Court Opinion

ID: 6498415
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-07 15:07:10.602415+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:51:04.065955
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                       IN THE OFFICE OF THE
                                                                    CLERK OF SUPREME COURT
                                                                            JULY 7, 2022
                                                                     STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

                  IN THE SUPREME COURT
                  STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

                                2022 ND 136

Cody Berdahl,                                          Plaintiff and Appellant
      v.
Joleen Berdahl,                                       Defendant and Appellee

                                No. 20210320

Appeal from the District Court of McKenzie County, Northwest Judicial
District, the Honorable Daniel S. El-Dweek, Judge.

AFFIRMED IN PART, REVERSED IN PART, AND REMANDED.

Opinion of the Court by McEvers, Justice.

Elizabeth A. Elsberry, Bismarck, ND, for plaintiff and appellant.

Harry M. Pippin, Williston, ND, for defendant and appellee.
                             Berdahl v. Berdahl
                                No. 20210320

McEvers, Justice.

[¶1] Cody Berdahl appeals from a divorce judgment entered following a bench
trial in his divorce action against Joleen Berdahl. He argues the district court
erred in distributing the marital property, in ordering him to pay spousal
support to Joleen Berdahl, and in awarding Joleen Berdahl credit for attorney’s
fees. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion.

                                       I

[¶2] Cody Berdahl and Joleen Berdahl were married in 1997. The parties
separated on August 1, 2019, and Cody Berdahl sued for divorce in November
2019. A two-day trial was held in July 2021. At the time of trial, Cody Berdahl
was 50 years of age and Joleen Berdahl was 49. They lived in Watford City,
North Dakota. Cody Berdahl was part owner of Dirty Birds, an oilfield service
company. As part owner, he received work-related benefits including a phone,
a vehicle, and health insurance. Joleen Berdahl worked at Dirty Birds as its
bookkeeper from 2011 until fall 2019. At trial, she admitted she failed to timely
remit payroll taxes to the Internal Revenue Service for the business. Joleen
Berdahl had a high school education and eighteen years of bookkeeping
experience. After the parties separated, she worked for the McKenzie County
School District in a seasonal aide position.

[¶3] The district court heard testimony from both parties regarding the
accumulated assets and debts and the conduct attributing to the breakdown of
this long-term marriage. Both parties drank alcohol throughout the marriage.
Joleen Berdahl’s alcohol consumption became problematic, resulting in her
seeking and successfully completing outpatient alcohol treatment.

[¶4] Following trial, the district court issued its Memorandum of Opinion,
Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order for Judgment and attached
Exhibit A outlining its property distribution. The court included post-
separation property in the marital estate. The court valued Dirty Birds’

                                       2
accounts receivable at $100,000, based on Joleen Berdahl’s testimony, and
included that amount in its property distribution. The court permitted Joleen
Berdahl to remain in the marital home “with Cody Berdahl continuing to pay
the mortgage, insurance, taxes, and utilities on the home until it sells.” The
court found both parties engaged in conduct that “affected the parties directly
and indirectly, financially,” and no harm resulted to Dirty Birds due to Joleen
Berdahl’s actions. The court awarded Joleen Berdahl spousal support of $1,000
per month for ten years “to assist her with her financial needs and to
rehabilitate her into becoming self-sustaining,” to begin the month after the
marital home sells or Joleen Berdahl voluntarily leaves the home. Finally, the
court ordered each party be responsible for their own attorney’s fees, but
credited Joleen Berdahl with a $20,000 reduction in the marital estate for her
legal fees in its property distribution. The court entered judgment, and Cody
Berdahl appeals.

                                                II

[¶5] Cody Berdahl argues the district court erred in distributing the marital
property by finding Dirty Birds’ accounts receivable had a value of $100,000,
by failing to properly consider Joleen Berdahl’s conduct, by including
valuations for property acquired post-separation in the marital estate, and by
failing to require Joleen Berdahl to reimburse him for payment of post-
separation bills.

[¶6] When granting a divorce, a district court is required to value the parties’
property and debts and “make an equitable distribution.” N.D.C.C. § 14-05-
24(1) (2017).1 This Court’s standard of review for a district court’s marital
property distribution is well established:

       This Court reviews a district court’s distribution of marital
       property as a finding of fact, and will not reverse unless the

1 Section 14-05-24(1), N.D.C.C., was amended effective August 1, 2021, to provide that when the
parties do not mutually agree, “the valuation date for marital property and debt is sixty days before
the initially scheduled trial date.” The 2021 amendment became effective after this action commenced;
therefore, the prior version enacted in 2017 is applicable.

