Court Opinion

ID: 9376150
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-01 20:07:36.078768+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:04.599535
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Doubler v. Doubler, 2023-Ohio-393.]

STATE OF OHIO                    )                     IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
                                 )ss:                  NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF MEDINA                 )

AUDRA DOUBLER                                          C.A. No.       22CA0002-M

        Appellee

        v.                                             APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
                                                       ENTERED IN THE
STEVEN G. DOUBLER                                      COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
                                                       COUNTY OF MEDINA, OHIO
        Appellant                                      CASE No.   19DR0463

                                DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY

Dated: February 10, 2023

        SUTTON, J.

        {¶1}    Defendant-Appellant Steven G. Doubler appeals the judgment of the Medina

County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, which granted him a divorce from

Plaintiff-Appellee, Audra G. Doubler, and ordered Mr. Doubler to pay spousal and child support.

For the reasons that follow, this Court affirms in part and reverses in part.

                                                  I.

        {¶2}    The parties were married on June 27, 2008, and had two minor children together:

A.D., born in May 2009, and P.D. born in August 2011. Ms. Doubler filed a complaint for divorce

on October 22, 2019. Along with her complaint for divorce, she filed a motion for exclusive

occupancy of the marital residence. Mr. Doubler filed an answer to the complaint, along with a

counterclaim for divorce, on November 15, 2019.

        {¶3}    On December 9, 2019, the parties reached a voluntary agreement with regard to

parenting time and occupancy of the marital residence. On January 22, 2020, the magistrate issued
                                                2

temporary orders ordering Mr. Doubler to pay child support to Ms. Doubler. The order did not

contain an award of spousal support to Ms. Doubler.

       {¶4}    A trial commenced on October 21, 2020. After taking testimony of the Guardian

ad Litem and three other witnesses, the parties recessed. The next day, on October 22, 2020, the

parties indicated on the record that they reached an agreement on some of the issues, and entered

into an agreed judgment entry of divorce, a shared parenting plan, and a separation agreement.

The only issues left to be resolved were spousal support and child support. The trial court issued

an order asking the parties to submit briefs on both issues and stated it would then issue a ruling

on the remaining issues.

       {¶5}    On April 28, 2021, the parties amended their separation agreement with respect to

the division of property and certain debts. The judgment entry of divorce, shared parenting plan,

and original separation agreement the parties entered into on October 22, 2020, were journalized

on May 28, 2021. The May 28, 2021 order also included the trial court’s rulings on spousal support

and child support.

       {¶6}    On June 30, 2021, Mr. Doubler filed a notice of appeal along with a motion to stay

the trial court’s enforcement of the May 28, 2021 order. This Court dismissed the appeal for lack

of a final and appealable order pursuant to Civ.R. 75(F).

       {¶7}    On remand, the trial court issued an order entitled “Final Judgment Entry Re: Child

Support and Spousal Support with Incorporations by Reference” on December 20, 2021. The trial

court subsequently issued a nunc pro tunc judgment entry on December 28, 2021, to correct an

oversight in the December 20, 2021 judgment entry. The child support worksheet was not attached

to the December 20, 2021 entry. The child support worksheet was attached to the December 28,

2021 judgment entry.
                                                 3

       {¶8}    It is from that final entry that Mr. Doubler appeals, assigning fourteen errors for our

review. We have reordered and regrouped certain assignments of error to facilitate our analysis.

                                                 II.

                                 ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I

       THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO PROVIDE FOR A FINAL
       APPEALABLE ORDER, AND THEREBY DIVESTING THIS
       HONORABLE COURT WITH JURISDICTION.

       {¶9}    In his first assignment of error, Mr. Doubler argues the December 28, 2021 final

judgment entry is not a final and appealable order, thereby divesting this Court of jurisdiction. We

disagree.

       {¶10} Civ.R. 75(F)(2) provides that a trial court: “shall not enter final judgment as to a

claim for divorce, *** unless ***: (2) Issues of property division, spousal support, and allocation

of parental rights and responsibilities or shared parenting have been finally determined in orders,

previously entered by the court, that are incorporated into the judgment[.]” (Emphasis added.)

