Court Opinion

ID: 862754
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-04-26 23:46:24.246471+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:24:21.725287
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
                                    NO. 94-CA-00444-SCT
REBECCA MONROE
v.
JAMES MONROE
                                  ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
DATE OF JUDGMENT:                                 04/27/94
TRIAL JUDGE:                                      HON. TIMOTHY E. ERVIN
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:                        MONROE COUNTY CHANCERY COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                           ROBERT M. CARTER
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:                           C. MICHAEL MALSKI
                                                  PAMELA LOFTIN HALL
NATURE OF THE CASE:                               CIVIL - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
DISPOSITION:                                      REVERSED AND REMANDED - 7/29/1999
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:                       12/23/97
MANDATE ISSUED: August 5, 1999

     EN BANC.

     BANKS, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:

¶1. The motion for rehearing is denied. The original opinions are withdrawn, and this opinion is substituted
therefor.

¶2. Rebecca Monroe was awarded a divorce on grounds of desertion from James Monroe by the Monroe
County Chancery Court on November 27, 1989. She appealed the chancellor's order limiting her support
to an award of lump sum alimony in the amount of $12,000. In Monroe v. Monroe, 612 So. 2d 353 (Miss.
1992), this Court determined that the chancellor "committed a severe abuse of discretion" by refusing to
grant any periodic alimony in conjunction with the lump sum award. Monroe I, 612 So. 2d at 358-59.
Mrs. Monroe now challenges the adequacy of the periodic alimony awarded on remand. We conclude that
the chancellor abused his discretion in determining the amount of periodic alimony. Further, absent some
explanation by the chancellor, the award should not have been made retroactive only for twelve months,
and we remand the case for amendment of the judgment consistent with this opinion.I.¶3. In Monroe I, we
found that the chancellor's decision to grant lump sum alimony, but not periodic alimony, did not adequately
take into consideration Mrs. Monroe's emotional condition, the limitations placed on her earnings capacity
by her mental illness, the costs of her long-term care, her contributions to the seventeen-year long marriage
as well as to her husband's education and career, and ultimately, to Dr. Monroe's financial success.
Reiterating concern for Mrs. Monroe's condition and the disparities between her financial situation and that
of her former husband, we found that:

     The most significant factor is the disparity between Rebecca's and Jim's income as well as their
     earning capacity. Jim is in good health and currently earning over $90,000 a year practicing medicine.
     Dr. Monroe's earning capacity appears steady, with a very good possibility of increasing over time.
     Rebecca, on the other hand, has experienced a deterioration in her mental state over the last few
     years, as evidenced by her psychological and emotional treatment at Charter Hospital on two different
     occasions. While Rebecca's 1987 admittance to Charter was of a voluntary nature, her 1990
     treatment was the result of an involuntary commitment by the Chancery Court. Rebecca is currently
     earning $400 a month delivering pizzas for Domino's, and her prospects of improvement in her
     earning capacity is around $23,000 at best, being employed as a public school teacher. Rebecca
     estimates her monthly living expenses at $2,305, while Dr. Monroe lists his at around $2,750. Given
     Dr. Monroe's significant income, he should have no problem contributing monthly support payments
     to Rebecca, even though he is responsible for raising their two children. Finally, there was no "marital
     home," but only a rental house in which Jim and the children remained following Jim's telling Rebecca
     "not to come home."

Monroe I, 612 So. 2d at 357. Finding the chancellor in error, we remanded the case for determination of
periodic alimony.

¶4. A second hearing was held on July 22, 1993, and on February 24, 1994, the chancellor announced his
findings of facts and opinion in the case. By order filed April 27, 1994, the chancellor awarded Mrs.
Monroe $450 per month in periodic alimony. He made the award retroactive for a period of twelve
months, allowing Dr. Monroe the option of paying the $5,400 due in monthly installments of $100 without
interest. Dr. Monroe also was ordered to pay attorney fees in the amount of $1,050.

¶5. At the July 22, 1993, hearing, it was established that a wide disparity continued to exist between Dr.
Monroe's resources and those of his former wife. Dr. Monroe testified that he had nearly $70,000 in vested
retirement assets, as well as some IRAs. He and his present wife reported an adjusted gross income of
$123,188 in 1990; and $144,000 for 1991. Dr. Monroe testified that he made approximately $158,000 in
1992 and anticipated a reduction in income to an estimated $130,000 in 1993, not including his present
wife's income. His only major expense was a $5,000 per month adjustable rate mortgage payment he was
making on a $180,000 house, on which he carried a $130,000 mortgage.

