ’s

m ed ical e x p en ses, an d h i s f u n d in g o f M P A C T

, am o n g o th er m atters. L o ri a n s w ered an d

co u n terclaim ed f

o r co n tem p t o f co u rt d u e to Jack ’s f ailu re to m ain tain h ealth in su ran ce f o r

K i n sley

, f u lly f u n d M P A C T

, a n d p ay a ll ch ild su p p o rt, m ed ical ex p en ses, af ter-sch o o l care,

an d ex tracu rricu lar activ ities as ag reed u p o n in th e f in al j u d g m en t.

¶5

. In A p ril 2 0 1 4

, a h earin g w as h eld o n Jack ’s p etitio n an d L o ri’s c o u n terclaim

. 3 A t th is

t i me , J a c k ’ s ad

j u s ted g ro ss m o n th ly in c o m e w as $ 2 ,5 7 5 .3 5

. T h e ch an cello r h eld Jack i n

co n tem p t f o r t h e f o l lo w in g arrearag e: ch i l d s u p p o rt in th e am o u n t o f $ 3 4 ,7 7 5

,

ex tracu r ricu lar a ctiv ities o f $ 2 ,5 9 2 .2 3

, u n co v ered m e d i cal ex p en ses o f $ 4 6 5 .1 2

, an d f ailin g

to f u n d M P A C T o r p ro v i d e h ealth in su ran c e, resu ltin g in a j u d g me n t ag a i n st h im o f

$ 3 7 ,8 3 2 .3 5

. T h e ch a n cello r o rd ered Jac k t o p ay a lu m p su m o f $ 3 ,2 9 7 .4 8 b y Ju n e 2 0 1 4

,

w i th th e r em ain in g b alan ce o f th e arrearag e to b e p a i d at t h e rate o f $ 1 3 5 p er m o n th . Jack

w a s also o rd ered t o f

u n d th e least ex p en siv e M P A C T f u n d p resen tly a v a ilab l e f

o r K in sley ’s

co lleg e-tu itio n ex p en ses, an d to p ay $ 1 ,0 0 0 to L o ri’s a tto rn ey as p artial reim b u r sem en t f

o r

h er a tto rn ey ’s f

e es. A d d itio n ally

, th e ch an cello r am en d e d th e p rio r j u d g m en t o f d iv o rce.

T h e ch an cello r f

o u n d a m aterial ch an g e in circu m stan ces arisin g f ro m Jack ’s e arn in g s sin ce

th e en try o f d iv o rce; t h e r ef o re, Jack ’s ch ild -su p p o rt o b lig atio n w as r ed u ced to $ 8 6 5 p er

3 T w o ch a n cello rs recu s ed th em selv es f ro m th e m atter; so a sp ec i a l j u d g e w as
ap p o in t ed

.

4m o n th

. 4 T h is f i g u re co n stitu ted $ 3 6 5 p er m o n th in ch ild su p p o rt b ased o n Jack ’s cu rren t

salary

, an d $ 5 0 0 a m o n th f o r t u itio n to P illo w A cad e m y in G reen w o o d

, M ississip p i, w h ere

K i n sley h ad b een atten d in g p riv ate sch o o l

. T h e ch an cel l o r e x p l a in ed th at th e $ 5 0 0 w as a

d ev iatio n f

ro m th e g u id elin e s d u e to Jack ’s o rig in a l ag reem en t to p a y p riv ate-sch o o l tu itio n

.