       {¶11} Here, the December 28, 2021 judgment entry states:

               Pursuant to Civ.R. 75(F), the [c]ourt hereby incorporates by reference into
               this Judgment Entry, as if fully rewritten herein, the agreed Judgment Entry
               journalized April 21, 2021. Keith v. Keith, 9th Dist. Lorain No.
               09CA009657, 2010-Ohio-1085 (domestic relations court is permitted to
               issue separate decisions upon various issues, so long as the determinations
               are incorporated into one final judgment per Civil Rule 75(F)(2)). The
               [c]ourt further incorporates by reference into this Judgment Entry as if fully
               rewritten herein, the Judgment Entry of Divorce, Separation Agreement and
               Shared Parenting Plan, which were journalized May 28, 2021.

The record shows the trial court’s final judgment entry included sufficient incorporation by

reference language to incorporate the judgment entry of divorce, the separation agreement, and the

shared parenting plan to make the order a final and appealable order. As the trial court correctly

noted, “a domestic court is permitted to issue separate decisions upon various issues, these
                                                4

determinations must all be incorporated into one final judgment.” Keith at ¶ 6. We note that this

incorporation language included in the December 28, 2021 judgment entry was not included in the

May 28, 2021 judgment entry that formed the basis for Mr. Doubler’s first appeal.

       {¶12} Mr. Doubler’s first assignment of error is overruled.

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II

       THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DETERMINING THE PARTIES’
       RESPECTIVE INCOME FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING AN
       APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLE SUPPORT OBLIGATION[].

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR V

       THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT CONSIDERING THE
       APPLICABLE R.C. 3105.18(C)(1) FACTORS COLLECTIVELY
       REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING THE
       APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLENESS OF AN AMOUNT AWARDED
       FOR SPOUSAL SUPPORT.

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR VI

       THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT CONSIDERING THE
       APPLICABLE R.C. 3105.18(C)(1) FACTORS COLLECTIVELY
       REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING THE
       APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLE DURATION OF A SPOUSAL
       SUPPORT AWARD.

       {¶13} In his second, fifth, and sixth assignments of error, Mr. Doubler argues the trial

court erred in determining the parties’ income for the purposes of calculating spousal support. For

the reasons that follow, we agree.

       {¶14} “This Court reviews a trial court's award of spousal support under an abuse of

discretion standard.” Krone v. Krone, 9th Dist. Summit No. 25450, 2011-Ohio-3196, ¶ 8; see also

Brubaker v. Brubaker, 9th Dist. Summit No. 22821, 2006-Ohio-1035, ¶ 7, citing Pauly v. Pauly,

80 Ohio St.3d 386, 390 (1997); Booth v. Booth, 44 Ohio St.3d 142, 144 (1989). An abuse of
                                                  5

discretion is more than an error of judgment; it means that the trial court was unreasonable,

arbitrary or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219 (1983).

       {¶15} R.C. 3105.18(C)(1) states:

       In determining whether spousal support is appropriate and reasonable, and in
       determining the nature, amount, and terms of payment, and duration of spousal
       support, which is payable either in gross or in installments, the court shall consider
       all of the following factors:
       (a) The income of the parties, from all sources, including, but not limited to, income
       derived from property divided, disbursed, or distributed under section 3105.171 of
       the Revised Code;

       (b) The relative earning abilities of the parties;

       (c) The ages and the physical, mental, and emotional conditions of the parties;

       (d) The retirement benefits of the parties;

       (e) The duration of the marriage;

       (f) The extent to which it would be inappropriate for a party, because that party will
       be custodian of a minor child of the marriage, to seek employment outside the
       home;

       (g) The standard of living of the parties established during the marriage;

       (h) The relative extent of education of the parties;

       (i) The relative assets and liabilities of the parties, including but not limited to any
       court-ordered payments by the parties;

       (j) The contribution of each party to the education, training, or earning ability of
       the other party, including, but not limited to, any party's contribution to the
       acquisition of a professional degree of the other party;

       (k) The time and expense necessary for the spouse who is seeking spousal support
       to acquire education, training, or job experience so that the spouse will be qualified
       to obtain appropriate employment, provided the education, training, or job
       experience, and employment is, in fact, sought;

       (l) The tax consequences, for each party, of an award of spousal support;

       (m) The lost income production capacity of either party that resulted from that
       party's marital responsibilities;
                                                  6

       (n) Any other factor that the court expressly finds to be relevant and equitable.

(Emphasis added.)

       {¶16} The record shows the trial court, in its final judgment entry, considered all of the

factors under R.C. 3105.18(C)(1)(a-n). However, R.C. 3105.18(C)(1)(a), requires that the trial

court “shall consider *** the income of the parties, from all sources[.]” (Emphasis added.) The

record shows the trial court erred and did not consider all sources of Ms. Doubler’s income.

