Court Opinion

ID: 9673082
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:05:59.317336+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:20.102397
License: Public Domain

*851SACKETT, Chief Judge
(concurring in part and dissenting in part).
I concur in part and dissent in part. I concur with the majority’s treatment of the issue that the trial court adopted nearly verbatim the proposed findings and conclusion submitted by Virginia. I depart from the majority’s conclusion that the record can be read to generally support the findings made by the trial court. I cannot agree that the result reached by either the trial court or the majority is a fair and equitable resolution of the issue of property division.
The trial court and the majority found the net worth of the parties to be about $1,700,-000. I find if the parties were required to liquidate their assets and pay the resulting income tax and liabilities their net worth would be closer to $800,000. Their accountant set their net worth in December 1993 at $422,030.22.
The financial obligations imposed on William by the trial court’s order cannot be generated either from the sale of or retention of assets. I conclude that to affirm the trial court will not serve either party.
There needs to be some refinancing of the debt to improve the income picture; however, with the substantial obligation the decree imposes on William, I do not see that will be possible for him to do. The income picture needs to improve for William to be able to make the payments ordered under the decree. Additionally, some of the debts (particularly the debt to the Internal Revenue Service) are joint and several obligations and if they are not paid, Virginia’s financial picture will be jeopardized.
While I see the bitterness between these two people and the unhappiness with William’s alleged girlfriend, I do not see that the assets of this marriage can be saved unless there is cooperation.
I would affirm the award to Virginia of the home and acreage, her automobile, a $26,000 certificate of deposit, and $15,000 for attorney fees. I would strike the provision that William pay Virginia $725,000 plus interest.
I would affirm the award to William of his home at Sun Lakes, Arizona, subject to the debt thereon, and the award to him of his vehicles.
I would appoint a receiver to hold the rest of the assets and either (1) restructure the debt and divide the assets, or (2) sell the assets and divide the proceeds between these two people.
I would award no alimony and order each party pay his or her own attorney fees.