Court Opinion

ID: 2643968
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-11-25 22:00:02.676129+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:52:28.539074
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

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In re Marriage of:                         ]      NO. 69833-8-1                                -tc

CHRISTOPHER ROSS LARSON,                   j      DIVISION ONE                                 O -r, .
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                     Appellant,            ]

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                                                                                          en

JULIA LARSON CALHOUN,                             PUBLISHED OPINION

                     Respondent.           i      FILED: November 25, 2013

       Lau, J. —This case requires us to determine whether a trial court's authority to

award one spouse's separate property to the other spouse in a dissolution action is

limited to circumstances where a spouse cannot be amply provided for from community

property alone. We conclude that RCW 26.09.080 does not single out the property's
character or any other factor to be given more weight. This statute and controlling case

authority direct the trial court to make a fair and equitable property division after

weighing all relevant factors within the context of the parties' specific circumstances.
Because the trial court properly exercised its discretion when it applied this rule to

determine a fair and equitable property division, we affirm.
69833-8-1/2

                                            FACTS

          Before marrying Julia Calhoun in 1986, Christopher Larson acquired an equity

interest in a young company called Microsoft.1 This interest developed into a colossal
fortune, which Larson held principally as his separate property. The marital community

also amassed considerable wealth, traceable largely to Microsoft stock options

exercised by Larson during the marriage. Larson treated all purchased stock as a

community asset, thereby relinquishing any claim to the separate property portion of the

asset.2

          During this long-term marriage, Calhoun "made a major contribution to all that the

community accomplished, measured in terms of their children, their foster children, their

impact in the broad community and their more narrow business interests." The trial

court found that "the marital community benefitted greatly from [Calhoun] serving as, in

her phrase, the 'approachable face' of the couple."

          Following a three-week trial, the court entered detailed findings of fact and

conclusions of law, identified the couple's assets and liabilities, determined their value,

characterized each as separate or community, and directed a fair and equitable division.

The court awarded Calhoun various community assets worth approximately $139

million. Larson assumed a net community obligation of approximately $29.5 million.

Calhoun retained separate property worth $669,000. She assumed no community debt.

      1 Larson worked part-time for Microsoft in 1975, in association with Bill Gates.
Upon graduation from college in 1981, he worked full-time until he retired in 2001.
          2 See In re Marriage of Short, 125 Wash. 2d 865, 890 P.2d 12(1995).

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       Citing its "broad equitable powers" to "make a lopsided division of community

assets and also invade a separate estate to the extent necessary to achieve a just

result," the court also awarded Calhoun more than $40 million dollars of Larson's

separate property. To effectuate this award, it ordered Larson to transfer shares of

Microsoft stock, valued at approximately $14 million,3 and to make three cash

installment payments totaling $27 million.

       Larson ultimately retained separate assets worth approximately $357 million. His

combined award totaled approximately $327 million dollars. Calhoun's combined award

totaled approximately $181 million. Larson appeals the award of a portion of his

separate property to Calhoun.

                                        ANALYSIS

       Larson challenges the trial court's decision to award approximately $40 million of

his separate property to Calhoun. He asserts no challenge to the court's decision to

award Calhoun 100 percent of the net community estate or to the court's valuation or

characterization of the parties' property. He acknowledges, "[T]his is not a factual

appeal." Br. of Appellant at 4.

       Larson contends that the trial court "applied an improper legal standard and

consequently abused its discretion in awarding Calhoun a significant share of [his]

separate estate in addition to the net value of all the community property, because more

than ample provision could have been made for Calhoun from the parties' $109 million

net community estate." Br. of Appellant at 4-5. He argues that we should "reverse the

       3 Posttrial, the parties agreed to sell the Microsoft stock for tax purposes and to
transfer the cash proceeds to Calhoun.
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trial court's distribution of the marital estate and direct the trial court on remand to limit

its award to the wife to the net value of the community estate." Br. of Appellant at 42.

       In a dissolution action, the trial court must order a "just and equitable" distribution

of the parties' property and liabilities, whether community or separate. RCW 26.09.080.

All property is before the court for distribution. Farmer v. Farmer, 172 Wash. 2d 616, 625,

259 P.3d 256 (2011). When fashioning just and equitable relief, the court must consider

(1) the nature and extent of the community property, (2) the nature and extent of the

separate property, (3) the duration of the marriage, and (4) the economic circumstances

of each spouse at the time the property distribution is to become effective.

RCW 26.09.080. These factors are not exclusive. The statute requires the court to

consider all "relevant factors." RCW 26.09.080.

