Court Opinion

ID: 1034489
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-20 00:06:13.046923+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:26:48.655001
License: Public Domain

Filed 7/19/13 Marriage of Brown CA2/2
                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

              IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                     SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION TWO

In re Marriage of JOAN M. and                                        B235887
DONALD V. BROWN JR.
                                                                     (Los Angeles County
                                                                     Super. Ct. No. ED039259)

JOAN M. BROWN,

         Appellant,

         v.

DONALD V. BROWN JR.,

         Respondent.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County.
J. Carlton Seaver, Judge. Reversed and remanded with directions.

         Joan M. Brown, in pro. per., for Appellant.

         No appearance for Respondent.
                  ___________________________________________________
       In a marital dissolution, a former spouse challenges the judgment following a trial
on reserved issues. Some of the court‟s orders are supported by substantial evidence;
however, two of its rulings regarding (1) the value of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and
(2) the division of the parties‟ knife collection are not supported by the evidence. We
reverse the judgment and remand for further proceedings.
                                         FACTS
       In February 2008, Joan Brown petitioned to dissolve her 32-year marriage to
Donald Brown, Jr. They have no children. Donald responded to the petition in
September 2008. A trial was sought on the issues of spousal support and the division of
property.
       Joan submitted an income and expense declaration to the court in January 2009.
She declared that she is a 54-year-old cosmetologist who last worked in 1995. She lives
on $550 in government benefits, less a Medicare payment of $96. She has savings of
$100 and property worth $300,000. Her monthly expenses (including mortgage and
food) are $2,232. Joan estimated that Donald‟s monthly income is $1,415.
       Joan and Donald continued to live in the family home, which was for sale at a
reduced price due to its deteriorated condition and the accumulation of garbage, car parts
and junk that Donald collected over the years. Donald refused to pay any of the expenses
associated with the home, despite living in it. Joan was forced to sell community and
separate property to cover living expenses.
       The parties‟ home sold in February 2009 for $186,416. Donald refused to vacate
the residence or remove his belongings after escrow closed. Further, Donald refused to
make court-ordered monthly spousal support payments. Donald received monthly Social
Security ($1,598) and worker‟s compensation ($607), for a total of $2,205.
       Joan filed an updated income and expense declaration showing that her income
has not changed, but she received money from the sale of the family residence. Her
monthly expenses had increased to $3,446, almost half of which was rent for the family
residence: Joan promised the buyers of the property that she would stay and clean up the

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debris littering it. Joan worked hard to clean the property and was obliged to hire
laborers, at a cost of over $5,000, because Donald did not assist her.
       Joan submitted a trial brief and exhibits listing community property such as
furniture, appliances, knives and cars. She asked the court to order an appraisal for
various collectibles, such as books, magazines, model cars, Zippo lighters, comic books,
and so on. She requested half of Donald‟s pension. In response, Donald stated that he “is
legally blind, and neither party is capable of gainful employment.”
       On May 4, 2009, the court ordered the parties to list for sale three classic cars; to
either sell their guns and split the proceeds or purchase them; to divide the knives among
themselves; and to divide the pension. Donald was ordered to pay spousal support of
$575 per month for one year and $478 per month thereafter.
       Joan paid to advertise the three classic cars, but Donald refused to allow interested
parties to look at the vehicles. Joan claimed that Donald possessed all of the parts needed
to complete work on a 1947 Ford, and that he refused to meet to divide up the knives.
Joan asked the court for help in carrying out its order, or allow Donald to keep the
disputed property and give her an equalizing payment. For his part, Donald requested a
reduction in spousal support because he no longer receives worker‟s compensation. In
December 2009, the court reduced Donald‟s support obligation to $364 per month.
       In January 2010, Joan returned to court to complain that Donald still refused to
comply with the court‟s order and divide the community property or sell the classic cars.
In February 2010, the court directed the parties to sell the cars within 20 days, and to
simply divide up the boxes containing the knives without viewing their contents. The
court vacated its order reducing spousal support. Joan accepted offers for the cars, but
Donald refused to sign the titles to transfer ownership. On March 24, 2010, the court
granted Joan‟s ex parte request and directed Donald to sign the titles within 48 hours; if
not, the court clerk was authorized to sign on Donald‟s behalf.
       In May 2010, Donald petitioned for a division of property. In particular, Donald
declared that Joan sold firearms and ammunition worth over $14,000, and he sought
reimbursement for half that amount, and half the proceeds from the sale of a motorcycle

