Case Name: Max H. INGRAM, Appellant, v. Margaret W. INGRAM, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1978-11-28
Citations: 364 So. 2d 1251
Docket Number: No. JJ-286
Parties: Max H. INGRAM, Appellant, v. Margaret W. INGRAM, Appellee.
Judges: BOYER, Acting C. J., concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 364
Pages: 1251–1253

Head Matter:
Max H. INGRAM, Appellant, v. Margaret W. INGRAM, Appellee.
No. JJ-286.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
Nov. 28, 1978.
Rehearing Denied Dec. 29, 1978.
Donald F. Perrin of Schneider & Dunay, P.A., Jacksonville, for appellant.
David R. Lewis of Lewis, Paul, Issac & Castillo, P.A., Jacksonville, for appellee.

Opinion:
MILLS, Judge.
Max H. Ingram appeals from a final judgment of dissolution of marriage on the grounds that he should have been granted a special equity in the marital home. We agree and reverse.
The wife, Margaret W. Ingram, purchased the home approximately ten months prior to the marriage and title was and is solely in her name. During the eight years of marriage, Ingram contributed to a joint account out of which the mortgage payments were made and he paid for or stood jointly responsible for improvements on the home.
We think that under the rationale of Giachetti v. Giachetti, 157 Fla. 259, 25 So.2d 658 (1946); Windham v. Windham, 144 Fla. 563, 198 So. 202 (1940); and Long v. Long, 304 So.2d 483 (Fla. 1st DCA 1974), the evidence demonstrated a special equity in the house for Max Ingram in an amount undetermined and we remand the case to the trial court to set the amount.
Appellee's request for appellate attorney's fees is denied.
REVERSED and REMANDED.
BOYER, Acting C. J., concurs.
SMITH, J., dissents.