Court Opinion

ID: 9685130
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 14:23:34.530726+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:02.573382
License: Public Domain

PEDERSON, Justice,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in those parts of the majority opinion which affirm the actions of the trial court. I would affirm all of the judgment. Although property division and alimony bear the label “conclusions of law,” they should be treated as “findings of fact.” See Schumacher v. Schumacher, 242 N.W.2d 136, 139 (N.D.1976). We are not bound by the labels attached. Bottineau Public Sch. Dist. # 1 v. Currie, 259 N.W.2d 650, 653 (N.D.1977). Although the majority opinion treats division of property and alimony as findings of fact, it makes a de novo review of alimony in order to establish that Paula should receive $1,200 instead of $1,600 per month. I am not left with a definite and firm conviction that the award of $1,600 per month alimony was a mistake. See In re Estate of Elmer, 210 N.W.2d 815, 820 (N.D.1973).
Except for his comments on the consideration of “fault,” I agree with Justice Vo-gel’s concurrence and dissent.