Court Opinion

ID: 2747836
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-11-04 15:07:04.497504+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:25:58.974540
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

              Present: Judges Alston, Decker and Senior Judge Coleman
UNPUBLISHED

              CATHERINE STREAT LANIER
                                                                                      MEMORANDUM OPINION*
              v.      Record No. 0824-14-2                                                PER CURIAM
                                                                                        NOVEMBER 4, 2014
              PAUL OWEN LANIER, II

                                     FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF HENRICO COUNTY
                                               Catherine C. Hammond, Judge

                                (Elliott B. Bender; David C. Reinhardt, Third Year Practice
                                Certificate; Elliott B. Bender, PLLC, on briefs), for appellant.

                                (Michael S. Ewing; Batzli Stiles Butler, PC, on brief), for appellee.

                      Catherine Streat Lanier (wife) appeals an order terminating her spousal support award.

              Wife argues that the trial court erred by (1) granting the petition for termination of spousal support

              filed by Paul Owen Lanier, II (husband) “where there was no evidence that [husband] provided a

              full, fair, and clear disclosure of pertinent facts bearing on his ability to pay;” (2) finding that there

              was a material change of circumstances that warranted a modification of support “where there was

              overwhelming evidence that [husband] did not provide a full, fair, and clear disclosure of pertinent

              facts bearing on his ability to pay;” (3) finding that there was a material change of circumstances

              that warranted a termination of support “where there was no evidence that a substantial portion of

              [husband’s] obligations did not result from neglect or misconduct;” (4) finding that husband was not

              voluntarily underemployed “where the court misapplied the applicable standard and did not

              consider the reasonableness of [husband’s] efforts to find employment based on all of [his] training

              and experience;” and (5) terminating husband’s spousal support obligation “where there was no

                      *
                          Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
evidence showing a material change in circumstances warranting termination and it did not consider

whether the evidence justified termination of spousal support.” Upon reviewing the record and

briefs of the parties, we conclude that this appeal is without merit. Accordingly, we summarily

affirm the decision of the trial court. See Rule 5A:27.

                                           BACKGROUND

         The parties married in 1986 and divorced in 1992. Husband was obligated to pay wife

$850 per month in spousal support; however, that amount was reduced to $700 per month in

1995. In 2009, the Richmond Circuit Court held that it would be unconscionable to terminate

wife’s spousal support despite the fact that she was cohabiting with another person in a

relationship analogous to marriage.

         In February 2012, husband lost his job. Consequently, he filed a motion to terminate or

reduce his spousal support obligation. The Henrico County Juvenile and Domestic Relations

District Court reduced husband’s spousal support obligation to $675 per month. Husband

appealed to the Henrico Circuit Court.

         On May 28, 2013, the parties appeared before the circuit court to present evidence and

argument regarding husband’s motion to modify spousal support. Husband explained that when

he was terminated from his job, he was told that “things weren’t working out.”1 Husband

testified he received unemployment compensation for “a while.” He discussed his efforts about

finding a job and the fact that he was still trying to find work. Since his termination from

employment, he withdrew funds from his retirement and savings accounts. He borrowed against

his life insurance policy. He also took loans from the family corporation for which he was a

minority shareholder. Husband explained that his father was CEO and controlled the business.

         1
             His employer testified that husband was terminated because his division was losing
money.

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Husband had no control over the dividends or income from the business. Meanwhile, wife

testified that her financial situation had not changed since 2009, although some of her household

expenses had increased. She was disabled and did not work. She also testified about her

physical ailments and her medications. After hearing all of the evidence and argument, the trial

court took the matter under advisement.

       On May 30, 2013, the circuit court issued a letter opinion. It found that husband’s

termination from his employment was a material change in circumstances. It further held that

husband’s job loss was due to the fact that his division was not profitable and was not his fault.

The trial court stated that husband was not voluntarily unemployed and was actively seeking

employment. The trial court ruled that husband’s spousal support obligation would be suspended

“as of March 19, 2012, until further hearing by this Court.” The trial court ordered the parties to

schedule a hearing in December 2013 “to evaluate whether Mr. Lanier was still unemployed or

whether the Court should impute income to Mr. Lanier.”

       On July 30, 2013, wife filed a motion to reconsider. The trial court did not rule on this

motion.

       On August 26, 2013, the circuit court entered an order memorializing its rulings from the

May 30, 2013 letter opinion.

       On February 24, 2014, the parties appeared before the circuit court for a review hearing.

Wife called husband as a witness and questioned him about his interest in the family’s business

and the money he borrowed from the business and his father. She also questioned him about his

income and expense statement and his job search. After hearing argument, the trial court held

that contrary to wife’s allegations, husband provided “satisfactory” disclosure of his financial

information. The trial court found that “the reason for [husband’s] unemployment was

something other than misconduct or negligent [sic].” Lastly, the trial court found that “the

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evidence is satisfactory that he has pursued employment. And at this time he is unemployed not

through fault of his own.” The trial court concluded that husband did not have the ability to pay

spousal support, and consequently, it terminated his spousal support obligation. The trial court

entered its final order on April 7, 2014. This appeal followed.

