Court Opinion

ID: 2814066
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-07-02 13:11:17.17851+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:30:30.418984
License: Public Domain

#27094-aff in pt & rev in pt-LSW

2015 S.D. 58

                             IN THE SUPREME COURT
                                     OF THE
                            STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA

                                    ****
JENNIFER L. HILLER,                          Plaintiff and Appellee,

      v.

JAMES D. HILLER,                             Defendant and Appellant.

                                    ****

                   APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF
                      THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
                     MOODY COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA

                                    ****

               THE HONORABLE GREGORY J. STOLTENBURG
                              Judge

                                    ****

STACY F. KOOISTRA
SHARLA B. SVENNES of
Myers Billion, LLP
Sioux Falls, South Dakota                    Attorneys for plaintiff
                                             and appellee.

KENNETH M. TSCHETTER of
Nicholson, Tschetter, Adams & Nicholson
Sioux Falls, South Dakota                    Attorneys for defendant
                                             and appellant.

                                    ****

                                             CONSIDERED ON BRIEFS
                                             ON FEBRUARY 17, 2015

                                             OPINION FILED 07/01/15
#27094

WILBUR, Justice

[¶1.]        The circuit court distributed the marital assets of James and Jennifer

Hiller by divorce decree. The court ordered that James assume all of the marital

debt but $500,000 and ordered James “to make best efforts with the bank and

cooperate to remove [Jennifer] from the liabilities as otherwise provided herein.”

James did not remove Jennifer from the assigned liabilities. As a result, the court

ordered that it would compel James to sell personal property if he does not remove

Jennifer from his assigned liabilities by March 15, 2015. James appeals. We affirm

in part and reverse in part. We reject both parties’ requests for attorney’s fees.

                                    Background

[¶2.]        James and Jennifer were married in 1997. Two children were born

from this marriage. Throughout their marriage, James and Jennifer operated a

family farming business. James and Jennifer rented and farmed land owned by

James’s parents. James’s parents eventually sold James and Jennifer the land and

the house located on the property (Home Quarter). James, Jennifer, and their two

children lived at the Home Quarter. In 2007, James and Jennifer purchased

adjacent farmland (New Quarter). The parties contributed equally to the

accumulation of property during their marriage.

[¶3.]        Jennifer filed for divorce on September 9, 2012. The circuit court

entered a divorce decree on June 6, 2013. The parties did not have a premarital

agreement. In dividing the marital property, the court made a concerted effort to

fashion an equitable division that maintained the viability of the farming operation.

The court noted that there was a significant difference in total value between the

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Home Quarter and the New Quarter. The value of the Home Quarter was

$1,580,000, while the value of the New Quarter was $1,365,700. As of January 7,

2013, the amount of liabilities of the parties was valued at $2,453,159.

[¶4.]         The court awarded James the Home Quarter and most of the farm

assets (Farming Operation). 1 The court awarded Jennifer the New Quarter. To

equalize the distribution of marital property between James and Jennifer, the court

ordered James to assume all of the marital debt but $500,000 and required James

to pay Jennifer, over time, a cash equalizing payment of $150,000. In an effort to

require the removal of Jennifer from James’s assigned liabilities, the court ordered

that “[James] shall make best efforts with the bank and cooperate to remove

[Jennifer] from the liabilities as otherwise provided herein.” (Refinancing

Provision). The Refinancing Provision is the primary subject of this appeal.

[¶5.]         Neither party appealed the divorce decree. 2 Ultimately, James did not

secure refinancing of the Home Quarter. First National Bank approved the

1.      The Farming Operation included all “current and intermediate” farm assets,
        all machinery, equipment, and all of the vehicles with the exception of a 2003
        GMC pickup truck and a horse trailer.

2.      On June 25, 2013, James filed a motion asking the circuit court to enforce the
        divorce decree and order Jennifer to reimburse him for the cost of fertilizer
        that was previously applied to the New Quarter. However, in the original
        divorce decree, the circuit court explicitly found “[t]hat there was no
        testimony regarding compensation for fertilizer applied by [James] on New
        Quarter.” In denying James’s motion, the court found that it had made an
        equitable distribution of the marital estate at trial. The court noted that it
        had asked James at the close of trial whether he wanted to reopen the
        property division and James declined.

