Court Opinion

ID: 9738642
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:59:27.51236+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:07.576895
License: Public Domain

FOSHEIM, Justice
(concurring specially).
The majority opinion correctly states the rule announced in Krueger v. Krueger, 32 S.D. 470, 143 N.W. 368 (1913); Scott v. Scott, 9 S.D. 125, 68 N.W. 194 (1896); and Larson v. Larson, 9 S.D. 1, 67 N.W. 842 (1896), that in order to support a finding that the acts were wilful and contemptuous it must be shown that a copy of the divorce decree was personally served upon the con-temnor. Proof, however, that the alleged *865contemnor had actual notice of his obligations as imposed by the decree renders personal service unnecessary. Freeman v. City of Huron, 8 S.D. 435, 66 N.W. 928 (1896); State v. Knight, 3 S.D. 509, 54 N.W. 412 (1893).
In my opinion, this requirement applies to all subsequent orders in the contempt process including grants of purgation. While the record does not show proof of personal service of the divorce decree, the plaintiff, as the majority opinion notes, does not urge any such failure. I disagree, however, with that part of the opinion which concludes that since appellant’s counsel was present when the August 30, 1978 order was entered and thereafter acknowledged having received notice of that order, the notice requirements were thereby met. In my opinion, that conclusion is erroneous. The evidence necessary to prove contempt must be clear and satisfactory, 27B C.J.S. Divorce § 262(j) (1959), and must be strictly construed in favor of the accused. The usual ■ presumption in favor of the regularity of the proceedings does not apply in contempt' matters. Ex parte Shackleford, 116 Cal.App.2d 864, 254 P.2d 610 (1953); Groves v. Superior Court, 62 Cal.App.2d 559, 145 P.2d 355 (1944). The knowledge of counsel cannot be imputed to his client to show actual notice and contumacious conduct with re-' spect to the original decree, Svihla v. Svihla, 126 N.W.2d 135 (N.D.1964), or an order to show cause, Kroneberger v. Superior Court, 196 Cal.App.2d 206, 16 Cal.Rptr. 339 (1961). I believe that this rule logically extends to all subsequent orders springing from the original.
I agree with the majority opinion that the failure of the trial court to enter proper findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding the plaintiff’s financial ability to meet his obligation and his wilful refusal to do so is reversible error.* Fienup v. Rentto, 74 S.D. 329, 52 N.W.2d 486 (1952); Hoffman v. Hoffman, 26 S.D. 34, 127 N.W. 478 (1910).
The remand to enter proper findings of fact and conclusions of law will, in my opinion, require retracing the proceedings to the Memorandum Decision entered on August 28, 1978. The findings of fact and conclusions of law will likely then replace and render moot objections concerning the order of August 30, 1978.
I am authorized to state that Chief Justice WOLLMAN joins in this special concurrence.

 I thus question the propriety of directly addressing the sufficiency of the evidence relating to the elements of the contempt issue.