Court Opinion

ID: 6333985
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-04-22 05:06:16.175514+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:33.056843
License: Public Domain

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
                 revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.

                          STATE OF MICHIGAN

                            COURT OF APPEALS

JESSICA L. MOSEY,                                                    UNPUBLISHED
                                                                     April 21, 2022
               Plaintiff-Appellee,

v                                                                    No. 357312
                                                                     Midland Circuit Court
DAVID S. MOSEY,                                                      Family Division
                                                                     LC No. 19-006318-DM
               Defendant-Appellant.

Before: BOONSTRA, P.J., and M. J. KELLY and SWARTZLE, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

       Defendant appeals by right the judgment of divorce entered by the trial court. We affirm,
except that we vacate the trial court’s order awarding attorney fees and remand for further
proceedings on that issue.

                   I. PERTINENT FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

        The parties were married on September 15, 2007, and had three children together: MOM,
LDM, and MKM. Plaintiff filed a complaint for divorce in 2019. After the parties separated, the
children resided primarily with plaintiff in the marital home. A temporary custody order was
entered granting plaintiff sole legal and physical custody, with defendant having parenting time on
alternating weekends and on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Defendant answered plaintiff’s
complaint and sought joint legal and physical custody with a week-on, week-off parenting
schedule; this arrangement was also recommended by a court-appointed investigator. The issues
of child custody and property division were decided after a two-day trial in November 2020.

        At the trial, the court heard testimony that LDM suffered from diabetes and required insulin
injections. Plaintiff expressed concern about defendant’s ability to manage this condition, citing
instances in which LDM returned from defendant’s parenting time with high blood sugar levels.
Plaintiff testified that she wanted sole legal custody because defendant refused to communicate
with her. Plaintiff asserted that defendant never responded to her text messages and that he never
signed up for the electronic application through which they were court-ordered to communicate.
Defendant admitted that he had refused to communicate with plaintiff, stating that he was
concerned that plaintiff would use their communications against him. Plaintiff testified, and

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defendant admitted, that defendant had frequently directed obscene gestures and disparaging
comments toward plaintiff, often in the presence of the children. Plaintiff accused defendant of at
one point pinning her to the ground in the presence of LDM. Plaintiff testified that defendant had
coached the children to disrespect her, and that MKM routinely insulted plaintiff and made obscene
gestures to her during parenting-time exchanges.

        Defendant testified that plaintiff abused alcohol and had thrown household objects at him.
Defendant denied ever pinning plaintiff to the ground, instead stating that plaintiff had become
inebriated and fell to the ground crying. Defendant also testified that plaintiff had issues with
depression and being suicidal. Defendant admitted to striking the children with wire hangers as
corporal punishment, but asserted that plaintiff had also done so. Defendant testified that he could
adequately manage LDM’s diabetes.

        The parties disputed the value of the marital home. Plaintiff testified that an appraisal
company had valued the home at $310,000. However, defendant insisted that the home was more
valuable than this assessment. Defendant presented the trial court with a letter from a realtor
asserting that the house was worth “four to five hundred thousand” dollars.

        In April 2021, the trial court issued its opinion. The court described defendant’s conduct
during the divorce proceedings as “highly disturbing” and found that defendant had “consistently
behaved in a vulgar and derogatory manner towards Plaintiff Mother and has actively encouraged
the children to behave in the same way.” The court adopted plaintiff’s proposed valuation of the
marital home, finding that defendant’s letter represented only “a ballpark estimate” done without
a “formal walkthrough.” The trial court ordered an equal division of marital property, and it
awarded the marital home to plaintiff with one-half the value of the equity in the home awarded to
defendant. The court granted plaintiff’s request for sole legal and physical custody, and it awarded
parenting time to defendant on alternating weekends. In response to plaintiff’s request for attorney
fees, the trial court ordered defendant to pay one-half of plaintiff’s attorney fees, noting that
defendant had violated the court’s orders on three separate occasions and finding that the attorney
fee award was an “appropriate sanction” for defendant’s “pervasive misconduct.”

       The judgment of divorce was entered in May 2021. This appeal followed.

                                          II. CUSTODY

        Defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by awarding sole physical and
legal custody of the minor children to plaintiff. We disagree.

