Court Opinion

ID: 9588982
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:40:19.379645+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:27:34.411689
License: Public Domain

Judge Timmons-Goodson
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
Because I believe that the order of the trial court contains appropriate findings of fact and conclusions of law to support the award of alimony, I respectfully dissent.
Under section 50-16.2 of the General Statutes, a spouse “who is actually substantially dependent upon the other spouse for his or her maintenance and support or is substantially in need of maintenance and support from the other spouse” is entitled to alimony. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.1A(2) (1999). A spouse is “actually substantially dependent” if he or she can demonstrate “actual dependence on the other in order to maintain the standard of living to which he or she became accustomed during the last several years prior to the spouses’ separation.” Talent v. Talent, 76 N.C. App. 545, 548, 334 S.E.2d 256, 258 (1985), superseded on other grounds by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.3A(a) (1999). An award of alimony based on dependency must contain “ ‘findings sufficiently specific to indicate that the trial judge properly considered each of the factors . . . for a determination of an alimony award.’ ” Lamb v. Lamb, 103 N.C. App. 541, 545, 406 S.E.2d 622, 624 (1991) (quoting Shamarak v. Shamarak, 81 N.C. App. 125, 128, 343 S.E.2d 559, 561 (1986) (citations omitted)).
In my opinion, the following pertinent findings of fact are sufficiently specific to determine dependency:
6. The Plaintiff is employed by the First Presbyterian Church of Monroe, North Carolina. He is under contract . . . and has a gross yearly income of $77,227.88 ....
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8. The Plaintiff supplements his income with honorariums for weddings and other services at a rate of approximately $100.00 per month. The Plaintiff has had gross income in excess of $70,000.00 since at least 1994.
*3679. During the marriage of the parties, the Defendant worked off and on as a teacher, never earning in excess of $16,000.00 per year.
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11. The Defendant is currently working four jobs, at approximately 52 hours per week to make ends meet. Defendant nets $1,422.00 per month. At the time of this hearing, she had not made her mortgage payment for three months.
12. From her testimony and her financial affidavit filed August 14, 1998, the Defendant has needs and expenses of approximately $3,010.00 per month. . . .
13. The Plaintiff testified to his family (new spouse, her daughters, and himself) having total needs and expenses of $6,861.00. He estimated his personal needs and expenses to be $4,394.00 per month. . . .
14. The Defendant has suffered from depression and anxiety attacks since at least 1991. She has seen Dr. John Humphries off and on since that time. Since [the] time of the parties’ separation, the Defendant’s depressed periods have increased in frequency and severity. When the Defendant is in a depressed state, she can do nothing. Her brain “turns off’, and she cannot function, cannot bathe, buy groceries, cook, etc. She fatigues easily, and cries without warning. . . .
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17. Dr. Humphries testified that the Defendant should not work in a stressful environment or job, or a job requiring intense cognitive functions or judgment. In Dr. Humprhies’ opinion, teaching is a very stressful environment, and although Defendant has improved her situation somewhat, for the past two years she was working at the level she was able to perform with efficiency, i.e. part-time retail work. . . .
18. Prior to the parties’ separation, their lifestyle was not lavish, however, it was comfortable. The Plaintiff had income in excess of $50,000.00, and an additional $20,000.00 in benefits. The Defendant was able to go to lunch with friends, attend meetings, go to the theater, and travel. (Some of the trips were paid for by Plaintiff’s mother, however, the parties still had to pay their food and entertainment expenses) The Defendant purchased clothing *368at Belks and The Limited (spending approximately $200.00 per month). She spent $40.00 to $50.00 per month on personal care, $80.00 per month on her hair, and $500.00 to $1000.00 on Christmas and birthday gifts for the family and their children. The house the parties lived in prior to separation was over 3000 square feet.
19. The Defendant currently lives in a house with 1100 square feet. She cannot attend movies or go to lunch with friends. She purchases clothing when she does at the Goodwill Store and consignment shops. And, she spends approximately $5.00 per month on personal care (A neighbor cuts her hair). She would like to spend approximately $50.00 per person for Christmas and birthdays. The Defendant had a housekeeper before separation, and now cannot afford one, although the Plaintiff has a part time housekeeper.
20. The Plaintiff is remarried to a woman who was employed as a Registrar at Wingate College earning $31,000.00 per year. They live in his current wife’s pre-marital house with a mortgage of $1215.00 per month, and with taxes and insurance an extra $1,000.00. It has 3500 square feet. ...
21. The Plaintiff drives a 1993 Toyota Camry, and the Defendant drives a 1987 Honda automobile which does not have air conditioning because it is broken, and the Defendant has been unable to fix it since [the] summer of 1998.
Because there is competent evidence in the record to support these findings, they are conclusive on appeal. See Olivetti Corp. v. Ames Business Systems, Inc., 319 N.C. 534, 541, 356 S.E.2d 578, 582, reh’g denied, 320 N.C. 639, 360 S.E.2d 92 (1987) (trial court’s factual findings are binding if competent evidence exists to support them). I am also satisfied that these findings, in turn, support the following conclusions of law:
1. The Defendant is a dependant spouse as defined by N.C.G.S. § 50-16.1(a)(2).
2. The Plaintiff is the supporting spouse as defined by N.C.G.S. § 50-16.1(a)(5).
3. The Defendant is entitled to an award of alimony.
4. An award of alimony is equitable considering all of the relevant factors, including those set out in N.C.G.S. § 50-16.3(a)(b).
*3695. The Plaintiff, as the supporting spouse, has the ability to pay the designated amount.
6. That the amount awarded as alimony is fair and just to all parties based on a consideration of all the relevant factors, including those set out in N.C.G.S. § 50-16.3(a)(b).
Accordingly, I vote to affirm the order directing plaintiff to pay to defendant the sum of $1,500.00 per month as alimony, such payments to continue until the death of either party or until the remarriage or cohabitation of defendant. As to the matter of attorneys fees, I agree with the majority that there are insufficient findings of fact and conclusions of law to support .the award. Therefore, I would reverse that portion of the award and remand for further appropriate findings.