Court Opinion

ID: 9702096
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 22:54:12.929908+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:21:33.618908
License: Public Domain

Colwell, D.J., Retired,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent on the issue of alimony. The record reflects respondent’s earnings as a psychiatrist; however, his net income and available funds to pay the ordered alimony are speculative, since the amount and due date of some of the debts that he was ordered to pay are unknown, particularly the large prospective deficiency debt due the bank.
The ultimate test in allowing alimony is reasonableness as *628determined by the facts in each case. Gale v. Gale, 224 Neb. 803, 401 N.W.2d 501 (1987). The fixing of alimony rests in the sound discretion of the trial court, and in the absence of an abuse of discretion, it will not be disturbed on appeal. Rezac v. Rezac, 221 Neb. 516, 378 N.W.2d 196 (1985). An abuse of discretion requires that the reasons or rulings of the trial judge be clearly untenable and deprive a party of a substantial right such as to amount to a denial of justice. Fredericks v. Western Livestock Auction Co., 225 Neb. 211, 403 N.W.2d 377 (1987); Guggenmos v. Guggenmos, 218 Neb. 746, 359 N.W.2d 87 (1984).
The problem here is not an abuse of discretion in the amount allowed for alimony; rather, it is the absence of clear evidence as to the amount and due dates of the debts necessary for the trial court’s consideration to make a reasonable award. The same problem prevents this court from making a considered alimony award.
Considering the evidence or lack of evidence presented to the trial court, it cannot be said that the trial judge abused his discretion in the amount of the alimony award. I would affirm.
Caporale, J., joins in this dissent.