Court Opinion

ID: 4532035
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-05-06 15:03:47.887775+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:30:57.607362
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
      Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),                                 FILED
      this Memorandum Decision shall not be
                                                                        May 06 2020, 9:15 am
      regarded as precedent or cited before any
      court except for the purpose of establishing                           CLERK
                                                                         Indiana Supreme Court
      the defense of res judicata, collateral                               Court of Appeals
                                                                              and Tax Court

      estoppel, or the law of the case.

      ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                  ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE
      Cody Cogswell                                           Rodney T. Sarkovics
      Cogswell & Associates, LLC                              Sarkovics Law
      Fishers, Indiana                                        Carmel, Indiana

                                                IN THE
          COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

      Kejbir Singh Bal,                                       May 6, 2020
      Appellant-Defendant,                                    Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                              19A-DC-2137
              v.                                              Appeal from the
                                                              Hamilton Superior Court
      Shivali Bal,                                            The Honorable
      Appellee-Plaintiff                                      David K. Najjar, Judge
                                                              Trial Court Cause No.
                                                              29D05-1712-DC-11221

      Vaidik, Judge.

                                          Case Summary
[1]   Kejbir Singh Bal (“Husband”) appeals the trial court’s decree dissolving his

      marriage to Shivali Bal (“Wife”). Husband argues that the trial court erred by
      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2137 | May 6, 2020                Page 1 of 10
      including certain property in the marital pot and in determining Husband’s

      weekly income for purposes of child support. We affirm.

                            Facts and Procedural History
[2]   Although the dissolution decree covers many topics, this appeal concerns only a

      few of them. As such, we set forth the facts that are relevant to the issues that

      the parties raise on appeal. Husband and Wife were married in May 2010.

      Two children were born during the marriage: R.B. in 2011 and S.B. in 2016.

[3]   In 2012, Husband received approximately $187,000 from his father for

      promising to take care of his parents for the rest of their lives. Husband later

      testified that out of the money he received from his father, “there was $60,000

      that was supposed to be split between [Husband] and [Husband’s] two sisters.”

      Tr. p. 117. In 2013, Husband started a trucking business, Bal Trucking. Over

      time, his business grew to the point where Husband was earning approximately

      $1,300-$1,400 per week.

[4]   The parties purchased a Lexus 350 in 2013, using $46,000 of the money given

      to Husband by his father. In 2014, the parties used $54,000 of the money to

      buy the marital residence. See id. at 118.

[5]   Husband’s trucking business started to decline in 2015. Eventually, Husband’s

      truck deteriorated beyond repair, causing him to switch and work as a

      dispatcher in the trucking business.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2137 | May 6, 2020   Page 2 of 10
[6]   By October 2017, the marriage had begun to fall apart, and Husband asked

      Wife to quitclaim her interest in the marital residence. Wife did so, and

      Husband transferred ownership of the house to himself and his sister,

      Satinderbir Kaur Nijjer. That December, Wife moved out of the marital

      residence and filed for divorce.

[7]   Both parties were represented by attorneys throughout the dissolution

      proceedings. Leading up to the final hearing, Wife attempted to conduct

      discovery, but Husband failed to respond to her requests. In July 2018, Wife

      filed a motion to compel discovery, which the trial court granted. When Wife

      received Husband’s responses, they were either “vague” or provided

      “incomplete information.” Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 13.

[8]   In April 2019, the trial court held the final hearing. The parties each submitted

      marital-estate summaries, showing proposed values for their marital assets.

      Both parties included the equity in the marital residence and the Lexus on their

      respective summaries. See Exs. 5, D. The parties also agreed on the value of

      those assets: the equity in the marital residence was $47,732, and the Lexus was

      valued at $14,000. See Exs. 5, D; see also Tr. pp. 31-32, 152.

[9]   Another issue was determining Husband’s weekly income for the purposes of

      child support. Wife testified that Husband was paid $343 a week for “taking

      care of his mom” and earned income as a trucking dispatcher. Id. at 53. Wife

      said that based on the deposits and withdrawals from Husband’s personal and

      business bank accounts, she and her attorney determined that Husband’s

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2137 | May 6, 2020   Page 3 of 10
       average weekly self-employment income was $2,201.35. See id. at 62-75. Wife

       explained that because Husband did not provide documentation of his income,

       she and her attorney had to use “the bank statements” to determine his income.

       Id. at 97. Wife also submitted a proposed child-support worksheet that

       recommended Husband pay $234 a week to Wife in child support. See Ex. 21.