                                                 3
      findings are clearly erroneous. “A finding of fact is clearly
      erroneous if it is induced by an erroneous view of the law, if there
      is no evidence to support it, or if, after reviewing all the evidence,
      we are left with a definite and firm conviction a mistake has been
      made.” We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the
      findings, and the district court’s factual findings are presumptively
      correct. Valuations of marital property within the range of the
      evidence presented are not clearly erroneous. A choice between
      two permissible views of the evidence is not clearly erroneous if the
      district court’s findings are based either on physical or
      documentary evidence, or inferences from other facts, or on
      credibility determinations.

Holm v. Holm, 2017 ND 96, ¶ 4, 893 N.W.2d 492 (internal citations omitted).

[¶7] In makings its distribution, the district court considers the Ruff-Fischer
factors, which include:

      The respective ages of the parties, their earning ability, the
      duration of the marriage and conduct of the parties during the
      marriage, their station in life, the circumstances and necessities of
      each, their health and physical condition, their financial
      circumstances as shown by the property owned at the time, its
      value at the time, its income-producing capacity, if any, whether
      accumulated before or after the marriage, and such other matters
      as may be material.

Quamme v. Quamme, 2021 ND 208, ¶ 14, 967 N.W.2d 452 (quoting Orwig v.
Orwig, 2021 ND 33, ¶ 35, 955 N.W.2d 34); Ruff v. Ruff, 52 N.W.2d 107 (N.D.
1952); Fischer v. Fischer, 139 N.W.2d 845 (N.D. 1966). Although the court is
not required to make specific findings on each Ruff-Fischer factor, we must be
able to determine the reasons for the court’s decision. Quamme, at ¶ 14.

                                        A

[¶8] Cody Berdahl first argues the district court erred in valuing accounts
receivable for Dirty Birds at $100,000, based solely on Joleen Berdahl’s
testimony.

                                        4
[¶9] As noted, a district court’s valuations of marital property are findings of
fact and will not be reversed on appeal unless they are clearly erroneous. Wald
v. Wald, 2020 ND 174, ¶ 11, 947 N.W.2d 359. A court’s valuations of marital
property are not clearly erroneous if they are within the range of evidence
presented. Id. “In a bench trial, the district court determines credibility
issues, which we will not second-guess on appeal.” Id. at ¶ 27. The value the
court gives to marital property depends on the evidence presented. Amsbaugh
v. Amsbaugh, 2004 ND 11, ¶ 12, 673 N.W.2d 601.

[¶10] The district court valued Dirty Birds’ accounts receivable at $100,000.
Joleen Berdahl testified she served as Dirty Birds’ bookkeeper and Dirty Birds’
accounts receivable were “well over $100,000” at the time of separation. Cody
Berdahl offered no evidence to rebut Joleen Berdahl’s testimony. In fact, Cody
Berdahl testified that, although Dirty Birds had customers owing money, he
did not know why those amounts were not listed on the parties’ property and
debt listings and he did not look for values of the accounts receivable before
submitting his property and debt listing. Cody Berdahl further testified he
had no basis to dispute the amount Joleen Berdahl provided. Because the
court’s valuation falls within the range of evidence presented, we conclude the
court’s valuation was not clearly erroneous.

                                       B

[¶11] Cody Berdahl next argues the district court erred by failing to properly
consider evidence about Joleen Berdahl’s conduct at Dirty Birds and her
alcohol abuse.

[¶12] The Ruff-Fischer guidelines allow a district court to consider the parties’
conduct during marriage, including fault. Weigel v. Weigel, 2015 ND 270, ¶ 22,
871 N.W.2d 810. The court may properly consider both economic and non-
economic fault in dividing marital property. Amsbaugh, 2004 ND 11, ¶ 34.
“Economic misconduct is misconduct that results in a wasted asset or in the
reduction of the net marital estate.” Gerving v. Gerving, 2020 ND 116, ¶ 18,
943 N.W.2d 797.       Further, “uncontrolled drinking contributing to the
breakdown of the marriage, even if involving alcoholism, can be considered a
matter of fault.” Amsbaugh, at ¶ 34. A determination of economic or non-

                                       5
economic fault is a finding of fact, subject to the clearly erroneous standard of
review. Gerving, at ¶ 18.

