Court Opinion

ID: 9371070
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-15 15:02:03.654038+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:25.204564
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2023 Ark. App. 60
                      ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                        DIVISION III
                                        No. CV-22-49

 VINCENT MITCHELL                                Opinion Delivered February   15, 2023
                                  APPELLANT
                                                 APPEAL FROM THE PULASKI
                                                 COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT, SECOND
 V.                                              DIVISION
                                                 [NO. 60DR-20-3167]
 THERESA MITCHELL
                                   APPELLEE HONORABLE CASEY R. TUCKER,
                                            JUDGE

                                                 AFFIRMED

                            RAYMOND R. ABRAMSON, Judge

       Vincent Mitchell appeals the Pulaski County Circuit Court order in his divorce from

Theresa Mitchell. On appeal, Vincent argues that the circuit court erred by (1) unequally

dividing the marital home in favor of Theresa, (2) awarding Theresa half of his retirement

account, and (3) not awarding him expenses for damage to his personal property caused by

Theresa. We affirm.

       Vincent and Theresa married on February 15, 2008, and on October 9, 2020, Theresa

filed a complaint for divorce from Vincent. The case proceeded to a hearing on August 25, 2021.

       At the hearing, the parties submitted to the court that the issues to be decided were the

division of the marital home, the division of Vincent’s retirement account, and the destruction

of Vincent’s personal property.
       Theresa testified that she sought a divorce from Vincent because he “murdered her

grandson”1 in her and her family’s presence on September 20, 2020. She noted that Vincent

was arrested that day and that he has been criminally charged with murder. The trial is pending.

Theresa also testified that Vincent had been physically abusive toward her.

       As to their marital home, Theresa testified that she contracted to purchase the house

before she and Vincent married but that the closing occurred on February 25, 2008, about a

week after their marriage. The purchase price was $83,000, and Theresa introduced the warranty

deed reflecting that she is the sole grantee. Theresa testified that she never added Vincent to the

deed or mortgage and that she paid the mortgage and utilities. She stated that they did not

intend to own the home together and that they maintained separate finances because Vincent

had filed for bankruptcy five or six times.

       Theresa further testified that Vincent has a retirement account with the Arkansas

Department of Transportation, and she asked the court to award her half of that account. She

noted that Vincent had not provided her with the account balance.

       Theresa denied having damaged Vincent’s personal property. She explained that

following her grandson’s death, Vincent did not return to their home, leaving his personal

property. She noted that he also left two trucks and that she immediately removed his clothing

from the home and placed it inside an unlocked truck. She stated that he also left machinery

and equipment in an outdoor shed, but the shed had a lock, and she did not have the key.

       1
           The victim was Vincent’s step-grandson.

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Theresa explained that police officers facilitated a transfer of Vincent’s property to his friends

about three weeks later, and she testified that she did not notice any damage to his property.

       Vincent testified that he began his employment with the Arkansas Department of

Transportation in August 2007, but he “retired” for about three years and then returned in

2020. He testified that he and Theresa purchased their marital home together, and he stated

that he contributed to the mortgage and utilities payments. Vincent explained that Theresa

retrieved his paycheck from his bank account and used the money to pay their bills. He also

stated that he put money in her dresser drawer for utilities payments.

       Vincent further testified that he withdrew $20,000 from his Arkansas Department of

Transportation retirement account in 2017 and that he spent the money on himself and the

house. As to the house, he stated that the funds were used to purchase new siding, a new air-

conditioning unit, and a new roof. Vincent acknowledged that in 2017, he and Theresa had

temporarily separated for about six months to a year, but he stated that he continued to

contribute to the house expenses despite their separation.

       Vincent testified that after he and Theresa separated for the final time in 2020, a wrecker

service returned his trucks containing his clothing to his new residence. He stated that his trucks

and clothing were damaged. He noted that the damage to his clothing totaled $20,000, and he

introduced photographs of the damaged clothing. Vincent further testified that he did not

receive his lawn equipment and machinery from his storage building located at their house and

that the value of the items totaled about $20,000.

       At the conclusion of the hearing, the court issued an oral ruling. The court found the

house to be marital property, but the court awarded it to Theresa pursuant to Arkansas Code

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Annotated section 9-12-315(a)(1)(A)(viii) (Repl. 2020). Specifically, the court found Theresa

credible that she had paid all the expenses, and it found Vincent not credible. As to Vincent’s

retirement account, the court awarded Theresa half the value of the account from the date of

the marriage to the date of divorce, including any distribution made during the marriage. The

court specifically ordered that the $20,000 distribution made to Vincent in 2017 be added to

the total value. As to Vincent’s personal property, the court found Vincent presented no

evidence to establish that Theresa had caused the damage to the property.

