Court Opinion

ID: 9538323
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 07:34:52.412862+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:57:44.325059
License: Public Domain

*567BUTTLER, J.
Husband appeals from the decree entered in this dissolution proceeding seeking deletion from the decree that portion which imposes an equitable lien in favor of wife against any settlement or judgment which husband receives as a result of an automobile accident in which he was injured after the parties separated, but before the dissolution. We modify the decree.
The parties were married on December 3, 1976, and had one child, a daughter, bom June 21, 1979. The parties separated on about August 1, 1979. Husband was injured in an automobile accident on September 14, 1979.
Husband had been married before and has one child as a result of that marriage, for whom he was required to pay support of $100 per month. At the time of the dissolution at issue here he was behind in his support payments to his first wife and a wage assignment had been entered. However, at the time of the hearing below husband had not worked since his accident in September, 1979.
The trial court in this proceeding ordered husband to pay the marital debts of the parties, which totalled nearly $5,500, and to pay $100 per month for the support of his daughter, whose custody was awarded to wife. In addition, the trial court purported to impose an equitable lien against any settlement or judgment husband may receive as a result of the automobile acident in which he was involved, for the purpose of assuring payment of the family debts and the child support. Husband contends on appeal that the imposition of an equitable lien was inappropriate. We agree.
Although it is not necessarily a rule for all situations, we held in Sellers and Sellers, 39 Or App 647, 593 P2d 1191, modified 41 Or App 13 (1979), and Hammond and Hammond, 23 Or App 739, 543 P2d 1076 (1975), that in the fact situations there presented, monetary damages received by one spouse as *568the result of a post-separation injury should be awarded to that spouse in dissolution proceedings. We believe that is the appropriate disposition in this case as well. The damages awarded husband as a result of his accident presumably will be compensation for personal injuries he suffered. Husband’s right of action for those injuries is properly his alone; division with wife would not be appropriate.
There are at least two problems with the imposition of an equitable lien on whatever husband may recover for his injuries. An equitable lien which does not arise from contract is fundamentally a tool used by courts to prevent unjust enrichment. See Restatement of Restitution § 161 (1937); Dobbs, Law of Remedies § 249 (1973); see also Barnes v. Eastern & Western Lbr. Co., 205 Or 553, 287 P2d 929 (1955). Further, that unjust enrichment must result from the receipt of the particular property upon which the lien is imposed. See V. Scott, The Law of Trusts, § 462.2 (3d ed 1967). We have no basis for concluding that husband would be unjustly enriched by the receipt of compensation for personal injuries he sustained. In theory, at least, he will be made whole.
In addition, the lien imposed by the trial court would effectively tie up indefinitely whatever monetary compensation husband is awarded. His child support obligation for this one year old child continues until the child is at least 18 years of age, and is subject to modification. ORS 107.135. The indefinite and in futuro aspects of the obligation which is intended to be secured do not comport with the imposition of a lien.
"* * *The veiy idea of a lien upon property involves certainty as to the amount, so that persons dealing with defendant, as well as defendant himself, may know how much is involved; otherwise he would be precluded from dealing with his property at all, since it would be impossible for him to pay the lien.* * *” Mansfield v. Hill, 56 Or 400, 409, 107 P 471, 108 P 1007 (1910).
In addition, it is unclear who would hold the funds representing the personal injury award. Would *569the defendant in the personal injury action be obligated to hold them? His attorney? His insurer? Husband? His attorney? If any one of them paid over the funds, would he be liable to wife? We see no practical way to handle a lien such as this, and wife has suggested none.
Therefore, we modify the decree to delete paragraph 6 which imposes the equitable lien, and in lieu thereof we substitute the following:
"6. Respondent shall indemnify and hold petitioner harmless for any of the debts respondent is required to pay by the terms of the preceding paragraph.”
Affirmed as modified.