¶6. Mrs. Monroe, at the time of the hearing, was living with her mother and working at the Pelahatchie Bay
Mini-Storage and U-Haul. She worked twenty hours a week at a rate of $4.40 per hour. She received SSI
checks ranging from $276-331 per month, based upon her other earnings. Considering vocational
rehabilitation, social security, Medicaid and her eligibility for one dollar prescriptions, Mrs. Monroe
estimated that she was receiving $25-30,000 in government benefits. Her 1990 tax return indicated a gross
income of $4,713, including $1,000 in alimony paid by Dr. Monroe. In 1991, her income was too low to
file a return. The next year, 1992, her tax return showed a gross income of $7,449, including an alimony
payment of $2,000. In contrast to her income, she testified that she would need $2,785 per month for living
expenses.

¶7. Mrs. Monroe acknowledged that she was completing her master's degree in sociology at Mississippi
College in August, 1993 and hoped to get a certificate in gerontology. Asked what sort of jobs the degree
and certificate would enable her to pursue, she indicated that she had applied for a job as an "eligibility
worker" for the State with an entry level salary of $17,000 per year. At the time of the hearing, however,
she had not yet found a job. She had borrowed some $7,500 to finance her education and received some
assistance from Vocational Rehabilitation.

¶8. Sue Ann Meng, a licensed certified social worker who has counseled Mrs. Monroe since 1988, stated
in her May 11, 1993 deposition that Mrs. Monroe initially was diagnosed with severe depression by her
psychiatrist, Dr. Donald Guild, but later, was diagnosed as suffering from a bipolar disorder. At the time of
the hearing, she was taking Lithium, a mood stabilizer, Desyrel, an anti-depressant, and Restoril, a sleep
medication. She also was taking blood pressure medication, which coupled with her obesity, could cause
problems with the other medications she has been prescribed. Ms. Meng testified that Mrs. Monroe "is
probably not going to be able to tolerate any kind of high stress employment that maintains a lot of
responsibility or a whole lot of interaction with other people." Mrs. Monroe received counseling on a
quarterly basis, which was all that she could afford, and saw Dr. Guild two or three times a year for her
medications.

                                                     II.

¶9. Mrs. Monroe asserts that the periodic alimony award of $450 per month is inadequate in light of the
factors enumerated by this Court in Brabham v. Brabham, 226 Miss. 165, 84 So. 2d 147 (1955). When
considering the adequacy of an award of periodic alimony, several factors must be weighed, including: "(1)
the health and earning capacity of the husband, (2) the health and earning capacity of the wife, (3) the
reasonable needs of the wife, (4) the husband's necessary living expenses, and (5) other factors such as
estimated amount of income taxes, the use of the family home or automobile, and the payment of
insurance." Monroe I, 612 So. 2d at 357 (citing Brabham and its progeny). See also Magee v. Magee,
661 So. 2d 1117, 1125 (Miss. 1995); Tilley v. Tilley, 610 So. 2d 348, 353 (Miss. 1992). In Monroe I,
we found a very significant disparity between both the parties' incomes and earning capacities. Id. We
further noted that in contrast to Dr. Monroe's good health, Mrs. Monroe's mental health had deteriorated
over the years. Id. The Court also found that there was no marital home for Mrs. Monroe to use.

¶10. Dr. Monroe's income had increased from between $91,000 and $98,355 at the time of the first
hearing to a range of $130,000 to $158,000 between 1991 and 1993. Although Dr. Monroe did not
specify his monthly expenses or those of his two children, he acknowledged that he had no significant
expenses other than a $5,000 adjustable rate mortgage payment.

¶11. At the time of the second hearing, Mrs. Monroe was working part-time and earning approximately
$90 a week. Her income was supplemented by a variety of government benefits. She had not been
hospitalized recently, but remained under a psychiatrist's care and on a variety of medications necessary to
stabilize her condition. She suffered also from obesity and high blood pressure. Mrs. Monroe, who was
living with her mother at the time of the rehearing, testified that her needs, including a place of her own,
provision for replacement of her car (a 1981 Datsun) and other usual expenses of living, were
approximately $ 2,700 per month. Her recent earning history reflects about $5,000 per year. Mrs.
Monroe's anticipated earning capacity, if she finds employment, is about $20,000 per year.

¶12. Sue Ann Meng, a licensed certified social worker, testified regarding Mrs. Monroe's emotional
problems, as well as the limits her condition placed upon her career options. Mrs. Monroe contends that the
chancellor erred in disregarding or discrediting Ms. Meng's testimony in setting the amount of periodic
alimony. However, "[T]he chancellor is the judge of the weight and worth of the testimony" in a divorce
proceeding. Magee, 661 So. 2d at 1125 (quoting Dubois v. Dubois, 275 So. 2d 100, 101 (Miss. 1973))
.

