Court Opinion

ID: 2723730
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-04 17:02:37.138983+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:56:23.428460
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: NOT FOR PUBLICATION.
     UNDER ARIZ. R. SUP. CT. 111(c), THIS DECISION DOES NOT CREATE LEGAL PRECEDENT
                     AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED.

                                      IN THE
              ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
                                  DIVISION ONE

                                In re the Matter of:

                    GURPREET KANG, Petitioner/Appellee,

                                          v.

                 PARMINDER KANG, Respondent/Appellant.

                              No. 1 CA-CV 13-0182
                               FILED 09-04-2014

           Appeal from the Superior Court in Coconino County
                        No. SO300DO201100615
                 The Honorable Ted Stuart Reed, Judge

    AFFIRMED IN PART; VACATED AND REMANDED IN PART

                                    COUNSEL

Aspey, Watkins & Diesel, P.L.L.C., Flagstaff
By Louis M. Diesel and Daniella M. Ferrari
Counsel for Petitioner/Appellee

Law Office of Benjamin L. Deguire PLLC, Flagstaff
By Benjamin L. Deguire
Counsel for Respondent/Appellant
                           KANG v. KANG
                          Decision of the Court

                     MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Michael J. Brown delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Kent E. Cattani and Judge Margaret H. Downie joined.

B R O W N, Judge:

¶1           Parminder Kang (“Father”) appeals the trial court’s decree of
dissolution awarding Gurpreet Kang (“Mother”) child support, spousal
maintenance, and attorneys’ fees. For the following reasons, we affirm the
court’s awards of spousal maintenance and attorneys’ fees. We vacate,
however, the court’s child support order and remand for further
proceedings.

                             BACKGROUND

¶2           At the time of the parties’ marriage in 2008, Father was a
medical resident in Texas and Mother was nearing completion of her
medical degree. The parties then relocated to Missouri, where Father
worked as an orthopedic fellow.

¶3            In September 2011, Father signed an employment contract
with a medical practice group in California that would provide Father with
an annual salary of $340,000 but was contingent on Father obtaining a
California medical license. Later that month, the parties separated and
Father moved to his parents’ home in Nevada, while Mother moved to
Flagstaff to live with her family. Father applied for and received his
Nevada medical license while his application for a California license was
still pending. Father subsequently withdrew his application for the
California license. At the time of trial, Father was working for a Nevada
orthopedic group on a six-month fellowship earning a salary of
approximately $130,000.

¶4            Prior to the parties’ separation, Mother had completed her
medical degree and passed the first of three tests required to become a
licensed physician. At the time of trial, she had been unable to pass the
second test despite several attempts.

¶5           Mother filed a petition for legal separation in Arizona in
October 2011, which was ultimately converted to a dissolution proceeding.
After a two-day trial, the court awarded Mother child support of $1,117.96

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                            Decision of the Court

per month, spousal maintenance in the amount of $5,000 a month for thirty-
two months, and $16,133.62 in attorneys’ fees. Father filed a timely notice
of appeal.

                                 DISCUSSION

       A.     Child Support Award

¶6            We generally review child support awards for an abuse of
discretion. McNutt v. McNutt, 203 Ariz. 28, 30, ¶ 6, 49 P.3d 300, 302 (Ariz.
App. 2002). In doing so, we “accept the trial court's findings of fact unless
they are clearly erroneous, but draw our own legal conclusions from facts
found or implied in the judgment.” Id. (citation omitted).

¶7             The trial court listed Father’s income in the child support
worksheet as $20,000 per month. The portion of the decree relating to
spousal maintenance, however, states that at the time of trial, Father was
earning approximately $10,833 per month. Father argues that the
worksheet is clearly erroneous. Mother counters that the amount attributed
to Father in the worksheet should be upheld because he has an earning
capacity of at least $20,000 a month, and the court had discretion to attribute
a greater earning potential to Father.

