Court Opinion

ID: 4121390
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-01-31 20:09:08.722797+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:46:21.625219
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

                                NO. 2015-CA-01564-COA

BOBBY FRANKLIN BASWELL                                                      APPELLANT

v.

ELIZABETH BASWELL                                                             APPELLEE

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                          10/01/2015
TRIAL JUDGE:                               HON. JOHN ANDREW HATCHER
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:                 UNION COUNTY CHANCERY COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                    JOHN PATRICK ROBBINS
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:                     CHRISTOPHER ALAN CHILDERS
NATURE OF THE CASE:                        CIVIL - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION:                   GRANTED THE PARTIES A DIVORCE
                                           AND AWARDED THE APPELLEE
                                           ALIMONY AND ATTORNEY’S FEES
DISPOSITION:                               AFFIRMED - 01/31/2017
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:

       EN BANC.

       CARLTON, J., FOR THE COURT:

¶1.    Bobby Baswell appeals the Union County Chancery Court’s judgment awarding

Elizabeth Baswell periodic alimony and attorney’s fees. On appeal, Bobby raises the

following issues: (1) whether the chancellor erred by awarding Elizabeth periodic alimony;

and (2) whether the chancellor erred by awarding Elizabeth attorney’s fees. Finding no error,

we affirm.

                                          FACTS

¶2.    Bobby and Elizabeth married on October 4, 1985. In March 2013, they separated.
On February 23, 2015, Bobby filed a complaint for divorce. In an order filed on October 2,

2015, the chancellor granted the parties an irreconcilable-differences divorce. The chancellor

acknowledged that, on the day of trial, the parties stipulated the only remaining issues

between them related to alimony and attorney’s fees.1

¶3.    The chancellor found that the parties’ division of their assets and debts left Elizabeth

with a deficit. As a result, the chancellor analyzed the Armstrong2 factors to determine

whether to award Elizabeth periodic alimony. The chancellor first determined that Bobby’s

net monthly income totaled $2,544.79 and that his reasonable monthly expenses totaled

$1,477.50, which left Bobby with a monthly surplus of $1,067.29. The chancellor next

determined that Elizabeth’s net monthly income totaled $907 and that her reasonable monthly

expenses totaled $886.59, which left her with a monthly surplus of $20.41. The chancellor

therefore found that consideration of the parties’ incomes and expenses favored Elizabeth.

In addition, based on his calculations of the parties’ incomes and expenses, the chancellor

concluded that the needs of each party was a factor that also weighed in Elizabeth’s favor.

¶4.    While Bobby was healthy and possessed a good earning capacity, the chancellor found

that Elizabeth had received Social Security disability pay for a number of years and that her

disabilities prohibited her from working. As a result, the chancellor concluded that this

factor also favored Elizabeth. In considering the parties’ obligations and assets, the

       1
        Although the parties had three children during their marriage, all three had reached
the age of majority by the time of the divorce hearing.
       2
           Armstrong v. Armstrong, 618 So. 2d 1278, 1280 (Miss. 1993).

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chancellor noted that Bobby’s Rule 8.053 financial statement reflected a monthly automobile

payment of $300 but no actual automobile. The chancellor also noted the parties’ agreement

that Elizabeth would keep the marital home and retain responsibility for the related mortgage

payments. Based on these considerations, the chancellor concluded that this factor favored

Elizabeth.

¶5.    The chancellor next found that the parties had been married twenty-seven years at the

time of their separation and almost thirty years at the time of their divorce. As a result, the

chancellor determined that the length of the parties’ marriage favored Elizabeth. Although

the parties had three children during their marriage, the children were adults. Thus, even

though Bobby’s fiancée and her grandchildren lived with Bobby, and even though the

parties’ grown daughter and her husband lived with Elizabeth, the chancellor concluded that

the parties had no legal obligation to pay for anyone other than themselves. As a result, the

chancellor considered this factor to be neutral. The chancellor likewise considered the

parties’ ages—Bobby was fifty years old, and Elizabeth was forty-seven years old—to be a

neutral factor.

¶6.    The chancellor next found that the parties had a marginal standard of living prior to

their final separation. Following their final separation, Bobby had been forced to file for

bankruptcy, and the chancellor determined that Elizabeth’s lifestyle had diminished

considerably. As a result, the chancellor found that each party’s standard of living had

deteriorated. However, after concluding that Elizabeth’s lifestyle had deteriorated the most,

       3
           UCCR 8.05.

                                              3
the chancellor determined that this factor weighed in her favor.