[¶13] The district court found both parties engaged in activity that affected the
parties financially, directly and indirectly. The court found Joleen Berdahl did
not gain monetarily from her misconduct related to Dirty Birds’ tax filings and
there was no evidence Dirty Birds was harmed financially by her actions.
Regarding Joleen Berdahl’s alcohol abuse, testimony was elicited that both
parties drank excessively during the marriage. Joleen Berdahl testified she
had recently undergone outpatient treatment and was participating in
Alcoholics Anonymous. The court did not make a finding for either party
related to alcohol abuse. The evidence presented is such that the court could
have reasonably concluded both parties must share responsibility for the
failure of the marriage. See Nastrom v. Nastrom, 284 N.W.2d 576, 582 (N.D.
1979) (trial court’s finding that both parties contributed equally to the
breakdown of marriage, based on excessive drinking and heated arguments,
was not clearly erroneous). Based on the record, the court’s findings on the
conduct of each party during the marriage are supported by the evidence and
are not clearly erroneous.

                                       C

[¶14] Cody Berdahl argues the district court erred by including property
acquired post-separation in the marital estate. Specifically, Cody Berdahl
argues the court’s decision to “assign monetary value to the parties’ after-
acquired property” violated N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24(1) (2017). He asserts that,
because N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24(1) (2017) provides for valuation as of the date the
parties separated, any property acquired post-separation should not be
included in the marital estate. Joleen Berdahl argues N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24(1)
(2017) is ambiguous.

[¶15] In this case, valuation of the marital estate is governed by N.D.C.C. § 14-
05-24(1) (2017), which provided:

      When a divorce is granted, the court shall make an equitable
      distribution of the property and debts of the parties. Except as

                                       6
      may be required by federal law for specific property, and subject to
      the power of the court to determine a date that is just and
      equitable, the valuation date for marital property is the date
      mutually agreed upon between the parties. If the parties do not
      mutually agree upon a valuation date, the valuation date for
      marital property is the date of service of a summons in an action
      for divorce or separation or the date on which the parties last
      separated, whichever occurs first.

N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24(1) (2017) (amended effective August 1, 2021).

[¶16] A majority of this Court previously held N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24(1) (2017) is
unambiguous and “does not provide the district court with discretion when the
parties do not agree upon a valuation date.” Messmer v. Messmer, 2020 ND 62,
¶ 15, 940 N.W.2d 622. The legislative assembly “has provided a definitive
process for determining the date to value the marital estate that limits the
district court’s discretion to accepting or rejecting an agreed upon valuation
date,” and “[t]he statute does not provide the court with discretion to select its
own valuation date.” Id. at ¶ 19.

[¶17] Here, Cody Berdahl and Joleen Berdahl did not mutually agree on a
valuation date for the marital property. The parties separated on August 1,
2019, and the divorce summons was served on November 19, 2019. Therefore,
N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24(1) (2017) provided for the valuation of the parties’ marital
property at the date of separation. The district court explained N.D.C.C. § 14-
05-24 (2017) “provides no guidance to the Court as to what to do with additional
assets and liabilities accumulated [after separation]—especially when the post
separation period is extensive in length.” The court included post-separation
property in the marital estate, despite annotations in Exhibit A reflecting the
division of assets included items that were acquired post-separation. In doing
so, the court misapplied the law.

[¶18] The district court did not have discretion to include property acquired
after separation in valuing the marital estate. Any assets accumulated post-
separation would not be subject to distribution by the court. See Wald, 2020
ND 174, ¶ 16 (district court did not clearly err by not including property, as
“property acquired after the valuation date would have been obtained with

                                        7
income earned after the valuation date or with proceeds from the sale of assets
that were valued as of the valuation date”). The court’s inclusion of property
acquired after the parties’ separation was induced by an erroneous view of the
law. Therefore, we reverse the court’s distribution of marital property and
remand with instructions to assign value only to property that existed at the
time of separation and to equitably distribute the property after taking into
consideration the correct value of the marital estate.

                                        D

[¶19] Because we have reversed the district court’s distribution of marital
property, the court will again have to determine an equitable division of that
property. However, we may address issues likely to arise again on remand.
Quamme, 2021 ND 208, ¶ 12.