       {¶17} After reaching an agreement on the shared parenting plan and separation

agreement, the trial court asked the parties to brief the issue of spousal support. In Ms. Doubler’s

brief, she stated that her “earnings from her three positions total $42,362.84 per year.” Her brief

stated that she earned $36,400 at her full-time job, plus she also maintained part-time jobs at Select

Employment Services and Medina Hospital that constituted the additional income. In its final

judgment entry, the trial court wrote: “[Ms. Doubler] is employed and earns $36,400 annually.”

This statement by the trial court is incorrect and not reflective of the record.

       {¶18} With regard to the calculation of Mr. Doubler’s income, in his brief to the trial

court, he stated: “[i]n the summer of 2020, Husband was drowning in debt and took a once in a

life job opportunity earning $100,000 per year. He earns an additional $6,127.31 in the Air Force

Reserves.” Despite being aware that his new job did not start until the summer of 2020, the trial

court used Mr. Doubler’s annual salary at his new position as it’s calculation for the entire year,

even though Mr. Doubler did not earn that amount. He only held that position for approximately

the last half of the year, and the trial court did not consider his income from his prior employer for

the first half of the year. Therefore, the trial court incorrectly considered the sources of Mr.

Doubler’s income for 2020.
                                                  7

         {¶19} This Court has previously held that a failure to consider income from all sources,

pursuant to R.C. 3105.18(C)(1)(a), constituted an abuse of discretion. C.S. v. M.S., 9th Dist.

Summit No. 29070, 2019-Ohio-1876, ¶ 12-13 (A trial court’s exclusion of bonus income from

spousal support calculation constituted an abuse of discretion because the trial court failed to

consider income from all sources.). This Court concludes, therefore, because the trial court did

not consider all sources of Ms. Doubler’s income, this constituted an abuse of discretion.

         {¶20} Mr. Doubler’s second, fifth, and sixth assignments of error are sustained.

                                 ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR III

         THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY INCORRECTLY DETERMINING THE
         PARTIES’ RESPECTIVE INCOME WHEN CALCULATING THE CHILD
         SUPPORT OBLIGATION.

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR VIII

         THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO APPROPRIATELY CREDIT AND/OR
         OTHERWISE     INCLUDE     THE     SPOUSAL     SUPPORT
         AWARD/OBLIGATION WITHIN THE CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES.

         {¶21} In his third and eighth assignments of error, Mr. Doubler argues the trial court erred

in calculating the parties’ income when calculating child support. For the reasons that follow, we

agree.

         {¶22} “[A] trial court’s decision regarding child support obligations falls within the

discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed absent a showing of an abuse of discretion.”

Berthelot v. Berthelot, 9th Dist. Summit No. 21345, 2003-Ohio-4519, ¶ 6, quoting Pauly, supra,

citing Booth, supra. An abuse of discretion is more than an error of judgment but instead connotes

a decision that is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore, supra. When applying

the abuse of discretion standard, an appellate court may not substitute its judgment for that of the

trial court. Berk v. Matthews, 53 Ohio St.3d 161, 169 (1990).
                                                8

       {¶23} R.C. 3119.05(B) provides, “[w]hen a court computes the amount of child support

required to be paid under a court child support order [,] * * * the amount of any court-ordered

spousal support actually paid shall be deducted from the gross income of that parent to the extent

that payment under the child support order or that payment of the court-ordered spousal support is

verified by supporting documentation.” (Emphasis added.) The child support worksheet includes

a line (line 10) to account for such deduction. Moreover, gross income, for purposes of calculating

child support, and as defined in R.C. 3119.01(C)(7), includes “spousal support actually received

[.]” R.C. 3119.01(C)(7).

       {¶24} Here, the child support worksheet does not include a deduction for the payment of

spousal support to the income of Mr. Doubler and does not include a credit to the income of Ms.

Doubler for spousal support received. This Court has held that a trial court’s failure to credit as

income spousal support paid to an obligee and deduct spousal support from an obligor on a child

support worksheet constitutes an error by the trial court. See Foy v. Foy, 9th Dist. Medina No.

14CA0113-M, 2016-Ohio-242, ¶ 23 (“[W]e conclude that the trial court erred in failing [to]

include as income to Ms. Foy the $750 per month payment and erred in failing to deduct from Mr.

Foy’s income the same payment.”) Therefore, Mr. Doubler’s arguments that the trial court erred

when calculating the parties’ income when determining the child support obligation are well taken.

