Court Opinion

ID: 865965
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-04-27 00:36:19.636403+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:40:15.097107
License: Public Domain

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI

                                NO. 2008-CT-01838-SCT

HELEN L. ROGILLIO

v.

DAVID M. ROGILLIO

                              ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                          10/03/2008
TRIAL JUDGE:                               HON. MARIE WILSON
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:                 WARREN COUNTY CHANCERY COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                    MARK W. PREWITT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:                     R. LOUIS FIELD
NATURE OF THE CASE:                        CIVIL - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
DISPOSITION:                               REVERSED AND REMANDED - 03/03/2011
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:

       EN BANC.

       PIERCE, JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:

¶1.    David and Helen Rogillio were married for eleven years, living in Vicksburg with

their minor son, Morgan. Helen, who is disabled, alleges error in the chancery court’s failure

to award permanent periodic alimony. The Court of Appeals affirmed. Because the

chancellor made errors in her accounting of the marital assets that resulted in an abuse of

discretion, we reverse and remand.

                                STATEMENT OF FACTS

¶2.    Helen and David were married in September 1997. One child was born to the

marriage, a son, Morgan, who was approximately six years old when the couple divorced in
2008. The couple had separated in March 2007, when David and Morgan had left the marital

home and moved in with David’s parents. The chancellor entered an order granting an

irreconcilable-differences divorce on October 3, 2008.

¶3.    Helen and David agreed that David would have primary custody of their minor child

and that David and the child would reside in the marital home. Helen agreed to move into

a mobile home that she had owned prior to the marriage, though the chancellor at one point

noted that the mobile home had become marital property.1 The mobile home was in need of

numerous repairs. Helen was to receive exclusive ownership of the property and sole

responsibility for the mortgage on it. Further, the chancellor awarded David $436 per month

in child support in the form of a social security check the child received as a result of Helen’s

disability. David received sole ownership of the home and sole responsibility for the two

mortgages on it.

¶4.    David was given responsibility for almost all the marital debt, as well as all ownership

interest in a savings plan and his retirement account. The chancellor ordered David to pay

Helen $2,038.61 labeled as “marital assets,” $4,807 labeled as credit-card debt, and lump-

sum alimony in the amount of $15,000 to give her a “fresh start.”

¶5.    On appeal, Helen contends that the chancellor erred in not awarding her permanent

periodic alimony. Both David and Helen are in their forties. Helen is a registered nurse, but

she stopped working in 1998 because she suffers from neurofibromatosis, a genetic disease

       1
         The chancellor at no time entered a clear finding as to the status of this asset. Nor
did the chancellor find a current value to be placed on the mobile home. According to the
record, the purchase price of the mobile home was $41,000.

                                               2
which has claimed the lives of multiple members of her family and for which she takes pain

medications. David was fully aware of Helen’s illness prior to their marriage. During the

marriage, Helen had more than ten surgeries to remove tumors from various parts of her

body. Her Social Security disability benefit in the gross annual amount of approximately

$9,324 is her only source of income. David earns approximately $83,372 per year, is in good

health, and has secure employment as an engineer.

¶6.    On her own, Helen’s medication would no longer be covered under David’s medical

insurance. The mortgage and lot rent for her trailer would combine for $570, leaving Helen

$200 to pay for food, clothing, and utilities each month. The chancellor found that, because

of her disability, “the likelihood that she will obtain gainful employment in the future is very

slim.” The chancellor also found that David and Helen equally contributed toward marital

stability of the home and harmony of the family relationships.

                                       DISCUSSION

       Standard of Review

¶7.    A chancellor’s findings of fact will not be disturbed unless manifestly wrong or

clearly erroneous.2 In the case of a claimed inadequacy or outright denial of alimony, we will

interfere only where the decision is seen as so oppressive, unjust, or grossly inadequate as

to evidence an abuse of discretion.3

       Property Division and Alimony

       2
           Sanderson v. Sanderson, 824 So. 2d 623, 625 (Miss. 2002).
       3
           Watson v. Watson, 724 So. 2d 350, 354 -355 (Miss. 1998)

                                               3
¶8.    Helen assigned one error on appeal: “Whether the chancellor committed error in not

granting Helen Rogillio permanent periodic alimony.” The Court of Appeals cited Johnson

v. Johnson for the proposition that alimony should be considered only “[i]f the situation is

such that an equitable division of marital property . . . leaves a deficit for one party.” 4 The

trial court thoroughly examined the guidelines set forth in Ferguson v. Ferguson 5 to

equitably divide David and Helen’s marital estate. There were some clear errors, however,

in the chancellor’s accounting of marital assets. For example, in calculating the marital

property, the chancellor used the full mortgage liability on the marital home to determine

marital debt, but used only the equity in the home to determine marital assets. Also, by

subtracting the amount loaned from David’s retirement savings from the marital assets and

then including that full amount in calculating marital debt, the chancellor appears to have

counted that debt twice.6 Finally, the chancellor failed to assess the value of the mobile home