[10]   Husband testified that his total income was “close to [$]3,000 a month” or “a

       little under 800 a week.” Tr. p. 169. Husband said that he makes “about $540

       approximately bi-weekly” for taking care of his mother and “made $19,000 last

       year” “from trucking.” Id. at 174. Husband did not submit a child-support

       worksheet but asserted that child support should be a “wash” and said that he

       “can’t afford $234” a week in child support. Id. at 171-72.

[11]   In July 2019, the trial court issued a decree of dissolution. The trial court

       followed the parties’ marital-estate summaries and found that the equity in the

       marital residence and the Lexus were marital property. As for the money given

       to Husband by his father and the alleged debt to his sisters, the trial court

       explained:

               54. Husband received $187,000.00 during the marriage in 2012
               from his Father. Husband testified that the money he received
               was to be used for the care and support of Husband’s Father and
               Mother. He was also to use $40,000.00 to pay each of his two (2)
               sisters $20,000.00; $20,000.00 to keep himself.

                                                     *****

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2137 | May 6, 2020   Page 4 of 10
               56. Husband’s sisters are not demanding payment, no terms
               apply for repayment and for several years Husband made no
               payments to his sisters. Just before and during the divorce
               proceedings, Husband only then began to claim that he was
               paying his sisters back the $20,000.00 each.

       Appellant’s App. Vol. II pp. 18-19, 24. Accordingly, the trial court did not

       include the $40,000 that Husband alleged he owed to his sisters in the marital

       estate as marital debt. After determining the value of the marital estate, the trial

       court awarded 60% to Wife and 40% to Husband. The trial court found that an

       unequal distribution of the marital estate was appropriate because there were

       “multiple instances of disposition of assets on the part of Husband to the

       detriment of Wife.” Id. at 21 (Finding M). Husband was assigned the equity in

       the marital residence ($47,732.00) and the Lexus ($14,000.00) and ordered to

       pay Wife an equalization payment of $79,579.89. See id. at 24.

[12]   Regarding Husband’s weekly income, the trial court found:

               Z. Husband testified that he was earning approximately $800.00
               per week. This figure is not supported by the evidence showing
               tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars being deposited into
               his accounts and then being spent on personal items. Wife
               argues that Husband’s income for child support purposes is over
               $2,500.00 per week. This figure does not appear to hold up
               against the evidence of Husband’s business expenses. While the
               Court is leery of accepting evidence of Husband’s business
               expenses at face value, given his repeated discovery violations
               and multiple instances of dissipating the marital estate, the Court
               cannot ignore business realities and discount any and all
               expenses except for self-employment taxes.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2137 | May 6, 2020   Page 5 of 10
       Id. at 25. Accordingly, the trial court found that based on Husband’s education,

       experience, work history, and other factors related to his income, his weekly

       income was $1,750.00 per week. The court then set Husband’s child support

       obligation at $234.00 per week.

[13]   Husband now appeals.

                                 Discussion and Decision
[14]   Where, as here, the trial court enters special findings and conclusions pursuant

       to Indiana Trial Rule 52(A), we apply a two-tiered standard of review. Barton v.

       Barton, 47 N.E.3d 368, 373 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015), trans. denied. We determine

       first if the evidence supports the findings and second whether the findings

       support the judgment. Id. The trial court’s findings and conclusions will be set

       aside only if clearly erroneous. Id. We neither reweigh the evidence nor

       reassess witness credibility. Id. Instead, we must accept the ultimate facts as

       stated by the trial court if there is evidence to sustain them. Id.

                                I. Property in the Marital Pot
[15]   Husband contends that the trial court erred when it included two assets—the

       marital-residence equity ($47,732) and the Lexus ($14,000)—in the marital pot.

       He asks us to remand with instructions that the marital-residence equity and the

       Lexus be removed from the marital pot.

[16]   It is well settled that in a dissolution action, all marital property goes into the

       marital pot for division, whether it was owned by either spouse before the
       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2137 | May 6, 2020   Page 6 of 10
       marriage, acquired by either spouse after the marriage and before final

       separation of the parties, or acquired by their joint efforts. Ind. Code § 31-15-7-

       4(a); Falatovics v. Falatovics, 15 N.E.3d 108, 110 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). For

       purposes of dissolution, property means “all the assets of either party or both

       parties.” Ind. Code § 31-9-2-98. The requirement that all marital assets be

       placed in the marital pot is meant to insure that the trial court first determines

       that value before endeavoring to divide property. Falatovics, 15 N.E.3d at 110.

       Indiana’s “one pot” theory prohibits the exclusion of any asset in which a party

       has a vested interest from the scope of the trial court’s power to divide and

       award. Id. While the trial court may decide to award a particular asset solely

       to one spouse as part of its just and reasonable property division, it must first

       include the asset in its consideration of the marital estate to be divided. Id.

