Court Opinion

ID: 9737346
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:22:42.405757+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:23:58.282895
License: Public Domain

Severs, Judge,
concurring.
I agree wholeheartedly with Judge Hannon’s opinion, the essence of which is that the trial court’s decision suffers from two significant fatal flaws: (1) an incomplete resolution of the issues before the court and (2) a completely unjustified, and thereby abusive, order which “sells out” the parties’ property in a manner which potentially works to Nancy’s advantage. Thus, the matter must be remanded.
That said, I want to ensure that my position is clear that there are times and circumstances when it is appropriate, and indeed reasonable, for a trial court to direct one party to a divorce action to dispose of, by sale or otherwise, an asset of the parties and then deliver a share of those proceeds to the other. I view those situations as having the effect of a constructive trust with the disposing party being a fiduciary with a duty of good faith and fair dealing. Consequently, I do not believe that a neutral third party needs to always become involved in the disposition of marital assets. At the core, the matter remains a question of reasonableness, and as Judge Harmon has thoroughly set forth in his opinion, the notion of a sellout with Nancy in charge is flawed on many levels and patently unreasonable. But, in addressing an obviously flawed decree, we should not sweep too broadly as to limit the power of the district courts to fashion reasonable, efficient, and inexpensive methods for the disposition of marital property.
Irwin, Chief Judge, joins in this concurrence.