¶8             For purposes of calculating child support, a court has
discretion to impute income to a parent “when a parent is unemployed or
working below his or her full earning potential . . . if the parent’s earnings
are reduced voluntarily and not for reasonable cause.” Little v. Little, 193
Ariz. 518, 521, ¶ 6, 975 P.2d 108, 111 (1999) (citing Appendix to Arizona
Revised Statutes (“A.R.S.”) section 25-320, Child Support Guidelines
(Guidelines) § 5(E)).1 At trial, the parties disputed whether additional
income should be attributed to Father because he signed an employment
contract for an annual salary of $340,000 prior to the parties’ separation and
he had informal discussions with his current employer for a salary of
$250,000 upon completion of his fellowship. In the decree, the trial court
acknowledged this evidence, but did not address whether it would be
appropriate to impute a higher income to Father. In discussing spousal
maintenance, the court found that Father makes approximately $10,833 per
month and can contribute to Mother’s support, but did not make separate
findings to explain the substantial difference relating to Father’s income for
determining child support.

1     We cite to the current version of the Guidelines because there has
been no substantive change to this section since the Little decision.

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¶9              Mother argues nonetheless that we may accept the higher
income on the child support worksheet for purposes of calculating child
support because the trial court had discretion to attribute income to Father
based on his voluntary decision to earn less money. Mother’s position,
however, fails to account for the fact that Father requested findings of fact
and therefore the court was obligated to perform the balancing test set forth
in Little, 193 Ariz. at 522-23, ¶ 13, 975 P.2d at 112-13, if it wished to impute
a higher income to Father. See also Elliott v. Elliot, 165 Ariz. 128, 132, 796
P.2d 930, 934 (App. 1990) (when a request for findings of fact has been
made, the court must “address all of the factors with respect to which the
parties presented evidence” and “set forth the mathematical basis of the
spousal maintenance award”). A mathematical figure by itself “does not
inform an appellate court of the basis for the trial court’s decision.” Elliott,
165 Ariz. at 132, 796 P.2d at 934. There is nothing in the court’s findings
suggesting it performed any such analysis. Miller v. Bd. of Supervisors of
Pinal County, 175 Ariz. 296, 299, 855 P.2d 1357, 1360 (1993) (“The reviewing
court needs a sufficient factual basis that explains how the trial court
actually arrived at its conclusion.”).

¶10           Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court did not make
adequate findings supporting the $20,000 per month income figure used in
the child support worksheet. We therefore vacate the superior court’s child
support order and remand for additional findings of fact and, if necessary,
re-calculation of the child support award.

       B.     Spousal Maintenance Award

¶11           Father argues the trial court erred in awarding any spousal
maintenance to Mother, and alternatively, he contends the amount and
duration of the award were excessive. We review the award of spousal
maintenance for an abuse of discretion, Cullum v. Cullum, 215 Ariz. 352, 354,
¶ 9, 160 P.3d 231, 233 (App. 2007), and, in doing so, view the evidence in
the light most favorable to Mother, Gutierrez v. Gutierrez, 193 Ariz. 343, 348,
¶ 14, 972 P.2d 676, 681 (App. 1998). We will affirm the court’s rulings if
there is any reasonable evidence to support them. Id. We do not re-weigh
conflicting evidence or re-determine the preponderance of the evidence on
appeal. Hurd v. Hurd, 223 Ariz. 48, 52, ¶ 16, 219 P.3d 258, 262 (App. 2009).

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                            Decision of the Court

¶12           The trial court may award spousal maintenance when any
one of the four factors listed in A.R.S. § 25-319(A)2 is present. Here, the
court found that Mother: (1) lacked sufficient property to provide for her
reasonable needs; (2) was unable to be self-sufficient through appropriate
employment; and (3) was the custodian of a child whose age is such that
she should not be required to seek employment outside the home.

¶13            Father does not dispute that Mother was awarded no
property, as the parties had no assets to divide. This factor alone supports
the court’s finding that Mother is entitled to an award of spousal
maintenance pursuant to A.R.S. § 25-319(A)(1). Gutierrez, 193 Ariz. at 348,
¶ 17, 972 P.2d at 681 (explaining that “spousal maintenance may be
awarded where any one of the four factors is present”).

¶14          The evidence also supports the trial court’s implicit finding
that it would take time for Mother to become self-sufficient through
appropriate employment. See A.R.S. § 25-319(A)(2). Mother testified she
made reasonable attempts to find employment since the parties’ child was
born prematurely in March 2012, but has been unsuccessful. Mother also
explained she intends to complete the additional requirements to become a
practicing physician; however, it would take at least a year and a half to do
so.

