Court Opinion

ID: 2820691
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-07-27 22:15:55.786802+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:14:02.208660
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

In the Matter of the Marriage of           )
                                                                                            CM
                                           )      No. 71167-9-1                    c=>

BONNIE F. AUBUCHON,                        )                                             —t_j
                                           )      DIVISION ONE                     CZ
                                                                                   r~    CJ -r-j
                     Respondent,           )                                       ro

                                           )      UNPUBLISHED OPINION
              and                          )                                       3E»
                                                                                   3C
                                           )
                                                                                   up
VAN D. AUBUCHON,                           )                                       CD    *™>*—

                                           )                                       UD

                     Appellant.            )      FILED: July 27, 2015

       Trickey, J. — In a dissolution, a trial court has broad discretion to equitably

distribute property. A trial court considers all the circumstances of the marriage, as well

as the future needs of the parties. Here, the wife's primary sources of income were

intricately tied in with the home. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in awarding the
family home to the wife, subject to a lien in favor of the husband payable in five years.
Nor did the trial court abuse its discretion in determining the value of the home and in

splitting the equity 55/45. We affirm the trial court's disposition of property.
                                           FACTS

       Bonnie and Van AuBuchon were married for 42 years and have three adult

children. At the time of the dissolution trial, the only community property of value was

their residence. Neither party had any real or personal separate property.

       The trial court rejected the husband's market analysis and valued the home at
$225,000, consistent with the wife's market analysis. The court found the equity in the
home to be $38,452.11 and awarded a 55/45 split in the wife's favor, payable by either
the sale or refinancing of the home within five years from the date of entry of the decree
No. 71167-9-1/2

of dissolution. The court awarded the residence to the wife, requiring her to make all the

mortgage payments in a timely manner.

       Van AuBuchon appeals, contending the trial court erred in valuing the asset, in

dividing the property, and in permitting the wife to remain in possession of the property

for five years.

                                        ANALYSIS

       A court has broad discretion in valuing property in a dissolution action, and its

valuation will not be reversed on appeal absent a manifest abuse of discretion. In re

Marriage of Rockwell. 141 Wn. App. 234, 242-43,170 P.3d 572 (2007). A manifest abuse

of discretion occurs when the discretion was exercised on untenable grounds.           In re

Marriage of Muhammad. 153 Wn.2d 795, 803, 108 P.3d 779 (2005). A trial court does

not abuse its discretion by assigning values to property within the scope of evidence, in

re Marriage of Soriano. 31 Wn. App. 432, 436, 643 P.2d 450 (1982). Factual findings

supported by substantial evidence will not be disturbed on appeal.            Thorndike v.

Hesperian Orchards. Inc.. 54 Wn.2d 570, 575, 343 P.2d 183 (1959).

       Here, both parties submitted comparative market analyses (CMA). The trial court

found the wife's market analysis performed by Northwest Market to be more reliable than

the one submitted by AuBuchon. The wife's CMA was performed after an in home

inspection. Comparable sales in the neighborhood ranged from $216,549 to $319,000.

The husband's CMA, however, was a drive-by appraisal comparing higher end properties,

that included view homes and homes that had extensive remodeling. The court found

those properties were not comparable. Additionally, the husband's CMA did not include

the interior condition of the home, including the fact that the trim was all down, carpeting
No. 71167-9-1/3

had not been replaced in 30 years, and there was a significant rat infestation which would

cost approximately $3,500 to correct.

       Relying on section 4.16 of the Washington Community Property Deskbook.

AuBuchon argues that the property needed to be valued at the date of the trial and that

the trial court erred in relying on the wife's CMA because it was performed four and one-

half months earlier. But a trial court has broad discretion to choose a valuation date that

is equitable even if that valuation was done more than four months before trial. Koher v.

Morgan, 93 Wn. App. 398, 404, 968 P.2d 920 (1998) (citing Lucker v. Lucker. 71 Wn.2d

165, 167-68, 426 P.2d 981 (1967)). So even though AuBuchon's CMA was performed

within a month of the trial, the evidence is more than sufficient to support the court's

valuation of the property in accordance with the wife's CMA.