       The court has "broad discretion" to determine what is just and equitable based on

the circumstances of each case. In re Marriage of Rockwell, 141 Wash. App. 235, 242,

170 P.3d 572 (2007). A just and equitable division "does not require mathematical

precision, but rather fairness, based upon a consideration of all the circumstances of the

marriage, both past and present, and an evaluation of the future needs of parties." In re

Marriage of Crosetto, 82 Wash. App. 545, 556, 918 P.2d 954 (1996). "Fairness is attained

by considering all circumstances of the marriage and by exercising discretion, not by

utilizing inflexible rules." In re Marriage of Tower, 55 Wash. App. 697, 700, 780 P.2d 863

(1989). "Just and equitable distribution does not mean that the court must make an

equal distribution." In re Marriage of DewBerrv, 115 Wash. App. 351, 366, 62 P.3d 525

(2003). "Under appropriate circumstances . . . [the trial court] need not award separate
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property to its owner." In re Marriage of White. 105 Wash. App. 545, 549, 20 P.3d 481

(2001).

       The trial court is in the best position to decide issues of fairness. Brewer v.

Brewer. 137 Wash. 2d 756, 769, 976 P.2d 102 (1999). Accordingly, "[a] property division

made during the dissolution of a marriage will be reversed on appeal only ifthere is a

manifest abuse of discretion." In re Marriage of Muhammad. 153 Wash. 2d 795, 803, 108
P.3d 779 (2005).

       A trial court abuses its discretion if its decision is manifestly unreasonable or
       based on untenable grounds or untenable reasons.
               A court's decision is manifestly unreasonable if it is outside the range of
       acceptable choices, given the facts and the applicable legal standard; it is based
       on untenable grounds ifthe factual findings are unsupported by the record; it is
       based on untenable reasons if it is based on an incorrect standard or the facts do
       not meet the requirements of the correct standard.

In re Marriage of Littlefield. 133 Wash. 2d 39, 46-47, 940 P.2d 1362 (1997) (citation

omitted). "Trial court decisions in dissolution proceedings will seldom be changed on

appeal." In re Marriage of Stenshoel. 72 Wash. App. 800, 803, 866 P.2d 635 (1993).

       Larson contends that while the trial court generally has broad discretion to order

a just and equitable distribution under RCW 26.09.080, Washington law prohibits the

award of separate property to the nonowning spouse if "ample provision for the

[nonowning] spouse can be made from the community estate alone."4 Br. ofAppellant
at 21. As discussed below, controlling Washington law imposes no such restriction on

the trial court's broad discretion to make a fair and equitable property distribution.

       4 Larson earlier argued in his statement of grounds for direct review that our
Supreme Court should limit the award of separate property of one spouse to another
except in exceptional circumstances. He does not make this claim on appeal.
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       Larson relies on several cases but principally on Holm v. Holm, 27 Wash. 2d 456,

178 P.2d 725 (1947), to support his contention. In Holm, the trial court awarded the

wife half of the parties' community property (worth $269,397.66) and half of the

husband's separate assets (worth $72,836.01). On appeal, the husband argued the

distribution was inequitable because it failed to account for the character of the property.

The Supreme Court reversed the separate property award, reasoning in part that the

wife could be "amply provided for out of the community property, without invading the

separate property of the appellant." Holm. 27 Wash. 2d at 466. It explained, "This is not a

case where, in order to make adequate provision for the necessitous condition of the

wife, the court is constrained to take from the husband his separate property." Holm, 27
Wash. 2d at 465. It then concluded, "We consider the division made by the trial court

unjust and inequitable in so far as it awarded to the respondent a portion of what was

appellant's separate property." Holm, 27 Wash. 2d at 466.

       Larson thus argues, "[A]n award to the wife [Calhoun] of more than $100 million

in community property meets the threshold of 'ample provision' that prohibits invasion of

the husband's separate estate."5 Br. of Appellant at 42. Holm is unpersuasive. To the

extent the above quoted language in Holm constitutes a holding, this approach was

rejected in Konzen v. Konzen. 103 Wash. 2d 470, 693 P.2d 97 (1985).

       In Konzen, the trial court awarded 30 percent of the husband's separate military

pension to the wife to help maintain liquidity. Konzen, 103 Wash. 2d at 472. It also

ordered an equal division of the parties' community property. On appeal, the husband

      5 Larson claims, "[A]n award of 100% of the value of the community estate to the
wife, debt-free, would have generated income for her of at least $2,196,000 a year,
without invasion of principal." Br. of Appellant at 34. The court made no such finding.
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challenged the award of his separate property. He relied on Bodine v. Bodine. 34
Wash. 2d 33, 207 P.2d 1213 (1949), a case predating the enactment of RCW 26.09.080.