¶15            Father contends the trial court erred in finding Mother made
diligent efforts to find employment. He argues that Mother holds a medical
degree, is in good health, and should be able to find suitable employment.
Although Father challenges Mother’s testimony that she has unsuccessfully
applied to many non-medical positions, she offered into evidence several
rejection letters she had received from prospective employers. We defer to
the court’s determination of the credibility of witnesses, see Gutierrez, 193
Ariz. at 347, ¶ 13, 972 P.2d at 680, and therefore find no abuse of discretion.

2       As set forth in A.R.S. § 25-319, the court may order spousal
maintenance if it finds that the spouse seeking maintenance: (1) lacks
sufficient property to provide for that spouse’s reasonable needs, (2) is
unable to be self-sufficient through appropriate employment or is the
custodian of a child whose age or condition is such that the custodian
should not be required to seek employment outside the home or lacks
earning ability in the labor market adequate to be self-sufficient, (3)
contributed to the educational opportunities of the other spouse, or (4) had
a marriage of long duration and is of an age that may preclude the
possibility of gaining employment adequate to be self-sufficient.

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                           Decision of the Court

¶16            Father also challenges the trial court’s finding that Mother
“has passed the first of three tests necessary for her to be admitted to the
practice of medicine and employable as a medical doctor.” This finding is
relevant to several factors such as: Mother’s earning ability, the parties’
comparative financial resources, Mother’s financial resources, and the time
needed to acquire sufficient education or training to enable Mother to find
appropriate employment. See A.R.S. § 25-319(B)(3), (5), (9), and (10). Father
testified that one can begin a paid medical residency having passed only
the first and second licensing exams. Thus, Father contends, Mother need
only pass the second exam before she can apply to paid residency
programs. However, Mother did not testify as to what was possible in
general; her testimony was specific to her situation of having custody of an
infant child. She explained that under these circumstances it would take
longer for her to complete these requirements than Father claimed. The
court accepted Mother’s explanation. Viewing the evidence in light most
favorable to Mother, the record supports this finding.

¶17           Father also challenges the trial court’s findings that each exam
costs $2,000 and that Mother anticipates spending $5,000 for a review class.
Because the parties presented conflicting evidence as to the cost of these
exams and the need for Mother to take a review course, the court did not
abuse its discretion.

¶18            Regarding Father’s ability to pay spousal maintenance and
the parties’ comparative financial resources, Father contends the trial court
failed to consider his ability to meet his own needs while paying
maintenance. See A.R.S. § 25-319(B)(4). Father also argues the court did not
consider his own student loan debt. Although Father testified that he had
approximately $230,000 in student loan debt and was currently making
payments, he failed to disclose the amount of his monthly obligation either
through his trial testimony or an updated affidavit of financial information
(“AFI”).

¶19           Father also argues the trial court did not consider a $10,000
advance he must repay to the California practice group or the debts he was
ordered to pay in the decree. Appellate courts presume that a trial judge
has considered the evidence presented before making a decision. Fuentes v.
Fuentes, 209 Ariz. 51, 55-56, ¶ 18, 97 P.3d 876, 880-81 (App. 2004). As such,
we presume that the court was aware of these obligations when the court
determined the amount of the spousal maintenance award.

¶20         Father’s AFI supports the trial court’s finding that his
monthly expenses were $1,631, even though the AFI was dated and did not

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                            Decision of the Court

reflect any student loan obligation. Father’s AFI also did not include any of
the other expenses he claims the court failed to consider. The trial court
found that Father had no housing expenses and none are listed in his AFI.
The court also found that Mother lived with her family and had no rent or
living expenses. Thus, we reject Father’s argument that the trial court
“completely ignored” Mother’s lack of living expenses. The fact that
Mother has minimal living expenses because she is dependent on her family
for support does not mean, as Father suggests, that Mother has no need for
spousal maintenance. One of the purposes of spousal maintenance is to
help a spouse achieve financial independence. Gutierrez, 193 Ariz. at 349, ¶
24, 972 P.2d at 682. This cannot be accomplished if Mother must rely on her
family to pay her living expenses. Mother appropriately included
anticipated living expenses in her AFI and the court considered these
expenses in determining the amount of spousal maintenance. Father, on
the other hand, listed no anticipated living expenses in his AFI. The trial
court’s findings regarding the parties’ living expenses do not constitute an
abuse of discretion.

¶21          Father contends that the trial court abused its discretion in
considering the parties’ ability to contribute to the child’s future education
costs because the child is an infant and future contributions are highly
speculative. Ability to contribute to future education costs is an
appropriate consideration under A.R.S. § 25-319(B)(8). The trial court
found that, essentially, Mother’s ability to contribute to future education
costs was uncertain and Father’s ability would improve in the future. Based
on the record, we find no abuse of discretion.

