Opinion ID: 1586065
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: conduct of the defendant

Text: Cheryl contends that the trial court failed to consider Curtis's conduct during the marriage when it made its division of property. Her position is that the Ruff-Fischer [2] guidelines direct the trial court to consider, among other things, the conduct of each party during the course of the marriage when it makes a property division. She then focuses on the trial court's finding of fact which recognizes that during the marriage Curtis sexually molested [3] two of his children, that he was an alcoholic, that he contracted venereal disease from a bar girl in Japan, that he had kicked Cheryl out of bed, and that he expressed to her his desire that she were dead. We note, however, the trial court's finding of fact No. 9 which discusses Curtis's contention that all of the fault is not on his side and his testimony that he did not beat or threaten Cheryl, that Cheryl was a hypochondriac who used too many prescription drugs and pills, and that Cheryl also drank to excess and became argumentative. We believe it is obvious that the trial court took into account the conduct of both parties when it made its property division. Under the Ruff-Fischer guidelines, the conduct of the parties is only one factor among a number of others to be considered by the trial court when dividing property. Conduct is not necessarily the sole or controlling factor and the guidelines do not require the division of property to be based on conduct of the parties; rather, they require that the trial court consider conduct in making the property distribution. The trial court explained in finding of fact No. 20 its reason for an equal distribution of property, as opposed to an uneven distribution in favor of Cheryl, as follows: 20. This Court finds fault on both sides to some degree. It is impossible for this Court to determine the percentage of fault attributable to one or the other or which party's conduct precipitated the fault of the other. The fault of the Defendant in molesting the children is too old to be seriously considered in that it happened many years ago and the children affected have good relationships with their father. The episode of sexual relations and contacting [ sic ] venereal disease from a bar maid in Japan is likewise too far in the past for this Court to consider it as a reason for uneven distribution of marital property. Testimony indicated that Plaintiff knew of this and her subsequent actions constituted a condonation of his conduct. Defendant's excessive use of alcoholic beverages during the marriage can be considered as a disease. This Court in its discretion believes that in the interest of justice it should not be under the facts in this case used as a factor to cause unequal distribution of the marital assets. Similarly the conduct of Defendant in kicking the Plaintiff or expressing desires that she were dead are attributable to his drinking.... The record indicates that the trial court considered the testimony and evidence about the drinking by both parties, Cheryl's allegations of mistreatment, Curtis's allegations of Cheryl's paranoia and hypochondriasis, and all other complaints by the parties and then, being unable to determine who was at fault, concluded that the fairest thing to do would be to divide the property equally and award Cheryl rehabilitative alimony. We have stated: There is no clear rule by which division of property is to be made in a divorce case, and the determination of what is an equitable division lies within the discretion of the trial court. [Citations omitted.] Kostelecky v. Kostelecky, 251 N.W.2d 400, 402 (N.D.1977). We will not set aside a division of property by the trial court unless it is clearly erroneous. Rule 52(a), N.D.R.Civ.P. Our review of the record does not convince us that a mistake has been made. The distribution of property by the trial court was not clearly erroneous.