Opinion ID: 2116943
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Earning Capacity of the Parties

Text: The trial court found that Dolores earns $1,750 per month and that Roger earns $3,282.60 per month. The findings as to Dolores are supported by her testimony that she was employed at a rate of pay of $10.99 per hour. The trial court calculated that if she were employed full time, Dolores would earn approximately $22,000 per year. However, the trial court reduced this amount based upon its further calculation that Dolores would only be working about seventy-five percent of the time while going to school. Thus, the trial court reduced her annual income to $16,500 per year (i.e., $22,000 × 75%) for a monthly income of $1,375 (i.e., $16,500 ÷ 12). The trial court added investment income of $4,500 per year or $375 per month (i.e., $4,500 ÷ 12) to this amount for a monthly gross income of $1,750 (or net income after taxes of $1,448.50 per month). The figure of $3,282.60 for Roger's monthly income is supported by his trial testimony that his annual salary is $55,200 per year. This yields a monthly gross income of $4,600 (i.e., $55,200 ÷ 12) less taxes for a monthly net income of $3,282.60. Thus, there is ample evidentiary support for the trial court's findings as to Roger's income. The trial court also found Dolores' earning capacity would substantially increase if she obtained her master's degree because of her previous employment by the Veterans Administration as a nurse; because the degree would allow her to work for the federal government past the age of sixty-five; and, because it would allow Dolores employment at a supervisory level with no lifting. These findings are supported by Dolores' testimony during the remand hearing that she owes the Public Health Service two years of time after graduation to repay an education loan. She also testified that with a master's degree she would be employed at a much higher pay scale than she was with a two year nursing degree. Finally, Dolores also testified she would be able to work for the federal government until she was seventy and that she had a guaranteed job with the federal government after receiving her master's degree. Although Roger makes much of the fact that the trial court ignored the testimony of an expert that Dolores' earning capacity would not be enhanced with a master's degree, `[t]riers of fact are not bound to accept opinion testimony, however expert and authoritative, because opinion testimony is not of the highest order.' State v. Baker, 440 N.W.2d 284, 287 (S.D.1989) (quoting People v. English 29 Mich. App. 36, 48-9, 185 N.W.2d 139, 147 (1970).