Jack w as also o r d ered t o co n tin u e to m ain tain h ealth in su ran c e f o r K in sley

, b u t h e w as o n ly

resp o n s ib le f

o r o n e -h alf o f h er u n co v ered m ed ical ex p e n ses. H e w as also t o p ay o n e-h alf

o f h er d an ce ex p en ses at P i llo w A cad em y , b u t n o o t h e r e x tracu rricu l ar activ ities, an d h e w as

n o lo n g er resp o n sib le f

o r o n e-h alf o f K in sley ’ s af ter-sch o o l-care ex p en ses. V isitatio n rig h ts

w e re slig h tly m o d if

ied f o r co n v en ien ce o f th e p arties, sin ce L o ri liv ed in C o ila, M ississip p i,

an d Jack h ad m o v ed to D ap h n e, A lab am a. F in ally

, J a ck w as o rd e red to p ay $ 3 0 ,5 0 0 o f

L o ri’s stu d en t-lo an d eb t b ef o re A p ril 2 0 1 5

, o r in cu r 4 % in terest o n t h e rem ain in g b alan ce. 5

Jack tim ely ap p ealed

, raisin g th re e i s s ue s r e ga r di ng his p ay

m en t o f th e p riv ate-sch o o l tu itio n ,

stu d e n t-lo an d eb t, an d atto rn ey ’ s f ees.

S T A N D A R D O F R E VIE W

¶6

. T h is C o u rt “ w i l l n o t d i s t u r b t h e f i n d i n g s o f a ch an cello r w h e n su p p o rted b y

4 T h e ch an cello r n o t ed th e $ 8 6 5 p er m o n th f o r ch ild su p p o rt p lu s th e $ 1 3 5 p er m o n th f o r th e stu d en t-lo a n r ep ay m en t w o u ld to tal $ 1 ,0 0 0 p er m o n t h i n p a y men t s f o r Jack

, d o w n f ro m $ 1 ,7 0 0 p er m o n th

.

5 T h e ch an cello r a rriv ed at th e f i g u re o f $ 3 0 ,5 0 0 b y tak in g $ 1 3 5 ,0 0 0 in to tal stu d en t lo an s , w h ich w ere all in L o ri’s n am e, su b tractin g $ 7 4 ,0 0 0 w h ich L o ri testif ied w as strictly h er d e b t
, leav in g $ 6 1 ,0 0 0 u sed f o r liv in g ex p en ses an d th u s attrib u tab le to b o th p a rties; th e ch an cello r th e n d iv id e d th at f ig u re in h alf

. Wh ile th e o rig in a l d iv o rce d ecree lists $ 1 3 0 ,0 0 0 in stu d en t-lo an d eb t, Jack d o es n o t cite th i s d i f f eren ce as erro r.

5s u b s tan tial ev id en ce u n less th e c h an cello r ab u s ed h is d iscretio n , w as m an if e stly w ro n g ,
clearly e rro n eo u s, o r an e rro n eo u s leg al stan d ard w as ap p lied .” S a n d e r so n v. S a n d erso n ,

8 2 4 S o . 2 d 6 2 3

, 6 2 5 -2 6 (¶8 ) (M iss. 2 0 0 2 ) (citatio n o m itted ). C h a n cello rs are g iv en b ro ad

d iscretio n in th e area o f m o d if icatio n o f ch ild su p p o rt. M o r ris v. S ta cey , 6 4 1 S o

. 2 d 1 1 9 4

,

1 1 9 6 (M iss. 1 9 9 4 ). “[ T ] h e p ro c ess o f w eig h in g ev id en ce an d a rriv in g at an aw ard o f ch ild

su p p o rt is essen tially an ex erc i s e i n f act-f in d in g ,” w h ich restricts th is C o u rt’s rev iew

sig n i f ican tly

. C l a u sel v. C la u sel

, 7 1 4 S o

. 2 d 2 6 5

, 2 6 6 -6 7 (¶6 ) (M i ss. 1 9 9 8 ) ( q u o t in g

G i llesp ie v. G illesp ie , 5 9 4 S o . 2 d 6 2 0 , 6 2 2 (M iss. 1 9 9 2 )).

A N A L Y S IS

1

. C h ild S u p p o rt

¶7

. Jack arg u es th at th e ch an cello r erred w h en d o w n w ard l y m o d if y in g h is ch ild su p p o rt

b y d ev iatin g f

ro m th e statu t o ry g u id elin es an d in clu d in g p riv ate-sch o o l t u i t i o n w ith in th e

o b lig atio n w ith o u t m ak in g a s p ecif ic f in d i n g t o su p p o r

t it. T h eref

o re, h e claim s th e

ch an cello r’s im

p o sitio n o f

tu itio n sh o u ld b e rev ersed

.