In Bodine, the court stated, "[W]hile the superior court may, under certain

circumstances, award part or all of one spouse's separate property to the other, the

situations which warrant such action are exceptional." Bodine, 34 Wash. 2d at 35.

       Konzen leaves no doubt that separate property is no longer entitled to special

treatment. It noted that when Bodine was decided, "courts were free to weigh the

character of the property more heavily than other factors when allocating separate

property."6 Konzen. 103 Wash. 2d at 477. Unlike its predecessors, RCW 26.09.080,
enacted in 1973, "specifically applies the statutory criteria to separate property."

Konzen. 103 Wash. 2d at 477. The court concluded:

       This court will not single out a particular factor, such as the character of the
       property, and require as a matter of law that it be given greater weight than other
       relevant factors. The statute [RCW 26.09.080] directs the trial court to weigh all
       of the factors, within the context of the particular circumstances of the parties, to
       come to a fair, just and equitable division of property. The character of the
       property is a relevant factor which must be considered, but is not controlling.

Konzen. 103 Wash. 2d at 478 (emphasis added).

       In In re Marriage of Griswold. 112 Wn. App. 333,48 P.3d 1018(2002), Division

Three of this court addressed the husband's claim that the trial court abused its

discretion when it awarded $138,000 of his separate property to the wife without finding

       6 Holm and Bodine relied on Remington's Revised Statutes § 989, which
provided, "In granting a divorce, the court shall also make such disposition of the
property of the parties as shall appear just and equitable, having regard to the
respective merits of the parties, and to the conditions in which they will be left by such
divorce, and to the party through whom the property was acquired, and to the burdens
imposed upon it for the benefit of the children, and shall make provision for the
guardianship, custody, and support and education of the minor children of such
marriage."
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"unusual or exceptional circumstances." Griswold. 112 Wash. App. at 347. Rejecting

Bodine and the cases following it, the court reasoned:

       [N]one of these cases acknowledges that in the same year the court decided
       Bodine. the Legislature revised the dissolution statute, listing the specific factors
       to be considered. See Laws of 1949, ch. 215, § 11. The revision modified the
       principle that one factor should weigh more heavily than others:

              Under Konzen. a court need not find exceptional circumstances to justify
      awarding a portion of one spouse's separate [property] to the other spouse. The
      trial court here thus did not abuse its discretion by failing to find there were
       exceptional circumstances.

Griswold. 112 Wash. App. at 347-48.

       Larson also contends that Washington courts applying RCW 26.09.080 and

Konzen continue to award separate property to the nonowning spouse only when

necessary to prevent the nonowning spouse from "falling into poverty." Br. of Appellant

at 28 (formatting omitted). He relies on Griswold. In re Marriage of Williams. 84 Wn.

App. 263, 927 P.2d 679 (1996), and Bulicek v. Bulicek. 59 Wash. App. 630, 800 P.2d 394

(1990), among others, to support this contention.7 In each case, the wife earned less

than her husband earned or had lesser earning potential. In each case, the court

upheld the distribution of the husband's separate property. Griswold, Williams, and

      7Larson also cites Oestreich v. Oestreich. 2 Wash. 2d 72, 97 P.2d 655 (1939), to
support his claim that the trial court is allowed to award one spouse's separate property
to prevent impoverishing the other. Oestreich is not applicable because the court
reasoned that the trial court was free to award all separate and community property to
the wife if justified by the circumstances, regardless of her financial circumstances.
Larson's reliance on Luithle v. Luithle. 23 Wash. 2d 494, 161 P.2d 152 (1945), is also not
applicable. There, the court took into account the wife's permanent loss of her monthly
social security benefit on marriage in concluding this loss counterbalanced the separate
property award. The key consideration in affirming this award was the wife's
necessitous condition and the husband's financial ability.

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Bulicek do not establish a rule that poverty or "necessitous circumstances" alone justify

the award of separate property to the nonowning spouse.8

       In Griswold. discussed above, the court relied on Konzen to hold that the trial

court properly declined to find exceptional circumstances existed because it was not

required to do so. The court concluded the trial court properly weighed all the facts to

determine the distribution was just and equitable.

       In Williams, the husband contended, among other issues, that the trial court

improperly based the maintenance award on retirement benefits not then accessible

and that included four years of his premarital military service. Division Three of this

court affirmed, acknowledging that four years of premarital military benefits were,

"strictly speaking, [the husband's] separate property." Williams, 84 Wash. App. at 269.

