Case Name: Thelma STERN, Appellant, v. Jack STERN, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2005-08-03
Citations: 907 So. 2d 701
Docket Number: No. 4D05-286
Parties: Thelma STERN, Appellant, v. Jack STERN, Appellee.
Judges: POLEN, J., concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 907
Pages: 701–703

Head Matter:
Thelma STERN, Appellant, v. Jack STERN, Appellee.
No. 4D05-286.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
Aug. 3, 2005.
Mitchell Haymes of Law Offices of Glantz & Glantz, P.A., Plantation, for appellant.
Steven W. Effman of Law Offices of Steven W. Effman, P.A., Plantation, for appellee.

Opinion:
WARNER, J.
We affirm the trial court's order granting temporary alimony to the husband. This was a long-term marriage, and the parties were both in their eighties. The husband's net monthly income was approximately 25% of that of the wife, and both parties listed expenses in their financial affidavits which significantly exceeded their respective incomes. The husband had total assets of approximately $225,000, while the wife had total assets of approximately $175,000. At the temporary hearing, the trial court ordered the wife to pay temporary alimony to the husband which essentially equalized their respective incomes, but even the equalized amount did not cover the husband's expenses.
The criteria for an award of temporary alimony are the same as for permanent alimony, namely, the need of the spouse requesting the alimony and the ability of the other spouse to pay. Mitzenmacher v. Mitzenmacher, 656 So.2d 178, 180 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995). In considering temporary alimony, it is well-settled that "temporary relief awards are among the areas where trial judges have the very broadest discretion, which appellate courts are very reluctant to interfere with except under the most compelling of circumstances." Pedraja v. Garcia, 667 So.2d 461, 462 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996). Again, in Wolfson v. Wolfson, 455 So.2d 577, 579 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984), we reiterated this standard, stating "[t]he trial court has broad discretion in deciding matters of temporary alimony . and we will not disturb that discretion in the absence of a showing that no reasonable man would take the view adopted by the trial court."
The trial court acknowledged that the case had a ways to go with discovery and decided to equalize the parties' income through a temporary alimony award. The court explained its reasoning, stating "we'll straighten it all out at the final hearing . " The court obviously found this to be the most equitable way of handling a temporary award in this long-term marriage where both parties' expenses far ex ceeded their combined income, and their available assets did not substantially differ. We do not disagree.
Grace v. Grace, 162 So.2d 314 (Fla. 1st DCA 1964), is cited by the wife for her contention that the husband should have relied on his capital assets for support. In Grace, the trial court awarded temporary alimony to a wife, and the appellate court stated, "we hold that if [the wife] has cash in bank sufficient to support herself while the suit is pending, as the record herein shows the appellee to have, the Court should not award temporary alimony, even though the record may disclose that the husband is able to pay it." Id. at 320. However, in that case the wife's net worth was nearly four times that of the husband, and her annual income was nearly double that of the husband. Therefore, it is inconceivable to us how the wife with superi- or means all the way around was entitled to an award of temporary alimony from the husband in any event. Grace is clearly distinguishable.
There being no abuse of discretion in the temporary alimony award, we affirm the trial court's award.
POLEN, J., concurs.
GUNTHER, J., dissents with opinion.
. The wife makes much of the fact that a substantial portion of the husband's listed expenses was rent to his son for his accommodations. However, even if the husband's housing was less expensive, his expenses would not be covered by the alimony awarded.