        MCL 722.28 provides that when reviewing a lower court order in a custody dispute, “all
orders and judgments of the circuit court shall be affirmed on appeal unless the trial judge made
findings of fact against the great weight of evidence or committed a palpable abuse of discretion
or a clear legal error on a major issue.” The statute “distinguishes among three types of findings
and assigns standards of review to each.” Dailey v Kloenhamer, 291 Mich App 660, 664; 811
NW2d 501 (2011) (quotation marks and citation omitted). Factual findings “are reviewed under
the ‘great weight of the evidence’ standard.” Id. “A finding of fact is against the great weight of
the evidence if the evidence clearly preponderates in the opposite direction.” Pennington v
Pennington, 329 Mich App 562, 570; 944 NW2d 131 (2019). “This Court gives deference to the

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trial court’s factual judgments and special deference to the trial court’s credibility assessments.”
Brown v Brown, 332 Mich App 1, 9; 955 NW2d 515 (2020). “Questions of law are reviewed for
clear legal error. A trial court commits clear legal error when it incorrectly chooses, interprets, or
applies the law.” Pennington, 329 Mich App at 570 (quotation marks and citation omitted).
“Discretionary rulings, such as to whom custody is awarded, are reviewed for an abuse of
discretion. An abuse of discretion exists when the trial court’s decision is palpably and grossly
violative of fact and logic.” Dailey, 291 Mich App at 664-665 (quotation marks, citations, and
alteration omitted).

       With regard to an award of physical custody, the trial court “must consider the factors
outlined in MCL 722.23 in determining a custody arrangement in the best interests of the children
involved.” Bofysil v Bofysil, 332 Mich App 232, 244; 956 NW2d 544 (2020). As this Court has
explained, “[i]f two equally capable parents whose marriage relationship has irreconcilably broken
down are unable to cooperate and to agree generally concerning important decisions affecting the
welfare of their children, the court has no alternative but to determine which parent shall have sole
custody of the children.” Id. at 249 (quotation marks and citation omitted).

        The record reveals that the trial court considered the best-interest factors found in
MCL 722.23, and found that the balance of those factors favored plaintiff. Defendant does not
challenge the trial court’s findings with respect to any particular factor; rather, he argues generally
that the court’s opinion was based on lies and that plaintiff wrongfully exploited a “legal system
meant to protect abused women to gain custody of [the] children and [the] marital home.”
Defendant does not elaborate specifically on what this means, but, in essence, defendant appears
to challenge the trial court’s assessment of the parties’ credibility. However, this Court generally
does not disturb the trial court’s credibility findings on appeal, Brown, 332 Mich App at 9, and
defendant has presented no reason why it should do so in this case.

        Defendant also argues that the trial court erred by not following the recommendation of the
custodial investigator. We disagree. Prior to the divorce trial, the court ordered a custody
investigation, and in her report, the investigator recommended joint custody with a week-on, week-
off schedule. Trial courts are not bound to accept such recommendations; the ultimate decision
regarding custody is left to the discretion of the trial court, not a court-appointed investigator. See
Dailey, 291 Mich App at 664-665. Moreover, the trial court explicitly stated that it had departed
from the investigator’s recommendations because approximately a year had passed since the
investigation and the circumstances had changed. Defendant has not established that the trial court
abused its discretion in this regard. Id.

        Finally, defendant, in his brief on appeal, refers to events that he acknowledges occurred
after the entry of the judgment of divorce. These events are not part of the record provided to this
Court. Further, the trial court clearly could not have erred by failing to consider events that had
not yet occurred at the time the judgment was entered. The proper means for defendant to raise
these issues is in a motion for change of custody filed in the trial court; these issues have no bearing
on defendant’s appeal. Brown, 332 Mich App at 9.

                                     III. PROPERTY AWARD

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       Defendant also argues that the trial court erred by adopting plaintiff’s proposed valuation
of the marital home, by awarding the home to plaintiff instead of ordering it to be sold, and by
inaccurately valuing defendant’s retirement accounts. We disagree.

        “This Court reviews a property distribution in a divorce case by first reviewing the trial
court’s factual findings for clear error, and then determining whether the dispositional ruling was
fair and equitable in light of the facts.” Olson v Olson, 256 Mich App 619, 622; 671 NW2d 64
(2003). “A finding is clearly erroneous if, after reviewing the entire record, [this court is] left with
the definite and firm conviction that a mistake was made.” Loutts v Loutts, 298 Mich App 21, 26;
826 NW2d 152 (2012).

