Case Name: Allan D. MATHIS, Petitioner and Appellant, v. Beth C. MATHIS, Appellee
Court: South Dakota Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: South Dakota
Decision Date: 2000-05-03
Citations: 609 N.W.2d 773
Docket Number: No. 21092
Parties: Allan D. MATHIS, Petitioner and Appellant, v. Beth C. MATHIS, Appellee.
Judges: [¶ 15.] MILLER, Chief Justice and KONENKAMP and GILBERTSON, Justices, concur.
Reporter: North Western Reporter 2d
Volume: 609
Pages: 773–779

Head Matter:
2000 SD 59
Allan D. MATHIS, Petitioner and Appellant, v. Beth C. MATHIS, Appellee.
No. 21092.
Supreme Court of South Dakota.
Considered on Briefs Feb. 14, 2000.
Decided May 3, 2000.
Brad P. Gordon of Fuller, Tellinghuisen, Gordon <& Percy, Spearfish, Attorneys for petitioner and appellant.
Linda Lea M. Viken of Viken, Viken, Pechota, Leach & Dewell, Rapid City, Attorneys for appellee.

Opinion:
AMUNDSON, Justice.
[¶ 1.] Allan Mathis (Allan) brought a petition for modification of his child support payments payable to his former spouse, Beth Mathis (Beth). The circuit court adopted the child support referee's recommendation that Allan did not provide sufficient information establishing a change in income that would warrant a modification of his child support payments. We affirm.
FACTS
[¶ 2.] Allan and Beth Mathis were divorced on March 23, 1998. At the time of the divorce, Allan and Beth had six children; two children were over age eighteen and four were still minors. The couple entered a stipulation and agreement (agreement) which was incorporated by reference into the divorce decree. The agreement provided that Allan was obligated to pay $1,226 per month for the care and support of the couples' then four minor children. Also under the agreement, Allan received certain shares of corporate stock. Beth was designated as the physical custodian of the minor children.
[¶ 3.] On March 2, 1999, Allan filed a petition for modification of child support. The basis for his petition was that his income was reduced and one of the children turned eighteen on August 29, 1998, and was graduating from high school. Beth responded to Allan's petition by arguing no change of circumstances exists as it relates to Allan's financial condition and if any reduction of income did exist, it was voluntary on the part of Allan.
[¶ 4.] The petition for modification was heard by Child Support Referee John Fee-han on March 24, 1999. The referee found that no sufficient information existed to establish any change in income which would warrant a change in the previous child support order. In calculating Allan's monthly income, amount of $6,183.33. the referee found that Allan had sold various stock holdings beginning on July 9, 1998, and received $50,-756 in proceeds. The referee annualized the entire proceeds amount of $50,756 over a one-year period for a total of $4,229.67 per month and included this amount as part of Allan's monthly income amount of The referee concluded that, based upon the combined assets and incomes of the parents, Allan's child support obligation should be increased from $1,226 to $1,247 per month for the three remaining minor children.
[¶ 5.] Allan appealed the referee's decision to the Circuit Court, Eighth Judicial Circuit, Lawrence County, South Dakota. After briefs were submitted and oral arguments held on May 25, 1999, the circuit court adopted the referee's recommendation, including the referee's calculations containing the annualization of the proceeds from Allan's stock sale.
[¶ 6.] Allan appeals, raising the following issue:
Whether the trial court erred as a matter of law by adopting the referee's child support order.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[¶ 7.] It is well settled that we review a child support referee's "findings of fact under the clearly erroneous standard and questions of law are fully reviewable.Mixed questions of law and fact are classified as questions of law and are reviewable de novo." Hendricksen v. Harris, 1999 SD 130, ¶ 7, 600 N.W.2d 180, 181 (citing Permann v. Department of Labor, Unemployment Ins. Div., 411 N.W.2d 113 (S.D.1987); Janke v. Janke, 467 N.W.2d 494 (S.D.1991)). In addition, "[w]hen the circuit court has adopted a child support referee's findings and conclusions, we apply the clearly erroneous standard of review to the findings and give no deference to conclusions of law." Matter of Loomis, 1998 SD 113, ¶ 6, 587 N.W.2d 427, 429 (citing Wolff v. Weber, 1997 SD 52, ¶ 7, 563 N.W.2d 136, 138 (citing Whalen v. Whalen, 490 N.W.2d 276, 280 (S.D.1992)); Janke, 467 N.W.2d at 497). Further, "[i]n applying this standard, we will not reverse findings of fact unless we are left with a definite and firm conviction a mistake has been made." Id. (citing Janke, 467 N.W.2d at 497). We have often noted,
[t]he referee was the fact finder and had the advantage of hearing testimony of witnesses and could directly judge their credibility. As a reviewing court, neither the circuit court nor this [CJourt should attempt to assume such a role. Conclusions of law made by the referee are fully reviewable and may be overturned by a reviewing court whenever they are found to be incorrect.
Hendricksen, 1999 SD 130, ¶7, 600 N.W.2d at 181 (citing Janke, 467 N.W.2d at 494).
DECISION
[¶ 8.] Whether the trial court erred as a matter of law by adopting the referee's child support order.
[¶ 9.] The determination of the monthly net income of each parent is addressed in SDCL 25-7-6.3. Under the statute,
[tjhe monthly net income of each parent shall be determined by his gross income less allowable deductions, as set forth herein. The monthly gross income of each parent includes amounts received from the following sources:
(1)Compensation paid to an employee for personal services, whether salary, wages, commissions, bonus or otherwise designated;
(2) Self-employment income including gain, profit or loss from a business, farm or profession;
(3) Periodic payments from pensions or retirement programs, including social security or veteran's benefits, disability payments or insurance contracts;
(4) Interest, dividends, rentals, royalties or other gain derived from investment of capital assets;
(5) Gain or loss from the sale, trade or conversion of capital assets;
(6) Unemployment insurance benefits; and
(7) Worker's compensation benefits.
