Court Opinion

ID: 9532625
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:23:18.623965+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:47.714407
License: Public Domain

SILAK, Justice,
concurring and dissenting in part:
I concur with the Court’s opinion except that I respectfully dissent from Part VII, which holds that Jeffrey’s maintenance obligation ceased upon remarriage.
The terms and conditions of the “Property Settlement Agreement” became merged into the divorce decree. Paragraph 12 of the Property Settlement Agreement provides:
Plaintiff shall pay to Defendant as and for spousal maintenance, the sum of $1,200.00 per month, commencing on January 15, 1992, and terminating on December 15, 2005, or upon the earlier death of Defendant.
The conditions which would terminate Jeffrey’s maintenance obligation are clearly set forth: a specific date, December 15, 2005, or Mina’s death. Mina’s remarriage was not incorporated as an event which would terminate the maintenance obligation.
I agree with the majority’s reiteration of the rule in Greene v. Greene. I would hold, however, that these parties did otherwise agree upon the only two events that would terminate the maintenance obligation, the occurrence of a date certain, or the significant event of the wife’s death. The significant event of the wife’s remarriage is not listed as an event which terminates maintenance.
Accordingly, I would affirm the magistrate judge’s determination that Jeffrey’s maintenance obligation continued despite Mina’s remarriage.
TROUT, C.J., concurs.