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refinancing of the Home Quarter, but the approval was contingent on the approval

of Farm Service Agency. Farm Service Agency denied the refinancing because the

New Quarter had been removed from the asset base. Farm Credit Services and

First Dakota National Bank also denied James the refinancing. Because James did

not remove Jennifer from his assigned liabilities, Jennifer filed a motion on August

30, 2013, asking the court to issue an order requiring James to sell as much

property as necessary to remove her from James’s assigned liabilities. As support

for this argument, Jennifer alleged that James had not complied with the

Refinancing Provision. In response, James filed a motion on September 4, 2013,

asking the court to restructure the division of marital property to assist him in

removing Jennifer from his assigned liabilities. James asked the court to transfer

the New Quarter to him and order him to pay Jennifer the value of the property

over a period of time.

[¶6.]        On October 7, 2013, the circuit court granted Jennifer’s motion for the

sale of James’s property and denied James’s motion to restructure the division of

marital property. The court ordered that “[James] shall refinance or restructure the

existing debt of the farming operation in order to remove [Jennifer] from all debt in

excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) as previously ordered by the

[c]ourt.” The court imposed a deadline of March 1, 2014, to complete this

refinancing or restructuring of debt. The court stated that “in the event of [James’s]

failure to refinance or restructure said debt by March 1, 2014, the [c]ourt shall

revisit the issue as to the sale of the property at that time[.]”

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[¶7.]           James did not refinance or restructure the debt by the imposed

deadline. On March 7, 2014, James sought relief from the divorce decree under

SDCL 15-6-60(b). James argued that the circuit court mistakenly relied on Dave

Knudsen’s testimony at the divorce trial in concluding that James could obtain

refinancing. At trial, Knudsen—a thirty-five-year employee and agricultural lender

at First National Bank—testified about a potential resolution of the property

distribution. Knudsen presented a hypothetical situation wherein Jennifer

assumed only $500,000 of the marital debt with the New Quarter as the collateral.

Knudsen said this may be sufficient to allow James to refinance the homestead and

remove Jennifer as a co-signer: “Again, with the ag loan committee approval, that’s

something we can talk about, yes.” Then, during cross-examination, Knudsen

testified that the bank could “probably” release both the New Quarter as collateral,

and Jennifer as co-signer, through refinancing. In support of his motion for relief

under SDCL 15-6-60(b), James submitted an affidavit from Knudsen stating that

the removal of the New Quarter as collateral “essentially ruined any possibility of

refinancing.”

[¶8.]           The circuit court conducted a hearing on the motion on March 24,

2014, and entered findings of fact, conclusions of law, and an order on May 2, 2014

(Order). The court denied James’s motion for relief. The court found that “[James]

is requesting that the [c]ourt reopen the property division in the present matter,”

but the “property division was decided at the time of the divorce and is closed.” The

court further found that James failed to establish a basis for relief under SDCL 15-

6-60(b).

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[¶9.]          The Order required James to sell the Home Quarter “to the extent

necessary such that, along with [Jennifer’s] required payment of $500,000,

[Jennifer] is relieved of her obligation to the marital debt.” The circuit court

extended the deadline to sell the Home Quarter from March 1, 2014, to March 15,

2015. 3 As a caveat, the court noted, “Should [James] obtain the release of [Jennifer]

from said debt prior to the time of sale, then the sale of Home Quarter need not

occur.” But, “[i]f the sale of Home Quarter is not sufficient to release [Jennifer]

from said debt, [James] must sell other farm assets to attain [Jennifer’s] removal

from the debt.” James raises the following issues for our review:

               1.     Whether the circuit court had authority to grant
                      Jennifer’s motion for sale of James’s farmland or farming
                      operations.

               2.     Whether the circuit court abused its discretion in refusing
                      to consider or divide the costs and taxes incurred by the
                      forced sale.

               3.     Whether the circuit court abused its discretion in denying
                      James’s SDCL 15-6-60(b) motion for relief from judgment
                      and request to restructure the property division.

                                        Analysis

[¶10.]         1.     Whether the circuit court had authority to grant
                      Jennifer’s motion for sale of James’s farmland or farming
                      operations.

[¶11.]         James argues that the circuit court’s order granting Jennifer’s motion

for sale of property constituted an improper modification of the property division

3.       The court acknowledged that there was “not sufficient time for [James] to sell
         Home Quarter prior to spring planting[,]” and that “[o]rdering an immediate
         sale of Home Quarter would risk the land lying fallow for the 2014 crop year.”