– likely the most valuable asset Helen owned after the divorce – and did not clearly classify

it as marital or separate property. The chancellor’s Order and Findings of Fact reveals the

following marital assets and liabilities:7

       4
           Johnson v. Johnson, 650 So. 2d 1281, 1287 (Miss. 1994).
       5
           Ferguson v. Ferguson, 639 So. 2d 921, 928 (Miss. 1994).
       6
        The parties originally borrowed $46,000 from the TSP account. As of the date of the
order, October 3, 2008, the parties owed $38,914.39. The chancellor offered no explanation
for not deducting the current amount outstanding for the TSP loan.
       7
         By extrajudicial agreement, Helen and David split some articles of personal property,
including a truck and an ATV, though there may have been more. These articles were not
classified as marital or separate or assigned values by the chancellor.

                                               4
                                             ASSETS             LIABILITIES

       TSP Savings Plan                       $82,289.74 8
       Est. Value Marital Home               $169,500.00
       1st Mortgage on Home                                     $124,334.00
       2nd Mortgage on Home                                      $19,984.00
       David’s PERS Acct                       $6,959.68
       David’s Checking Acct                     $136.00
       David’s Savings Acct                       $10.00
       Mortgage Mobile Home                                      $22,917.00 9
       Delinquent Rent                                            $1,600.00
       TSP Loan                                                  $38,914.39 10
       Credit Card Debt                                           $9,614.37 11
       Credit Union Loan                                          $1,214.00
       Construction Lien                                          $1,188.20
       Necessary Home Repairs                                     $7,725.00
       Mobile Home                            $41,000.00 12

¶9.    From our calculations, the couple had $299,895.42 in marital assets and $227,490.96

in marital debt. To “split the baby” would have left David and Helen with $36,202.59 each.

       8
        This is the difference between the amount that was in this savings account on the day
of the decree and the amount in the savings account at the time of the marriage, or the
amount earned and saved during the marriage.
       9
       The chancellor regularly referred to the mobile home, acquired by Helen before the
marriage, as “Helen’s,” but found in Footnote 8 of the Memorandum Opinion that the mobile
home “was rented out during the marriage and the proceeds mingled with the household
money and use for the benefit of the family, thus becoming a marital asset.”
       10
         This represents a loan taken out by the Rogillios, collateralized by David’s
Retirement Savings Account. Because the chancellor reflected this loan as marital debt and
subtracted its value from the balance on the savings account, the loan was counted twice,
significantly underestimating the value of the savings account as an asset. Further the
chancellor miscalculated the equity in the account by using the original loan amount, instead
of the balance owed.
       11
            All of the credit-card debt was in Helen’s name.
       12
         Again, the chancellor was unclear about whether this asset was separate or marital.
In either case, the chancellor erred by failing to find the value of this asset. We have used
its purchase price, which, we admit, is likely a gross overestimate.

                                               5
However, based on the chancellor’s distribution (before alimony), David received

$258,895.42 in assets and $192,480.39 in debt for a net of $66,415.03. If we assume that a

ten-year-old mobile home has retained its purchase-price value of $41,000, Helen leaves the

marriage with net marital assets of $5,989.43.13

¶10.   After finding that an equitable deficit existed, the chancellor proceeded to the

consideration of alimony under the factors we outlined in Armstrong v. Armstrong.14

Finding that the Armstrong factors favored alimony, the chancellor awarded $15,000 in

lump-sum alimony. But even after this measure, the difference in assets is still staggering.

David would still exit the marriage with $51,415.03 of the net marital assets, while Helen

would have $20,989.43.

¶11.   Four distinct types of alimony are recognized in Mississippi – permanent, lump sum,

rehabilitative, and reimbursement.15 The purpose of permanent periodic alimony is to be a

substitute for the marital-support obligation.16 The award of permanent periodic alimony

arises from the duty of the husband to support his wife.17 We also have said that the husband

is required to support his wife in the manner to which she has become accustomed, to the

       13
         These net values account for the chancellor’s order that David pay half of Helen’s
credit card debt, as well as $2,038.61 labeled as “marital assets.”
       14
            Armstrong v. Armstrong, 618 So. 2d 1278, 1280 (Miss. 1993).
       15
            Deborah H. Bell, Mississippi Family Law § 9.02 (2005).
       16
            Id. at 9.02[1].
       17
            McDonald v. McDonald, 683 So. 2d 929, 931 (Miss. 1996).

