Opinion ID: 1926857
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the 1996, 1997, and 1998 orders

Text: [¶ 7] Charles contends that the court erred when it held that the 1996, 1997 and 1998 awards were res judicata [6] and declared them in full force and effect. The basis for Charles's claim is that the court was under the mistaken impression that, in Charles's first appeal, he had only challenged the application of the settlement proceeds to his gross income for the support awards for 1993 and 1994. In addition, Charles contends that he should be able to reopen these 1996, 1997 and 1998 awards because they were based on projected, rather than actual, income figures. We review whether a trial court has properly construed a mandate of this Court on remand for an error of law. See Plumbago Mining Corp. v. Sweatt, 444 A.2d 361, 370 (Me.1982). [¶ 8] Although the Superior Court mistakenly concluded that Charles failed to raise an issue with respect to the 1996 through 1998 awards in his first appeal, that conclusion is understandable because, in our prior decision, we chose to address only Charles's claims with respect to the 1993 and 1994 orders. See Monty I, 1998 ME 11, ¶ 1, 704 A.2d at 402. [¶ 9] The Superior Court is correct, however, in its conclusion that the 1996 through 1998 orders were not vacated in Monty I. The mandate in Monty I vacated and remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion. Nothing in our opinion made reference to any error in the 1996 through 1998 child support orders, and for the Superior Court to treat those orders as if they had been vacated would not be consistent with this Court's opinion. Our opinion in Monty I vacating the judgment addresses whether the settlements received by Charles should have been considered by the trial court as gross income, and is directed at only the 1993 and 1994 orders. Accordingly, the unaffected orders for 1996 through 1998 were subject to the law of the case on remand, and the court properly refused to consider evidence in support of a change in those orders.