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because it “impermissibly orders the sale of property previously awarded to him in

fee simple in the divorce.” In response, Jennifer contends that the Order merely

clarified and enforced the Refinancing Provision and did not “materially alter[] the

rights and responsibilities of the parties[.]” 4

[¶12.]         The long-standing law of this State is “that the division of property

pursuant to a divorce decree is not subject to modification.” Sjomeling v. Sjomeling,

472 N.W.2d 487, 489 (S.D. 1991). “Absent fraud or some other reason which would

apply to any judgment, a divorce decree which incorporates a property settlement

agreement is a final and conclusive adjudication and is not subject to later

modification.” Duran v. Duran, 2003 S.D. 15, ¶ 15 n.2, 657 N.W.2d 692, 698 n.2

(quoting Beermann v. Beermann, 526 N.W.2d 127, 129 (S.D. 1995)). While the

circuit court generally must not modify the division of the marital property, the

court may enter an order enforcing or clarifying the divorce decree. Sjomeling,
472 N.W.2d at 490; Hisgen v. Hisgen, 1996 S.D. 122, ¶ 9, 554 N.W.2d 494, 497.

“[A]s a general rule, courts retain jurisdiction to make such further orders as are

4.       Jennifer further argues that James’s appeal is untimely because he was
         required to appeal either the initial divorce decree or the October 7, 2013
         order granting her motion for sale of property. We reject this argument and
         conclude that James appropriately appealed the May 2, 2014 order. The
         initial divorce decree did not order the sale of personal property or the Home
         Quarter. Likewise, the October 7, 2013 order was not a final order. “This
         Court’s appellate jurisdiction is limited to ‘appeals only from a final order or
         judgment.’” In re Estate of Geier, 2012 S.D. 2, ¶ 7, 809 N.W.2d 355, 357
         (quoting Link v. L.S.I., Inc., 2010 S.D. 103, ¶ 43, 793 N.W.2d 44, 57). While
         the October 7, 2013 order did grant Jennifer’s motion for sale of property, the
         circuit court noted that it would “revisit the issue as to the sale of the
         property [on March 1, 2014].” The October 7, 2013 order did not conclusively
         or finally dispose of the issues on appeal.

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appropriate to compel compliance with its judgment.” Sjomeling, 472 N.W.2d at

490 (citing 24 Am. Jur. 2d, Divorce and Separations § 959). Similarly, “[w]hile a

property division is irrevocably fixed by the terms of the divorce decree and cannot

be later modified, if indeterminate language was employed, a court may clarify its

decree[.]” Hisgen, 1996 S.D. 122, ¶ 9, 554 N.W.2d at 497.

[¶13.]       Jennifer argues that the circuit court’s order granting Jennifer’s

motion for sale of property constituted an enforcement rather than a modification of

the Refinancing Provision. She contends that Sjomeling is analogous to this case.

See 472 N.W.2d at 489. In Sjomeling, the circuit court ordered the defendant to pay

the plaintiff a property settlement adjustment in four annual installments to

equalize the equities between the parties pursuant to their divorce. Id. After the

defendant failed to make a timely payment, the plaintiff petitioned to show cause

regarding the missed payment. The court ordered the defendant to make payment

within 60 days or the entire property division debt would be accelerated. We held

on appeal that the acceleration “in no manner modified the division of the marital

property; it merely modified the method of distribution of the property settlement

adjustment.” Id. at 490.

[¶14.]       The present case is factually distinguishable from Sjomeling. In

Sjomeling, the circuit court accelerated the property division debt that was already

owed to the plaintiff. Id. The amount of debt ultimately paid by the defendant to

the plaintiff did not change by the acceleration of the debt. Therefore, the

acceleration did not modify the division of marital property. Moreover, the plaintiff

in that case petitioned to show cause regarding the missed payment. There has

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been no such petition in this case. In this case, the divorce decree vested James

with title and interest in the Home Quarter and the Farming Operation. The

Refinancing Provision did not condition James’s ownership of the Home Quarter

and his other farm assets on the removal of Jennifer from the debt. In fact, the

court explicitly found that James’s “capacity to produce a living is tied into the

farming operation.” The forced sale stands to divest James of his ownership

interest in the Home Quarter and remove James from his home. This was not

contemplated by the Refinancing Provision. Therefore, we reject Jennifer’s reliance

on Sjomeling.

[¶15.]       Jennifer argues that although the Order could disrupt James’s

livelihood, the forced sale does not materially change the equity of the division of

marital property. She contends that the forced sale, instead, merely seeks to

enforce compliance with the Refinancing Provision—i.e., that James remove her

from the assigned liabilities. The language of the Refinancing Provision, however,

does not support Jennifer’s broad assertion. The Refinancing Provision provided:

“[James] shall make best efforts with the bank and cooperate to remove [Jennifer]

from the liabilities as otherwise provided herein.” (Emphasis added.) The

Refinancing Provision did not “simply order[] James to remove Jennifer from the

liabilities” as Jennifer contends. To recognize Jennifer’s interpretation would

render meaningless the instruction that James use his “best efforts” and “cooperate”

to remove Jennifer from the liabilities. Certainly, there would be no need for James

to use his best efforts and cooperate if James was merely required to remove

Jennifer from the liabilities.