                                              6
extent of his ability to pay.18 To update our language: Consistent with Armstrong, a

financially independent spouse may be required to support the financially dependent spouse

in the manner in which the dependent spouse was supported during the marriage, subject to

a material change in circumstances.

¶12.   Lump-sum alimony has been described as “a means of adjusting financial inequities

that remain after property division.19 The chancellor quoted Seymour v. Seymour for the

proposition that alimony ought to be considered “if one party will suffer a deficit after the

marital property has been equitably divided.” 20 Then, the Court examined the alimony

factors set out in Hemsley v. Hemsley.21

¶13.   The chancellor’s findings of fact are clear that Helen is unlikely to be able to support

herself financially. Her income level, as determined by the chancellor, fell below the 2008

federal poverty threshold for a single person.22 While the Court of Appeals referenced some

allegations of fault by Helen (which were not found by the trial court), we have held that

even fault does not stand as a bar to alimony where the denial would render the other spouse

destitute.23 And we will not abide denials of alimony that shock the conscience.24

       18
            Brennan v. Brennan, 638 So. 2d 1320, 1324 (Miss. 1994).
       19
            Deborah H. Bell, Mississippi Family Law § 9.02[2][a][ii].
       20
            Seymour v. Seymour, 960 So. 2d 513, 519 (Miss. Ct. App. 2006).
       21
            Hemsley v. Hemsley, 639 So. 2d 909 (Miss. 1994).
       22
        The 2008 Federal Poverty Threshold for a single-person household was $10,400.
73 Fed. Reg. 3971-72 (January 23, 2008).
       23
            Hammonds v. Hammonds, 597 So. 2d 653, 655 (Miss. 1992).
       24
            See Box v. Box, 622 So. 2d 284, 288 (Miss. 1993).

                                               7
¶14. On the other hand, in deference to trial courts, we rarely have granted reversal on

alimony matters.       In Ericson v. Tullos, the Court of Appeals would not overturn a

chancellor’s decision to deny alimony.25 There, the spouse seeking permanent periodic

alimony was a quadriplegic surviving on long-term disability that ran out in 2006 and on

Social Security, while the other spouse was an insurance agent grossing more than $87,000

per year.26 This is not a guideline for when alimony is appropriate – every divorce is a

unique set of facts – but it is an exhibit of how far our deference has reached.

¶15.   Considering the actual net estate (including lump-sum alimony) of the parties,

accounting for the chancellor’s apparent errors in calculation, and considering Helen’s

extremely low income level, we find that the chancellor abused her discretion. The alimony

and asset distribution does cover the necessary repairs to the mobile home, delinquent rent

at the trailer park, and credit-card debt, but leaves only $2,050.61 to spare. Considering,

further, the great disparity in income between David and Helen, the significant decrease in

comfort and station she will experience as a result of the divorce, and her disability, this

award and distribution of assets is not adequate.

¶16.   Chief Justice Waller writes to agree with the chancellor’s decision to deny alimony.

However, the errors in the distribution of assets make that determination improper and

impossible. Alimony and distribution of assets are distinct, but interrelated, concepts, and

where one expands, the other must recede.27 Where assets are not classified, not considered,

       25
            Ericson v. Tullos, 876 So. 2d 1038, 1041 (Miss. Ct. App. 2004).
       26
            Id.
       27
            Ferguson, 639 So. 2d at 929.

                                               8
and/or not given values, it is impossible to determine that a grant of alimony is adequate.

However, we do not command the chancellor to increase alimony. We remand only so that

the chancellor may properly classify and evaluate all assets of both parties and then consider

the need for alimony consistent with this and prior opinions.

                                      CONCLUSION

¶17.   Under the facts of this case, the chancellor erred in improperly analyzing the equitable

distribution of marital assets and by doing so not adequately considering alimony. The lump-

sum alimony payments may be increased, consistent with an accurate accounting of the

marital and separate estates set out within this opinion. Furthermore, an award of permanent

periodic alimony may be considered, balancing the husband's right to live as normal a life

as possible with a decent standard of living and the wife's entitlement to support

corresponding to her rank and station in life. The chancellor should carefully review the

needs of the wife to live her life in a manner comparable to that which she enjoyed during

the marriage and to consider her future needs. Because the need for alimony is affected by

the distribution of marital assets and liabilities, we reverse the Court of Appeals and the

chancellor’s findings in toto and remand for a hearing consistent with this opinion.