¶8

. U n d er th e ap p licab le M i ssissip p i statu te, a n o n cu sto d ial p aren t o f o n e ch i ld sh o u ld

p ay 1 4 % o f h i s o r h er ad

j u sted g ro ss in co m e f

o r ch ild su p p o rt. 6 M iss. C o d e A n n

. § 4 3 -1 9

-

1 0 1 (3 )(b ) (R ev

. 2 0 1 5 ). A reb u ttab le p resu m p tio n o f “j u stn ess o r ap p r o p riaten ess o f a n

aw ard o r m o d i f

icatio n o f ch ild su p p o rt” b a sed u p o n th e g u i d elin es i s estab lish e d

, b u t it “m ay

6 A d j u st e d g ro ss in co m e is d ef in e d as th e am o u n t r em ain i n g af ter d ed u ctio n s f

o r f ed eral, state, an d lo cal tax es, so cial secu rity

, retirem en t, an d d isab i lity co n trib u tio n s. M iss.
C o d e A n n . § 4 3 -1 9 -1 0 1 (3 ) (R ev . 2 0 1 5 ).

6b e o v erco m e b y a j u d icial o r a d min istrativ e b o d y

. . . m ak i n g a w ritten f in d in g o r sp ecif

ic

f in d in g o n th e reco rd ” th at th e g u id elin es are in ap p ro p riate in a p articu lar case. M iss. C o d e

A n n

. § 4 3 -1 9 -1 0 3 (R e v

. 2 0 1 5 ). C h ild -su p p o rt o b lig atio n s “can b e m o d if ied w h e n th ere is

a f in d in g o f a m aterial ch an g e in circu m stan ces [ th at] w as n o t f o reseeab l e at th e t im e o f th e

j u d g m en t o f

d iv o r ce.” S

h o rt v. S h o rt , 1 3 1 S o

. 3 d 1 1 4 9 , 1 1 5 2 (¶8 ) (M iss. 2 0 1 4 ).

¶9

. Jack co m

p lain s th at th e $ 5 0 0 p e r m o n th in p riv ate-sch o o l t u i tio n m a d e h is ch ild

s u p p o r t o b lig atio n g reater th an 3 3 .5 % o f h is ad j u sted g r o ss in co m e , an d w ith a ll s u p p o r t

related co sts f

o r K in sley

, h is o b lig atio n w as o v er 5 1 % o f h i s ad j u sted g r o s s in co m e.

M o reo v er, h e claim s th e f in d in g b y th e ch an cello r at th e m o d if icatio n h earin g reg ard in g th e

statu to ry d ev iatio n w as in su f

f icien t. We d i sag ree.

¶1 0

. T h e c h an cello r f

o u n d a m aterial ch an g e in circu m stan c e an d g ran ted Jack ’s req u est

f o r a d o w n w ard m o d if

icatio n in ch ild su p p o rt an d o th er f i n an cial o b lig a t io n s. Jack ’s

p ay m en t d e c r e a s e d f

ro m $ 1 ,7 0 0 p er m o n t h to $ 1 ,0 0 0 p er m o n t h

– b o t h f ig u res in clu d i n g

co n sid eratio n f

o r stu d en t -lo an d eb t as w e ll as ch ild su p p o rt. 7 T h e ch ild -su p p o rt f ig u re o f

$ 8 6 5 co n stitu ted $ 3 6 5 in statu to ry ch ild s u p p o r t ( 1 4 % o f h is ad j u sted g ro ss in co m e o f

$ 2 ,5 7 5 .3 5 ) 8 an d $ 5 0 0 f

o r p r i v ate-sch o o l t

u itio n at P i llo w A c a d e m y

– th e co st o f tu itio n f o r

o n e m o n th

.

