Court Opinion

ID: 9728829
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 14:17:13.647063+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:52.401706
License: Public Domain

Allen, P. J.
(dissenting). I agree with the majority that the instant case does not fall within the ambiguity exception under which modification of a judgment of divorce is permitted where clarification is necessary. Mitchell v Mitchell, 307 Mich 366, 370; 11 NW2d 922 (1943). But I disagree that this cause does not come within the "fairness” exception as set forth in Dougherty v Dougherty, 48 Mich App 154, 158; 210 NW2d 151 (1973). There, this Court said:
"Significantly, inequities are alleviated by permitting revision of otherwise final property settlements when such is necessitated by fairness. Paul v Paul, 362 Mich 43; 106 NW2d 384 (1960); Ross v Ross, 24 Mich App 19; 179 NW2d 703 (1970). See, generally, GCR 1963, 528.”
The only substantial asset of the parties was the house which at the time of the divorce was being rented to third parties. To have the home pass to the husband without any deduct or compensation to the wife is unusual enough, although perhaps understandable in view of the wife’s signature to the property settlement.1 The judgment also awarded support for the three minor children in *580the sum of $16.66 per week, per child, viz.: $50 per week. But the unusual circumstance was compounded some 18 months later when the lease on the house expired and, at the husband’s suggestion, the wife moved into the home. In consideration of occupying the home the parties agreed that the husband’s child support payments were reduced by $100 per month. From early 1966 until the fall of 1976, the wife occupied the home, during which time she landscaped the premises and repaired and maintained the home at considerable expense to herself. In 1976, the Detroit Mortgage and Realty Company commenced foreclosure for nonpayment of the mortgage but foreclosure was averted when the wife made the mortgage payments due for the five-month period January through May, 1976. During all of this time plaintiff received the $100 per month credit.
Given these circumstances I find it patently inequitable to award to the wife nothing on the sale of the home, to not reimburse her for the mortgage payments made to prevent default and at the same time relieve the husband of approximately 50% of the obligations for child support. I find it wrong to enforce to the letter the provisions concerning the sale of the house but not enforce the provisions for child support. It is true that the wife enjoyed ten years of living in a comfortable home during which time, with some notable exceptions, the husband continued to make mortgage payments. But in return the wife, at her expense, maintained the home in good repair and the husband was spared the damage and deterioration which occurs when third party tenants occupy a home. If sold within ten years from December 11, 1963, the property settlement agreement called for dividing the net proceeds of sale after deducting *581the mortgage balance as of December 11, 1963, rather than deducting the mortgage balance as of the date of sale. Thus, the husband was guaranteed recovery of 50% of his mortgage payments and also was able to deduct the interest portion of said payments for income tax purposes. Meanwhile, the wife received some $1,200 a year less child support than called for in the judgment of divorce.2
Based upon the above facts, I conclude that this cause falls within the fairness rule employed by the Court to adjust, otherwise final property matters in Paul v Paul, 362 Mich 43; 106 NW2d 384 (1960), and Ross v Ross, 24 Mich App 19; 179 NW2d 703 (1970). I also conclude that this matter, when viewed in its entirety, falls within GCR 1963, 528.3(6).3 But if I am wrong and if Paul and Ross are distinguishable on grounds that each involved relatively minor adjustments in property settlements involving substantial assets, whereas the adjustment proposed here is a major adjustment to a small inarital estate, then I believe the same result can be achieved and fairness preserved by enforcing the child support provisions as embodied in the judgment. I would disallow the deduction taken by the husband over an approximate 10-year period of $100 per month, said disal*582lowance not to exceed $10,950.25. This solution has some practical merit too, since the defendant wife has already been paid $5,000 of the $10,950.25 determined to be her one-half share under the order of the trial judge. Under the opinion of the majority the defendant not only will fail to receive the balance of $5,950.25, but in addition will have to pay to her former husband $5,000. Therefore, I would affirm the trial court and order costs to defendant.

 Defendant was not present at the pro confesso proceedings September 21, 1964, nor was she represented by counsel. Her signature does appear on the property settlement agreement dated December 11, 1963. The agreement was prepared by plaintiffs then attorney who also signed the agreement together with his client.

 In November, 1976, the house was sold for $37,500.00, from which was deducted the December 1963 mortgage balance of $12,333.77, leaving a balance of $25,166.23. After deducting realtor’s commission and other costs of sale, the net balance was $21,900.50, of which the wife (should she prevail in this cause) would receive one-half or $10,950.25. By stipulation of counsel for both parties it was agreed that the husband was not required to file a stay bond pending appeal and that, out of the wife’s $10,950.25, there would be made to the wife a partial distribution of $5,000. It was also stipulated that $4,247.30 would be forthwith distributed to the husband.

 "On motion and upon such terms as are just, the court may relieve a party or his legal representative from a final judgment, order or proceeding for the following reasons: * * * (6) any other reason justifying relief from the operation of the judgment.”