¶18.   REVERSED AND REMANDED.

    CARLSON AND DICKINSON, P.JJ., RANDOLPH, KITCHENS AND
CHANDLER, JJ., CONCUR. WALLER, C.J., DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE
WRITTEN OPINION JOINED BY LAMAR, J. KING, J., NOT PARTICIPATING.

       WALLER, CHIEF JUSTICE, DISSENTING:

¶19.   Because I believe that the chancellor equitably divided the marital estate and awarded

sufficient alimony, I respectfully dissent.

                                              9
¶20.   Helen does not contest the equitable division of their marital property or the lump-sum

alimony amount. Her brief states that “[i]t is not [Helen’s position] that the chancellor erred

in awarding lump-sum alimony . . . , rather it is her position that due to the disparity in

income and lifestyle between [her] and David, that the chancellor committed error by not

awarding permanent periodic alimony.” Similarly, her petition for certiorari requests that

this Court “reverse the disallowance of permanent periodic alimony. . . .” Because Helen

does not contest the property division or lump-sum alimony amount, we need not address

those issues. See M.R.A.P. 17, 28.

¶21.   Still, I find that the chancellor equitably divided their marital estate and awarded more

than sufficient lump-sum alimony. In the chancellor’s final order, she addressed the

Ferguson factors, then equally divided the equity in their home, the TSP, the PERS account,

and the bank accounts. See Ferguson v. Ferguson, 639 So. 2d 921 (Miss. 1994). Save for

the delinquent rent and the mobile-home repairs, the chancellor also equally divided their

marital debts. If we follow the chancellor’s logic and equally split the equity in the mobile

home,28 Helen received more than enough to cover any numerical equitable deficit.

¶22.   After thorough, on-the-record findings, the chancellor determined that a $15,000

lump-sum award would enable Helen’s “fresh start.” Considering the actual numerical

       28
         In assessing the Ferguson factors, the chancellor recognized that Helen and David
already had agreed to divide the following marital property: their income-tax refunds, the
mobile home, the Tahoe, the Jeep, and the household furnishings and appliances. I think this
logically suggests that Helen received all the equity in the mobile home, which further
supports my finding that she received sufficient lump-sump alimony. See Ferguson, 639
So. 2d 928.

                                              10
deficit, the amounts Helen received in marital-asset and debt payments, and the other factors

addressed in the final order, the chancellor did not abuse her discretion in awarding this

amount in lump-sum alimony.

¶23.   As discussed above, Helen contends that the chancellor erred in awarding lump-sum

rather than permanent alimony. Specifically, she refers to her initial pleadings requesting

$1,500 per month and contends that “equity demands” that she be “entitled” to permanent

alimony.

¶24.   A chancellor’s decision to award permanent alimony must consider both need and

ability to pay. See Armstrong v. Armstrong, 618 So. 2d 1278, 1280 (Miss. 1993); Gray v.

Gray, 562 So. 2d 79, 83 (Miss. 1990). In making that decision, the chancellor considers, in

relevant part, the reasonable net income and expenses of both spouses. Box v. Box, 622 So.
2d 284, 288 (Miss. 1993).

¶25.   Here, a full evaluation of David’s net income and reasonable expenses dispels Helen’s

contention that she is “entitled” to permanent alimony. David had no disposable income after

his recurring monthly expenses; thus, making a monthly permanent-alimony payment would

have been impossible unless he sacrificed the basic needs of their child or his household. In

fact, since David had no funds remaining after his and Morgan’s expenses, the chancellor

would have committed reversible error had she required him to pay permanent alimony in

any amount. See McEachern v. McEachern, 605 So. 2d 809, 814-15 (Miss. 1992).

¶26.   In sum, neither our precedent nor equity requires the chancellor to ensure a particular

standard of living for the payee spouse to the utter detriment of the payor spouse and minor

child. And that any of us might have arrived at a different decision matters not, as the

                                             11
chancellor fully considered Helen’s and David’s financial statements and heard their

testimony. The chancellor awarded sufficient lump-sum alimony in light of the factors

discussed above. Further, the chancellor’s decision to award lump-sum instead of permanent

alimony was supported by substantial, credible evidence showing that David did not have the

ability to make a monthly payment. Therefore, I would affirm the chancery court’s and the

Court of Appeals’s decision.

       LAMAR, J., JOINS THIS OPINION.

                                            12