       AuBuchon next argues that the comparable sales in the wife's CMA were from

distressed properties. However, the CMA used five properties as comparable, only one

of which was a bank owned propertyto be sold as is. That propertywas listed at $210,000

and sold for $216,549. The other four properties listed as comparable were not distressed

properties and in many instances contained updates and modifications, none of which

were present in the home at issue here. Furthermore, AuBuchon did not dispute that

evidence at the time of trial and no challenges to the wife's CMA's pricing were made,

other than wanting the trial court to adopt his CMA.

       AuBuchon also sought to introduce into evidence a certified appraisal that his wife

had obtained for her attorney. He did not seek to discover or request the appraisal until

the wife was testifying at the dissolution proceeding. The court upheld counsel's objection

to its admission as part of the attorney work product. ER 502 (f)(2) defines "work-product
No. 71167-9-1/4

protection" as applying to "tangible material (or its intangible equivalent) prepared in

anticipation of litigation or for trial." The appraisal clearly falls within that parameter.

AuBuchon could have at any time obtained his own certified appraisal, but failed to do so.

       The trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding the value of the home to be

$225,000.

       AuBuchon next contends that the trial court erred in not splitting the equity 50/50

and in awarding the home to the wife for five years before he can reach his equity. The

wife is 64 years old and has Graves' disease. She had endometrial cancer and suffers

from depression and anxiety. At trial she testified that she had an art studio in her home

which she uses to generate income. Additionally, she rented rooms in the house to her

son and some exchange students enabling her to cobble together the mortgage payment.

Under these circumstances, the court did not abuse its discretion in awarding a 55/45

split of the equity. The record demonstrates that the trial court considered AuBuchon's

request for a 50/50 split, disagreed with his analysis, and entered a ruling within the range

of evidence represented at trial. Contrary to AuBuchon's bare assertions, the trial court

is not required to demonstrate mathematical precision in order to make an equitable

property division. In re Marriage of Crossetto. 82 Wn. App. 545, 556, 918 P.21d 954

(1996). AuBuchon has not demonstrated any abuse of discretion in the trial court's

division of the property.

       AuBuchon contends that the court erred in permitting the wife to remain on the

propertyand in not requiring the house to be sold immediately. He objects to the fact that

it is his name that is on the mortgage and his credit will be damaged if he is not paid

immediately. The court determined that the family home could not be appropriately
No. 71167-9-1/5

divided. RCW 26.09.080 states that a trial court must dispose of the marital property in

whatever manner "shall appear just and equitable after considering all relevant factors."

The trial court considered all of the factors of the parties, recognizing that the wife was

unable to obtain a mortgage at the present time to pay AuBuchon his equitable share

immediately. To protect AuBuchon's interest, however, the court required the wife to

make timely payments on the mortgage and provided that failure to do so would result in

the immediate sale of the home. This was clearly within the equitable powers of the court.

       Finally, AuBuchon contends that the trial court granted him a continuance but then

failed to permit him to present the additional testimony.        The matter was set for

presentation of the final orders. AuBuchon's request for a continuance of presentation

listed differences that he had with his wife's submission and a request to "formally ask the

Court for the opportunity to [be] heard on evidence of fact in testimony which is not

consistent with claims made by the Petitioneras to, but not limited to, improvements made

to the residence over the years."1

       At what was to be the scheduled hearing, the court granted the continuance, but

clearly informed AuBuchon that the sole reason for the hearing was to reduce to writing
what the judge had already decided orally. AuBuchon had an opportunity at trial to

contest the wife's testimony and evidence, but failed to do so. He cannot now present

new evidence. The trial court did not abuse its discretion.

1 Clerk's Papers at 32.
No. 71167-9-1/6

       Because there was substantial evidence to support the trial court's findings of fact

and conclusions of law, we affirm the trial court's disposition of property.

                                                      i/*»ck