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[¶16.]       There has been no showing in this case nor did the circuit court find at

any point in the underlying proceedings that James failed to “make best efforts with

the bank” or “cooperate” to remove Jennifer from the assigned liabilities. The

record reflects that James attempted to obtain refinancing from First National

Bank, Farm Credit Services, and First Dakota National Bank. Farm Credit

Services and First Dakota National Bank denied refinancing. While First National

Bank initially granted refinancing, the refinancing was ultimately denied after

failing to garner the requisite approval by Farm Service Agency. It is no surprise

that James was denied refinancing considering the fact that the collateral for the

parties’ debt (the New Quarter) was removed from the asset base. Nonetheless, the

court disregarded consideration of whether James’s attempts at refinancing

constituted making “best efforts with the bank” and “cooperat[ing] to remove

Jennifer from the liabilities,” and instead granted Jennifer’s motion for sale of

property.

[¶17.]       The forced sale erroneously treats James as if he is in contempt of

court. Jennifer did not file a motion for contempt, and the court did not issue an

order to show cause concerning James’s failure to comply with the Refinancing

Provision. “The purpose of the civil contempt proceeding is to force a party ‘to

comply with orders and decrees issued by the court in a civil action for the benefit of

an opposing party.’” Sazama v. State ex rel. Muilenberg, 2007 S.D. 17, ¶ 23, 729
N.W.2d 335, 344 (quoting Wold Family Farms, Inc. v. Heartland Organic Foods,

Inc., 2003 S.D. 45, ¶ 14, 661 N.W.2d 719, 723). The four elements of contempt are

“(1) existence of an order, (2) knowledge of that order, (3) ability to comply with the

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order, and (4) willful or contumacious disobedience.” Talbert v. Talbert, 290 N.W.2d
862, 864 (S.D. 1980). The circuit court did not make any determination regarding

the elements of contempt.

[¶18.]       Consequently, the circuit court exceeded mere enforcement or

clarification of the Refinancing Provision when it ordered the forced sale of

property. This order impermissibly modified the property division. See Robertson v.

Robertson, 376 N.W.2d 733, 735-36 (Minn. 1985) (holding that the circuit court’s

order selling property constituted an improper modification of the divorce decree);

Johnson v. Lowary, 81 S.D. 202, 205, 132 N.W.2d 823, 824-25 (1965) (holding that

the court order divesting wife of her interest in property constituted an improper

modification of the property division); Van Diepen v. Van Diepen, 73 S.D. 366, 369,

43 N.W.2d 499, 500-01 (1950) (holding that the court order terminating the

husband and wife’s joint ownership interest constituted an improper modification of

the property division despite both parties agreeing to the modification). Because we

hold that the forced sale was an improper modification of the division of marital

property, we need not address James’s argument that the circuit court abused its

discretion in refusing to consider or divide the costs and taxes incurred by the forced

sale.

[¶19.]       2.     Whether the circuit court abused its discretion in
                    denying James’s SDCL 15-6-60(b) motion for relief from
                    judgment and request to restructure the property
                    division.

[¶20.]       James argues that the circuit court abused its discretion when it

denied his SDCL 15-6-60(b) motion to re-open the property division. However, in

James’s initial claim for relief to the circuit court, he did not request relief under

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any specific subsection of SDCL 15-6-60(b). 5 In the Order, the circuit court found

that James “failed to establish a basis for relief from the [c]ourt’s existing Judgment

and Decree of Divorce under any and all subsections of Rule 60(b).”

[¶21.]         “Relief under SDCL 15-6-60(b) is granted only upon a showing of

exceptional circumstances.” Pesicka v. Pesicka, 2000 S.D. 137, ¶ 17, 618 N.W.2d
725, 728 (quoting Hrachovec v. Kaarup, 516 N.W.2d 309, 310 (S.D. 1994)). “The

purpose of Rule 60(b) is ‘to preserve the delicate balance between the sanctity of

final judgments and the incessant command of a court’s conscience that justice be

done in light of all the facts.’” Hrachovec, 516 N.W.2d at 310 (quoting Peterson v. La

Croix, 420 N.W.2d 18, 19 (S.D. 1988)). The circuit court’s decision to grant or deny

5.       SDCL 15-6-60(b) provides:
               On motion and upon such terms as are just, the court may
               relieve a party or his legal representative from a final judgment,
               order, or proceeding for the following reasons:
                     (1) Mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect;
                     (2) Newly discovered evidence which by due diligence
                         could not have been discovered in time to move for a
                         new trial under § 15-6-59(b);
                     (3) Fraud (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or
                         extrinsic), misrepresentation, or other misconduct of
                         an adverse party;
                     (4) The judgment is void;
                     (5) The judgment has been satisfied, released, or
                         discharged, or a prior judgment upon which it is based
                         has been reversed or otherwise vacated, or it is no
                         longer equitable that the judgment should have
                         prospective application; or
                     (6) Any other reason justifying relief from the operation of
                         the judgment.

