Court Opinion

ID: 9514589
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:50:36.613812+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:19.066061
License: Public Domain

SABERS, Justice
(dissenting).
[¶ 18.] I would affirm the trial court and award mother appellate attorney fees.
[¶ 19.] The majority opinion appears to make sense if you look at the law abstractly and ignore the facts entirely.
[¶ 20.] Mother’s brief claims that the trial court found that:
1) Father had assets valued at $2.5 million dollars.
*1842) Father’s total income in 1993 was $803,851.
3) Father’s taxable income in 1994 was $360,000.
4) Father lived in an upscale neighborhood west of Rapid City, where homes were valued in excess of $250,-000. He was extensively remodeling his home and mother lived in a home valued at $75,000.
[¶ 21.] The total contrast in the incomes and standards of living between this millionaire and this teacher make it obvious that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying a change in child support simply because the oldest daughter began living with father more than mother. There are still obligations on mother’s part for graduation and college preparation expenses.
[¶ 22.] I submit the following factual attachment concerning the amount of child support paid by father:
CHILD SUPPORT HISTORY
January 1990 Divorce granted; Father ordered to pay $575 every month
October 1993 Child support modified; Father ordered to pay $274 every month; physical custody split equally between parents (Father’s monthly child support obilgation of $774.41 per month x 6 months - Mother’s monthly child support obligation of $227.01 per month x 6 months = $274 per month paid by father)
July 1996 Child support modification; father ordered to pay $2,874 every month (Father’s share
$6,116.82 - Mother’s share $369.93 / 2 = $2,873.44) April 1,1997 Current child support modification Trial court ordered:
April 1997 - Father pays $2,963
May 1997 — Mother pays $293
June 1997 - Father pays $1,913
July, September, November - Mother pays $168 August, October, December - Father pays $1,699
So father actually paid:
Jan.1990 to Oct. 1993 - approx. 45 months x $575 = $25,875
Oct.1993 to July 1996 - approx. 33 months x $274 = $9,042
July 1996 to April 1997 - approx. 8 months x $2874 = $22,992
Total child support paid in 7 years, 3 months = approx. $57,909
Monthly average of $673 per month paid by father
[¶ 23.] I would affirm the trial court in all respects and award mother at least $2,000 in appellate attorney fees.