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and other items. The division of the knives had not been resolved: Donald claimed that
Joan took all of the most valuable knives and left him 105 inexpensive knives out of 357
knives in a collection worth $15,000.
       The court entered a judgment of dissolution on March 14, 2011. Shortly
afterward, Joan‟s attorney asked to be relieved as her counsel. Joan objected, saying that
the only reason her attorney has not been paid is because he failed to ensure her receipt of
court-ordered spousal support. As a result, Joan was forced to live on $551 per month
from Social Security. Though trial was a month away, the court relieved Joan‟s counsel
from the case.
       Joan (age 56) and Donald (age 65) appeared for trial in propria persona in August
2011. Both parties requested spousal support. Joan and Donald are disabled: they rely
upon Social Security disability income (SSDI) of $551 (Joan) and $1,500 (Donald).
They divided the proceeds from the sale of their house equally: each received between
$45,000 and $50,000, after costs. They have spent the sale proceeds, and have no stocks,
bonds or retirement accounts.
       Donald has not worked since his employer went out of business in 1996. Before
his layoff, he was earning about $50,000 annually. He testified that he does not receive a
company pension. Donald admitted that he has not been paying court-ordered spousal
support to Joan because he spends all of his $1,500 SSDI. Joan received a worker‟s
compensation settlements decades ago that she used to purchase “stuff in the house” and
a motorcycle for Donald.
       Joan questioned Donald about their cars. He denied removing car parts from their
home, saying “I shared everything with you.” The parties purchased a 1947 Ford Tudor
during their marriage. During the divorce, Joan paid Donald $3,500 for his one-half
interest in the Tudor. Joan asserted that Donald “stripped the parts off of it” and sold
them after she paid him for the car. She described the vehicle as “a chassis with wheels
on it that you can roll around.” The car without the parts is worth $1,000, at best. Joan
listed specific missing car parts, such as hood hinges, hubcaps, an extra hood, an extra

                                             4
oval window for the back, and window regulators that are not available for purchase
elsewhere. Joan wanted Donald to buy the Tudor back from her.
       Joan made videotapes of Donald allegedly taking the car parts. She presented a
written transcript with her narrative. The transcript was admitted into evidence, along
with photos of the derelict Tudor. Donald informed the court that the “stolen” parts can
be seen in the photos that Joan took, saying “Everything appears to be here, your Honor.”
Joan countered that the photos showed only one car hood (unlike the two in the video)
and missing spare fenders, as well as the motor and transmission. The court admitted
into evidence a declaration from a man from Australia, who purchased the Browns‟ 1929
Ford Roadster. He declared that he examined the 1947 Tudor at the home of the
automobile restorer, who showed him various spare parts and stated that Donald had the
engine and transmission.
       Donald estimated that the value of the Tudor is $4,000. He has not seen the car
for 15 years because someone else was rebuilding it. He stated that “everything that went
to that car was put in the back seat. The back seat area was full of parts.” He denied
selling any parts, except for “two little tiny chrome strips” that he purchased for $10 and
gave away four or five years ago, during the marriage. He firmly denied giving boxes of
car parts to someone named Mr. Money.
       The parties had tons of car and motorcycle parts arrayed around their now-sold
property, to the point that Joan described it as a “junkyard.” Only 1 percent of those parts
belonged to the Tudor: nearly all of the Tudor parts were with the automobile rebuilder.
When the parties separated and prepared to sell the house, Donald sold the car parts and
gave Joan half of the proceeds over the course of six months. He assigned a minimal
value to them.
       The parties owned a 1929 Ford Roadster they had purchased in 1980: Joan paid
Donald $5,000 for his one-half interest in the Roadster and sold it for $10,000. The
parties owned a 1966 El Camino, purchased in 1986: Joan paid Donald $1,000 for his
one-half interest in the El Camino and sold it for $2,000. Donald refused to sign the pink