       {¶25} Mr. Doubler’s third and eighth assignments of error are sustained.
                                                  9

                                 ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR IV

       THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED [MR. DOUBLER]’S DUE PROCESS BY
       RETROACTIVELY    MODIFYING    A  TEMPORARY     SUPPORT
       OBLIGATION.

       {¶26} In his fourth assignment of error, Mr. Doubler argues that the trial court erred by

retroactively modifying both his spousal support and child support obligations. For the reasons

that follow, we disagree.

       {¶27} A review of the record shows that no support was ever retroactively modified by

the trial court, and Mr. Doubler incorrectly characterizes the final judgment entry on appeal. The

record shows that no temporary spousal support obligation was ever ordered by the trial court. Ms.

Doubler’s first motion for temporary orders included a request for spousal support, but she later

withdrew that request before the trial court ordered any spousal support. Further, when the trial

court did order spousal support in the final judgment entry, it did so “effective the date of this

[j]udgment [e]ntry[.]” Additionally, while the trial court did issue a temporary order for child

support, the final judgment entry clearly states that the new child support order is effective October

22, 2020, and did not contain any retroactive modification of Mr. Doubler’s child support

obligation.

       {¶28} Mr. Doubler’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR VII

       THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT CONSIDERING THE
       TEMPORARY SUPPORT ORDERS PAID DURING THE TWO (2) YEARS
       THAT THIS MATTER WAS PENDING WHEN DETERMINING AN
       APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLE []DURATION OF A SPOUSAL
       SUPPORT AWARD.

       {¶29} In his seventh assignment of error, Mr. Doubler argues the trial court erred in not

considering the temporary spousal support paid during the pendency of the case.
                                                  10

       {¶30} A review of the record shows that the trial court did not order any temporary support

during the pendency of this matter. The trial court awarded Ms. Doubler child support, but never

ordered Mr. Doubler to pay spousal support to Ms. Doubler. Because the record indicates that no

orders for temporary spousal support were issued during the pendency of this matter, Mr.

Doubler’s argument is without factual basis.

       {¶31} Mr. Doubler’s seventh assignment of error is overruled.

                                 ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR IX

       THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO ADHERE TO THE MANDATORY
       REQUIREMENTS OF R.C. 3119.051(A) AND 3119.231(A).

                                  ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR X

       THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO ADHERE                                    TO     THE
       MANDATORY FINDINGS OF R.C. 3119.231(B).

       {¶32} In his ninth and tenth assignments of error, Mr. Doubler argues that the trial court

erred in both failing to provide him with his statutorily entitled automatic deviation, and also failing

to provide the facts that formed the basis for the trial court’s failure to grant him a deviation when

his overnights exceeded 147 overnights per year. For the reasons that follow, we agree.

       {¶33} R.C. 3119.051(A) states:

       Except as otherwise provided in this section, a court or child support enforcement
       agency calculating the amount to be paid under a child support order shall reduce
       by ten per cent the amount of the annual individual support obligation for the parent
       or parents when a court has issued or is issuing a court-ordered parenting time order
       that equals or exceeds ninety overnights per year. This reduction may be in addition
       to the other deviations and reductions.

(Emphasis added.)

       {¶34} R.C. 3119.231 states:

       (A) If court-ordered parenting time exceeds ninety overnights per year, the court
       shall consider whether to grant a deviation pursuant to section 3119.22 of the
       Revised Code for the reason set forth in division (C) of section 3119.23 of the
                                                   11

        Revised Code. This deviation is in addition to any adjustments provided under
        division (A) of section 3119.051 of the Revised Code.

        (B) If court-ordered parenting time is equal to or exceeds one hundred forty-seven
        overnights per year, and the court does not grant a deviation under division (A) of
        this section, it shall specify in the order the facts that are the basis for the court’s
        decision.

        {¶35} Here, the record shows the parties agreed to a shared parenting plan where parents

shared custody on a week on, week off basis. Therefore, Mr. Doubler’s overnights with his

children exceeded 147 overnights per year. The record also indicates that the trial court failed to

grant Mr. Doubler the automatic ten percent reduction he was entitled to pursuant to R.C.

3119.051(A). Further, the record shows the trial court did not grant Mr. Doubler a deviation under

R.C. 3119.231(A) and did not in the final order state facts that formed the trial court’s basis for

the decision not to grant Mr. Doubler a deviation. Therefore, Mr. Doubler’s arguments with

respect to his ninth and tenth assignments of error are well taken.

