Opinion ID: 1715069
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: wife's application for modification

Text: On August 25, 1995, the wife filed an amended application to modify decree. In this application, she alleged that at the time of the October 21, 1993, modification, the military retirement pension was approximately $1,820 per month and that her 46-percent entitlement had a monthly value of approximately $837.20. She alleged that she had not been aware of the husband's application for service-connected disability benefits in August 1992. She alleged the amounts by which the military retirement pension was decreased by the husband's service-connected disability benefits and further alleged her expectation that the aforesaid service connected disability compensation will equal or exceed the amount of $648.00 for the period after October 1, 1994. She also alleged that the judgment entered against her in the unjust enrichment action represents the retroactive portion of respondent's disability award which was paid to [the wife] pursuant to the Order of October 21, 1993, which modified the Decree herein. She alleged that the decreased value of her 46 percent of the nondisability pension together with the judgment entered against her in the unjust enrichment action constituted a material and substantial change of circumstances justifying an increase in the alimony she receives from the husband. The husband filed a general demurrer, which was sustained by the district court on October 16, 1995. In its opinion and order filed on that date, the district court stated: While the Court is aware of the facts of this case, which clearly indicate that the financial positions between the parties have materially changed due to the [husband's] award of disability and corresponding reduction of his pension, the law in Nebraska is clear and does not support [the wife's] theory. As this Court stated in an Opinion and Order from the earlier litigation between these parties on [the husband's] unjust enrichment claim, the rule in this state is that disability compensation may not be considered by the courts in awarding alimony or support. In Taylor v. Taylor, 217 Neb. 409, 348 N.W.2d 887 (1984), the Nebraska Supreme Court held that only nondisability military pensions were to be treated as marital property. This rule has endured to the present date. Accordingly, if disability compensation is exempt from being subject to alimony or support, it is only reasonable to assume that a government award of disability compensation may not be relied upon as the material and substantial change in circumstances required to modify a decree. The wife elected to stand on her amended application to modify, and the district court dismissed it on May 21, 1996.