Court Opinion

ID: 9532286
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:19:57.281134+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:43.268445
License: Public Domain

DONNELLY, Judge (specially concurring). I concur with the majority in affirming the trial court’s award of attorney fees to Wife. I am unable to agree, however, with the majority’s determination that the trial court, in a suit for dissolution of marriage and award of child custody, may base such award on the fact that there is a disparity of resources between the parties based on the fact that Husband’s family has given him monthly financial assistance in the past and may do so in the future. Instead of recognizing a rule permitting an award of attorney fees to Wife based on moneys Husband may or may not continue to receive from his family, and which moneys he has no present right of control over, I would uphold the trial court’s award of attorney fees based upon evidence contained in the record indicating Wife’s need for such award, and that Husband has other current assets within his control evidencing a financial ability to pay such award. See Williams v. Williams, 109 N.M. 92, 95, 781 P.2d 1170, 1173 (Ct.App.) (reviewing court will affirm trial court even though it reaches the right result for the wrong reason), cert. denied, 109 N.M. 54, 781 P.2d 782 (1989). Additionally, I would support the trial court’s award of attorney fees based on its finding that Husband’s conduct during the litigation contributed in part to the ultimate expense and complexity of the litigation, thereby increasing Wife’s overall costs and attorney fees. Id. The central issue posed by this appeal is whether there is substantial evidence to support the trial court’s order directing Husband, a college student who received monthly financial assistance from his family, to pay $20,000 towards Wife’s total attorney fees of $57,791.13 in this action for dissolution of marriage and child custody. Because this case involves issues of first impression, the extent to which the trial court can consider financial help proffered by the respective families of the parties in making an award of attorney fees, and the degree that the conduct and actions of the parties during the pendency of litigation played in increasing the overall cost of litigating this case, I would uphold the trial court’s award on evidence other than the resources of Husband’s family- Absent a showing that a party, who is called upon to pay an award of attorney fees, has sufficient assets within his control or means and ability to pay an award of attorney fees premised on the fact that one party’s family has been generous in providing financial income to a son or a daughter in the past should not constitute the basis for determining the existence of financial disparity of the parties or computing the amount of an award of attorney fees. In Bromante v. Bromante, 577 So.2d 662, 663 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1991), the court quoted from Azzarelli v. Pupello, 555 So.2d 1276, 1277 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1989), stating: “ ‘The financial resources that should be considered in assessing the relative financial ability of the parties are the resources the parties have available without their having to look beyond the financial resources subject to their individual control.’ ” In a letter opinion dated February 2,1994, the trial court faulted both parties for complicating and extending the litigation, noting that during the course of the litigation Husband had been unemployed and that Wife had worked as a registered nurse until she resigned to move to Vermont to live with her mother. The trial court also found that “[djuring the litigation [Wife] has borrowed money from her mother. She has been able to effectively prosecute this action, but is expected to repay the moneys borrowed. Given the disparity in resources, [Husband] will be ordered to pay attorneys fees to [Wife] in the amount of $20,000.00.” On August 4, 1993, Husband and Wife agreed to an order regarding child custody and a partial marital settlement. Under the agreement, Wife received $64,500 to equalize the award of community property between the parties, and Husband received real estate having a substantial value. The primary test in New Mexico for awarding attorney fees in a divorce case is a showing of economic disparity, the need of one party, and the ability of the other to pay. Berry v. Meadows, 103 N.M. 761, 770, 713 P.2d 1017, 1026 (Ct.App.1986). Hand in hand with the foregoing factors is a requirement that the party seeking an award of attorney fees make a showing concerning the nature and reasonableness of the requested fees. The amount billed for the time spent and the effort expended by an attorney, while relevant, is not solely determinative of a reasonable award of attorney fees. See Fryar v. Johnsen, 93 N.M. 485, 487, 601 P.2d 718, 720 (1979); see also Rasband v. Rasband, 752 P.2d 1331, 1336 (Utah Ct.App.1988) (reasonable attorney fees are not measured by amount billed). Other relevant factors to be considered in making an award of attorney fees include: the nature and character of the litigation, the amount involved, the importance of the litigation and the benefits derived therefrom, the experience and ability of counsel, and the fee customarily charged in the community for similar services. See Fryar, 93 N.M. at 488, 601 P.2d at 721. This case highlights the role of the trial court in computing an award of attorney fees where the evidence indicates that the conduct of one or both of the parties may have unnecessarily prolonged the litigation and substantially increased the amount of attorney fees incurred. In such case, the offending party’s or parties’ behavior becomes a factor to be considered in determining an appropriate award of attorney fees, together with other relevant matters. In re Marriage of Morrow, 53 Wash.App. 579, 770 P.2d 197, 203 (1989) (an important consideration apart from the ability of the respective parties to pay attorney fees is extent to which one spouse’s conduct has resulted in incurring additional legal services); cf. Hakkila v. Hakkila, 112 N.M. 172, 180, 812 P.2d 1320, 1328 (Ct.App.) (abuse of discovery rules may constitute factor to be considered in award of attorney fees to opposing party), cert. denied, 112 N.M. 77, 811 P.2d 575 (1991). I would uphold the trial court’s award of attorney fees on the grounds discussed above, not upon the fact that Husband’s family has assisted him in the past or may provide him with future financial help.