Opinion ID: 1339746
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Restitution for Expenses Incurred.

Text: Stephen assigns error to the action of the trial court requiring him to reimburse Marilyn $25,000 for expenses incurred by her in efforts to enforce the custody decree of October 3, 1980. These items included at least six separate and distinct bills submitted by that many attorneys for legal services plus court costs, telephone bills, private investigators, and travel expenses to and from New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. The figure also included over 155 hours of time Marilyn lost from her employment. Our rough estimate from the record indicated a figure of almost $37,000. Marilyn's trial counsel estimates these costs to be approximately $33,900, and the court mentioned a figure of approximately $33,000. At the hearing Marilyn introduced as exhibits the actual bills received by her, verified in many instances by receipts or cancelled checks. The only testimonial attack on the bills came from Sandra Grisham, Stephen's counsel in New Mexico, who appeared for him in the Virginia court as a witness. She testified that her bill for services to Stephen was $7,900, and that she was astonished at her New Mexico counterpart's bill which was approximately twice that amount. The trial court was attempting to fashion a remedy to comport with the exigencies of the case before it. There was no challenge to its authority to do so. We think there was sufficient supporting evidence in the case at bar to supply what was missing in Greene v. Greene, 223 Va. 210, 288 S.E.2d 447 (1982), and Robertson v. Robertson, 215 Va. 425, 211 S.E.2d 41 (1975). We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion and affirm its conclusion. Affirmed.