¶7.    The chancellor also considered any tax consequences resulting from a spousal-support

order, but he noted that no evidence had been submitted on the issue. As a result, the

chancellor concluded that this factor was neutral. In addition, the chancellor found no

evidence that either party had wastefully dissipated assets, and he therefore determined this

factor to be neutral.

¶8.    In discussing the parties’ fault or misconduct and any other just and equitable factors,

the chancellor concluded that these factors clearly favored Elizabeth. The chancellor stated

that Bobby, “without warning or notice, vacated the marital home, moved in with the woman

he calls his fiancé[e] . . . [and] her three (3) grandchildren, and continues to live with her in

a state of unlawful cohabitation.” The chancellor further stated that Bobby “left the marital

relationship without justifiable cause or reason under the law at a time when [Elizabeth] was

disabled, he knew her disability, and her disability has since worsened to . . . where she

[cannot] even earn the little bit of income she was making while the parties were together .

. . .” In addition, the chancellor reiterated his finding that, unlike Elizabeth, Bobby possessed

expendable income after his reasonable monthly expenses and was therefore in a far better

position to care for himself.

¶9.    Based on his analysis of the Armstrong factors, the chancellor concluded that periodic

alimony was proper, and he ordered Bobby to pay Elizabeth $525 a month. The chancellor

then considered the issue of attorney’s fees. After finding that Elizabeth possessed a “gross

inability” to pay her attorney’s fees, the chancellor ordered Bobby to pay reasonable

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attorney’s fees not to exceed $1,500. Aggrieved by the chancellor’s judgment, Bobby

appeals.

                                 STANDARD OF REVIEW

¶10.   “This Court’s standard of review in domestic[-]relations matters is extremely limited.”

Phillips v. Phillips, 45 So. 3d 684, 692 (¶23) (Miss. Ct. App. 2010). We refuse to disturb a

chancellor’s findings of fact unless the findings were manifestly wrong or clearly erroneous

or unless the chancellor applied an erroneous legal standard. Id. When substantial evidence

in the record supports the chancellor’s factual findings, we will not reverse the chancellor’s

decision. Id. However, we review questions of law de novo. Smith v. Wilson, 90 So. 3d 51,

56 (¶13) (Miss. 2012).

                                         DISCUSSION

       I.      Whether the chancellor erred by awarding Elizabeth periodic
               alimony.

¶11.   Bobby argues that this Court should reverse the award of periodic alimony because

the chancellor improperly evaluated the Armstrong factors. Specifically, Bobby takes issue

with the chancellor’s findings on the following factors: (1) the parties’ incomes and

expenses; (2) the parties’ obligations and assets; (3) the parties’ standards of living; and (4)

the parties’ fault or misconduct.

¶12.   “Alimony awards are within the discretion of the chancellor, and his discretion will

not be reversed on appeal unless [he] was manifestly in error in his finding of fact and abused

his discretion.” Armstrong v. Armstrong, 618 So. 2d 1278, 1280 (Miss. 1993) (internal

citations omitted). “[I]f the marital assets, after equitable division and in light of the parties’

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[nonmarital] assets, will adequately provide for both parties, then no more need be done.”

O’Brien v. O’Brien, 149 So. 3d 508, 515 (¶23) (Miss. Ct. App. 2014) (citation and internal

quotation marks omitted). However, if a deficit remains for one of the parties, the chancellor

should determine whether an award of alimony is appropriate. Coggins v. Coggins, 132 So.
3d 636, 640 (¶9) (Miss. Ct. App. 2014). The chancellor makes this determination by

applying the Armstrong factors. Id.

¶13.   Here, the chancellor concluded that the parties’ agreed-upon division of their assets

and debts left Elizabeth with a deficit. After considering the Armstrong factors, the

chancellor ordered Bobby to pay Elizabeth $525 a month in periodic alimony. As previously

stated, Bobby disputes the chancellor’s findings of fact with regard to four of the Armstrong

factors. However, upon review, we find no manifest error or abuse of discretion in the

chancellor’s findings with regard to these four factors.

¶14.   With regard to the parties’ incomes and expenses, the record reflects that the

chancellor’s calculation of Bobby’s monthly expenses differed from the figures Bobby

provided on his Rule 8.05 financial statement. Although Bobby argues that the chancellor

erred by reducing his claimed expenses for certain categories, the record contains substantial

evidence to support the chancellor’s findings. The chancellor first determined that Bobby

listed several expenses on his financial statement that were voluntary rather than mandatory.