       On September 28, the circuit court entered a divorce decree memorializing its oral ruling.

On October 26, Vincent filed a notice of appeal.

       This court reviews domestic-relations cases de novo, but the circuit court’s findings will

not be reversed unless they are clearly erroneous. Booker v. Booker, 2022 Ark. App. 473, 655

S.W.3d 562. A finding is clearly erroneous when, although there is evidence to support it, the

reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake

has been made. Id. Due deference is given to the circuit court’s superior position to determine

the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony. Id. As to issues of law,

however, we give no deference to the circuit court; rather, we review issues of law and statutory

construction de novo. Id.

       With respect to the division of property, we review the circuit court’s findings of fact and

affirm them unless they are clearly erroneous or against the preponderance of the evidence; the

division of property itself is also reviewed, and the same standard applies. Doss v. Doss, 2018 Ark.

App. 487, 561 S.W.3d 348. In accordance with Arkansas Code Annotated section 9-12-315(a)(1)

(Repl. 2020), at the time of entry of a divorce decree, the circuit court shall equally distribute all

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marital property one-half to each party unless it is determined that such a distribution would be

inequitable; if the property is not divided equally, then the circuit court must state the reasons

and basis for not doing so, and the basis and reasons should be recited in the order entered in

the matter. Booker, 2022 Ark. App. 473, 655 S.W.3d 562. While the circuit court must consider

the factors set forth in the statute and state its reasons for dividing property unequally, it is not

required to list each factor in its order or to weigh all the factors equally. Id.

       On appeal, Vincent first argues that the circuit court erred by unequally dividing the

marital home and awarding it to Theresa. He relies on his testimony that he contributed

financially to the home, and he asserts that the court overlooked the fact that he constructed a

shed on the property, which improved its value.

       We cannot say that the circuit court’s unequal division of the marital home was clearly

erroneous. The court found that Theresa was entitled to an unequal division under Arkansas

Code Annotated section 9-12-315(A)(1)(a)(viii), which states that the contribution of each party

in acquisition, preservation, or appreciation of marital property is a factor the court may take

into consideration when making a division of property on some other basis than an equal

distribution. Here, the court found Theresa’s testimony that she solely paid for the house

credible, and Vincent’s testimony that he contributed to the housing expenses not credible. The

credibility and weight to be given the testimony was a matter for the circuit court to determine.

See Jennings v. Buford, 60 Ark. App. 27, 958 S.W.2d 12 (1997). As to Vincent’s construction of

the shed, although he testified that he built it, he offered no evidence concerning its value. Give

these circumstances, we cannot hold that the circuit court clearly erred.

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          Vincent next argues that the circuit court erred by awarding Theresa half of his

retirement account, including the $20,000 distribution from 2017. He points out that Theresa

testified that they had maintained separate finances, and he again relies on his testimony that

he contributed the $20,000 distribution to housing improvements. However, at trial, Vincent

acknowledged that Theresa was entitled to half of the account. As to the $20,000 distribution,

the court specifically found Vincent’s testimony that he contributed to the house not credible.

Again, the credibility and weight to be given the testimony is a matter for the circuit court to

determine. See Jennings, 60 Ark. App. 27, 958 S.W.2d 12. Accordingly, we find no error by the

circuit court on this point.

          Vincent finally argues that the circuit court erred by not awarding him expenses for the

damage to his personal property caused by Theresa. He asserts that the evidence clearly shows

that his personal property was damaged. While the evidence may show damage to Vincent’s

property, the court stated that it “did not find any proof that could be directly linked to

[Theresa]” and that “[i]t could’ve been a number of people.” Theresa denied damaging Vincent’s

property. Vincent’s argument on appeal asks this court to reweigh the evidence. It is not this

court’s duty to substitute its judgment for that of the circuit court. Carr v. Carr, 2019 Ark. App.

513, 588 S.W.3d 821. We therefore find no error on this point, and we affirm the divorce

decree.

          Affirmed.

          GRUBER and BARRETT, JJ., agree.

          James Law Firm, by: William O. “Bill” James, Jr., and Ashleigh N. Dyer, for appellant.

          Mann & Kemp, PLLC, by: Angela Mann, for appellee.

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