        A trial court presiding over a divorce trial must “include a determination of the property
rights of the parties in the judgment of divorce.” Olson, 256 Mich App at 627. “The goal in
distributing marital assets in a divorce proceeding is to reach an equitable distribution of property
in light of all the circumstances. The trial court need not divide the marital estate into
mathematically equal portions, but any significant departure from congruence must be clearly
explained.” Berger v Berger, 277 Mich App 700, 716-717; 747 NW2d 336 (2008) (citation
omitted). Prior to dividing assets, the trial court must determine what is marital property and what
is separate property. Cunningham v Cunningham, 289 Mich App 195, 200-201; 795 NW2d 826
(2010). “Generally, marital property is that which is acquired or earned during the marriage,
whereas separate property is that which is obtained or earned before the marriage.” Id. at 201
(citing MCL 552.19). In general, “when the marital estate is divided each party takes away from
the marriage that party’s own separate estate with no invasion by the other party.” Id. (quotation
marks and citation omitted). The marital property is then apportioned “between the parties in a
manner that is equitable in light of all the circumstances.” Id. “[W]here a trial court’s valuation
of a marital asset is within the range established by the proofs, no clear error is present.” Jansen
v Jansen, 205 Mich App 169, 171; 517 NW2d 275 (1994).

                                       A. MARITAL HOME

       Defendant argues that because the parties disagreed about the value of the marital home,
the court should have ordered a sale and divided the proceeds between the parties. We disagree.

        Defendant maintains that a trial court is required to order a sale of the marital home when
the parties cannot agree on its value. This position is meritless. Defendant has provided no
authority in support of this assertion; nor is this Court aware of any such authority. The trial court’s
decision to award the marital home to one party, with one-half of its value awarded to the other
party, was a proper use of the court’s discretion. See Cunningham, 289 Mich App at 201. We
also conclude that the court’s decision to adopt plaintiff’s appraisal value was reasonable. Plaintiff
hired an appraisal company to evaluate the home, and the appraiser determined it to be worth
$310,000. Defendant disputed this calculation with a letter from a realtor stating that the house
was likely worth more; however, the realtor who made this assessment never actually saw the
house, but only reviewed plaintiff’s appraisal report. Moreover, defendant admitted that the house
was insured for a value of $310,000. Because the trial court’s valuation of the marital home was
“within the range established by the proofs,” we find no clear error. Jansen, 205 Mich App at 171.

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                                  B. RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS

       Defendant also argues that the trial court’s valuation of his retirement accounts was clearly
erroneous. We disagree.

        The trial court found that defendant, at one point, had $68,267.91 in various retirement
accounts, but that he only had $41,907.31 remaining after making substantial withdrawals in
violation of the trial court’s restraining orders. Defendant argues, without elaboration, that the
court’s assessment of the value of his retirement accounts was “simply an inaccurate number.”
The burden is on defendant to establish that the trial court’s finding was clear error, and this
conclusory statement is not sufficient to carry that burden. Indeed, defendant has not supplied this
Court with what he asserts to be the correct figure, nor has he identified evidence in the record that
supports his assertion that the trial court’s calculation was inaccurate. Therefore, we will not
disturb the trial court’s findings concerning defendant’s retirement savings.

                                  IV. ATTORNEY FEE AWARD

       Defendant argues that the trial court erred by ordering him to pay one-half of plaintiff’s
attorney fees. We hold that the trial court’s order was not supported by the necessary findings of
fact.

        This Court reviews “a trial court’s grant or denial of attorney fees for an abuse of discretion.
Any findings of fact on which the trial court bases an award of attorney fees are reviewed for clear
error, but questions of law are reviewed de novo.” Reed v Reed, 265 Mich App 131, 164; 693
NW2d 825 (2005) (citations omitted).