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relief under Rule 60(b) will not be disturbed on appeal unless the circuit court

abused its discretion. Pesicka, 2000 S.D. 137, ¶ 18, 618 N.W.2d at 728.

[¶22.]       “Rule 60(b) . . . is not a substitute for an appeal. It does not allow

relitigation of issues that have been resolved by the judgment. Instead it refers to

some change in conditions that makes continued enforcement inequitable.” Lowe v.

Schwartz, 2006 S.D. 48, ¶ 10, 716 N.W.2d 777, 779 (quoting Sjomeling v. Stuber,

2000 S.D. 103, ¶ 14, 615 N.W.2d 613, 616) (internal quotation marks omitted).

Thus, “an appeal from a Rule 60(b) decision does not bring the original judgment up

for review, but only the decision on the request for relief from the judgment under

Rule 60(b).” Rabo Agrifinance, Inc. v. Rock Creek Farms, 2013 S.D. 64, ¶ 14, 836
N.W.2d 631, 637 (quoting Lowe, 2006 S.D. 48, ¶ 10, 716 N.W.2d at 779).

[¶23.]       For the first time on appeal, James prays for relief specifically under

Rule 60(b) subsections (1), (2), and (6). James argues that the circuit court

mistakenly relied on Knudsen’s trial testimony, and new evidence indicates that

compliance with the Refinancing Provision was impossible. James did not advance

these arguments in the original pleading nor did he request relief under any specific

subsection of Rule 60(b). Therefore, James failed to preserve appellate review of

these arguments. We decline to address these arguments that James has now made

for the first time on appeal. “We have repeatedly stated that we will not address for

the first time on appeal issues not raised below.” Hall v. State ex rel. S.D. Dep’t of

Transp., 2006 S.D. 24, ¶ 12, 712 N.W.2d 22, 26.

[¶24.]       The basis for James’s Rule 60(b) motion during the circuit court

proceedings was that he was unable to obtain refinancing from the bank. James

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requested that the court award him the New Quarter and then order him to make

payment to Jennifer to maintain an equitable property division. James’s inability

to obtain refinancing from the bank did not amount to exceptional circumstances

warranting relief under Rule 60(b). Although James was not able to initially obtain

refinancing, James may be able to obtain refinancing by reducing his own debt first.

The circuit court will not grant relief under Rule 60(b) “merely because a party is

unhappy with the judgment.” Lowe, 2006 S.D. 48, ¶ 13, 716 N.W.2d at 780 (quoting

11 Charles Alan Wright, Arthur R. Miller & Mary Kay Kane, Federal Practice and

Procedure § 2858, at 276 (2d ed. 1995)). James has failed to demonstrate

exceptional circumstances to reopen the property division. Therefore, the circuit

court did not abuse its discretion when it denied James’s Rule 60(b) motion. James

has had ample opportunity to litigate the initial property division. See id. (quoting

Stuber, 2000 S.D. 103, ¶ 14, 615 N.W.2d at 616).

                            Appellate Attorney’s Fees

[¶25.]       Finally, we consider James’s and Jennifer’s request for appellate

attorney’s fees. Both parties moved for appellate attorney’s fees under SDCL 15-

26A-87.3. A party may request attorney’s fees “in actions where such fees may be

allowable[.]” SDCL 15-26A-87.3. “The court, if appropriate, in the interests of

justice, may award payment of attorneys’ fees in all cases of divorce[.]” SDCL 15-

17-38. Here, an award of attorney’s fees would be contrary to the interests of

justice.

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                                      Conclusion

[¶26.]          The circuit court abused its discretion when it impermissibly modified

the marital property division by forcing James to sell property if he did not

restructure or refinance prior to the March 15, 2015 deadline. We reverse the Order

to the extent that it ordered James to sell his property. However, the circuit court

did not abuse its discretion when it denied James’s Rule 60(b) motion. We reject

both parties’ request for appellate attorney’s fees.

[¶27.]          ZINTER, SEVERSON, and KERN, Justices, and LONG, Circuit Court

Judge, concur.

[¶28.]          LONG, Circuit Court Judge, sitting for GILBERTSON, Chief Justice,

disqualified.

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