Court Opinion

ID: 2672634
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-05-06 13:41:04.133451+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:06:11.606218
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

              Present: Judges Kelsey, Beales and Senior Judge Clements
UNPUBLISHED

              HUSAIN R. KHAN
                                                                                   MEMORANDUM OPINION*
              v.      Record No. 1997-13-4                                             PER CURIAM
                                                                                       MAY 6, 2014
              RASIA KHAN

                                     FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF FAIRFAX COUNTY
                                                Brett A. Kassabian, Judge

                                (Husain Khan, pro se, on briefs).

                                (Mark Bodner, on brief), for appellee.

                      Husain Khan (husband) appeals the trial court’s rulings on the modification of support and

              the division of retirement. Husband argues that the trial court erred by (1) failing to offset $7,130 of

              attorney’s fees against Rasia Khan’s (wife) share of the marital share of husband’s retirement;

              (2) failing to order payment of $11,759 of marital debts that were paid, or being paid, by husband;

              (3) dismissing with prejudice husband’s “Rule to Show Cause for Unpaid Marital Debts,” including

              attorney’s fees; (4) approving a Court Order Acceptable for Processing (COAP) regarding

              husband’s interest in the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) with language that enables

              wife to obtain a portion of his pension even if she remarries, which was not part of the final decree

              of divorce; and (5) failing to modify child support.1 Upon reviewing the record and briefs of the

              parties, we conclude that this appeal is without merit. Accordingly, we summarily affirm the

              decision of the trial court. See Rule 5A:27.

                      *
                          Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
                      1
                       Husband included numerous sub-parts relating to his assignments of error, which will
              be discussed below.
                                         BACKGROUND

       “When reviewing a trial court’s decision on appeal, we view the evidence in the light

most favorable to the prevailing party, granting it the benefit of any reasonable inferences.”

Congdon v. Congdon, 40 Va. App. 255, 258, 578 S.E.2d 833, 834 (2003) (citations omitted).

       On August 6, 2010, the trial court entered a final decree of divorce that included

provisions dividing the parties’ retirement and their debt. It also addressed attorney’s fees.

       In December 2010, husband filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 13 of the United States

Bankruptcy Code. He was able to reduce and restructure many of his debts, including those

apportioned to him in the final decree of divorce.

       In 2013, the parties filed several motions with the court regarding their final decree of

divorce. Husband sought to modify custody, visitation, child support, and spousal support. He

also filed a petition for show cause against wife because she had not paid her share of the marital

debts. Wife requested that the trial court enter COAPs for her share in husband’s FERS plan and

his Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

       On July 29, 2013, the trial court heard evidence and argument from the parties. The trial

court issued its ruling from the bench and found that husband did not meet his burden of proof

showing that a material change in circumstances warranted a change in custody, visitation, child

support, and spousal support. The trial court held that wife “did not willfully violate this Court’s

Orders for payment of debt.” Lastly, it clarified language for the COAPs, but it did not offset

wife’s obligation for husband’s attorney’s fees with her interest in his TSP.

       On September 13, 2013, the parties appeared before the court for entry of the COAPs and

final order from the July 29, 2013 hearing. The trial court entered the orders on that date. The

trial court noted that the only motion on the docket was entry of the final order and COAPs, and

not husband’s motion to enforce orders filed on August 29, 2013.

                                                -2-
       On October 3, 2013, husband filed a motion to reconsider, but the court did not stay or

suspend the September 13, 2013 order. Therefore, the September 13, 2013 order became final

on October 4, 2013. See Rule 1:1. On October 10, 2013, the trial court entered an order stating

that it no longer had jurisdiction to consider husband’s motion to reconsider. This appeal

followed.

                                            ANALYSIS

                                       Assignment of error 1

       Husband argues that the trial court erred by not offsetting $7,130 of attorney’s fees

against wife’s share of husband’s retirement. The final decree of divorce specifically awarded

wife $53,827.50 for her interest in husband’s TSP. It also stated:

               By order entered on February 19, 2010 this Court awarded
               husband seven thousand one hundred thirty dollars ($7,130.00) for
               attorney’s fees to be credited against wife’s receipt of money
               and/or property in equitable distribution. This sum may be
               credited to her by an exchange in equitable distribution or paid by
               wife directly to husband.

(Emphasis added.) Neither party appealed the final decree of divorce.

       At the hearing in July 2013, the trial court followed the final decree of divorce and

ordered that wife would receive $53,827.50 for her share in the TSP. In his opening brief,

husband cites cases to support his argument that trial courts can offset equitable distribution

awards with marital debts. 2 See Duva v. Duva, 55 Va. App. 286, 685 S.E.2d 842 (2009).

However, the cases cited by husband can be distinguished because in those cases, the trial courts

were ruling on equitable distribution. In this case, the trial court already divided the parties’

assets and liabilities and entered a final decree of divorce three years earlier. The final decree of

divorce was a final order, which could not be modified. Rule 1:1.