If the income of the parents is derived from seasonal employment, or received in payments other than regular, recurring payments, such income shall be annualized to determine a monthly average income.
[¶ 10.] In the present case, the referee had a difficult time determining Allan's present income level. This difficulty was based upon Allan's failure to provide a specific income amount; instead, Allan provided several varying income figures. The referee made the following findings in regards to Allan's monthly income:
a. In his petition for modification of child support [Allan] fails to complete the financial statement which requires an estimation of present income from all sources. No income is listed.
b. In his testimony [Allan] submits wages for himself of $1000 per month.
c. In.a financial statement [Allan] submitted to his lender dated [February 2, 1998,] [Allan] lists his income as $4975.00 per month. He lists assets of $836,295.00 and liabilities of $261,-413.81. (Note is made that the stock holdings that were liquidated were not specifically listed on this financial statement.)
d. In his 1998 personal income tax return [Allan] lists income as follows: wages $13,200; interest income $411.00; dividend income $771.00; rental income $7096.00; and capital losses of ($1500.00) for a total income of $19,978. The tax return lists depreciation of $3466.00. Disallowing depreciation, [Allan's] income for his tax return is $23,444.00 or $1953.67 per month.
[¶ 11.] A review of the record reveals that Allan was attempting to play "fast and loose" in his reporting of net income. On several different occasions, Allan would report his income at different amounts depending upon whether the reported amount would benefit him: applying for a loan or getting his child support payments lowered. As we have often stated, "[a] referee, after holding a hearing and listening to witnesses, is in a much better position to find facts than a reviewing court." Janke, 467 N.W.2d at 497. See also Hendricksen, 1999 SD 130, ¶ 7, 600 N.W.2d at 181 (noting that the referee is the fact-finder and has the advantage of hearing the testimony of witnesses and judging their credibility); In re Schmidt, 70 S.D. 161, 164, 16 N.W.2d 41, 42 (1944) (holding that a referee's findings are entitled to careful consideration by a reviewing court because "the referee saw and heard witnesses with all advantage that is gained from such personal contact"); Wood v. Saginaw Gold Mining & Milling Co., 20 S.D. 161, 163, 105 N.W. 101, 102 (1905) (noting that'the referee "was [a] better . judge of the weight to be given to the evidence of respective witnesses" than this reviewing court).
[¶ 12.] In this child support modification proceeding, the burden of proof is on Allan to show a "substantial change of circumstances" has occurred which warrants modification. See SDCL 25-7A-22 (providing that for any child support order entered after July 1, 1997, "[t]he order may be modified upon showing a substantial change in circumstances if the petition is filed within three years of the date of the order"). This is a more stringent standard than the mere "change in circumstances" standard that was utilized prior to the 1997 South Dakota Legislative amendment to SDCL 25-7A-22. See Roger M. Baron, Cases and Materials on Family Law for the South Dakota Lawyer 429 (4thEd. 1999). Allan's failure to meet this stringent burden is evident from the varying income amounts that Allan reported. The referee and trial court both sifted through Allan's various financial statements and concluded that there was "no sufficient information [provided by Allan] to establish any change in incomes as a basis to change to previous order of child support." We agree. While the referee might have erred, the record clearly supports the referee's conclusion since Allan submitted inadequate justification for showing a substantial change of income. If Allan wanted a loan, he reported his income high. If Allan wanted to modify his child support obligation, he reported his income low. We cannot condone this type of presentation to support a request to reduce an individual's obligation to pay child support. We have often held that " '[i]f the circuit court reaches the right conclusion for the wrong reason, we will nonetheless affirm.'" Estate of Perry, 1998 SD 85, ¶ 29, 582 N.W.2d 29, 35 (quoting Horne v. Crazier, 1997 SD 65, ¶ 5, 565 N.W.2d 50, 52 (citing Kehn v. Hoeksema, 524 N.W.2d 879, 881 (S.D.1994); City of Sioux Falls v. Miller, 492 N.W.2d 116, 118 (S.D.1992) (citations omitted))). Based upon this record, we find that despite trial court's error, it rendered the correct conclusion.
[¶ 13.] Beth has requested allowance by this Court of attorney fees in the amount of $1,329.98 for her defense of this appeal. Since we conclude that the referee was not clearly erroneous in finding that no change of circumstances existed which warranted modification of Allan's child support payments, Beth's request for $1,329.98 in attorney fees is granted.
[¶ 14.] We affirm.
[¶ 15.] MILLER, Chief Justice and KONENKAMP and GILBERTSON, Justices, concur.
[¶ 16.] SABERS, Justice, dissents.
. At the time of Allan's divorce, Allan stipulated that his monthly income was $6,667.
. The record contains a copy of the Uniform Residential Loan Application by Allan for the purchase of a $106,875 residence on February 1, 1999. This document states that Allan's income is $4,975 per month, which is well in excess of the $1000 per month that Allan stated in his testimony before the referee. Further, this application provides above Allan's signature that his signature certifies that "the information provided is true and correct."
. Allan filed his petition for modification of child support, dated February 18, 1999, and stated that "my income have [sic] dropped substantially from the time of my divorce and .needs to be re-evaluated." At the time of hearing, March 24, 1999, Allan told the referee that he earned $1000 per month. Further, at this hearing Allan agreed to provide a copy of the Uniform Residential Loan Application which was later submitted. This document was filled out by Allan on February 1, 1999 and stated that his income was $4,975 per month. This was all evidence which was in front of the referee. If this was not playing fast and loose on the issue of income available, what is?