Opinion ID: 1916154
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Appeal of Mr. Bold

Text: We turn first to the appeal of Mr. Bold which raises three claims of error: (1) a challenge to the award of reimbursement equity; (2) an attack on the order directing that he reimburse Mrs. Bold for one-half of her counsel fees; and (3) a claim that the lower court forced him into a buy-out arrangement and failed to credit him for expenses incurred in preserving the marital property following the separation. Before addressing the merits of these contentions, we are reminded that our standard of review of such claims is a narrow one. We may not reverse the order before us absent an abuse of discretion by the lower court. Campbell v. Campbell, 357 Pa.Super. 483, 489-90, 516 A.2d 363, 366 (1986) ( en banc ); Remick v. Remick, 310 Pa.Super. 23, 28-30, 456 A.2d 163, 165-166 (1983) ( en banc ). `An abuse of discretion is not found lightly, but only upon a showing of clear and convincing evidence. . . . However, an abuse of discretion will be found by this Court if the trial court failed to follow proper legal procedure or misapplied the law.' Sergi v. Sergi, 351 Pa.Super. 588, 591, 506 A.2d 928, 930 (1986), quoting, Braderman v. Braderman, 339 Pa.Super. 185, 190, 488 A.2d 613, 615 (1985). In any event, we may not disturb any of the lower court's factual findings which are based upon credible evidence. Campbell, 357 Pa.Super. at 489-90, 516 A.2d at 366.
In his appeal, Mr. Bold first contends that the court erred in making an award of reimbursement equity, i.e., contribution to Mrs. Bold for the financial and other support given while Mr. Bold continued his education. Under the facts of this case we are constrained to agree with this contention. Summarizing the facts, this case presents the not unfamiliar situation in which one spouse works toward a professional degree while the other spouse provides support and maintains the home. Mr. Bold spent the first five years of the marriage completing his college education. During that time, his earnings were minimal, averaging approximately $4,000 per year. On the other hand, Mrs. Bold earned in excess of $80,000 and used the money to support the household. The marriage ended at a point in time when Mr. Bold's earning potential was just being realized and before the couple could enjoy the fruits of their labors. While Mr. Bold has embarked upon a lucrative career path, Mrs. Bold anticipates no likelihood of increasing her earnings absent an advanced degree which, she testified, would require five years of schooling. After hearing the testimony and making factual findings, the master awarded Mrs. Bold the sum of $33,000 as equitable alimony. Relying upon the recent pronouncement of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in Hodge v. Hodge, 513 Pa. 264, 520 A.2d 15 (1986), and the decision by this Court in Lehmicke v. Lehmicke, 339 Pa.Super. 559, 489 A.2d 782 (1985), the lower court rejected the master's recommendation but awarded the sum of $33,000 as reimbursement equity. Mr. Bold now contends the award is neither authorized by case law nor supported by the facts. Conversely, Mrs. Bold argues that the equitable remedies recognized in Hodge [3] and Lehmicke are appropriate here. [4] The initial question before us then is whether the Hodge and Lehmicke decisions are applicable in this case. In Hodge v. Hodge, 513 Pa. 264, 520 A.2d 15 (1986), the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania was asked to examine the propriety of an order granting a working spouse's request for alimony as compensation for the support given to her spouse while he pursued his education. Id., 513 Pa. at 269, 520 A.2d at 17. Speaking for a divided Court, Mr. Justice Zappala examined Section 501 of the Divorce Code, 23 P.S. §§ 501 et seq., and determined that alimony may only be granted for the purpose of rehabilitation, not reimbursement. Id., 513 Pa. at 271, 520 A.2d at 18. Consequently, Justice Zappala concluded that the Superior Court erred in upholding an equitable remedy in the nature of alimony pursuant to Section 501. Id., 513 Pa. at 271-72, 520 A.2d at 19. Because the Court was divided on this issue, however, the decision of the Superior Court was affirmed. Hodge, 513 Pa. at 272, 520 A.2d at 19. We recognize the significance of the Hodge decisions to the matter at hand; however, a question regarding an award of reimbursement alimony is not properly before this Court for review. Although Hodge was applied in the proceedings before the master, Mrs. Bold has failed to raise the issue of reimbursement alimony in her appeal from the order of the lower court. Because the issue is not properly before us, any discussion concerning the effect of the Hodge decisions would be improper. We turn then to question the propriety of the award as one in the nature of an equitable reimbursement. An equitable award to a spouse who has contributed to the other's advanced degree is a remedy which has only recently been recognized by our Court. In Lehmicke v. Lehmicke, 339 Pa.Super. 