                                             5
slips to transfer the vehicles, and Joan incurred legal fees because her lawyer had to make
multiple court appearances to compel Donald to sign off on the transfers.
       The parties acquired 23 firearms during marriage. Donald estimated their value at
around $15,000. Joan sold most of the firearms on consignment in 2007, and used the
proceeds for living expenses. Three guns were taken to the police department because
they included an illegal sawed-off shotgun and MAK-90. The remaining weapons were
two black powder rifles and a Japanese sniper gun.
       Donald testified that Joan packaged their knife collection and he received three
boxes from his attorney. The knife collection contained 364 knives and he received only
92, some of which are inexpensive novelty pieces. Joan sold her knives for $2,200.
       Joan purchased a Harley-Davidson motorcycle for Donald in 1983 for $4,000,
with money she received as worker‟s compensation. Unlike cars, motorcycles increase in
value over time; however, Joan described it as being “in rotten condition” because it was
improperly stored. Joan testified that she sold the motorcycle in 2009 for $3,500.
Moments later, she corrected herself after looking at a bill of sale and stated that the price
was $3,000.
       The parties had a collection of eight Zippo lighters that each cost over $45 and
came in decorative boxes. They have appreciated in value. Donald last saw them in a
room of the family residence that was being packed by two movers and videotaped by
Joan. Donald said he had “no clue” where they are. The court asked Joan point-blank,
“Where are the Marjorie Petty [Zippo] lighters?” Joan answered, “I have no idea which
ones were which. I never even looked at all of them.” She was vague about their number
and location.
       Donald asked the court to terminate his spousal support obligation because “I‟m
financially strapped. I have no money.” When the court pointed out that Joan is “more
strapped than you,” Donald replied, “No comment.” The court found that the parties had
a low standard of living and indicated that it was going to award spousal support to Joan,
who has no marketable skills. Both parties are disabled and have not worked for some
time. Donald is almost legally blind.

                                              6
                         THE TRIAL COURT’S JUDGMENT
       The trial court issued a judgment on reserved issues on August 12, 2011. It
ordered Donald to pay Joan monthly spousal support of $300. With respect to disputed
property: (1) the court rejected Donald‟s claim that the order to sell the three
automobiles was unfair; (2) any funds Joan received as worker‟s compensation in the
1970‟s were used to purchase community property (such as a motorcycle and furniture),
and the property had to be equally divided; (3) most of the couple‟s firearms were sold
before they separated and the funds were used for community purposes, but the three
remaining guns were awarded to Donald; (4) the parties failed to comply with the court‟s
order to divide the knives equally, and Donald received only 72 of the 364 knives. The
court found the fair market value to be $2,742, and Donald is entitled to knives worth
$829 or to cash in that amount; (5) the court found that neither party is obligated to the
other for jewelry taken from a safe; (6) there is insufficient evidence to support a finding
that Joan is obligated to Donald for a missing dashboard; (7) Donald must deliver certain
plates and VCR tapes to Joan, and Joan must deliver the Zippo lighters to Donald; and (8)
Joan must make an equalizing payment of $2,579 to Donald. Joan appeals from the
judgment.
                                      DISCUSSION
1. Appeal and Review
       Joan filed a timely appeal from a judgment after trial. An appeal may be taken
from an orders directing the performance of an act, the payment of money, or awarding
spousal support. (In re Marriage of Skelley (1976) 18 Cal. 3d 365, 368-369.) The
judgment is reviewed under a substantial evidence standard. “„“„When a finding of fact
is attacked on the ground that there is no substantial evidence to sustain it, the power of
an appellate court begins and ends with the determination as to whether there is any
substantial evidence, contradicted or uncontradicted, which will support the finding of
fact. [ ] When two or more inferences can reasonably be deducted from the facts, a
reviewing court is without power to substitute its deductions for those of the trial
court.‟”‟” (In re Marriage of Guo & Sun (2010) 186 Cal. App. 4th 1491, 1497.)

