Opinion ID: 1870849
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: did the chancellor err in failing to award mrs. craft an additional property settlement and child support based upon scientific and statistical facts shown?

Text: At the beginning of the trial, Mr. Craft made a motion in limine pertaining to the proposed testimony of Dr. James Parks, an economist from Belhaven College. The court reserved ruling on the motion, and then after hearing the testimony from Dr. Parks sustained the appellee's motion. Mrs. Craft argues that the trial court should have awarded her $61,416.63. This is the difference between the $2500 per month she received during the separation from November, 1976 to October, 1977, and the $8,083.33 per month she should have received according to the tables showing household expenses increased by the consumer price index from 1977 until each child reached age 21. She arrives at the figure of $8,083.33 by reasoning that the amount needed to maintain the same standard of living as in 1977 is $97,000 per year. Divided by twelve, she reaches the figure $8,083.33. The basis of this argument seems to be that the statistical data proferred by Mrs. Craft through the testimony of Dr. Parks should have been admitted into evidence and taken as conclusive. It was not reversible error for the chancellor to refuse to admit into evidence the expert testimony from Dr. Parks. Speaking for the Court, Justice Walker in Sipe v. Farmer, 398 So.2d 1325 (Miss. 1981), said: Since an expert witness, in a sense discharges the functions of a juror, his opinion should be admitted if it is clear that the jurors themselves are not capable ... of drawing a conclusion from the facts. Id. at 1329. It would be a decision of desperation for this Court to hold that the chancellor, sitting as a factfinder, is not capable of drawing a conclusion concerning child support from the facts presented to him. This is not to say that the chancellor might not have admitted the expert opinion testimony, but he would not be bound by it. The record shows that from January 1, 1978, to December 31, 1980, Mr. Craft provided $46,547.80 for Steven, $60,726.07 for Suzanne, and $24,443.05 for Stacey. These amounts were sufficient to provide all of life's necessities plus many of its luxuries. We concede that this does not cover the period from November of 1976 through October of 1977. However, the record there reflects that Mrs. Craft received $2500 per month for household expenses, which is corroborated by Mr. Craft. The record is silent as to what Mr. Craft expended in support of his children during the separation. Mr. Craft did testify, and it is uncontested, that the only thing that changed in the life of his children when he moved out of the house was that he wasn't in the house anymore. Their monetary situation did not change one iota. Mrs. Craft offers no proof showing that during the separation from November of 1976 until October of 1977 only $2500 per month and no more was paid to the family by Mr. Craft. The assignment of error is without merit.