Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/389/389mass248.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 20:50:46+00:00

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MARTHA A. CLOUTIER HAY vs. EMERSON L. CLOUTIER.
On May 22, 1980, the wife filed a complaint for modification seeking provision of medical and dental care for herself and the minor child, as well as a division of marital assets, pursuant to G. L. c. 208, Section 34, as appearing in St.
plaintiff had lent her name and credit for various business transactions. After the divorce, each party retained a one-half share of the marital home and the commercial lot as tenants in common. There was no distribution of the shares of stock from the husband's business. [Note 5] During the years of their reconciliation, the parties divided the vacant lot, commercially developed and sold some portions, and retained a small portion. As a result of the sale, the parties now hold the remaining portion and two income-producing mortgage notes as tenants in common.
(7) to the wife remained sole ownership of her Hummel figurines, her jewelry, cash, and stock; (8) to the wife from the husband, a payment of $50,000 cash; (9) to the wife, ownership of all furniture, furnishings, and household goods, with the exception of a roll-top desk to the husband; (10) to each party remained ownership of their respective automobiles; and (11) to the wife from the husband, payment of $5,000 toward her counsel's fees.
1. Issue preclusion (res judicata). A judgment of divorce only resolves matters which were actually involved, litigated, and determined. Maze v. Mihalovich, 7 Mass. App. Ct. 323, 326 (1979). The defendant does not argue that a division of marital property was adjudicated at the prior divorce hearing. See Talbot v. Talbot, 13 Mass. App. Ct. 456, 459 (1982). Res judicata would prohibit a property division only where such a division previously has been litigated. Maze v. Mihalovich, supra. See H.H. Clark, Domestic Relations Section 14.4, at 433-434 (1968). There was no error by the probate judge in refusing to dismiss the wife's action on this ground. Where G. L. c. 208, Section 34, is applicable and the property rights of parties to a divorce have not been adjudicated previously, the Probate Court judge, upon consideration and findings in accordance with the statutory criteria, may assign property after a judgment of divorce has become absolute pursuant to G. L. c. 208, Section 34. See Maze v. Mihalovich, supra at 324-326. See also Foster v. Foster, 10 Mass. App. Ct. 829, 829-830 (1980); Putnam v. Putnam, 7 Mass. App. Ct. 672, 674-675 (1979); Putnam v. Putnam, 5 Mass. App. Ct. 10, 13-15 (1977).
alimony to the other. In addition to or in lieu of a judgment to pay alimony, the court may assign to either husband or wife all or any part of the estate of the other." (Emphasis added.) G. L. c. 208, Section 34, as appearing in St. 1977, c. 467. The plaintiff argues that this statutory language is unambiguous and applies to both alimony and division of property and that its plain meaning clearly provides for retroactive application as to the latter. [Note 7] We disagree. We have repeatedly stated that "[t]he general rule of interpretation is that all statutes are prospective in their operation, unless an intention that they shall be retrospective appears by necessary implication from their words, context or objects when considered in the light of the subject matter, the pre-existing state of the law and the effect upon existent rights, remedies and obligations. Doubtless all legislation commonly looks to the future, not to the past, and has no retroactive effect unless such effect manifestly is required by unequivocal terms." Hanscom v. Malden & Melrose Gas Light Co., 220 Mass. 1, 3 (1914). While the language in Section 34 clearly and unambiguously establishes the authority of the Probate Court to divide all property to which the parties hold title, however acquired, it does not indicate an intention of the Legislature to have the amended Section 34 apply retroactively in this regard. See Rice v. Rice, 372 Mass. 398, 400 (1977).
Prior to changes accomplished by St. 1974, c. 565, G. L. c. 208, Section 34, authorized the Probate Court to award specific property "in the nature of alimony." "But the allowance was solely for the purpose of support and not for the purpose of a division of property." DuMont v. Godbey, 382 Mass. 234, 235 (1981). See Coe v. Coe, 313 Mass.
232, 235 (1943); Peluso v. Peluso, 5 Mass. App. Ct. 906 (1977). The purpose of Section 34, as rewritten, "is to provide a mechanism whereby no matter how the property has been acquired or how it is held, the court can distribute it between the parties in such a way as to provide for a balanced disposition and economic justice." Ginsburg, M.G.L.c. 208, Section 34 -- Some Observations About the Division of Property Leading to Predictability and Consistency, 25 B.B.J. No. 1, at 10 (1981). See Rice v. Rice, supra. "The basic concept underlying Section 34 is that marriage is a partnership, a joint enterprise in which both the breadwinner and the homemaker contributed to the rearing of the children and the accumulation of the marital assets. In dividing the marital assets, both the financial contribution in the accumulation of these assets and the nonfinancial contribution in the rearing of the children and in the running of the home must be taken into account." Ginsburg, supra. See Bianco v. Bianco, 371 Mass. 420, 422-423 (1976).
Clearly, the Legislature enacted St. 1974, c. 565, to correct and remedy the inequities caused by the earlier version of Section 34 which did not recognize this concept. See Zildjian v. Zildjian, 8 Mass. App. Ct. 1, 12-13 (1979). The statute, as amended, "empowers those courts to deal broadly with property and its equitable division in ways not previously authorized" (emphasis added). Bianco v. Bianco, supra at 422. Unlike the provisions for alimony which existed in the earlier version of G. L. c. 208, Section 34, St. 1974, c. 565, established a new substantive right of division of the property of the parties. The rules of statutory interpretation attribute prospective application to statutes affecting substantive rights. See City Council of Waltham v. Vinciullo, 364 Mass. 624, 626 (1974). Thus, we conclude that the probate judge erred in applying G. L. c. 208, Section 34, as appearing in St. 1974, c. 565, retrospectively, so as to divide the property of the parties who were divorced by a final judgment entered prior to October 17, 1974.
[Note 1] The language of the statute is as follows: "Upon divorce or upon motion in an action brought at any time after a divorce, the court may make a judgment for either of the parties to pay alimony to the other. In addition to or in lieu of a judgment to pay alimony, the court may assign to either husband or wife all or any part of the estate of the other. In determining the amount of alimony, if any, to be paid, or in fixing the nature and value of the property, if any, to be so assigned, the court, after hearing the witnesses, if any, of each party, shall consider the length of the marriage, the conduct of the parties during the marriage, the age, health, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate, liabilities and needs of each of the parties and the opportunity of each for future acquisition of capital assets and income. The court may also consider the contribution of each of the parties in the acquisition, preservation or appreciation in value of their respective estates and the contribution of each of the parties as a homemaker to the family unit." G. L. c. 208, Section 34, as appearing St. 1977, c. 467. It is clear that the assignment of property authorized by the statute is other than as alimony. Bianco v. Bianco, 371 Mass. 420, 422 n.2 (1976).
[Note 4] See Bernatavicius v. Bernatavicius, 259 Mass. 486, 490 (1927) ("operation of a divorce of the parties upon a tenancy by the entirety creates a tenancy in common").
[Note 8] The order for payment of counsel's fees, incorporated in the judgment, also fails and is to be reversed. See Hayden v. Hayden, 326 Mass. 587, 595 (1950).

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