         With respect to attorney fees, Michigan follows the “American Rule,” under which
“attorney fees are not recoverable as an element of costs or damages unless expressly allowed by
statute, court rule, common-law exception, or contract. In domestic relations cases, attorney fees
are authorized by both statute and court rule.” Reed, 265 Mich App at 164 (citations omitted).
MCL 552.13(1) provides: “In every action brought, either for a divorce or for a separation, the
court may require either party . . . to pay any sums necessary to enable the adverse party to carry
on or defend the action, during its pendency.” Additionally, MCR 3.206(D), provides in relevant
part:
                Attorney Fees and Expenses

               (1) A party may, at any time, request that the court order the other party to
       pay all or part of the attorney fees and expenses related to the action or a specific
       proceeding, including a post-judgment proceeding.

               (2) A party who requests attorney fees and expenses must allege facts
       sufficient to show that

                (a) the party is unable to bear the expense of the action, including the
       expense of engaging in discovery appropriate for the matter, and that the other party
       is able to pay, or

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              (b) the attorney fees and expenses were incurred because the other party
       refused to comply with a previous court order, despite having the ability to comply,
       or engaged in discovery practices in violation of these rules.

        “Subrule (D)(2)(a) allows payment of attorney fees based on one party’s inability to pay
and the other party’s ability to do so, while Subrule (D)(2)(b) considers only a party’s behavior,
without reference to the ability to pay.” Colen v Colen, 331 Mich App 295, 305-306; 952 NW2d
558 (2020) (quotation marks and citation omitted). If an award of attorney fees is based on a
party’s misconduct, then the trial court must find that that the party’s “misconduct caused [the
other party] to incur the fees awarded.” Reed, 265 Mich App at 165. Moreover, if “requested
attorney fees are contested, it is incumbent on the trial court to conduct a hearing to determine
what services were actually rendered, and the reasonableness of those services.” Id. at 166. It is
improper for the trial court to award attorney fees “solely on the basis of what it perceives to be
fair or on equitable principles.” Id. “The party requesting the attorney fees has the burden of
showing facts sufficient to justify the award.” Woodington v Shokoohi, 288 Mich App 352, 370;
792 NW2d 63 (2010).

       With respect to attorney fees, the trial court’s order stated:

              Defendant Father has violated this Court’s orders on three separate
       occasions. Plaintiff Mother made a motion for attorney fees based on Defendant
       Father’s most recent violation of the TRO and his subsequent withdrawal of funds.
       The Court finds that attorney fees are an appropriate sanction for Defendant
       Father’s pervasive misconduct and failure to follow this Court’s orders. Therefore,
       Defendant Father shall pay one-half of Plaintiff Mother’s attorney fee for this case.
       This amount shall be deducted from the amount awarded to Defendant Father
       pursuant to this judgment of divorce.

       In Reed, the trial court awarded attorney fees “on the basis of defendant’s unreasonable
conduct,” but abused its discretion by making the award “without finding that defendant’s
misconduct caused plaintiff to incur the fees awarded.” Reed, 265 Mich App at 165. This Court
acknowledged that the defendant did engage in misconduct by failing to comply with a discovery
order, but noted that the “plaintiff did not establish what fees she incurred as a result.” Id.
“Moreover, the trial court further erred by not conducting a hearing or finding facts regarding the
reasonableness of the fees incurred.” Id.

        This case is similar to Reed, and it compels the same result. As in Reed, defendant engaged
in misconduct by failing to comply with court orders. While the trial court in this case did not
specify the legal authority upon which it based its decision, its reasoning made clear that the award
was based on defendant’s misconduct and three previous violations of its orders. However, as in
Reed, the trial court in this case failed to find that defendant’s misconduct had caused plaintiff to
incur the fees that were awarded. The trial court likewise failed to engage in any fact-finding
concerning the reasonableness of plaintiff’s fees. Instead, the trial court merely awarded one-half
of plaintiff’s fees as a sanction for defendant’s misconduct. But a trial court cannot award fees
“solely on the basis of what it perceives to be fair or on equitable principles.” Id. at 166.

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       Accordingly, the trial court’s decision to award attorney fees to plaintiff is vacated, and we
remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Should the trial court again award
attorney fees to plaintiff, it should make sufficient findings of fact to permit appellate review.

        We affirm the trial court’s decision regarding custody of the minor children. We likewise
affirm the trial court’s division of marital property. However, we vacate the trial court’s attorney
fee award and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. We do not retain
jurisdiction.

                                                              /s/ Mark T. Boonstra
                                                              /s/ Michael J. Kelly
                                                              /s/ Brock A. Swartzle

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