¶13. The award of alimony and the amount of any such award is largely within the discretion of the
chancellor. Parsons v. Parsons, 678 So. 2d 701, 703 (Miss. 1996); Creekmore v. Creekmore, 651 So.
2d 513, 517 (Miss. 1995); Cherry v. Cherry, 593 So. 2d 13, 19 (Miss. 1991). Nonetheless, this Court
will reverse an award of alimony on appeal when it is determined to be against the overwhelming weight of
the evidence. Parsons, 678 So. 2d at 703; Creekmore, 651 So. 2d at 517. Where the adequacy or the
denial of alimony is at issue, "we will only interfere where the decision is seen to be oppressive, unjust or
grossly inadequate so as to evidence an abuse of discretion." Monroe I, 612 So. 2d at 357; McNally v.
McNally, 516 So. 2d 499, 501 (Miss. 1987).

¶14. There remains a great disparity in the health, actual income, and earnings potential of the parties. While
Mrs. Monroe could not demonstrate that she was expending sums at a level greater than that affordable on
periodic alimony of $450 per month, she did demonstrate a need for a greater amount. Accordingly, we
conclude that the chancellor's award is against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. The award of
periodic alimony in the amount of $450 per month is inadequate in light of Dr. Monroe's ability to afford
support at a much greater amount. As a result of the great disparity that exists between these parties, we
conclude that periodic alimony should be increased substantially.III.

¶15. Mrs. Monroe next asserts that the chancellor abused his discretion in not making the award fully
retroactive to the date of the November 27, 1989 divorce decree. We agree. The chancellor awarded Mrs.
Monroe $450 per month in periodic alimony. He made the award retroactive for a period of twelve months
from the date of his April 27, 1994 order, allowing Dr. Monroe the option of paying the $5,400 due in
monthly installments of $100 without interest.

¶16. The chancellor provided no explanation for making the award of periodic alimony retroactive only for
twelve months. Further, in light of Dr. Monroe's obvious ability to pay, there is no justification for allowing
him to pay the amount of the judgment in $100 per month increments without interest. In this case, we find
no reason why the award of periodic alimony should not be retroactive to the date of the divorce decree.
See Gammage v. Gammage, 599 So. 2d 569, 575 (Miss. 1992)(making award of periodic alimony
retroactive to date of divorce decree). Accordingly, we remand the case for the chancellor to amend the
judgment consistent with this opinion.

                                                       IV.

¶17. Finally, Mrs. Monroe seeks attorney fees and costs for her second appeal to this Court. She was
awarded $1,050 in fees by the chancellor for the hearing on remand and now seeks additional fees equal to
the amount already awarded, or, of at least $525 and costs. She relies on Klumb v. Klumb, 194 So. 2d
221 (Miss. 1967), wherein this Court found that the prevailing party was properly awarded attorney fees:

      The matter of fixing attorney's fees for services rendered in the trial court is appropriately entrusted to
      the sound discretion of the Chancellor. We can not say that the Chancellor abused this discretion
      when he allowed a $2,000 attorney's fee to the cross-complainant for her attorneys.
     The appellee has moved for additional counsel fees for services rendered in this Court in the defense
     of said appeal. Ordinarily it is the custom of this Court to set the amount of the fee for representation
     in this Court at one-half of the fee in the lower court. We feel that such a fee would be excessive in
     this case, and we fix the amount of the additional fee for services rendered in this Court at $500.

Klumb, 194 So. 2d at 225.

¶18. Attorney fees are appropriate only where a party is financially unable to pay them. Creekmore, 651
So. 2d at 520. "'The fee should be fair and should only compensate for services actually rendered after it
has been determined that the legal work charged for was reasonably required and necessary.'" Id. at 520
(quoting Dunn v. Dunn, 609 So. 2d 1277, 1286 (Miss. 1992)). Mrs. Monroe presented no evidence,
however, of the fees charged by her attorney or of the amount of work involved. We therefore find that she
is not entitled to attorney fees.

                                                     V.

¶19. We reverse the chancellor's award of periodic alimony in the amount of $450 per month and hold the
chancellor in error for limiting Dr. Monroe's support obligations. Mrs. Monroe is entitled to receive
substantially greater periodic alimony. Further, we conclude that absent any explanation by the chancellor,
the award of periodic alimony should have been retroactive to the date of the divorce decree in 1989, and
not merely retroactive to twelve months prior to the date of the judgment on remand. Accordingly, we
reverse the award of $450 per month and remand for further disposition consistent with this opinion.

¶20. REVERSED AND REMANDED.

PRATHER, C.J., SULLIVAN AND PITTMAN, P.JJ., SMITH, WALLER AND COBB, JJ.,
CONCUR. McRAE, J., CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY. MILLS, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.