[¶20] Cody Berdahl argues the district court erred by failing to order Joleen
Berdahl to reimburse him for post-separation marital expenses he was
required to pay until the marital home was sold, including mortgage payments,
insurance, property taxes, and utilities. He contends the court’s requirement
that he pay post-separation marital expenses is analogous to Fox v. Fox, 1999
ND 68, 592 N.W.2d 541. We are not persuaded.

[¶21] In Fox, the district court awarded the marital home to the wife and
awarded the husband fifty percent of the home’s equity in the event the wife
ever sold the home. Id. at ¶ 3. The court also ordered the husband to pay the
mortgage payments, real estate taxes, special assessments, insurance,
utilities, and any necessary repairs and maintenance while the wife resided in
the home. Id. This Court reversed, concluding “a court should try to
disentangle the parties’ financial affairs to reduce further conflict, litigation,
and rancor between them” when distributing marital property. Id. at ¶ 17.
Because “one of the major reasons for the parties’ divorce was disagreement
over financial matters,” this Court was left with a definite and firm conviction
that ordering the husband to continue to pay expenses associated with the
marital home was error. Id.

                                        8
[¶22] This case is distinguishable from Fox. Here, rather than awarding the
marital home to one of the parties and ordering the other party to pay the
ongoing expenses indefinitely, the district court ordered the parties to sell the
home. The court found the home was already placed on the market for sale.
Although Cody Berdahl was ordered to pay post-separation marital expenses
related to the home, and Joleen Berdahl was permitted to continue to reside in
the home, the home was a marital asset requiring the payment of ongoing
expenses until it is sold. The court found Cody Berdahl had significantly
greater earnings and earning capacity, an important factor in determining both
an equitable property division and spousal support. See Mellum v. Mellum,
2000 ND 47, ¶ 19, 607 N.W.2d 580. Cody Berdahl’s obligation to pay expenses
continues only until the home is sold or Joleen Berdahl vacates the home. Cody
Berdahl’s spousal support obligation does not begin until the month following
the sale of the home.

[¶23] The district court must make an equitable property distribution under
N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24(1) (2017). The court found an equal division of the
proceeds from the sale of the marital home was equitable. The court further
found it was equitable for Cody Berdahl to continue to pay the mortgage,
insurance, taxes, and utilities on the home until it was sold, and the home was
currently on the market. The court noted that this arrangement would give
the parties “plenty of incentive” to sell the marital home. We conclude the court
adequately analyzed the Ruff-Fischer guidelines on this issue, the evidence
supports the court’s findings, and we are not left with a definite and firm
conviction a mistake was made. However, because we have already reversed
the distribution of property, the court may reconsider on remand whether its
previous decision on the marital home bears on an equitable distribution of the
marital estate.

                                      III

[¶24] Cody Berdahl argues the district court erred when it awarded spousal
support to Joleen Berdahl without making adequate findings and in the
absence of an evidentiary basis. Cody Berdahl argues there was insufficient

                                       9
evidence of Joleen Berdahl’s need for spousal support, and the court solely
relied on Cody Berdahl’s ability to pay.

[¶25] District courts may award spousal support under N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24.1.
When determining whether to award spousal support, “the court must consider
the Ruff-Fischer guidelines, the needs of the spouse seeking support, and the
ability of the other spouse to pay.” Quamme, 2021 ND 208, ¶ 14 (quoting
Willprecht v. Willprecht, 2020 ND 77, ¶ 40, 941 N.W.2d 556). The court is not
required to provide a “complete calculation of each parties’ assets, debts, and
expenses,” but “a clear description of the financial situation of each party is
helpful for this Court in understanding the court’s rationale in awarding
spousal support.” Id. “Rehabilitative spousal support is awarded to equalize
the burdens of divorce” or to restore a spouse to independent status by
providing the spouse “an opportunity to acquire an education, training, work
skills, or experience to become self-supporting.”            Rhodenbaugh v.
Rhodenbaugh, 2019 ND 109, ¶ 14, 925 N.W.2d 742. Decisions on spousal
support are findings of fact reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard of
review. Id.

[¶26] The district court awarded Joleen Berdahl spousal support in the
amount of $1,000 per month for ten years. In its findings, the court stated:

      Considering [Cody Berdahl’s] monthly budget and ability to pay,
      and comparing that with [Joleen Berdahl’s] monthly budget,
      education, needs and earning capacity, . . . the Court deems it fair
      and equitable to award Joleen [Berdahl] $1,000. The amount is
      designed to assist her with her financial needs and to rehabilitate
      her into becoming self-sustaining. Joleen [Berdahl] has the ability
      to work towards earning a degree moving into the future.