As a result, in calculating Bobby’s actual monthly income and expenses, the chancellor

excluded those expenses that were voluntary. In addition, the chancellor found the amounts

Bobby listed for certain other expenses to be unreasonable since the amounts covered Bobby,

                                              6
his fiancée, and his fiancée’s three grandchildren. Because Bobby possessed no legal

obligation to support his fiancée or her grandchildren, the chancellor adjusted the amounts

of Bobby’s listed expenses to reflect an amount that provided for Bobby alone. Since the

record contains substantial evidence to support the chancellor’s finding that this factor

favored Elizabeth, we find no manifest error.

¶15.   With regard to the parties’ obligations and assets, Bobby claims the chancellor erred

by failing to consider as an obligation the $300 automobile payment Bobby listed. Although

he failed to list a specific automobile on his Rule 8.05 financial statement, Bobby asserts that

he listed the payment and testified at the hearing that he makes the payment. Bobby argues

that, “[b]y not considering this $300 obligation, the [chancellor] made further funds available

to [Elizabeth’s] alimony obligation but did not take into account the need for [Bobby] to meet

his own financial obligations.”

¶16.   While acknowledging Bobby’s testimony that he had a 2004 Trailblazer, the

chancellor noted that Bobby also testified he was borrowing his brother’s truck and that the

loan for the Trailblazer was in both his and his fiancée’s names. After determining that

Bobby’s Rule 8.05 financial statement failed to provide any evidence that Bobby owned an

automobile, the chancellor concluded that no such payments should be considered. Upon

review, we find no manifest error in the chancellor’s factual findings regarding this factor.

¶17.   As to the chancellor’s consideration of the parties’ fault or misconduct, Bobby asserts

that his extramarital relationship was not the reason—or at least not the only reason—for the

parties’ separation. At the hearing, Bobby testified that, prior to their separation, Elizabeth

                                               7
helped provide in-home care for a sick elderly patient. Bobby stated that Elizabeth’s job kept

her from the marital home almost all day and all night. Bobby further stated that he almost

never saw Elizabeth unless he went to her place of work, and he testified that the parties

frequently slept in separate bedrooms and kept separate finances. In addition, Bobby testified

that the parties argued over Elizabeth’s work schedule and that he asked Elizabeth to be

home on a more regular basis. Based on these assertions, Bobby argues on appeal that the

chancellor abused his discretion by only holding Bobby accountable for the parties’

separation.

¶18.   Despite Bobby’s argument, Elizabeth provided testimony during the hearing to refute

his assertions. Elizabeth testified that she and Bobby were not fighting at the time he left the

marital home and that, as far as she had been aware, she did not do anything to cause the

separation. Elizabeth further stated that Bobby never mentioned to her that he was unhappy

with her work schedule. Instead, Elizabeth testified that, about a week after Bobby moved

out, he told her that he had left because he had cheated on her. Based on the testimony and

evidence presented during the hearing, the chancellor found that Bobby’s misconduct had

contributed to the breakdown of the parties’ marriage and that consideration of this factor

strongly and clearly favored Elizabeth. Due to the substantial evidence in the record to

support the chancellor’s finding, we find no manifest error.

¶19.   With regard to the final disputed factor—the parties’ standards of living—Bobby

argues that the chancellor “abused his discretion by using the award of alimony as a punitive

tool to punish [Bobby] for adultery” rather than fashioning a remedy that allowed Bobby to

                                               8
also maintain a reasonable standard of living. To support this assertion, Bobby alleges that

the chancellor repeatedly referred to Bobby’s extramarital relationship as “unlawful” and

“illegal,” and he contends that the chancellor failed to acknowledge that Elizabeth’s regular

absences from the home contributed to the breakdown of the parties’ marriage. According

to Bobby, the chancellor’s reduction of the allotted amounts for many of Bobby’s listed

monthly expenses, coupled with the amount of the alimony award, prevents him from

maintaining any reasonable standard of living. As previously discussed, however, we find

substantial evidence in the record to support the chancellor’s reduction of several of Bobby’s

listed monthly expenses and his determination that Bobby’s extramarital relationship led to

the breakdown of the parties’ marriage. We further find substantial credible evidence to

support the chancellor’s conclusion that Elizabeth’s standard of living had more significantly

deteriorated since the parties’ separation.

¶20.   Thus, after reviewing Bobby’s claim that the chancellor improperly evaluated four of

the Armstrong factors, we find no manifest error in the chancellor’s findings. The record

contains substantial credible evidence to support the chancellor’s findings and his award of

periodic alimony to Elizabeth. As a result, this assignment of error lacks merit.