7 T h ese f ig u r es rep resen t 5 5 % an d 3 9 % o f Jack ’s a d j u sted g ro ss in co m e, resp ectiv ely

.

8 Jack rep o rted an ad

j u sted g ro ss in co m e o f $ 2 ,5 7 5 .3 5 o n h is c u rren t R u le 8 .0 5 f o rm ,
w h ich i s a

p p r o x im ately $ 5 0 0 less th an w as r e p o r t ed o n h is o rig in a l R u le 8 .0 5 f o rm

. S ee U C C R 8 .0 5

.

7¶1 1

. T h ere w as n o sp ecif ic ex p l an atio n in th e ag reem en t itself reg ard in g w h at co m p rised

th e $ 1 ,7 0 0

, b u t t h e p arties e x p lain e d th eir o rig i n a l a n d c u rren t in t en tio n s at th e m o d if icatio n

h earin g

. T h e o rig in al cu sto d y , su p p o rt, a n d p ro p erty -settlem en t ag reem en t
, sig n ed b y b o th

p arties, stated :

A s ch ild su p p o rt, H u s b an d

. . . sh all p ay $ 1 ,7 0 0 p er m o n th

, as ch ild su p p o rt, f o llo w in g th e e n try o f d iv o rce w h i ch h e sh all p ay

. . . th e r eaf ter u n til t h e ch ild attain s th e ag e o f tw en t y -o n e y ears, m arries o r b eco m es em a n cip ated

,
w h ich ev er o ccu rs f

irst. T h is ch i ld su p p o rt s h all n o t b e s u b j ect to r ed u ctio n as lo n g as Wif

e is p ay in g o n th e $ 1 3 0 ,0 0 0 stu d en t lo an ref erred to h erein af

ter.

A n o t h er p ro v isi o n in t h e ag reem en t th at related to h o w th e p arties arriv ed at th e ch ild

su p p o rt f ig u re w as related to th e stu d en t -lo an d e b ts:

Wif e sh all p ay th e f

o llo w in g d eb ts: all d eb ts in h er n am e alo n e i n c lu d i n g th e $ 1 3 0 ,0 0 0 s tu d en t lo a n

. It is ag reed th at th is stu d en t lo an w as u sed b y b o th
H u sb an d an d W if

e f o r th eir co lleg e ed u c atio n s, an d th at Wif e is ag reein g to b e resp o n sib le f

o r p ay in g all o f it i n co n sid eratio n o f H u sb an d p ay in g h er th e ch ild su p p o r

t set o u t in p arag r a

p h 3 ab o v e.

A t th e m o d if

icatio n h earin g d u rin g ex am in atio n b y L o ri’ s c o u n s e l, Jack resp o n d ed

af f irm ativ ely th at th e tw o o f th em ag reed t o all o f th e term s an d p ro v isio n s o f th e ag reem en t,

w a ited six ty d ay s, an d w ere g ran ted a d iv o rce, an d th at Jack a g r eed to p ay $ 1 ,7 0 0 p er m o n th

in ch ild s u p p o rt u n d er th e ag reem en t. Jack f u rth er stated d u r in g q u estio n in g th at th ey cam e

u p w ith th e $ 1 ,7 0 0 f

ig u re “b ecau se o f h er stu d en t lo an s an d ev ery t h i n g else.” H e ad m itted

P illo w A cad em y t

u itio n w as also f

acto red in to th e f

ig u re, w h ich w a s a p p r o x im ately $ 4 5 0

to $ 5 0 0 p er m o n th a t t h e tim e. Jack stated K in sley h ad g o n e to P illo w A cad em y s in ce “d ay

o n e,” o r six y ears at th at tim e, an d h e w an ted h e r to co n ti n u e atten d i n g th e sch o o l.