Nevertheless, it held, "[T]he status of property as community or separate is not

controlling .... [T]he ultimate question is whether, under the circumstances, the award

is just." Williams. 84 Wash. App. at 269 (citing in part RCW 26.09.080).

       In Bulicek. the husband contended that the trial court's pension formula

improperly allowed the wife to share in his postseparation contributions to the plan. We

observed, "The result is that [the wife] will in effect receive a portion of the

postdissolution retirement contributions, which are [the husband's] separate property."

Bulicek. 59 Wash. App. at 636. Affirming the trial court's pension formula, we reiterated

the RCW 26.09.080 factors that the trial court is required to consider when making a

just and equitable disposition of marital property. We stated:

       8We are likewise unpersuaded by Larson's reliance on case authority from
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Alaska, and Mississippi. As discussed above, RCW 26.09.080
and Konzen control.
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      We acknowledge that [the husband's] retirement fund may receive
      proportionately higher future contributions based upon his career longevity and
      anticipated increases in annual pay. We further acknowledge that the formula
       utilized for division of future retirement benefits could result in [the wife's] sharing
       in those increases. However, far from condemning this apportionment method,
      we specifically approve it as a means of recognizing the community contribution
       to such increases.

Bulicek, 59 Wash. App. at 638-39.

       Larson also relies on Stokes v. Pollev, 145 Wash. 2d 341, 37 P.3d 1211 (2001), a

quiet title and partition action involving the disputed meaning of a term in a dissolution

decree. Unlike the present case, Stokes involved no dispute regarding an award of

separate property to the non-owning spouse upon the dissolution of marriage.

Nevertheless, Larson points to the court's passing comment that "Washington courts

refrain from awarding separate property of one spouse to the other if a just and

equitable division is possible without doing so." Stokes. 145 Wash. 2d at 347. Larson

mistakenly characterizes this bare statement as a binding "limitation on the trial court's

authority to invade separate property . . . ." Br. of Appellant at 26. As discussed above,

Konzen controls this issue. We are not free to ignore binding Washington Supreme

Court precedent and we err when we disregard it. See 1000 Virginia Ltd. P'ship v.

Vertecs Corp.. 158 Wash. 2d 566, 578, 146 P.3d 423 (2006) (Washington Supreme Court

decisions are binding on all lower courts in the state); State v. Wentz. 149 Wash. 2d 342,

346, 68 P.3d 282 (2003) (the Washington Supreme Court has the ultimate authority to

say what a statute means).

       We conclude the trial court acted well within its broad discretion by awarding

Calhoun approximately $40 million of Larson's separate property. During a three-week
trial, the court "listened closely to the testimony of the parties and ten additional

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witnesses," "reviewed the exhibits admitted into evidence as well as extensive legal

briefing," and "heard closing arguments of counsel." Following trial, the trial judge

issued 25 pages of carefully-drafted findings of fact and conclusions of law. It later

issued 16 additional pages of amended findings and conclusions to reflect certain

posttrial agreements. The record supports Calhoun's correct assertion that "[t]he trial

court, an experienced trial judge, did not make a capricious decision." Resp't's Br. at

10.

       The court recognized the unique (and possibly incomparable) nature of the case

before it. It stated, "To first address the 'elephant in the ballroom', this is not a case like

so many others where the concern is with making sure all in the family are housed,

clothed and fed." It recognized that Larson "leaves the marriage in excellent fiscal and

physical health," and that Calhoun's "fiscal and physical conditions are likewise strong."

It also noted, "Both of these impressive people will go on to do well and to do good."

       The court found it necessary to award a portion of Larson's separate estate to

Calhoun "to achieve a just result." According to the trial court, the separate property

award served two objectives. First, it recognized Calhoun's intangible contributions to

the marital community. The court explained, "This was, after all, a long-term marriage in

which the wife made a major contribution to all that the community accomplished,

measured in terms of their children, their foster children, their impact in the broad

community and their more narrow business interests." It found that the marital

community benefited from Calhoun's engagement with the community at large:

       During her marriage, [Calhoun] was active as a parent, foster parent, overseer of
       major construction projects and the generous and committed benefactor of
       numerous charitable organizations. Both the community at large and the marital

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      community benefitted greatly from her serving as, in her phrase, the
      "approachable face" of the couple.

In other words, while Larson generated the couple's considerable wealth, Calhoun's

intangible contributions served equally to benefit the marital community.