        {¶36} Mr. Doubler’s ninth and tenth assignments of error are sustained.

                                  ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR XI

        THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT DEVIATING FORM THE CHILD
        SUPPORT GUIDELINES IN ACCORDANCE WITH R.C. 3119.22.

                                 ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR XII

        THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT PROPERLY CONSIDERING THE
        DEVIATION FACTORS SET FORTH WITHIN R.C. 3119.23.

        {¶37} In his eleventh and twelfth assignments of error, Mr. Doubler argues the trial court

erred by not granting a deviation pursuant to R.C. 3119.22 after considering the factors enumerated

in R.C. 3119.23. Because our resolution of the third, eighth, ninth, and tenth assignments of error

necessitates that the trial court revisit its calculation of child support, consideration of the eleventh

and twelfth assignments of error are rendered premature, and as such we decline to address them.
                                                  12

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR XIII

        THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT PROPERLY RECOGNIZING THE
        PARENT PROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE IN CONTRAST TO THE
        MANDATES SET FORTH WITHIN R.C. 3119.30.

        {¶38} In his thirteenth assignment of error, Mr. Doubler argues the trial court erred in

designating Ms. Doubler the health insurance obligor. For the reasons that follow, we disagree.

        {¶39} R.C. 3119.30(B) states: “[t]he child support obligee is rebuttably presumed to be

the appropriate parent to provide health insurance coverage for the children subject to the child

support order.” (Emphasis added.)

        {¶40} Here, Mr. Doubler did not make an argument in his brief to the trial court on spousal

and child support that he should be the one to continue to provide health insurance. His brief to

the trial court merely states: “[Mr. Doubler] pays for the health insurance and each party provided

their own childcare.” He did not make any arguments to rebut the presumption that Ms. Doubler

should be the party to provide health insurance for the children and is raising the issue for the first

time on appeal. “[A] litigant’s failure to raise an issue in the trial court waives the litigant’s right

to raise that issue on appeal.” Shover v. Cordis Corp., 61 Ohio St.3d 213, 220 (1991), overruled

on other grounds in Collins v. Sotka, 81 Ohio St.3d 506 (1998). Therefore, the trial court did not

err in utilizing the presumption that Ms. Doubler would be the appropriate parent to provide health

insurance coverage and designating Ms. Doubler the health insurance obligor.

        {¶41} Mr. Doubler’s thirteenth assignment of error is overruled.
                                                  13

                                ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR XIV

       THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ORDERING MORE CHILD SUPPORT
       AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT THAN REQUESTED BY THE SUPPORT
       OBLIGEE ([MS. DOUBLER]).

       {¶42} In his fourteenth assignment of error, Mr. Doubler argues the trial court erred in

granting Ms. Doubler more spousal support and child support than she requested in her brief to the

trial court on the issue. Because our resolution of the second, third, fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, and

tenth assignments of error necessitates that the trial court revisit its calculation of spousal support

and child support, consideration of the fourteenth assignment of error is rendered premature, and

as such we decline to address it.

                                                 III.

       {¶43} Mr. Doubler’s second, third, fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, and tenth assignments of

error are sustained. His first, fourth, seventh, and thirteenth assignments of error are overruled.

This Court declines to address his eleventh, twelfth, and fourteenth assignments of error as they

have been rendered premature. The judgment of the Medina County Court of Common Pleas,

Domestic Relations Division, is affirmed in part and reversed in part and this matter is remanded

for further proceedings consistent with this decision.

                                                                          Judgment affirmed in part,
                                                                                   reversed in part,
                                                                               and cause remanded.

       There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
                                                14

       We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common

Pleas, County of Medina, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of

this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.

       Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of

judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period

for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is instructed to

mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the mailing in the

docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.

       Costs taxed equally to both parties.

                                                     BETTY SUTTON
                                                     FOR THE COURT

CALLAHAN, J.
CONCURS.

CARR, P. J.
CONCURRING IN JUDGMENT ONLY.

       {¶44} I concur that this Court has jurisdiction under Assignment of Error I and concur

with reversing and remanding the issues of child support and spousal support. I would find the

remaining assignments of error moot as all the issues are intertwined with the proper calculation

of income and award of spousal and child support.

       {¶45} I concur in judgment only.
                                        15

APPEARANCES:

RICHARD J. STAHL, III and EDWARD R. JANSEN, Attorneys at Law, for Appellant.

KRISTOPHER AUPPERLE, Attorney at Law, for Appellee.