8R e g a rd in g th e stu d en t lo an s, J a c k ad m itted t h e $ 1 3 0 ,0 0 0 w as “ m o re th an j u st a stu d en t

lo an ” ; i t in clu d ed so m e o f t h eir j o in t liv i n g e x p e n s e s w h ile L o ri receiv e d h er law d eg ree

f ro m th e U n iv ersity

o f T u lsa. Jack af

f irm ed th at h e to ld th e ch an cello r d u rin g th e d iv o rce

p ro ceed i n g s th at h e co u ld co m p ly w ith all o f th e o b lig atio n s o f th e ag reem en t, in clu d in g th e

$ 1 ,7 0 0 in ch ild su p p o rt.

¶1 2

. A s L o r i p o in ts o u t, ch an cello rs are n o t r e q u i r e d to m ak e sp ecif ic f in d in g s o f

f act

su p p o rtin g u p w ard d ev iatio n s in ch ild su p p o r t w h en t h e p arties h a v e p rev io u s ly

, k n o w in g ly

,

an d w illf u lly o b lig ated th em selv es to p a y m o re th an t h e g u id elin es req u ire, su ch as th ro u g h

a v alid ag reem en t. S

ee S tig ler v. S tig ler

, 4 8 S o

. 3 d 5 4 7 , 5 5 5 (¶2 9 ) (M iss. C t. A p p . 2 0 1 0 ).

In d iv o rce ag r eem en t s, “p arties m ay in f act ag ree o f th eir o w n v o litio n to d o m o re th an th e

law req u i res o f th em

. W h e re su ch a v alid ag reem en t is m ad e, it m ay b e en f o rced j u st as an y

o th er co n tract.” Id

. at 5 5 1 ( ¶9 ) (q u o tin g R o g ers v. R o g ers , 9 1 9 S o

. 2 d 1 8 4

, 1 8 9 (¶1 9 ) (M iss.

C t

. A p p

. 2 0 0 5 ) )

. U n l i k e S t ig ler

, h o w ev er, h ere th e m o d if i catio n w as n o t u p w ard

, an d as

Jack states, th e p arties d id n o t ag ree to th e term s o f th e m o d if i catio n

. S tig ler d id n o t in v o lv e

a ch ild -su p p o rt m o d if

icatio n , b u t th e in itial ag reem en t

. L o ri also cites to S h o rt
, 1 3 1 S o

. 3 d

at 1 1 5 2 ( ¶1 0 ), w h ere th e su p rem e co u rt d en i ed d o w n w ard ly m o d if y in g t h e h u sb an d ’s ch ild

su p p o rt o b lig atio n an d en f o r ced th e o rig in al ag r eem en t b ecau se, w h ile th e o b lig atio n w as

“in d e ed h ig h

, [ th e h u sb a n d ] f reely co n sen ted ” to p ro v id e m o re su p p o rt t h a n th e statu to ry

g u id e lin es reco m m e n d ed

.

¶1 3

. Jack cites to S

o u th erla n d v. S

o u th erla n d

, 8 1 6 S o

. 2 d 1 0 0 4

, 1 0 0 6 (¶9 ) (M iss. 2 0 0 2 )

,

9M

o ses v. M o ses , 8 7 9 S o

. 2 d 1 0 4 3

, 1 0 4 8 (¶1 4 ) (M iss. C t. A p p

. 2 0 0 4 ), an d K ilg o re v. F

u ller

,

7 4 1 S o

. 2 d 3 5 1

, 3 5 4 (¶1 1 ) (M i s s

. C t

. A p p

. 1 9 9 9 ), f o r th e p ro p o sitio n th at p riv ate-sch o o l

tu itio n is a n o rd i n ary ex p en se to b e in clu d ed in t h e statu t o r y am o u n t o f

ch i ld su p p o rt, an d

n o t t o b e c alcu lated sep arately o r in ad d itio n t o th e su p p o rt aw ard

. F u rth e r , if an aw a rd

ex ceed s th e p resu m

p tiv e am o u n t o f th e g u id elin es, th e ch an cello r m u st m ak e a sp ecif

ic

f in d in g as to w h y it is j u s t o r ap p ro p riate. H o w ev er, n eith er S o u t h erla n d n o r M

o ses

in v o l v ed a m o d if

i catio n aw ard

, an d K

ilg o re w as an in crease in ch ild s u p p o rt, n o t a d ecrease.

