Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/343/343mass247.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 22:07:27+00:00

Document:
RONNI R. ROBBINS vs. SAUL L. ROBBINS.
LIBEL for divorce filed by Ronni R. Robbins in the Probate Court for the county of Norfolk on May 7, 1958.
Following a decree of divorce, there were proceedings on a petition by the libellee, Saul L. Robbins, filed on June 15, 1960, for modification of the decree with respect to alimony. From a decree by Hickey, J., on such petition the libellant, Ronni R. Robbins, appealed.
Joseph B. Abrams, (Robert J. Sherer with him,) for Ronni R. Robbins.
Haskell C. Freedman, for Saul L. Robbins.
The present proceeding is a petition brought by Saul (petitioner) against Ronni (respondent), after the decree of annulment, for a modification of the alimony decree. The petition for modification alleged that the marriage of the respondent to Goodman "constituted such a substantial change in the circumstances" as would warrant a modification of the decree. The modification prayed for was that the petitioner be relieved from all payments of alimony subsequent to September 13, 1959. On September 8, 1960, a decree was entered modifying the original decree "by striking therefrom all provisions for payment of alimony as of September 8, 1960; and that any arrearages that may be due . . . [under the original decree to and including that date] are to be paid forthwith; all until the further order of the Court." From this decree the respondent appealed. The evidence is reported and the judge made a report of the material facts.
under the laws of . . . Missouri, but she was of sound mind and capable of understanding the full meaning, legally and morally, of the marriage contract. The thirty-one year old respondent lives with her parents in Newton"; she "has not worked since her divorce from the petitioner." Her vision in both eyes "is impaired to a limited degree, but notwithstanding the deficiency she has a license to operate and does operate a motor vehicle." She is "capable of pursuing some type of remunerative vocation." The judge concluded that on "the basis of the above facts" the respondent was not entitled to further alimony.
1. The authority for modification of an alimony decree is found in G. L. c. 208, Section 37, which reads: "After a decree for alimony or an annual allowance for the wife or children, the court may, from time to time, upon the petition of either party, revise and alter its decree relative to the amount of such alimony or annual allowance and the payment thereof, and may make any decree relative thereto which it might have made in the original suit." Although this statute appears on its face to give complete discretion to the court in the revision of alimony decrees, this court has repeatedly said that no modification can be made unless the petitioner shows a change of circumstances since the entry of the earlier decree. Southworth v. Treadwell, 168 Mass. 511. Smith v. Smith, 190 Mass. 573, 575. McIlroy v. McIlroy, 208 Mass. 458, 464-465. Coughlin v. Coughlin, 312 Mass. 452, 454. Ziegler v. McKinlay, 318 Mass. 765, 767. Coe v. Coe, 320 Mass. 295, 306-307. Whitney v. Whitney, 325 Mass. 28, 31-32. O'Brien v. O'Brien, 325 Mass. 573, 576. Our law is in harmony with the great weight of authority on this subject. See annotation in 18 A. L. R. 2d 13, 17 et seq.; Am. Jur., Divorce and Separation, Section 742. And the basis for this rule is sound. The parties have had their day in court and the issue ought not to be relitigated unless there has been a change of circumstances after the entry of the original decree.
marriage to Goodman, if not annulled, would have been such a material change in circumstances as to justify a revision of the former decree. Southworth v. Treadwell, 168 Mass. 511, 512. Compare Zeigler v. McKinlay, 318 Mass. 765, 767. But the marriage was annulled, as the judge below found, by a "court of competent jurisdiction." The only ground suggested for impeaching the annulment decree is an alleged mistake of law by the Missouri court. It is conceded in the respondent's brief that the Missouri court might possibly have erred "either in not applying Massachusetts law or in applying it incorrectly." The findings of the judge shed no light on this point. For purposes of this appeal, we assume with the petitioner that Missouri incorrectly applied its own conflict of laws rule in the annulment proceeding by failing to apply the law of the place of the marriage (Massachusetts). See Hartman v. Valier & Spies Milling Co. 356 Mo. 424, 432-433, and Levy v. Levy, 309 Mass. 230, 233. But this is not a sufficient basis for attacking the decree. Even if the Missouri court failed to apply correctly its conflict of laws rule, the full faith and credit clause of the Federal Constitution would require the courts of this Commonwealth to treat the Missouri annulment decree as a final and binding adjudication of the respondent's marriage status with Goodman. Sutton v. Leib, 342 U.S. 402. It is settled law that a foreign judgment cannot be denied recognition solely because of error of law or fact which does not affect the jurisdiction of the court rendering the judgment. Fauntleroy v. Lum, 210 U.S. 230. American Exp. Co. v. Mullins, 212 U.S. 311. Roche v. McDonald, 275 U.S. 449. Titus v. Wallick, 306 U.S. 282. Restatement: Conflict of Laws, Section 431. The "full faith and credit clause of the Constitution precludes any inquiry into the merits of the cause of action, the logic or consistency of the decision, or the validity of the legal principles on which the judgment is based." Milliken v. Meyer, 311 U.S. 457, 462. In the light of these principles we must deal with the case on the footing that there has been a valid annulment of the respondent's marriage to Goodman.
3. There remains the question whether the annulled marriage to Goodman constitutes a change of circumstances sufficient to support the decree below. The respondent's remarriage, which was fraudulently procured, was voidable but not void. It has been stated generally that an annulment decree relates back and makes such a marriage void from its inception. Callow v. Thomas, 322 Mass. 550, 553, and cases cited. It is the respondent's contention that an application of this principle requires the conclusion that nothing of legal significance remains after the annulled marriage to justify a finding of changed circumstances. However, as we pointed out in the Callow case, the relation-back doctrine has not been applied by the courts remorselessly where to do so would work a hardship. 322 Mass. 550, 553-555.
Court of California in Sefton v. Sefton, 45 Cal. 2d 872. The case of Gaines v. Jacobsen, 308 N. Y. 218, might seem at first blush to be at variance with the Sleicher case but actually it is not. In the Gaines case the fact that, under a statute enacted after the decision in the Sleicher case, the wife could have obtained alimony in the annulment proceedings was held to make the Sleicher decision inapplicable. [Note page252-1] The doctrine of the Gaines case would not be applicable here, for it was not open to the respondent to obtain alimony in an annulment proceeding instituted by her in Missouri. Kruse v. Kruse, 231 Mo. App. 1171, 1176-1177.
of the judge to the contrary was plainly wrong. We have not overlooked his findings on the respondent's earning capacity. But the evidence is before us, and we are of opinion that it does not show a significant change of circumstances.
The decree is reversed and the alimony provisions of the original decree are to be reinstated as of the date of the modification decree.
[Note page248-1] The petition for annulment alleged in substance that she was induced to marry Goodman on representations that he was forty-two years of age, in good health, and would "build a home" and raise a family, and that none of these representations was true. In the decree of annulment the court found that the allegations set forth in the petition were true.
[Note page251-1] The case at bar does not present the question whether the petitioner is liable for alimony for the period between the respondent's remarriage and the annulment.
[Note page252-1] The petitioner has argued, under the reasoning in the Gaines case, supra, that there was a change of circumstances in that the respondent could have sought a divorce in Missouri, and thus have received alimony, on the same grounds upon which the annulment was granted. The short answer to this argument is that it does not appear from the record in the annulment proceedings, which is before us, that the grounds upon which the annulment was granted would serve as grounds for a Missouri divorce. Anything said by the respondent in her testimony tending to amplify, modify or contradict the grounds set forth in that record was of no effect. Bryer v. American Sur. Co. 285 Mass. 336.

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