                                                 ANALYSIS

             “We will not disturb the trial court’s decision where it is based on an ore tenus hearing,

unless it is ‘plainly wrong or without evidence in the record to support it.’” Furr v. Furr, 13
Va. App. 479, 481, 413 S.E.2d 72, 73 (1992) (quoting Schoenwetter v. Schoenwetter, 8 Va. App.
601, 605, 383 S.E.2d 28, 30 (1989)).

                                        Assignments of error 1 and 2

             Wife argues that the trial court erred by holding that husband provided a “full, fair, and

clear disclosure” of his financial situation that affected his ability to pay spousal support. Wife

alleges that husband failed to disclose his true financial situation. Wife asserts that husband did

not provide sufficient information regarding his interest in his family business and his ability to

receive distributions and loans from this company.

             “[A] party seeking a reduction in support payments . . . ‘must make a full and clear

disclosure relating to his ability to pay.’” Edwards v. Lowry, 232 Va. 110, 112, 348 S.E.2d 259,

261 (1986) (quoting Hammers v. Hammers, 216 Va. 30, 31, 216 S.E.2d 20, 21 (1975)); see also

Antonelli v. Antonelli, 242 Va. 152, 154, 409 S.E.2d 117, 119 (1991) (A party “seeking a

reduction in support payments must also make a full and clear disclosure about his ability to pay

. . . .”).

             The trial court found that husband provided full disclosure, despite wife’s claims. The

court stated, “I understand the frustration expressed by [wife’s counsel] that when you see that

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Four-L [the family business] was paying out so much money previously, it’s hard to understand

why it’s stopped, but there has been enough disclosure.”

       Wife relies on Crosby v. Crosby, 182 Va. 461, 29 S.E.2d 241 (1944), to support her

arguments that husband failed to provide sufficient disclosure of his assets. In Crosby,

Mr. Crosby did not appear in the trial court to testify about his assets and liabilities, and the court

found husband’s financial information was “so vague and confusing as to be of little probative

value.” Id. at 466, 29 S.E.2d at 243. Likewise, wife contends husband’s disclosure was lacking.

She asserts that husband “failed to completely disclose the nature, uses, and location” of some of

his assets and “failed to disclose the whereabouts of a substantial portion of” his bank deposits.

She questions his testimony regarding the family business and the dividends he received.

       Despite wife’s contentions, she had the opportunity to conduct discovery while the case

was pending, and husband responded to her discovery requests. Husband provided seven years

of bank statements, multiple income and expense statements, and several years of tax returns. At

the trial, husband introduced evidence about his retirement accounts, life insurance, and debts.

Wife had a copy of the family business’ tax return and balance sheet. Husband also submitted to

a deposition on February 10, 2014, when her counsel further questioned him about his financial

situation. Unlike Crosby, wife had the opportunity to question husband at several hearings and a

deposition.

       Based on the record, this Court cannot say that husband failed to provide full and clear

disclosure regarding his ability to meet his support obligations.

                                        Assignment of error 3

       Wife argues that the trial court erred in finding a material change in circumstances that

warranted a termination of spousal support because there was no evidence that husband’s

obligations were a result of his neglect or misconduct. Wife contends husband’s inability to pay

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support was due to his obligations and debt that he incurred as a result of his own neglect and

misconduct. Wife notes that since husband’s unemployment, he has withdrawn funds from his

retirement and borrowed against his life insurance policy. At trial, she questioned him about his

expenditures. Wife argues that some of husband’s spending was “frivolous” and should not be

considered with respect to his ability to pay spousal support.

       The party seeking to modify his support obligation “‘must also show that his lack of

ability to pay is not due to his own voluntary act or because of his neglect.’” Edwards, 232 Va.

at 112-13, 348 S.E.2d at 261 (quoting Hammers, 216 Va. at 31-32, 216 S.E.2d at 21); see also

Antonelli, 242 Va. at 154, 409 S.E.2d at 119.

       The trial court found that husband’s spending was “reasonable.” He has incurred

substantial debt since he lost his job in February 2012. Contrary to wife’s arguments, there is

nothing in the record to suggest that husband’s financial obligations and debts were a result of

his neglect or misconduct.

                                      Assignment of error 4

       Wife argues that the trial court erred in finding that husband was not voluntarily

underemployed because it “misapplied the applicable standard and did not consider the

reasonableness of [husband’s] efforts to find employment based on all of [his] training and

experience.” Wife notes that husband restricted his job search “almost exclusively to the

Richmond area” and “to only those jobs that are of the specific type that he held before he

became unemployed in 2012.” Wife contends that “[i]n light of this highly restrictive

employment search, it does not appear that the court considered the reasonability of both

[husband’s] geographic and skills-based restrictions on his employment search.” She asserts that

the trial court should have determined whether husband’s “efforts to find employment, given his

experience, ability, and education, were reasonable.” She further argues that the “inquiry should

                                                -6-
not be restricted to whether a payor-spouse is merely ‘actively seeking employment’ in an area in

which the spouse has particular expertise.”

