Opinion ID: 1317841
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Propriety of the Modification of the Judgment Nisi by the District Court

Text: Any modification of the judgment nisi by a court of this state must be consistent with our previous decisions declaring that a modification hearing is not a time to reconsider the evidence and premises upon which the original judgment was entered but only to consider whether there has been such change of circumstances as to warrant a different decree. Heyl v. Heyl, 518 P.2d 28 (Wyo. 1974); Buchler v. Buchler, 65 Wyo. 452, 202 P.2d 670 (1949); Lonabaugh v. Lonabaugh, 46 Wyo. 23, 22 P.2d 199 (1933). While under New Jersey law such modification could be retroactive (we would think back to the time of the change of circumstances if not earlier than a judgment fixing arrearages), the district court did not attempt to modify the provisions of the judgment nisi as to alimony and support payments which had accrued at the time of the hearing in the district court. Plaintiff broadly asserts abuse of discretion by the district court but we have carefully examined the record and find no indication that the district court's action as to future modification was not based on competent and probative evidence showing a materially changed financial condition of the defendant and we see no reason for interfering with that exercise of discretion. Young v. Young, 472 P.2d 784 (Wyo. 1970), Cooper v. Cooper, 448 P.2d 607 (Wyo. 1968), and Biggerstaff v. Biggerstaff, 443 P.2d 524 (Wyo. 1964), while dealing with the discretionary power of the court in considering allowances in the first instance, are equally authoritative on the discretion vested in the trial judge upon applications to modify. Plaintiff's claim that the requirement to maintain life insurance is a property right which cannot be modified is unsupported by authority, and as we said in Clouser v. Spaniol Ford, Inc., 522 P.2d 1360, 1365 (Wyo. 1974), citing In re Estate of Carey, 504 P.2d 793, 798 (Wyo. 1972), arguments not supported by citation of authority need not be considered. We do not find the plaintiff's statement of the claim persuasive.