Court Opinion

ID: 9514871
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:52:17.429677+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:06:22.058996
License: Public Domain

SABERS, Justice
(dissenting).
[¶ 34.] The trial court failed to make a reasoned and proper consideration of the evidence presented at trial concerning Renee’s need for alimony and, therefore, abused its discretion. I dissent on issue C, general and rehabilitative alimony, because the trial court erred in not awarding any alimony. The trial court’s findings on this issue are wholly inadequate:
Alimony
35. [Renee] testified regarding her financial need for permanent alimony for three years in the amount of $10,000 per year.
36. [Renee] further testified regarding her financial need for rehabilitative alimony to commence a Masters in Business Administration.
37. [Renee] testified regarding her intent to start a Masters in Business Administration at the University of *58South Dakota as soon as possible, but likely not until fall 2001.
38. The cost of the MBA program is approximately $10,263.33, plus additional costs of $2,000 for books and $5,000 for transportation.
39. [Jorge] and [Renee]’s incomes are vastly disparate, with [Jorge] earning approximately three times as much as [Renee].
40. [Jorge] and [Renee] made a joint decision during their marriage that [Renee] should stay home to care for the minor child.
41. I award no permanent or rehabilitative alimony.
This conclusory statement is not a reasoned consideration of the factors required in any alimony decision. See Peterson v. Peterson, 2000 SD 58, ¶ 9, 610 N.W.2d 69, 70. A proper consideration of these factors justifies an award of alimony on this record.
[¶ 35.] Renee expected to earn a living of approximately $25,000 to $26,000 per year. She was accomplishing this modest amount by working two jobs while caring for her child. One of those jobs was an intermittent part-time position. In contrast, Jorge was earning three times as much at one job. The trial court found both parties at fault for the divorce, not just Renee. The parties had been married for twelve years, and during this time Renee was displaced from the competitive job market by mutual decision. That should not result in an automatic denial of alimony. Likewise, Renee’s statement that she considered her lifestyle to be “middle class” does not negate alimony.
[¶ 36.] It was an abuse of discretion for the trial court to award no alimony on these facts. In my view, the trial court should have awarded at least $400 per month for the next three years. Therefore, I dissent on issue C.