Case Name: Gregory Edward OLSEN, Appellant, v. Patricia Joyce (Parkey) OLSEN, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1998-04-09
Citations: 709 So. 2d 614
Docket Number: No. 97-766
Parties: Gregory Edward OLSEN, Appellant, v. Patricia Joyce (Parkey) OLSEN, Appellee.
Judges: COBB, J., concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 709
Pages: 614–615

Head Matter:
Gregory Edward OLSEN, Appellant, v. Patricia Joyce (Parkey) OLSEN, Appellee.
No. 97-766.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
April 9, 1998.
Rehearing Denied May 20, 1998.
James R. Dressier, Cocoa Beach, for Appellant.
David T. Young of Young and Townsend, Rockledge, for Appellee.

Opinion:
HARRIS, Judge.
The former husband appeals the award of permanent alimony, the requirement to contribute to the wife's attorney's fees, the court's equitable distribution and the finding that certain property is marital property. We reverse that portion of the judgment that requires the husband to contribute to the wife's attorney's fees but affirm the balance.
Although the award of permanent alimony in this case is a close question, we affirm on the basis of Canakaris. We find that the trial court's determination that the Tradewinds mortgage is a marital asset is supported by the record. The equitable distribution, although generous to the wife particularly if one considers the marital funds expended by her prior to the filing of this action, is nonetheless within the court's reasonable discretion.
However, taking into account the distribution of assets, her alimony and her ability to work (she voluntarily left employment about the time this action was filed), requiring the husband to contribute to her attorney's fees is unjustified and amounts to an abuse of discretion. The record does not reflect a need on the wife's part for such contribution.
AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part and REMANDED.
COBB, J., concurs.
ANTOON, J., concurs in part; dissents in part, with opinion.