559, 489 A.2d 782 (1985), this Court [5] determined that, in a proper case, Section 401(c) of the Divorce Code permitted the trial court to fashion an equitable remedy which would reimburse the working spouse for contributions to the non-working student spouse. Underlying the decision in Lehmicke was a notion of fairness; where one spouse's contributions to the marriage include financial support toward the education of a non-working spouse, it would be unfair and inequitable to deny reimbursement for the educational contributions. Lehmicke gave approbation to an award of equitable reimbursement. A majority in Lehmicke, however, was unable to determine what expenses were to be reimbursed. Writing in support of the majority's decision to remand the case for further consideration, Judge Brosky opined that a working spouse was entitled to reimbursement for all financial contributions  household expenses and educational costs  incurred while the other pursued a course of education. Underpinning this position was the theory that an award to a working spouse is in the nature of recompense for [a spouse's] contribution and ought to relate to it. Lehmicke, 339 Pa.Super. at 568, 489 A.2d at 787. In his dissent from the decision to remand, Judge Wieand found no evidence that the working spouse directly contributed to the cost of the student spouse's education. Emphasizing that the parties owed an equal duty of support, Judge Wieand reasoned: The duty of support is imposed by rule of law on both spouses. Compliance with this legal duty does not result in unjust enrichment to the other. Marriage is for better or worse. It is not entered with a conscious intent that at some future time there will be an accounting of and reimbursement for moneys contributed to the support of the family. To inject such a concept would, in my judgment, have far-reaching and unfortunate consequences. If I am correct in my view regarding the duty of spousal support, then it is difficult to perceive good reason for creating an exception which would reimburse a spouse for support contributed while the other is attending an institution of higher learning or otherwise obtaining advanced training.       [A] nonworking spouse is liable to reimburse a working spouse only for sums advanced in excess of the legal duty of support imposed by law upon the working spouse. In most cases where the nonworking spouse is engaged in obtaining an education, this will be the amount contributed by the working spouse to the cost of educating the other spouse. Such a limit on the right to obtain restitution on equitable grounds is consistent with the contract of marriage, the legal duty of spousal support, and the purpose of the Divorce Code to effectuate economic justice between the parties upon divorce. Lehmicke v. Lehmicke, 339 Pa.Super. 559, 573-574, 489 A.2d 782, 790 (1985) (Wieand, J., Concurring and Dissenting) cited with approval in Hodge v. Hodge, 513 Pa. 264, 271, 520 A.2d 15, 18 (1986). Having carefully considered the standards proposed in Lehmicke, we are in agreement with the view expressed by Judge Wieand. Marriage is not a business enterprise which requires a strict economic accounting for all financial aid rendered during its course. Rather, each party owes the other a duty of support. Accordingly, principles of equity will intervene only when one party has been unjustly enriched by financial contributions rendered which exceed that imposed by the law. Instantly, the evidence indicates that Mrs. Bold did not contribute to the cost of Mr. Bold's academic degree. While pursuing a degree, Mr. Bold received educational benefits from the Veterans Administration in excess of $12,000, he obtained a student loan in the amount of $1,187.15, and he earned approximately $16,000 at various jobs. The evidence also shows that Mr. Bold's educational costs were approximately $14,300. Although Mrs. Bold worked and contributed to her husband's support while he was attending school, her contributions did not exceed that required by the law for the benefit of the family. Because the evidence fails to establish that Mr. Bold was unjustly enriched by his former spouse's contributions, we conclude the court erred in fashioning an equitable remedy pursuant to Section 401(c) of the Divorce Code. Accordingly, the order directing that Mr. Bold pay appellee the sum of $33,000 is vacated.
Secondly, Mr. Bold claims the court erred in forcing him into a buy-out of his former spouse's interest in the marital house. In addition, Mr. Bold contends the court erred in failing to credit him for making post separation payments which preserved that asset. We agree. A court may not resort to a buy-out remedy absent specific findings as to why the marital property cannot be divided. Wolf v. Wolf, 356 Pa.Super. 365, 375, 514 A.2d 901, 906 (1986), citing, Barletta v. Barletta, 506 Pa. 404, 485 A.2d 752 (1984). Instantly, the master failed to make any specific findings before recommending a buy-out arrangement. Upon review of the master's recommendation, the lower court recognized that specific findings were required under Barletta, yet failed to heed the mandate of that decision before approving the buy-out remedy. In light of this error by the court, the order regarding the equitable distribution of the marital property is reversed and the case is remanded for proceedings consistent with Barletta and Wolf.
Mr. Bold's final claim is a challenge to the order directing him to pay one-half of his former spouse's counsel fees. Specifically, Mr. Bold asserts that an award of counsel fees should not be assessed against him because his former spouse is financially independent and, in any event, she has received sufficient marital assets through distribution of the marital property. A court may, of course, make an award of fees pursuant to its discretionary power. 23 P.S. § 401(b). The factors to be considered in making this determination include the size of the estate of the moving party, the value of counsel's services and the moving party's ability to pay. Semasek v. Semasek, 331 Pa.Super. 1, 14, 479 A.2d 1047, 1054 (1984), order modified and affirmed, 509 Pa. 282, 292 n. 4, 502 A.2d 109, 113 n. 4 (1985). In making an award, the lower court may also consider the distributive share of the moving party's estate. See Campbell v. Campbell, 357 Pa.Super. 483, 494, 516 A.2d 363, 369 (1986) (en banc). The paramount concern, however, is with placing the parties on a par in defending their rights. Dech v. Dech, 342 Pa.Super. 17, 23, 492 A.2d 41, 44 (1985). Given our determinations regarding the award of reimbursement equity and the division of the marital property, we believe that review of the award of counsel fees would be premature and speculative. Consequently, we decline to review the merits of the award of counsel fees.