Court Opinion

ID: 4441033
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-09-24 18:10:19.36494+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:18.585268
License: Public Domain

J-S27030-19

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

 BRENDA K. THOMPSON                        :    IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                           :         PENNSYLVANIA
                    Appellant              :
                                           :
                                           :
              v.                           :
                                           :
                                           :
 STEVEN W. THOMPSON                        :    No. 1736 WDA 2018

              Appeal from the Order Entered November 6, 2018
              In the Court of Common Pleas of Bedford County
                      Civil Division at No(s): 257-2014

BEFORE:    OLSON, J., OTT, J., and COLINS*, J.

MEMORANDUM BY OTT, J.:                          FILED SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

      Brenda K. Thompson appeals from the order entered on November 6,

2018, in the Court of Common Pleas of Bedford County, granting a divorce

between Brenda K. Thompson and Steven W. Thompson and ordering

distribution of assets.   In this timely appeal, Brenda Thompson raises two

claims. She argues the trial court abused its discretion in failing to award her,

(1) an equitable share of Steven Thompson’s Pennsylvania State Employees’

Retirement System pension (SERS), and (2) an equitable share of the fair

rental value of the marital residence that Steven Thompson occupied from the

date of separation. After a thorough review of the submissions by the parties,

relevant law, and the certified record, we affirm.

      Our standard of review when examining an order regarding equitable

distribution of marital assets is as follows:

____________________________________
* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
J-S27030-19

      [a] trial court has broad discretion when fashioning an award of
      equitable distribution. Our standard of review when assessing the
      propriety of an order effectuating the equitable distribution of
      marital property is whether the trial court abused its discretion by
      a misapplication of the law or failure to follow proper legal
      procedure. We do not lightly find an abuse of discretion, which
      requires a showing of clear and convincing evidence. This Court
      will not find an “abuse of discretion” unless the law has been
      overridden or misapplied or the judgment exercised was
      manifestly unreasonable, or the result of partiality, prejudice,
      bias, or ill will, as shown by the evidence in the certified record.
      In determining the propriety of an equitable distribution award,
      courts must consider the distribution scheme as a whole. We
      measure the circumstances of the case against the objective of
      effectuating economic justice between the parties and achieving a
      just determination of their property rights.

      Moreover, it is within the province of the trial court to weigh the
      evidence and decide credibility and this Court will not reverse
      those determinations so long as they are supported by the
      evidence.

Carney v. Carney, 167 A.3d 127, 131 (Pa. Super. 2017) (citation omitted).

      With this standard in mind, we examine Brenda Thompson’s issues. The

parties are well versed in the underlying facts of this matter and we will not

recite them herein. We rely upon the trial court’s recitation of the facts as

found in the November 6, 2018, Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion, pages 1-4. In her

first issue, Brenda Thompson argues the trial court erred in failing to award

her a portion of Steven Thompson’s SERS disability pension.        Specifically,

Brenda Thompson argues while a portion of the pension represents disability

payments made to Steven Thompson which were owed him following a

shoulder injury suffered while on duty as a corrections officer, a QDRO could

determine what portion was attributable to disability and what portion would

be attributable to what we will call the earned pension. She further argues as

                                     -2-
J-S27030-19

the earned pension is a marital asset, she should be awarded a portion of that

pension.

       We begin by reiterating that a review of the distribution of marital assets

looks to the entirety of the division to determine whether the trial court abused

its discretion in effectuating economic justice.        It is not a piecemeal

determination that any particular asset could have been divided differently.

An abuse of discretion is more likely to be found when it can be shown the

individual determination has adversely affected the overall scheme.         Here,

there is only an argument that Brenda Thompson could and should have been

awarded some portion of Steven Thompson’s SERS pension.                   Brenda

Thompson has not argued that the failure to provide her a portion of his

pension has upset the overall scheme.1

       Recognizing the above, we agree with Brenda Thompson that the trial

court could have awarded her some portion of Steven Thompson’s SERS

pension. However, that fact alone does not provide a basis for determining

____________________________________________

1 In fact, neither the briefs nor the trial court opinion provides a sum of the
assets distributed by the trial court’s November 6, 2018 order. While values
are attached to most of the items listed in the order, the order is unclear as
to who retains possession of any specific item. (The order merely states the
party in current possession of the item is awarded that item.) Accordingly,
there is no indication that Brenda Thompson has been awarded X% of the
total marital assets and Steven Thompson has been awarded Y%. It appears,
but it is not certain, that marital assets awarded to Steven Thompson have a
greater total monetary value than that which was awarded to Brenda
Thompson. However, approximately $15,000.00 in credit card debt was also
assigned to Steven Thompson. This lack of specificity in Brenda Thompson’s
argument regarding the overall division of property makes it difficult to assess
the arguments presented.