       Second, the award helped ensure Calhoun's short- and long-term financial

security. The court found that Calhoun held a college degree in English literature but

was not "gainfully employed" during the marriage. Larson, in contrast, obtained

significant employment and investment experience during the marriage. The court

found he had a "keen business sense" and that, "[i]n recent years, he has stayed busy

actively managing his extensive investments and philanthropic endeavors." As between

the two, Larson was in a better position to acquire and manage future wealth. The court

stated, "It is not that [Calhoun] leaves the marriage in need but the fact is she will leave

the marriage in a less advantageous position than her husband."9 The $40 million
separate property award—consisting of Microsoft stock and cash—provided Calhoun

with immediate liquidity. Meanwhile, the $139 million community property award-

consisting largely of real property and fine artwork—helped guarantee Calhoun's long-

term financial health. The court found, "The division to be effectuated will provide the

wife with substantial earning capacity, moderate liquidity and assets that can be

liquidated prudently as time goes by."

       The trial court provided ample, tenable justifications for its decision to award a

portion of Larson's separate estate to Calhoun. Its decision fell well within "the range of
acceptable choices, given the facts and the applicable legal standard." Littlefield. 133

       9Although Larson assigns error to this finding, he does not contend that the
finding is unsupported by substantial evidence.
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Wn.2d at 47. It properly characterized all separate and community property and made a

just and equitable distribution of the marital property in accordance with

RCW 26.09.080. Finding no abuse of discretion, we affirm the trial court's property

distribution and its decree of dissolution.10

                              ATTORNEY FEES ON APPEAL

         "Upon any appeal, the appellate court may, in its discretion, order a party to pay

for the cost to the other party of maintaining the appeal and attorneys' fees in addition to

statutory costs." RCW 26.09.140. "As an independent ground we may award attorney

fees and costs based on intransigence of a party, demonstrated by litigious behavior,

bringing excessive motions, or discovery abuses." In re Marriage of Wallace. 111 Wn.

App. 697, 710, 45 P.3d 1131 (2002). "If intransigence is established, we need not

consider the parties' resources." Wallace. 111 Wash. App. at 710.

         Calhoun contends she is "entitled to her fees on appeal due to Larson's

intransigent conduct."11 Resp't's Br. at 42. She does not argue that Larson was
intransigent below.12 Instead, she contends that Larson's appeal constitutes
intransigence justifying a fee award. She explains:

         10 Given our disposition in this case, we do not address Calhoun's invited error
claim.

         11 Calhoun states, "While RCW 26.09.140 provides that a party in a dissolution
action may recover his or her attorney fees on appeal, the statute is not the basis for
Calhoun's fee request. Rather, she is entitled to her fees on appeal due to Larson's
intransigent conduct." Resp't's Br. at 42.

         12 The trial court did not find that Larson was intransigent. To the contrary, it
described the parties as "more congenial. . . than is typical." It also stated, "To the
credit of both the parties and their counsel, many potentially thorny points of contention
have been agreed upon."
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               In this case, there was no need for this appeal. . . .
              .... An experienced trial judge ruled in Larson's favor on the legal issue
       of the characterization of the marital property after a 3-plus week trial. The court
       then made a discretionary decision to allocate the spouses' property on a 65-35
       basis that favored Larson. That should have been the end of this case. But
       Larson could not stand the fact that his ex-wife received that allocation of marital
       property and he pursued this needless appeal, seeking to overturn established
       precedent.

Resp't's Br. at 42-43. She concludes, "Larson's appeal is motivated by self-interest and

spite." Resp't's Br. at 43-44.

       "Intransigence is the quality or state of being uncompromising." In re Marriage of

Schumacher. 100 Wash. App. 208, 216, 997 P.2d 399 (2000); see, e.g.. In re Marriage of

Foley. 84 Wash. App. 839, 846, 930 P.2d 929 (1997) (appellant filed "numerous frivolous

motions," refused to show up for his deposition, and refused to read correspondence

from the opposing party's attorney); see also Eide v. Eide. 1 Wash. App. 440, 462 P.2d
562 (1969) (appellant tampered with exhibits). Finding no intransigent conduct by

Larson, we deny Calhoun's fee request.13

                                     CONCLUSION

       Because the record shows no abuse of trial court discretion, we affirm the decree

of dissolution. Calhoun's attorney fees request is denied.

WE CONCUR:

                                                 SfciL^fly vC
       13 Calhoun does not contend that Larson filed a "frivolous appeal" within the
meaning of RAP 18.9(a).
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