The court found Joleen Berdahl is in need of rehabilitative spousal support.
The court found Joleen Berdahl is currently incapable of attaining employment
sufficient to meet her needs and is in “uncertain waters” regarding her future.
The court heard testimony that Joleen Berdahl has a high school diploma and
had completed one semester of college education. Joleen Berdahl testified she
had been a bookkeeper for 18 years, and she now worked 35 to 40 hours each
week as an aide with the McKenzie County School District earning $17 per

                                      10
hour. Joleen Berdahl testified she planned to enroll at Williston State College
to earn a bachelor’s degree and improve her career opportunities.

[¶27] The district court awarded spousal support to rehabilitate Joleen
Berdahl and provide her with the opportunity to acquire education and
training to become self-supporting. We conclude the court’s spousal support
award is supported by the evidence, and we are not left with a definite and
firm conviction a mistake was made. However, “[s]pousal support and property
distribution are interrelated and intertwined and must be considered
together.” Lizakowski v. Lizakowski, 2017 ND 91, ¶ 21, 893 N.W.2d 508
(quoting Krueger v. Krueger, 2008 ND 90, ¶ 9, 748 N.W.2d 671). Because we
reversed and remanded the property division, we also remand the spousal
support award, and the district court may reconsider the issue in light of any
changes made in the division of property.

                                       IV

[¶28] Finally, Cody Berdahl argues the district court erred when it awarded
Joleen Berdahl a $20,000 credit for attorney’s fees. He asserts the district court
did not follow the proper procedure for awarding attorney’s fees under
N.D.C.C. § 14-05-23, as Joleen Berdahl did not request attorney’s fees and did
not present sufficient evidence supporting the amount of attorney’s fees.

[¶29] This Court has long held that “[a]bsent statutory or contractual
authority, the American Rule assumes parties to a lawsuit bear their own
attorney fees.” Twete v. Mullin, 2019 ND 184, ¶ 45, 931 N.W.2d 198. A district
court’s decision to award attorney’s fees is reviewed for an abuse of discretion.
Id. A court abuses its discretion when it acts in an arbitrary, unreasonable, or
unconscionable manner, or when it misinterprets or misapplies the law. Id.

[¶30] A district court has broad discretion to award attorney’s fees in a divorce
action under N.D.C.C. § 14-05-23. Orwig, 2021 ND 33, ¶ 41. The court must
make specific findings about the non-moving party’s ability to pay and the
moving party’s need. Id. “An award of attorney fees must generally be
supported by evidence upon which the court can determine the requested fees
are reasonable and legitimate.” Id. at ¶ 43. A court abuses its discretion by

                                       11
awarding attorney’s fees unsupported by proper documentation upon which
the court can determine the reasonableness or legitimacy of the requested fees.
Id.

[¶31] The district court’s order is internally inconsistent. In its conclusions of
law, the court stated: “Each party shall be responsible for their own attorney’s
fees.” In Exhibit A, the court included Joleen Berdahl’s legal fees in the marital
debts, despite noting the debt was incurred post-separation. The district court
made no findings regarding either Cody Berdahl’s ability to pay attorney’s fees
or Joleen Berdahl’s need for them. The record lacks any supporting
documentation of the attorney’s fees incurred by either party. The court also
did not explain under which statutory authority it awarded Joleen Berdahl
attorney’s fees.

[¶32] We have previously reversed an award of attorney’s fees when we are
unable to discern the district court’s authority for such an award. See Datz v.
Dosch, 2014 ND 102, ¶ 26, 846 N.W.2d 724; see also Twete, 2019 ND 184, ¶ 48
(reversing award of attorney’s fees when this Court was unable to determine
the authority the court relied on for its award). On this record, we do not have
sufficient information to ascertain whether the attorney’s fees were intended
to be awarded, or, if intended, whether the fees may be proper under applicable
statutory authority. We reverse the court’s award of attorney’s fees to Joleen
Berdahl and remand for further consideration and explanation of the legal
basis authorizing the award of attorney’s fees.

                                       V

[¶33] The district court’s judgment is affirmed in part, reversed in part, and
remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

[¶34] Jon J. Jensen, C.J.
      Gerald W. VandeWalle
      Daniel J. Crothers
      Lisa Fair McEvers
      Jerod E. Tufte

                                       12