Opinion ID: 2595269
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Did the District Court Make Mathematical Errors

Text: [¶ 24] Husband contends that the district court erred in calculating the value of livestock and grain, which cost husband between $4,000.00 (using figures most favorable to wife) and $18,000.00 (using figures most favorable to husband) in the property division process. The district court's math process is not set out in detail in the decree; however, it appears that a mathematical error may have occurred. [¶ 25] We begin our analysis by noting that there were some delays in finalizing this divorce because the district court's criminal docket was crowded. After the trial was completed, in an effort to expedite the process of finalization, the district court asked the parties to submit proposed decrees and he would then fashion them into a final decree. The decree, as entered, was not submitted to the parties for approval before it was entered. Husband did not attempt to correct the problem he now complains of on appeal by filing a motion for new trial or a motion for relief from the decree. W.R.C.P. 59 and 60. Thus, the trial court has not had an opportunity to consider its error, if indeed, there is an error. [¶ 26] It is apparent that the district court rounded various sums up or down in the process of dividing what amounted to a marital estate valued at between $1.5 million and $2 million. Husband concedes that this argument could result in an increase in his share of that settlement of only $4,000.00. Assuming for purposes of discussion that husband's assertion is correct, we conclude that remand to correct the error is unnecessary because the asserted error is de minimus and, thus, is harmless. W.R.C.P. 61; W.R.A.P. 9.04. And see Butler and Butler, 160 Or.App. 314, 981 P.2d 389, 395 (1999) (de minimus error in calculating award on property did not affect fairness of overall property division); Peterson and Peterson, 141 Or. App. 446, 918 P.2d 858, 860 (1996) ($20,450.00 error does not require adjustment where division ended up being $169,827.00 for husband and $182,444.00 for wife); In re Marriage of Binsfield, 269 Mont. 336, 888 P.2d 889, 894 (1995) ($1,424.70 error in division of estate totaling $1.2 million harmless error); Olivas v. Olivas, 108 N.M. 814, 780 P.2d 640, 647 (N.M.App.1989) (de minimus errors will not be examined); In re Marriage of Holden, 81 S.W.3d 217, 222-23 (Mo.App. S.D.2002) (error of only several thousand dollars and less than 1% of estate of about one million dollars, minimal/harmless error); and Sateren v. Sateren, 488 N.W.2d 631, 634 (N.D. 1992) ($4,500.00 difference in division of estate of $56,000.00 not de minimus). Did the District Court Err in Awarding 7% Interest on Husband's Cash Payment to Wife [¶ 27] Husband contends that the district court erred in requiring husband to pay 7% interest on the judgment it entered against husband in the amount of $232,898.50, the amount which the district court determined would make the property settlement equitable. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-16-102(a) (LexisNexis 2001) provides that ... all decrees and judgments for the payment of money shall bear interest at ten percent (10%) per year from the date of rendition until paid. [¶ 28] Husband did not object to the decree or otherwise raise this issue below, nor did wife, and we will not consider it further other than to suggest that the interest rate imposed is set at a level that does not shock the conscience of the court. See Mayland v. Flitner, 2001 WY 69, ¶ 48, 28 P.3d 838, ¶ 48 (Wyo.2001). The decree specifically allows husband to prepay this sum of money, without penalty, and thus it appears that husband is not harmed in any way should he wish to prepay the judgment with money borrowed at a more favorable interest rate than 7%. Should the District Court Have Included Support Payments as Part of the Property Division [¶ 29] Husband contends that wife received an excessive amount of money as support during the pendency of the divorce and, therefore, the district court abused its discretion in not crediting that excess payment to the lump sum payment husband must make to wife, in order to make the settlement equitable. The amount at issue was awarded to wife as support pending the divorce and not as a part of the property settlement. The divorce action was pending for almost two years. Although no abuse of discretion is apparent, we will note at this juncture that neither cogent argument nor pertinent authority supports this argument. We have consistently refused to address claims not supported by cogent argument or citation to pertinent authority whether a pro se litigant or counsel files the brief. Walton v. State ex rel. Wood, 2002 WY 108, ¶ 11, 50 P.3d 693, ¶ 11 (Wyo.2002). Did the District Court Ignore the Tax Consequences of Its Actions [¶ 30] Husband contends that the district court ignored the tax consequences of the decree in the sense that husband made support payments to wife during the pendency of the divorce and also paid taxes on all income received during that time period. In the decree, the district court gives full credit to husband for all taxes he paid prior to entry of the decree. We perceive no abuse of discretion in this regard. Did the District Court Fail to Consider the Ability of Husband to Pay [¶ 31] Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 20-2-114 provides that the district court may decree alimony to a party out of the estate of the other, ... having regard for the other's ability to pay. The district court did not award alimony in this case, and the argument that this language should apply to the property division is not supported by cogent argument or pertinent authority. For this reason, we decline to address the issue further.