       II.    Whether the chancellor erred by awarding Elizabeth attorney’s
              fees.

¶21.   Bobby also asserts that the chancellor erred by awarding Elizabeth attorney’s fees up

to the amount of $1,500 because Elizabeth never submitted evidence of her attorney’s fees.

With regard to attorney’s fees, this Court recently stated:

              An award of attorney’s fees is appropriate in a divorce case where the

                                              9
       requesting party establishes an inability to pay. However, if a party is
       financially able to pay her attorney, an award of attorney’s fees is not
       appropriate. As the issue of whether to award attorney’s fees in a divorce case
       is a discretionary matter left to the chancellor, this Court is reluctant to disturb
       such a finding.

Williams v. Williams, 179 So. 3d 1242, 1254 (¶42) (Miss. Ct. App. 2015) (internal citations

and quotation marks omitted). “Unless the chancellor is manifestly wrong, his decision

regarding attorney[’s] fees will not be disturbed on appeal.” Gaiennie v. McMillin, 138 So.
3d 131, 137 (¶15) (Miss. 2014) (citation omitted).

¶22.   “In order to determine the amount of attorney’s fees, a chancellor must look to the

factors enumerated in McKee v. McKee, 418 So. 2d 764, 767 (Miss. 1982).” Branch v.

Branch, 174 So. 3d 932, 945 (¶57) (Miss. Ct. App. 2015). In Branch, this Court recognized:

       The court in McKee stated: We are also of the opinion the allowance of
       attorney’s fees should be only in such amount as will compensate for the
       services rendered. It must be fair and just to all concerned after it has been
       determined that the legal work being compensated was reasonably required
       and necessary. The specific factors include[:]

              [T]he relative financial ability of the parties, the skill and
              standing of the attorney employed, the nature of the case and
              novelty and difficulty of the questions at issue, as well as the
              degree of responsibility involved in the management of the
              cause, the time and labor required, the usual and customary
              charge in the community, and the preclusion of other
              employment by the attorney due to the acceptance of the case.

       Further, where the record shows an inability to pay and a disparity in the
       relative financial positions of the parties, there is no error in awarding
       attorney’s fees.

Branch, 174 So. 3d at 945-46 (¶58) (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).

¶23.   In Branch, the chancellor found that the ex-wife lacked the ability to pay her

                                               10
attorney’s fees. Id. at 946 (¶59). This Court stated that, although the chancellor never

“explicitly consider[ed] the individual McKee factors, the chancellor found the [ex-wife’s

attorney’s] fees reasonable in accordance with McKee.” Id. Despite some omissions in the

chancellor’s findings and the lack of a factor-by-factor analysis under McKee, we concluded

that the chancellor accurately relied on the ex-wife’s financial position and correctly awarded

attorney’s fees. Id. at (¶¶59, 61). We therefore found no manifest error in the chancellor’s

decision to award reasonable attorney’s fees. Id. at (¶61).

¶24.   In the present case, Elizabeth testified as to the severity of her overall financial

situation. Like in Branch, the record here fails to reflect that the chancellor explicitly

considered the McKee factors or conducted a factor-by-factor analysis under McKee.

Instead, based on the evidence and testimony before him, the chancellor appears to have

simply concluded that Elizabeth had proven her inability to pay her attorney’s fees. The

chancellor stated in his order that Elizabeth had incurred attorney’s fees but that she had a

“gross inability” to pay the fees. As a result, the chancellor ordered Bobby to pay Elizabeth’s

reasonable attorney’s fees not to exceed $1,500 at an hourly rate of $175 an hour, plus actual,

necessary, and reasonable expenses. The chancellor further stated that, “[I]f challenged in

regard to the issue of attorney’s fees and expenses, [Elizabeth’s] attorney shall submit an

itemized bill for same at the hourly rate he did charge, not to exceed that set by the [c]ourt

. . . .” However, the record reflects no evidence that Bobby ever requested, or that

Elizabeth’s attorney ever provided, an itemized bill for attorney’s fees.

¶25.   Upon review, we find no abuse of discretion in the chancellor’s conclusion that

                                              11
Elizabeth lacked the ability to pay her attorney’s fees based on the evidence and testimony

of her overall financial situation. We therefore find no manifest error in the chancellor’s

decision to award Elizabeth reasonable attorney’s fees. Accordingly, this issue lacks merit.

¶26. THE JUDGMENT OF THE UNION COUNTY CHANCERY COURT IS
AFFIRMED. ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TO THE
APPELLANT.

    LEE, C.J., IRVING AND GRIFFIS, P.JJ., BARNES, ISHEE, FAIR, WILSON
AND GREENLEE, JJ., CONCUR. WESTBROOKS, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.

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