       2
         Husband also cites two circuit court cases that carry no precedential value and will not
be considered.
                                               -3-
        Pursuant to Code § 20-107.3(K)(4), a court has

                continuing authority and jurisdiction to make any additional orders
                necessary to effectuate and enforce any order entered pursuant to
                this section, including the authority to . . . [m]odify any order . . .
                intended to affect or divide any pension, profit-sharing or deferred
                compensation plan or retirement benefits . . . only for the purpose
                of establishing or maintaining the order as a qualified domestic
                relations order [QDRO] or to revise or conform its terms so as to
                effectuate the expressed intent of the order.

        “The QDRO may not ‘modify a final divorce decree simply to adjust its terms in light of the

parties’ changed circumstances’ but must be ‘consistent with the substantive provisions of the

original decree.’” Hastie v. Hastie, 29 Va. App. 776, 780-81, 514 S.E.2d 800, 803 (1999) (quoting

Caudle v. Caudle, 18 Va. App. 795, 798, 447 S.E.2d 247, 249 (1994)).

        In this case, the final decree specifically stated that wife received $53,827.50, and the COAP

reflected that amount. The final decree also stated that wife “may” offset the amount owed for

attorney’s fees against an equitable distribution award. It did not require the offset, nor did it adjust

the TSP award with respect to the $7,130 owed. Since the final decree included a specific amount

awarded to wife, the trial court could not adjust her award by offsetting it against monies she owed

husband.

        We note that husband includes several other arguments in his brief related to the trial court’s

refusal to offset wife’s share of the TSP with the $7,130 she owes for attorney’s fees. We will not

consider these additional arguments because husband did not cite any legal authority to support his

statements, and we consider husband’s failure to comply with Rule 5A:20(e) to be significant.

                                    Assignments of error 2, 3, and 4

        Husband argues that the trial court erred by failing to enforce the final decree and failing to

order wife to pay $11,759 worth of marital debts. Further, husband asserts that the trial court erred

in dismissing his show cause “with prejudice.” He also contends the trial court erred by adding

language into the FERS COAP regarding wife’s receipt of her share if she remarries.
                                                  -4-
          Rule 5A:20(e) mandates that appellant’s opening brief include “[t]he standard of review

and the argument (including principles of law and authorities) relating to each assignment of

error.”

          Husband did not comply with Rule 5A:20(e) because his opening briefs do not contain

any principles of law, or citation to legal authorities, or the record to fully develop his arguments

relating to these assignments of error.

          Husband has the burden of showing that reversible error was committed. See Lutes v.

Alexander, 14 Va. App. 1075, 1077, 421 S.E.2d 857, 859 (1992). Unsupported assertions of

error “do not merit appellate consideration.” Buchanan v. Buchanan, 14 Va. App. 53, 56, 415

S.E.2d 237, 239 (1992). Furthermore this Court “will not search the record for errors in order to

interpret the appellant’s contention and correct deficiencies in a brief.” Id. “Even pro se

litigants must comply with the rules of court.” Francis v. Francis, 30 Va. App. 584, 591, 518

S.E.2d 842, 846 (1999).

          We find that husband’s failure to comply with Rule 5A:20(e) is significant, so we will not

consider the second, third, and fourth assignments of error. See Parks v. Parks, 52 Va. App. 663,

664, 666 S.E.2d 547, 548 (2008).

                                           Assignment of error 5

          Husband argues that the trial court erred by not modifying child support. The final order

states that husband failed to meet his burden of showing a material change in circumstances that

warranted a modification of child support. Husband’s only objection to child support on the final

order was that “[t]here is no mention or ruling regarding ‘child support.’”

          For the first time on appeal, husband argues that the trial court did not calculate the

presumptive child support obligation and did not use the shared custody guidelines. We “will not

                                                    -5-
consider an argument on appeal which was not presented to the trial court.” Ohree v.

Commonwealth, 26 Va. App. 299, 308, 494 S.E.2d 484, 488 (1998); see Rule 5A:18.

       Husband includes additional arguments in his opening brief to explain why child support

should have been modified, but he does not offer any legal authorities to support his arguments. As

stated above, we will not consider arguments without citations to legal authority, and we find

husband’s failure to comply with Rule 5A:20(e) to be significant. See Fadness v. Fadness, 52

Va. App. 833, 851, 667 S.E.2d 857, 866 (2008) (“If the parties believed that the circuit court

erred, it was their duty to present that error to us with legal authority to support their

contention.”).

                                       Attorney’s fees and costs

       Wife asks this Court to award her attorney’s fees and costs incurred on appeal. See

O’Loughlin v. O’Loughlin, 23 Va. App. 690, 695, 479 S.E.2d 98, 100 (1996). Having reviewed

and considered the entire record in this case, we hold that wife is entitled to a reasonable amount

of attorney’s fees and costs, and we remand for the trial court to set a reasonable award of

attorney’s fees and costs incurred by wife in this appeal.

                                           CONCLUSION

       For the foregoing reasons, the trial court’s ruling is summarily affirmed. Rule 5A:27.

We remand this case to the trial court for determination and award of the appropriate appellate

attorney’s fees and costs, which also should include any additional attorney’s fees and costs

incurred at the remand hearing.

                                                                             Affirmed and remanded.

                                                 -6-