Opinion ID: 2222186
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: overcalculation of michael's obligation

Text: Michael alleges that he was not properly credited for money he has given to Brandon for his educational expenses. Michael's brief specifically mentions two categories. The record shows that Michael wired Brandon a total of $475 in four installments between November 6 and December 17, 2001. Michael testified that he sent this money after Brandon complained of difficulty paying his off-campus rent while at college. The record also shows that Michael paid $102.07 toward a Stafford loan for Brandon's education. Michael asserts that the trial court erred in withholding from him credit for these expenditures. The portion of this assignment of error which pertains to the loan payment has merit. The court did not credit Michael for this amount. The court ordered Michael to pay $7,842.30 for Brandon's educational expenses over his first four semesters at the college. This is one-half of the exact sum of tuition plus on-campus room and board for the years 2000 to 2002, as recorded in exhibit 1. Therefore, Michael was not given credit for his payment into Brandon's loan account. Since neither the agreement nor the divorce decree specified the method Michael was required to pay his one-half of Brandon's educational expenses, this loan payment is properly considered as partial fulfillment of his obligations. It was an abuse of discretion for the district court not to credit Michael for this payment. However, the portion of this assignment of error which concerns the money transfers into Brandon's checking account is without merit. The court found that Michael was not liable for Brandon's off-campus rent. The court found that the room and board language was ambiguous and limited it to on-campus expenses. Neither party has complained about the court's construction of these terms, room and board, and we find sufficient evidence to support the court's construction. Brandon was living off campus during the two semesters of the 2001-2002 school year, the time Michael supplied Brandon with the $475 for off-campus rent. Since Michael was not obligated by the court order to pay one-half of this amount, any money he supplied to Brandon was voluntary and was not compelled by the settlement agreement or the divorce decree. The Nebraska Court of Appeals recently determined in Palagi v. Palagi, 10 Neb.App. 231, 627 N.W.2d 765 (2001), that a father's voluntary payments of his child's college-related expenses did not offset accrued child support payments. Similarly, Michael's voluntary donation of money to Brandon for off-campus rent does not offset Michael's obligations to pay any sums compelled by the settlement agreement or the divorce decree. This portion of Michael's assignment of error is without merit.