Court Opinion

ID: 9690180
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 18:55:59.252431+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:53.963764
License: Public Domain

HENDERSON, Justice
(specially concurring).
There appears to be no evidentiary showing that wife’s health is deteriorating (Settled Record, page 106) nor is there any evidence that she had to forego her professional skills to enhance his. She has Vs of a million dollars in assets and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and is obtaining a Masters degree. She has an excellent salary plus a monthly investment income. Without any question, she has economic marketability.
She needs rehabilitative alimony? For what? What is there to rehabilitate, conceding that she has economic marketability now? Rehabilitative alimony has, as its purpose, to enable a former spouse to refresh or enhance the job skills he or she needs to earn a living. Hautala v. Hautala, 417 N.W.2d 879 (S.D.1988).
Findings of Fact must support the Conclusions of Law. Knodel v. Bd. of Cty. Com’rs., Etc., 269 N.W.2d 386 (S.D.1978); Kirkeby v. Renaas, 85 S.D. 515, 186 N.W.2d 513 (1971). Here, they do not. Simply put, the findings are insufficient to support the award.
Therefore, I join in the reversal of the circuit court, in accordance with the majority opinion, hereby expressing that under these circumstances, the findings do not support the rehabilitative award; and in my opinion, a rehabilitative award would necessarily be minimal, if anything at all. The trial court should consider all of the facts in this case, particularly her financial *585condition after being awarded a very-healthy property division.* Without question, she earns a good salary and the trial court should certainly take this into consideration as well as her $375 per month investment income. Highly doubtful that there is anything to rehabilitate in this case.

This Court reviews the award of alimony and property division together. Baltzer v. Baltzer, 422 N.W.2d 584 (S.D.1988). An abuse of discretion is the scope of review on disturbing an alimony award. It clearly exists in this case.