                                           -3-
J-S27030-19

whether the trial court abused its discretion. Here, the trial court explained

that Brenda Thompson earned $26,191.78 per year.            Steven Thompson

earned $10,845.00 per year as a school bus driver.         His SERS pension

provided him with an additional $17,664.00 after taxes.

      The parties’ current earnings are nearly equal, it does not appear
      anything at this time would prevent [Brenda Thompson] from
      working another 10 to 15 years. [Steven Thompson], however,
      is already limited in what he can do, any worsening of his health
      would cause him to lose his bus driver’s income, leaving him only
      his retirement until he could qualify for Social Security. Further,
      as noted, [Brenda Thompson] has begun a 401K at her present
      employment. Under these circumstances, it does not appear to
      be appropriate to award any portion of the retirement to [Brenda
      Thompson].      However, [Steven Thompson] chose joint and
      survivor status on the retirement, the Court will order him not to
      modify the current survivor who is [Brenda Thompson]. At the
      time of [Steven Thompson’s] death years from now, if [Brenda
      Thompson] survives [Steven Thompson], the survivor benefit will
      aid [Brenda Thompson] in her retirement, and reward her for her
      substantial contribution to the marriage as a homemaker and
      mother, without further detriment to [Steven Thompson].

Trial Court Opinion, at 8.

      The trial court provided reasoning behind the decision to leave the SERS

pension in Steven Thompson’s name. That decision provides both parties with

substantially similar income, which appears to provide an equal base for the

distribution of the remaining marital assets.    The decision also considers

Steven Thompson’s more precarious situation as a wage earner. While the

trial court’s reasoning may not be perfect, it cannot be said that it is

                                     -4-
J-S27030-19

“manifestly unreasonable.”2 There has been no showing how this equal base

disadvantages Brenda Thompson in the overall quest for economic justice.

Therefore, we can find no abuse of discretion regarding this issue.

       In her second issue, Brenda Thompson argues the trial court erred in

failing to award her the fair rental value of the marital home that has been

exclusively occupied by Steven Thompson since the date of separation.

Specifically, she argues the trial court used an incorrect standard to determine

Steven Thompson was not the exclusive occupant of the residence.

       Initially, we note:

       While each party is entitled to his or her equitable share of marital
       property, including the fair rental value of the marital residence,
       the trial court need not compute that equitable share as a credit
       to the non-possessory spouse, as long as the total distributory
       scheme is equitable.

Schneeman v. Schneeman, 615 A.2d 1369, 1377 (Pa. Super. 1992)

(citations omitted).

       As we have previously stated, Brenda Thompson has not described how

the total distribution scheme is inequitable.3 Rather, she has only attempted

to demonstrate how she could have been awarded more. This is undoubtedly

true, but it does not address our standard of review that requires we view
____________________________________________

2   Carney v. Carney, supra.

3 Here, we also note the trial court’s determination, “In this case, [Steven
Thompson] was also responsible for the mortgage payment, taxes, insurance,
and maintenance of the house. Under these circumstances, an award of fair
rental value would not be appropriate.” Trial Court Opinion at 5.

                                           -5-
J-S27030-19

each complaint vis-à-vis the totality of the distribution scheme. Because we

have not been presented with the total distribution scheme, and the scheme

is not readily discernable,4 Brenda Thompson cannot prevail in this claim.

       Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 9/24/2019

____________________________________________

4 We believe a fair inference can be drawn from the trial court opinion that
Steven Thompson has been awarded a larger portion of the marital assets.
This fact alone does not render the distribution scheme inequitable. The trial
court appears to have based the division upon Brenda Thompson having a
longer work expectancy and the precarious nature, given his injuries, of
Steven Thompson’s ability to work. We cannot say that this approach in
reasoning is manifestly unreasonable.

                                           -6-