Source: http://openjurist.org/412/f2d/449/maner-v-maner
Timestamp: 2017-03-24 18:26:29
Document Index: 259706789

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1332', '§ 1', '§ 61', '§ 1', '§ 1738', '§ 61']

412 F2d 449 Maner v. Maner | OpenJurist
412 F. 2d 449 - Maner v. Maner HomeFederal Reporter, Second Series 412 F.2d.
412 F2d 449 Maner v. Maner 412 F.2d 449
Pitt Tyson MANER, Jr., Defendant-Appellant,v.Ingela Idfors MANER, Plaintiff-Appellee.
No. 26267.
Mrs. Maner's prior suits to enforce the Florida separate maintenance decrees failed because of her failure to reduce the Florida awards to non-modifiable judgments in an amount sufficient to invoke the federal court's diversity jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332. However, the prior failures were "without prejudice to [her] presenting a subsequent claim based on final judgments from a Florida court." Maner v. Maner, 302 F.Supp. 894 [M.D.Ala., May 1, 1968]. It is undisputed that on February 2, 1968 a Florida circuit court granted Mrs. Maner final judgment on separate maintenance arrearages in the amount of $5,949.83. This judgment was "in addition to and not a part of" the June 19, 1967 Florida circuit court judgment of $5,984.00. The district court consequently found:
"In regard to the enforcement of the Florida alimony decree with respect to installments previously due but unpaid, the full faith and credit clause, Const., Art. IV, § 1, normally would require Alabama courts to enforce that decree unless it were subject to retroactive modification in the state where it was entered. Sistare v. Sistare, 218 U.S. 1, 30 S.Ct. 682 [54 L.Ed. 905] (1910)."
The record indicates that although Pitt Tyson Maner, Jr. was not personally served with process in the arrearage proceedings, he was apprised of the proceedings and was therein represented by retained counsel. Under Florida law, enforcement of alimony decrees can be had on "reasonable notice which affords an opportunity to be heard." Kosch v. Kosch, 113 So.2d 547, 550 (Fla.1959). We hold that the arrearage judgments of June 19, 1967 and February 2, 1968 do not offend Florida's doctrine of fair notice. Id., Accord: Prensky v. Prensky, 146 So.2d 604, 605 (Fla.App.1962); Arrington v. Brown, 116 So.2d 461, 462 (Fla.App.1959).7 Consequently, we find that the district court correctly held that the judgments are entitled to enforcement.
The factual background of this dipute is reportedsub nom. Maner v. Maner, 279 Ala. 652, 189 So.2d 336 (1966); Maner v. Maner, 302 F.Supp. 894 [M.D.Ala., May 1, 1968]; Maner v. Maner, 5 Cir. 1968, 401 F.2d 616. We are told by supplemental papers filed in this appeal that the parties are now divorced under Alabama law.
31 F.S.A. Rule 1.550 (Fla.R.Civ.P. 1967); 32 F.S.A. Rules 5.5, 5.2 (Fla.R. Appellate P. 1967); Jenkins Trucking, Inc. v. Emmons, 207 So.2d 280 (Fla.App.1968), cert. den. 210 So.2d 867 (Fla.1968)See generally, Annot. 5 A.L.R. 1269 (1920). Cf. Bros., Inc. v. W. E. Grace Manufacturing Co., 5 Cir. 1958, 261 F.2d 428, 433 n. 4.
See, e. g., English v. English, 117 So.2d 559 (Fla.App.1960); Goff v. Goff, 151 So.2d 294 (Fla.App.1963)
Cf. 4 F.S.A. § 61.14 (1969 Supp.); Adam v. Saenger, 1938, 303 U.S. 59, 62, 58 S.Ct. 454, 82 L.Ed. 649 (Judgment is prima facie evidence of right which it purports to adjudicate)
U.S.Const., Art. IV, § 1; 28 U.S.C.A. § 1738 (1967); Barber v. Barber, 1944, 323 U.S. 77, 65 S.Ct. 137, 89 L.Ed. 82. Cf. 4 F.S.A. § 61.14, n. 6 (1969 supp.)
The Florida standard for notice of proceedings to enforce alimony decrees does not offend the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Repeated personal service is not an essential element of due process in post-decree enforcement proceedingsSee Michigan Trust Co. v. Ferry, 1913, 228 U.S. 346, 353, 33 S.Ct. 550, 57 L.Ed. 867. Cf. Griffin v. Griffin, 1946, 327 U.S. 220, 66 S.Ct. 556, 90 L.Ed. 635; Nations v. Johnson, 65 U.S. (24 How.) 195, 204-205, 16 L.Ed. 628; Reichert v. Appel, 74 So.2d 674, 676 (Fla. 1954).