Opinion ID: 1844854
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: were findings of fact clearly erroneous?

Text: Husband contends that the trial court erred in finding that health problems prevent Wife from returning to any of her previous employment. Additionally, Husband disputes the trial court's finding that his capacity to earn significantly exceeded that of Wife's. Findings of fact are reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard and will not be overturned unless the reviewing court is left with a firm conviction that a mistake has been made. Smith v. Sponheim, 399 N.W.2d 899 (S.D.1987). Husband claims both factual findings should be overturned on appeal as clearly erroneous.
The record indicates that Wife's education and employment background limit any potential future employment to minimum wage positions. The record further reveals that her income from sales of cosmetics has been minimal. In contrast, Husband has been both an insurance agent and a realtor. His janitorial business consists of only one account, but he has been bidding for other accounts. The business has had up to four or five active accounts. Husband also earns approximately $6,360 per year from his school district work. Husband argues that because he is thirteen years older than Wife and is rapidly approaching the age of retirement, his earning capacity is no better than Wife's. This argument ignores the respective educational and employment backgrounds of the parties, as well as Wife's medical problems. Even in the absence of Wife's medical problems, the evidence in the record is sufficient to support the trial court's finding that Husband's earning capacity significantly exceeded Wife's, and we cannot say it was clearly erroneous.
Wife testified that she sustained an elbow injury which resulted in continuing pain and disability. She claims she is unable to grip with either the thumb or index finger of her right hand due to the injury. She also testified that she sustained a weight loss of forty-two pounds and weighed eighty-eight pounds at the time of trial. It is not clear whether this weight loss was connected to the elbow injury. She testified that the pain and immobility in her hand worsened over a period of two years until she was unable to continue her janitorial work. She claimed the injury also prevented her from returning to waitressing. Wife testified that her inability to use her right hand made the application of makeup or even opening tubes of makeup impossible, thereby hampering sales demonstrations of cosmetics. Husband contends Wife's own testimony indicates she is able to sell cosmetics, as she testified that she sold cosmetics during the period of her claimed disability. However, there was also testimony from which the trial court could conclude that because of her medical problems the sale of cosmetics would never be a regular or reliable source of income for her. Husband also argues that there is no medical evidence in the record which supports Wife's claimed disability. Although Wife did not present expert medical testimony at trial, she had several physicians' reports admitted as exhibits. The various medical records reveal that at least two physicians believed that Wife was prone to or was exhibiting signs of reflex sympathetic dystrophy. Lawyers' Medical Cyclopedia, § 15.25 defines reflex sympathetic dystrophy as a complication of joint injury which can cause a profound increase in pain and muscle spasm, and profoundly reduce the capacity of the joint to function. Id. There is nothing in the medical records which disputes Wife's testimony of pain, swelling, and other problems associated with the elbow injury. Further, Husband did not present any evidence to rebut the medical reports, or Wife's own testimony concerning her health problems. Nor did Husband present any evidence to support his claim that Wife's condition could have been improved by following physicians' orders and with exercise. In light of Wife's limited training and experience and medical problems we are not left with a firm conviction that a mistake was made by the trial court in finding that she was unable to return to her previous employment. Smith, supra .