[17]   Husband specifically argues that the marital residence and the Lexus were

       purchased using money that his father gave him, and therefore these assets

       cannot be included in the marital pot. Wife argues that any error of which

       Husband now complains was invited by him because he included the assets in

       his marital-estate summary. Husband does not respond to this argument in his

       reply brief. We fail to see how the trial court erred in including the assets—

       which were acquired during the marriage—in the marital pot. See I.C. 31-15-7-

       4(a). But even if it was error, we agree that Husband invited that error. The

       doctrine of invited error is grounded in estoppel and precludes a party from

       taking advantage of an error that he or she commits, invites, or which is the

       natural consequence of his or her own neglect or misconduct. Balicki v. Balicki,

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2137 | May 6, 2020   Page 7 of 10
       837 N.E.2d 532, 541 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005), trans. denied. Husband’s marital-

       estate summary (Exhibit D) listed the equity in the marital residence and the

       Lexus as marital assets subject to division. The trial court was entitled to rely

       on Husband’s representation that these assets were marital property since he

       identified them as such. Under these circumstances, Husband cannot now ask

       for a reconsideration of what property went into the marital pot with respect to

       the marital-residence equity and the Lexus.1, 2

                                              II. Child Support
[18]   Husband also argues that the trial court erred in determining his weekly income

       and ordering him to pay $234 per week in child support.3 He claims that the

       court’s finding that his weekly income was $1,750 “comes from nowhere.”

       Appellant’s Br. p. 17. Decisions regarding child support are within the sound

       discretion of the trial court. Hicks v. Smith, 919 N.E.2d 1169, 1171 (Ind. Ct.

       App. 2010), trans. denied. We reverse a court’s determination regarding child

       1
         Husband also argues that the trial court erred when it failed to include the $40,000 that he allegedly owes to
       his sisters as marital debt. The trial court found that “Husband’s sisters are not demanding payment” and
       that Husband only began to claim that he needed to repay his sisters “just before and during the divorce
       proceedings.” Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 19 (Finding 56). Husband’s argument is therefore a request to
       reweigh his credibility, which we do not do on appeal. See Barton, 47 N.E.3d at 373.
       2
         In his reply brief, Husband seems to challenge the trial court’s 60-40 distribution of the marital estate.
       Appellant’s Reply Br. p. 6. He has, however, waived this argument by failing to include it in his opening
       brief. See U.S. Gypsum, Inc. v. Ind. Gas Co., 735 N.E.2d 790, 797 n.5 (Ind. 2000) (“[A]n argument raised for
       the first time in a reply brief is waived.”).
       3
         It is not clear how the trial court landed on a support obligation of $234 per week using $1,750 as
       Husband’s weekly income, when Wife also landed on $234 using $2,500+ as Husband’s weekly income. In
       any event, Husband does not argue that $234 is incorrect if his income is $1,750. He argues only that $234 is
       incorrect because his income is not $1,750.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2137 | May 6, 2020                         Page 8 of 10
       support only if there has been an abuse of discretion or the determination is

       contrary to law. Id. An abuse of discretion occurs if the trial court’s decision is

       clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before it. Id.

[19]   Here, Wife presented evidence that Husband’s weekly income was

       approximately $2,500: Husband received $343 for taking care of his mother and

       $2,201.35 from his trucking business. Husband testified that his weekly income

       was $800. The trial court did not adopt either party’s calculation. The trial

       court explained that it was “leery” of Wife’s estimate of Husband’s income

       because it failed to account for his business expenses and that Husband’s

       estimate of $800 was not supported by evidence showing that he spent a large

       amount of money on personal items. Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 25 (Finding

       Z). Instead, the trial court found that given Husband’s education, experience,

       work history, and other factors related to his income, his average weekly

       income was $1,750.00. Id. Furthermore, Husband repeatedly committed

       discovery violations, refused to provide documentation showing his income,

       and did not complete a child-support worksheet. See Trabucco v. Trabucco, 944

       N.E.2d 544, 552 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011) (“In light of Husband’s failure to present

       evidence to the trial court adequately documenting his actual income, we

       cannot conclude that the trial court’s use of income averaging was clearly

       erroneous.”), trans. denied. For all of these reasons, we cannot say that

       attributing an average $1,750 weekly income to Husband was clearly erroneous.

[20]   Affirmed.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2137 | May 6, 2020   Page 9 of 10
May, J., and Robb, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-2137 | May 6, 2020   Page 10 of 10