Court Opinion

ID: 9724017
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 10:41:44.198678+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:54.417320
License: Public Domain

HENDERSON, Justice
(concurring in part, concurring in result in part, dissenting in part).

CONCUR IN PART

I hereby vote to concur on Issues 1, 2, and 5.

CONCUR IN RESULT IN PART

Although Karen Kost backed out of a settlement and willfully prolonged this action without good reason, she cannot afford to pay such an award. She simply does not have the money available. See Radigan v. Radigan, 465 N.W.2d 483, 487 (S.D.1991) (relative financial condition of the parties is a consideration in awarding attorney fees). Hence, the trial court abused its discretion. Schmidt v. Schmidt, 444 N.W.2d 367 (S.D.1989).

DISSENT IN PART

Karen was denied both permanent and rehabilitative alimony. Prior to her marriage to Merle, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and participated in full-time employment. She did not work during her marriage of almost eleven years. Shortly after *216this action was instituted, Karen began job re-training at Mitchell Vocational Technical School. Per testimony, this will probably take two years to complete. I vote to grant her rehabilitative alimony which she truly deserves. However, the specific amount of rehabilitative alimony should be left to the discretion of the trial court. Johnson v. Johnson, 471 N.W.2d 156 (S.D.1991).
Under the facts of this case, it appears to be inequitable to leave the alimony open-ended. Karen testified that there were presently jobs available to her for which she was qualified. Nonetheless, a retraining program at the Mitchell Vocational Technical School, which was underway, would enhance her employment opportunity.