¶1 4

. Wh ile all o f th e au th o rity c ited b y th e p a rties i s so m ew h at d istin g u ish a b l e , w e f i n d

th e ch an cello r m ad e a su f f i cien t f in d in g at th e m o d i f

icatio n h earin g th at J ack m u st co n tin u e

to p a y p riv ate-sch o o l tu itio n

. T h e f i n d i n g w as b ased u p o n Jack an d L o r i’s d etailed

testim o n y th at Jack w an t ed K in sley to co n tin u e h er ed u c atio n at P illo w A cad em y , w h ere sh e

h ad b een f

o r six y ears. We d o n o t ag ree w ith J ack th at th e so le b asi s o f th e ch an cello r’s

ru lin g w as th e p rio r ag reem en t

. T h e ch an cello r to o k in to acco u n t w h at th e p a r t i e s h ad

ag reed to b ef

o re, as w ell a s th e w ay th ey h ad raised an d ed u cated th e ch ild sin ce th e d iv o rce.

T h e ch an cello r w as ab le b o th to d o w n w a rd ly m o d if y Jack ’ s ch ild su p p o rt n early b y h alf

, an d

p ro v id e f o r p riv ate

- s c h o o l t u itio n w ith in t h e o b lig atio n

. We f in d n o erro r w ith th e

m o d if icatio n

.

¶1 5

. T h e ch an cello r p ro v id ed a su f f icien t e x p l a n a t i o n t o d e v i a t e f r o m t h e statu to ry

g u id e lin es o f ch ild s u p p o rt an d in clu d e p riv ate-sch o o l tu itio n

. T h is issu e is w ith o u t m erit.

2

. S tu d e n t-L o a n D eb t

1 0¶1 6

. Jack claim s th at th e trial co u rt erred in aw ard in g L o ri a l u mp s u m o f $ 3 0 ,5 0 0

,

rep resen tin g s tu d e n t-lo an d eb t. T h e ch a n cello r to o k $ 1 3 5 ,0 0 0 i n t o t a l s tu d en t-lo an d eb t

m en tio n ed in th e d iv o rce d ecree an d su b tracted $ 7 4

, 0 0 0

, w h i ch L o r i a d m itted w as h er law

sch o o l tu itio n an d b o o k ex p en ses f o r th ree y e ars. T h e rem ain in g $ 6 1 ,0 0 0 w as stu d en t lo an s

attrib u tab le to b o th o f th eir liv in g ex p en ses; th eref o re, th e ch an cello r to o k o n e-h a lf o f t h at

f ig u re an d g ran ted a j u d g m en t to L o ri o f $ 3 0

, 5 0 0

. A s p rev io u sly n o ted

, t h e o rig i n al d iv o rce

d ecree lists $ 1 3 0 ,0 0 0 as th e am o u n t o f d e b t rath er th a n $ 1 3 5 ,0 0 0

.

¶1 7

. J a c k d o e s n o t r a i s e t h i s a s erro r b u t arg u es th at th ere w ere s e v e r a l o t h e r

m iscalcu latio n s related t o th e stu d en t-lo an j u d g m en t. H e claim s L o ri a ctu ally atten d ed law

sch o o l f o r f o u r y ears, n o t th ree, an d th u s h er to tal in d eb t ed n ess w as n o t $ 7 4 ,0 0 0 b u t $ 9 6 ,0 0 0

($ 2 1 ,0 0 0 in tu itio n each y e ar an d $ 1 2 ,0 0 0 in b o o k s f o r f o u r y ears). Jack arg u es $ 1 3 0 ,0 0 0

less $ 9 6 ,0 0 0 is $ 3 4 ,0 0 0

, an d o n e-h alf o f th is f ig u re is $ 1 7 ,0 0 0

, so th at sh o u l d b e th e

m ax im u m p o rtio n o f

in d eb ted n ess h e is resp o n sib l e f o r, n o t $ 3 0 ,5 0 0

.

