Opinion ID: 1726991
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the chancery court of adams county, mississippi, erred by refusing to find the respondent in contempt.

Text: The chancellor held that appellee was not in willful contempt of the court. Appellant argues that the appellee was in contempt as a matter of law when he failed to sustain his burden of purging himself of contempt and showing clearly that he complied with the decree or was unable to do so. In Duncan v. Duncan, 417 So.2d 908 (Miss. 1982), the Court stated: Where a party is unable to comply with a divorce decree, he should with reasonable promptitude, make the fact known to the court by proper petition and have the decree modified or suspended, and not wait until he has been cited for contempt. If a party fails to take this course of action, he will, in response to the citation for contempt, be required to make out a clear case of inability. Redding v. Redding, 167 Miss. 780, 150 So. 776 (1933). The burden was on appellant to purge himself of the contempt by showing that he had complied with the decree, was unable to do so, or impossibility of performance. Rainwater v. Rainwater, 236 Miss. 412, 110 So.2d 608 (1959). 417 So.2d 909-910. In the case of Collins v. Collins, 171 Miss. 891, 158 So. 914 (1935), the Court stated: The introduction of the decree ordering the appellant to pay a stipulated monthly sum for the support and maintenance of his child, together with proof that he had failed to comply with the decree, placed him prima facie in contempt of court, and devolved on him the burden of proving his inability to make the payments directed. Ramsay v. Ramsay, 125 Miss. 185, 87 So. 491, 14 A.L.R. 712. 171 Miss. at 895, 158 So. at 915. In the case of Walters v. Walters, 383 So.2d 827 (Miss. 1980), the defendant had not paid child support for approximately two years. The defendant apparently was able to pay support. The Court stated: Although it was a close question whether Walters was in contempt of court, the evidence was somewhat conflicting and we cannot say with certainty that the chancellor abused his discretion in not finding Walters in contempt of court for willfully refusing to make monthly child support payments. 383 So.2d at 829. Appellee testified in his own behalf and neither his own counsel nor appellant's counsel asked him anything about his financial ability, or the reason he had failed to make the support payments. Evidently, after observing the appellee and his demeanor on the witness stand, the chancellor was convinced that appellee was not contemptuous of the court, even though he had not paid the support. With the skimpy, undeveloped record before us, we cannot say that the lower court erred in holding appellant not to be in willful contempt. At any rate, under the facts, assuming that appellee, technically, was in contempt, the chancellor gave him an opportunity to purge such contempt by paying $50.00 per month on the judgment rendered. The chancery court may find a person in contempt and still decline to incarcerate him. We do not reverse the chancellor on this technical assignment.