¶22            Regarding the duration of the award, Father argues that it
constitutes an incentive for Mother to delay completing her residency and
is excessive in light of the short marriage. The trial court accepted Mother’s
testimony that she anticipated starting her residency in July 2015. That
date is two and one-half years from when the decree was entered, which
roughly corresponds to the length of the support award. We therefore find
no abuse of discretion. See Gutierrez, 193 Ariz. at 347, ¶ 13, 972 P.2d at 680.

¶23          Father argues that this award is inconsistent with spousal
maintenance awards in other cases and the Spousal Maintenance
Guidelines adopted in Maricopa County.3 The trial court determines
spousal maintenance awards on a case-by-case basis and, even in Maricopa
County, is not bound by spousal maintenance guidelines. See Cullum, 215

3       Father provides no citation indicating that such guidelines are still
in effect.

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                             KANG v. KANG
                            Decision of the Court

Ariz. at 356, ¶ 17, 160 P.3d at 235 (explaining that the purpose of the
guidelines is to give the court and the parties a starting point for discussion
and are not intended to “replace the court’s obligation to consider the
specific evidence and statutory factors”). We therefore affirm the spousal
maintenance award to Mother.

       C.     Attorneys’ Fees

¶24           Pursuant to A.R.S. § 25-324(A), a court may award attorneys’
fees and costs in a dissolution proceeding after considering the parties’
financial resources and the reasonableness of their positions throughout the
litigation. We review the award of fees for an abuse of discretion. See Cohen
v. Frey, 215 Ariz. 62, 68, ¶ 18, 157 P.3d 482, 488 (App. 2007).

¶25            The trial court awarded Mother $16,133.62, which was
approximately half of the attorneys’ fees she requested, after finding there
was a substantial disparity in the parties’ financial resources. The court also
found that Father acted unreasonably in filing a motion to dismiss Mother’s
petition for legal separation without an adequate basis, but noted that the
motion was “one relatively small component of the entire litigation in this
matter.”

¶26            Father argues that Mother took unreasonable positions at
trial, such as seeking a spousal maintenance award of $6,000 a month for
six years; alleging Father’s income for purposes of child support should be
$500,000 per year; and demanding that Father pay all her student loans. He
also contends that his motion to dismiss was meritorious and therefore not
unreasonable.4 Father did not request, however, that the trial court enter
findings explaining what portion of the fee award was based on financial
disparity and what portion was based on Father acting unreasonably in the
litigation. See A.R.S. § 25-324(A) (“On request of a party . . . the court shall

4      Specifically, Father argues the trial court lacked jurisdiction because
Mother was not domiciled in Arizona for ninety days at the time she filed
her petition for separation and he filed a petition for dissolution in Nevada
before the trial court converted Mother’s petition for separation to a petition
for dissolution. Father raises this issue only within the context of
challenging the award of attorneys’ fees to Mother and expressly states that
he is not seeking to have the decree of dissolution reversed or vacated
despite the alleged lack of subject matter jurisdiction. More importantly,
on February 2, 2012, Father and Mother stipulated to a dismissal of the
Nevada action with prejudice. The matter is therefore moot and we need
not address it.

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                            KANG v. KANG
                           Decision of the Court

make specific findings concerning the portions of any award of fees and
expenses that are based on consideration of financial resources and that are
based on consideration of reasonableness of positions.”). The record
supports the court’s conclusion that at the time of trial, Father had
“considerably more financial resources available” than Mother. The court
therefore acted within its discretion in directing Father to pay a portion of
Mother’s fees and costs.

¶27           Both parties request an award of attorneys’ fees and costs on
appeal, but only Mother cites the relevant authority for her request. See
A.R.S. § 25-324(A). In any event, neither party has taken an unreasonable
position on appeal and we have no current information regarding the
parties’ financial resources. Accordingly, in the exercise of our discretion,
we decline to award attorneys’ fees or costs to either party.

                               CONCLUSION

¶28           Based on the foregoing, we affirm the trial court’s decree of
dissolution except for the child support award because the court failed to
make adequate findings supporting Father’s monthly income. We
therefore vacate that portion of the decree and remand for further
proceedings consistent with this decision.

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