Court Opinion

ID: 9582349
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:25:37.918311+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:37:41.695289
License: Public Domain

Oxner, Justice
(dissenting).
*207Both the Master and Judge Baker found that the conduct of appellant fully justified respondent in leaving him. A careful consideration of the record convinces me of the soundness of this concurrent factual finding. This would entitle respondent to separate maintenance. Her action is dismissed, however, by this Court upon the ground that she has failed to show the support now given her by appellant is inadequate.
Some time in 1953 appellant voluntarily started paying respondent $600.00 a month which, at the suggestion of his uncle, was increased to $700.00. Several months later appellant sought to induce his wife to accept $200.00 a month. She refused to do this. He then gave her an allowance of $400.00 a month, which has been continued, and he has also paid the income taxes of both parties. When this action was commenced respondent was allowed alimony pendente lite at the rate of $600.00 per month. On appeal to this Court appellant contended that this amount was excessive. We held on the first appeal, 225 S. C. 211, 81 S. E. (2d) 344, that respondent was entitled to alimony pendente lite but reversed the amount fixed because of the failure of the Circuit Judge to take into consideration the tax status of the parties. Apparently nothing further was done toward determining the proper amount of temporary alimony.
The issue as to whether the amount now paid respondent by appellant is adequate has since received scant attention. The testimony thereabout is meager. This specific question is neither discussed in the report of the Master nor in the order of Judge Baker. In respondent’s return to appellant’s proposed supplemental answer and the accompanying affidavit, she asserts that she has been unable to maintain the home and support herself on her income and the present allowance of $400.00 per month and that it has been necessary for her to invade her capital funds. However, no testimony was taken in support of this allegation.
*208In view of all the circumstances, I think the case should be remanded to the Circuit Court to take further testimony and determine the adequacy of the support now being given respondent.