¶1 8

. Jack also c o n t e n d s t h e i n c lu sio n o f ap p ro x im ately $ 5 0 0 w ith in t h e o rig i n al ch ild

su p p o rt am o u n t o f $ 1 ,7 0 0 w as o n ly to b en ef it L o r i

, so sh e co u ld rep ay h er stu d e n t lo an s.

J a c k c l aim s th is, as w ell as th e p ro v isio n in th e o rig in al d ecree th at d id n o t allo w J a c k t o

red u ce h i s ch ild -su p p o rt o b lig atio n as lo n g as L o ri w as p ay in g o n th e $ 1 3 0

, 0 0 0 in stu d en t

lo an s , co n stitu ted o v erreach in g b y L o ri w h e n th e o rig in al ag reem en t w a s m ad e in 2 0 1 0

.

¶1 9

. “P arties a re a llo w ed b ro ad l atitu d e in m ak in g d ecisio n s reg ard i n g p r o p erty settlem en t

ag reem en ts in d iv o rce p ro ceed in g s, an d ab sen t o v e rreach in g o r f rau d

, t h e ag reem en ts w ill

1 1b e en f

o rced .” P rice v. P rice

, 5 S o

. 3 d 1 1 5 1

, 1 1 5 5 (¶9 ) ( M iss. C t. A p p

. 2 0 0 9 ) (citin g S p eed

v. S p eed

, 7 5 7 S o

. 2 d 2 2 1

, 2 2 4 -2 5 (¶8 ) (M iss. 2 0 0 0 ) ). “O v erreach in g o ccu rs w h en an

ag reem en t: (1 ) ‘is so o n e -sid ed an d u n f a i r t h at it co u ld n e v e r b e co n sid ered ad eq u ate an d

su f f icien t,’ a n d (2 ) ‘resu lted f ro m an in e q u ality o f b arg ain in g p o w er o r o th er circu m stan ces

su ch th at th ere w as n o m ean i n g f u l ch o ice o n th e p a r

t o f th e d i sad v an tag ed p arty .’” Id

.
(q u o tin g In re D isso lu tio n o f th e M a rria g e o f D e S t. G erm a in

, 9 7 7 S o

. 2 d 4 1 2

, 4 1 9 (¶2 1 )

(M iss. C t. A p p . 2 0 0 8 )).

¶2 0

. Jack ’s arg u m en ts o n o v erreach in g relate to th e o r ig in al d iv o rce ag reem e nt
, whe n J a c k

ch o se n o t to b e rep resen ted b y co u n sel a n d n ev er co n tested th e p ro v isio n related to stu d en t

lo an s u n til th is ap p eal. L o ri testif ied th at it “w as [ th eir] u n d erstan d in g ” w h en th ey m ad e th e

o rig i n al ag reem en t t h at Jack co u ld “p ay [ h im self ] o u t o f t h e s tu d en t l o an s an d f ig u re reg u lar

ch ild su p p o rt an d ex p en ses f o r K in sley .” In stead

, Jack w an ted to p ay $ 1 ,7 0 0 p er m o n th to

L o ri, w ith th e p r o v isio n t h at th is f ig u re co u ld n o t b e red u ced u n til L o ri p a i d o f f t h e stu d en t

lo an s , f o r w h ich s h e w as so lely resp o n sib le. 9 L o ri ex p lain ed sh e stru ctu red th e ag reem en t

in th is m an n er b ecau se t h e lo an s w ere in h er n a m e an d sh e d id n o t w a n t to d ef au l t if Jack d id

n o t p ay h er. A d d itio n ally

, co n trary to Jack ’s statem en t, L o ri testif ied th at w h ile sh e w as in

a f o u r

- y e a r p ro g ram , sh e o n l y a tten d ed law sch o o l f o r th ree y ears, w ith a to tal co st o f

$ 7 4 ,0 0 0 , m ak in g Jack ’ s calcu latio n s o n ap p eal in co rrect.