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2. Personal Property
       a. Automobile Parts
       Testimony was received about the parties‟ three classic cars. The judgment states,
“The Court previously ordered that Respondent sell to Petitioner three automobiles . . . .
Respondent argues that the order was unfair, that it did not recognize the significant value
of the vehicles and the spare parts associated with those vehicles accumulated over the
years, and that . . . the spirit of the order was not fully complied with. Notwithstanding
those claims, the Court finds no reason to vacate or modify its prior order. The Court
orders Respondent to sign any pink slips conveying the vehicles to Petitioner on
presentation by Petitioner to the extent Respondent has not done so already.”
       Donald testified that he never took any parts to the 1947 Tudor except for two tiny
chrome strips that he purchased for $10. He denied giving boxes of car parts to a third
party and maintained that “everything that went to the car was put in the back seat.”
Joan accuses Donald of lying. She videotaped Donald while he was clearing out the attic
and claims that among the detritus were 1947 Ford parts such as a speedometer and
cables. Assuming that the parts belonged to the Tudor, there is no admissible evidence
showing what happened to those parts after they were removed from the house.
       We do not reweigh the credibility of witnesses on appeal. The trial court chose to
believe Donald‟s testimony that all of the Tudor parts were with the car. Conversely, the
court disbelieved Joan‟s speculation that the parts were transferred to “Mr. Money.” The
declaration from the Australian gentleman has no probative value as it is pure hearsay.
Substantial evidence supports the trial court‟s order.
       b. Knives
       Donald testified at trial that he received 92 of 364 knives in the parties‟ collection.
In a declaration filed in May 2010, Donald stated that he received 105 knives out of 357
in the collection. In both instances Donald complained that his part was largely
comprised of cheap novelty items. Neither Donald‟s testimony at trial nor his 2010
declaration supports the trial court‟s finding that Donald received only 72 knives. As a
result, the court‟s calculation that Donald is entitled to either the missing knives or cash

                                              8
from Joan of $829 is unsupported by the record. The trial court must revisit the division
of the knives on remand.
       c. Motorcycle
       Joan initially testified that she sold the Harley-Davidson motorcycle for $3,500.
Moments later, she told the court that she had the bill of sale in her hands and the receipt
showed a sale price of $3,000. The court replied, “Got it. Okay. Thank you.” The order
lists a sale price of $3,500 and Joan was ordered to pay Donald one-half of that. It is
unclear whether the court simply failed to note the correction or had some other reason
for selecting the higher figure. The price of the motorcycle must be resolved on remand.
       d. Zippo Lighters
       Donald testified that he had “no clue” where his Zippo lighters are located, and
Joan was evasive when the court asked her where they were. As a result, the court
directed Joan to return the Zippo lighters to Donald. The video showing some person in
the house packing the lighters is meaningless: it does not tell the trial court or this court
where the box containing the lighters ended up. Joan now claims that Donald wrongly
accused her of taking the lighters. At trial, Joan did not assert that Donald was in
possession of the lighters. The trial court chose to credit Donald‟s testimony that he did
not have the lighters, and discredited Joan‟s evasive answer. The court‟s order directing
Joan to return the lighters to Donald is supported by substantial evidence.
3. Pension Plan
       At trial, Joan did not present any evidence showing that Donald receives a
company pension. The trial court only had Donald‟s uncontradicted testimony that he
receives no private pension money. On appeal, Joan argues that Donald “blatantly lied.”
She now attempts to submit new evidence in the form of a letter dated February 21, 2012,
regarding Donald‟s pension.
       We cannot consider on appeal any material that was not presented to the trial
court. Clearly, a letter dated six months after the trial and judgment was not before the

                                              9
trial court and is not part of the record on appeal.1 There is no basis in the present record
on appeal for finding that Donald receives a pension that Joan is entitled to share. On
remand, Joan may present the trial court with evidence that Donald failed to disclose a
source of income and ask the trial court to enter a Qualified Domestic Relations Order
(QDRO) directing payment of half of Donald‟s pension to Joan.
4. Social Security Benefits
       Joan makes an indecipherable argument about Donald‟s Social Security being
subject to spousal support. The trial court did, in fact, direct Donald to pay Joan $300 per
month in support from his SSDI benefits, inasmuch as this is the only income that Donald
testified he receives. As stated in section 3, ante, the trial court can consider on remand
the existence of a pension from Donald‟s employer (if any), and Donald‟s spousal
support arrearages in connection with any equalizing payment it ordered Joan to make.2

1      We deny Joan‟s request to augment the record with extraneous material that was
not presented to the trial court. Only the properly marked trial exhibits lodged with this
court were considered.
2      Joan should contact the Social Security Administration to discuss her right to
receive Social Security retirement benefits based on her status as Donald‟s wife for
32 years.

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                                      DISPOSITION
       The judgment is reversed and the case is remanded for the trial court to rule anew
on the issues of the division of the knives and the price of the motorcycle. On remand the
trial court may consider new evidence, if any, that Donald receives a pension from his
former employee that he failed to disclose at trial, and Joan‟s interest in the pension. In
all other respects, the judgment is affirmed. Respondent to bear costs on appeal.
       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.

                                                  BOREN, P.J.
We concur:

              ASHMANN-GERST, J.

              FERNS, J.*

_________________________________________________________________
*     Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice
pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.

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