       To prove a change in circumstances justifying a reduction in support, the payor “must

establish that he is not ‘voluntarily unemployed or voluntarily under employed.’” Antonelli, 242
Va. at 154, 409 S.E.2d at 119 (quoting Code § 20-108.1(B)(3)).

       “Whether a person is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed is a factual

determination.” Blackburn v. Michael, 30 Va. App. 95, 102, 515 S.E.2d 780, 784 (1999). “Trial

courts . . . must exercise their discretion in determining whether the obligor’s actions after being

involuntarily terminated constitute voluntary underemployment and whether income should

therefore be imputed.” Reece v. Reece, 22 Va. App. 368, 376, 470 S.E.2d 148, 152 (1996).

       The trial court held that husband was terminated from his job in 2012 because “his

division was not profitable.”2 At the May 2013 hearing, husband testified about his job search.

He applied for numerous jobs and went on several job interviews. He contacted headhunters and

recruiters. He received job listings from several job search websites. He also went to a couple of

companies to “pitch” a business idea, and hopefully, create a job for himself, but the companies

did not have the capital to fund the project. The trial court noted in its May 2013 letter opinion

that there was no evidence that husband “deliberately minimized his income or refused to search

for or accept comparable employment following his termination.”

       At the February 24, 2014 hearing, husband testified about his job search since the May

2013 hearing. He had applied for additional jobs, but to no avail. Husband testified that he had

worked in road construction his “whole life.” He had “some involvement with land sales in the

industrial park development,” but was not a licensed realtor. He further explained that he

applied for jobs in “real estate related work that did not require a real estate license.” He also

       2
           Wife did not assign error to this finding.
                                                  -7-
testified that he had management experience and applied to industries that had “operations

management type position[s], but they wanted experience in warehousing,” which he did not

have. He explained that he applied for jobs that matched his qualifications, and not for jobs for

which he was not qualified. After hearing all of the evidence, the trial court concluded that

husband was not voluntarily unemployed and had been seeking employment. The trial court

concluded that “everything has to be looked at in the context of what his training and experience

and education is, and, again, not to speculate about whether he’s trained for some other

position.”

       Contrary to wife’s arguments, the trial court applied the correct standard and did not err

in determining that husband was not voluntarily unemployed. Husband’s training and

experience were limited to road construction. He did not have a college degree. His children

and family lived in Richmond. The trial court did not err in finding that his job search was

reasonable considering the factors in this case.

                                       Assignment of error 5

       Wife argues that the trial court erred in finding that there was a material change in

circumstances that warranted a termination in spousal support. She asserts husband’s financial

situation is “temporary” until he finds a job or receives dividends from the family business.

Since the situation is temporary, she contends the trial court should not have terminated her

support.

       “The determination whether a spouse is entitled to [a termination of spousal] support . . .

is a matter within the discretion of the [trial] court . . . .” Dukelow v. Dukelow, 2 Va. App. 21,

27, 341 S.E.2d 208, 211 (1986).

       “Upon [the] petition of either party the court may increase, decrease, or terminate the

amount or duration of any spousal support and maintenance . . . as the circumstances may make

                                                   -8-
proper.” Code § 20-109. “The moving party in a petition for modification of support is required

to prove both a material change in circumstances and that this change warrants a modification of

support.” Schoenwetter, 8 Va. App. at 605, 383 S.E.2d at 30 (citation omitted).

       As noted above, the trial court held that husband’s termination from his employment was

a material change of circumstances. Husband incurred substantial debt after the loss of his job.

He tried to obtain new employment, but was unsuccessful. Contrary to wife’s arguments, there

is nothing in the record to suggest that husband’s situation is “temporary.”

       The material change in circumstances “must bear upon the financial needs of the

dependent spouse or the ability of the supporting spouse to pay.” Hollowell v. Hollowell, 6
Va. App. 417, 419, 369 S.E.2d 451, 452 (1988). Although wife still had the need for support,

husband no longer had the ability to pay support. The trial court did not err in finding that the

material change of circumstances warranted a termination of his spousal support obligation.

                                     Attorney’s fees and costs

       Wife requested an award of attorney’s fees incurred on appeal, and husband requested an

award of attorney’s fees and costs incurred on appeal. See O’Loughlin v. O’Loughlin, 23
Va. App. 690, 695, 479 S.E.2d 98, 100 (1996). On consideration of the record before us, we

decline to award either party attorney’s fees and costs on appeal.

                                         CONCLUSION

       For the foregoing reasons, the trial court’s ruling is summarily affirmed. Rule 5A:27.

                                                                                          Affirmed.

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