9 We also can n o t say , as Jack d o es, th at b ecau se th e c h an cello r m o d i f ied th e $ 1 ,7 0 0 f ig u re, h e m ad e a f

in d in g o f o v e rreach in g b y L o ri. N eith er th e testim o n y n o r th e ev id en ce
p o in t ed to th is alleg atio n

.

1 2¶2 1

. T h e o n ly erro r w e f in d is t h e ch an cello r’s attrib u t in g $ 3 0

, 5 0 0 as Jack ’s sh are o f th e

stu d e n t-lo an d eb t f

o r j o in t l iv in g ex p en ses, b a s e d u p o n h is im p ro p er su b stitu tio n o f

$ 1 3 5 ,0 0 0 f

o r $ 1 3 0 ,0 0 0 in to tal stu d en t-lo an d eb t. D u e to th e ch an cello r’s m iscalcu latio n o f

th e o rig in al am o u n t o f d eb t
, w e rev erse an d ren d er j u d g m e n t f o r L o ri in th e am o u n t o f

$ 2 8 ,0 0 0 f o r Jack ’ s sh are o f

th e stu d en t-lo an d e b t.

3

. A tto rn e y ’s F ees

¶2 2

. Jack a r g u e s th at th e $ 1 ,0 0 0 aw ard in a tto rn ey ’s f ees to L o r i w as im

p ro p er b ecau se

th ere w as n o f

in d in g o f w illf

u l co n tem p t. We ag ree. Wh ile an aw a rd o f atto rn ey ’s f ees is

p ro p er in a c o n tem

p t case an d “larg ely en tru sted to th e so u n d d iscretio n o f th e ch an cello r,”

th e co u rt “ m

u st f irst co n sid er w h e th er a p a r t y w illf u lly v io lated th e co u r

t’s o rd er.” P rice

,

5 S o

. 3 d at 1 1 5 8 (¶1 9 ) (citatio n s o m itted ). H er e , t h ere w a s n o f in d in g th at J ack w illf

u lly

v io lated th e co u rt’s o rd er. In f a ct, th e ch a n cello r s p ecif

ically stated th a t w h ile Jack w as in

co n tem p t o f co u rt, h e w as n o t in w illf u l co n tem p t. T h e ev id en ce p resen ted a t th e h earin g

su p p o rts th is f

in d in g

. J ack co u ld n o t p a y h i s f in an cial o b l ig atio n s d u e to h is em p lo y m en t

issu es, an d w h en h e d id o b tain ex tra m o n e y d u e to th e s ale o f h is m o th er’s g en eral sto re, h e

p aid L o ri th e $ 2 5 ,0 0 0 in arrearag e. Wh ile L o r i c i t e s t estim o n y f r o m th e m o d if

icatio n

h earin g to su p p o rt h er claim th at Jack w as in w illf

u l co n t em p t, w e d o n o t f

in d it su f f icien t

to o v ertu rn th e c h an cello r’s f in d in g th at Jack ’s c o n tem p t w as n o t w illf

u l. A cco rd in g ly

, w e

rev erse an d ren d er th e $ 1 ,0 0 0 aw ard o f atto rn ey ’s f

ees to L o ri.

¶2 3

. T H E J U D G M E N T O F T H E C I R C U IT C O U R T O F C A R R O L L C O U N T Y , F I R S T J U D IC IA L D IS T R IC T , IS A F F IR M E D IN P A R T A N D R E VE R S E D A N D

1 3R E N D E R E D IN P A R T

. A L L C O S T S O F T H IS A P P E A L A R E A S S E S S E D T O T H E

A P P E L L A N T

.

L E E , C .J ., IR VIN G A N D G R I F F IS , P .J J ., IS H E E , C A R L T O N , F A IR , J A M E S
A N D G R E E N L E E , J J ., C O N C U R

. W IL S O N , J

. , C O N C U R S I N P A R T A N D
D I S S E N T S IN P A R T W IT H O U T S E P A R A T E W R IT T E N O P IN IO N

.

1 4