Court Opinion

ID: 4343066
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-11-20 13:10:13.269875+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:49:05.849182
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA

                                   No. COA18-95

                              Filed: 20 November 2018

Washington County, No. 14 CVD 139

ROBIN LYNN REA, Plaintiff

             v.

KATHLEEN OLIVER REA, Defendant.

      Appeal by plaintiff from order entered 31 July 2017 by Judge Christopher B.

McLendon in District Court, Washington County. Heard in the Court of Appeals 19

September 2018.

      Miller & Audino, LLP, by Jay Anthony Audino, for plaintiff-appellant.

      Pritchett & Burch, PLLC, by Lloyd C. Smith, III, for defendant-appellee.

      STROUD, Judge.

      Plaintiff-husband appeals the trial court’s order awarding alimony to

defendant-wife.   Because the trial court’s findings of fact are supported by the

evidence, the conclusions of law are supported by those findings, and the trial court

did not abuse its discretion in setting the alimony term and duration, we affirm.

                                    I.     Background

      In 1999, plaintiff Husband and defendant Wife were married; they separated

on 8 August of 2014. On 21 August 2014, Husband filed a verified complaint for

equitable distribution and a motion for a temporary restraining order and injunctive
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                                  Opinion of the Court

relief alleging Wife was removing antiques and other personal property from the

former marital home and should be enjoined from such malfeasance. On 3 September

2014, Wife answered Husband’s complaint, denying allegations of wrongdoing and

counterclaiming   for   postseparation   support,        permanent   alimony,   equitable

distribution, and attorney fees. On 2 October 2014, Husband filed a verified reply to

Wife’s answer and counterclaims and alleged that Wife “committed acts of marital

misconduct[;]” Husband characterized the wrongdoing as financial in nature.

      On 2 February 2015, the trial court entered an order for postseparation support

requiring Husband to pay Wife $2,000 a month. On 25 July 2016, the trial court

entered a judgment and order on equitable distribution; this order was not appealed.

On 16 September 2016, the trial court entered a Qualified Domestic Relations Order

(“QDRO”) which was also not appealed.

      The trial court held a hearing on Wife’s alimony claim on 9 September 2016

and on 31 July 2017, the trial court entered an order awarding Wife alimony and

attorney fees. The trial court determined Husband had committed acts of martial

misconduct, including illicit sexual behavior.      Husband was ordered to pay wife

$2,780 per month for 10.5 years and attorney fees. Husband timely filed notice of

appeal.

                               II.     Alimony Order

      Husband challenges findings of fact made by the trial court and the trial court’s

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ultimate determination of the amount and term of alimony.

             Decisions regarding the amount of alimony are left to the
             sound discretion of the trial judge and will not be disturbed
             on appeal unless there has been a manifest abuse of that
             discretion. When the trial court sits without a jury, the
             standard of review on appeal is whether there was
             competent evidence to support the trial court’s findings of
             fact and whether its conclusions of law were proper in light
             of such facts. An abuse of discretion has occurred if the
             decision is manifestly unsupported by reason or one so
             arbitrary that it could not have been the result of a
             reasoned decision.

Dechkovskaia v. Dechkovskaia, 232 N.C. App. 350, 356, 754 S.E.2d 831, 836 (2014)

(citations omitted).

A.    Findings of Fact

      Husband challenges nine findings of fact as unsupported by competent

evidence; we first consider each of the nine challenged findings of fact.

      1.     Foster Children

      The trial court found in finding of fact 7 that “[d]uring the marriage the

parties[] provided foster care to numerous children, and as of the date of separation,

the parties w[]ere the primary caretakers and sole financial provider for two minor

children, both of who[m] have remained with the [Wife], who has been solely

responsible for their financial care.” Husband argues this finding is not supported by

the evidence because the evidence actually showed that the children’s father cares for

them on weekends and they receive Medicaid for medical expenses, so Wife is not

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“solely responsible” for the children. (Emphasis added.)       Wife responds that the

parties had taken in about fifteen foster children at various times during their

marriage, including the two children still living with Wife as of the date of separation.

Wife testified they had taken full financial responsibility for them, including

providing uninsured medical costs if the children’s biological father allowed Medicaid

to lapse.   Since the parties separated, Wife had been solely responsible for the

children; in other words, Husband had not been assisting financially with the foster

children as he did while the parties were together.

      Husband misconstrues this finding as saying that Wife receives absolutely no

assistance from any other source in supporting the children. But the trial court was

not addressing all of the financial circumstances of the foster children in this order;

it was addressing the financial situation of Husband and Wife. Husband’s argument

ignores the first part of the finding, which is that prior to their separation, he and

Wife were the “sole financial provider” for the children, but after the separation, Wife

had been the sole provider. Further, the evidence showed that since Husband and

Wife separated, Wife has been caring for the children without Husband’s involvement

or financial assistance, so the finding is supported by competent evidence. Even if

the wording of finding 7 could have been more exact, the meaning is clear. See, e.g.,

In re S.W., 175 N.C. App. 719, 723, 625 S.E.2d 594, 597 (2006) (“A review of the record

reveals that there is competent evidence to support findings of fact numbers 4, 6

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through 17 and 19 as these findings of fact are admitted to in respondent's answer, if

not in exact form, at least in substance.”). This argument is overruled.

      2.       Marital Misconduct

      Husband next challenges finding of fact 11(a) and (b) which address his marital

misconduct:

               11.   Plaintiff has committed acts of marital misconduct,
               which include the following:

                      a.    Plaintiff engaged in acts of illicit sexual
               behavior prior to the parties separation. Plaintiff had the
               inclination and opportunity and had in fact committed
               adultery with [Sue Smith].1

                      b.    Prior to the parties’ separation, Plaintiff
               offered indignities that rendered Defendant’s condition
               intolerable and her life burdensome, due to him acting on
               his adulterous relationship and Defendant becoming aware
               of that adultery prior to separation.         Specifically,
               Defendant found Plaintiff kissing [ Sue Smith] in a parked
               vehicle in Greenville prior to separation.

      Husband argues there was not sufficient evidence to support finding 11

because there was not definitive proof he engaged in any type of sexual activity with

Ms. Smith. Husband contends that the evidence of his inclination and opportunity to

commit illicit sexual behavior with Ms. Smith or offer indignities was not sufficient

and evidence of his behavior and statements during the marriage which Wife

interpreted as indications of his infidelity, are not sufficient. Husband characterizes

      1   We have used a pseudonym to protect the privacy of the woman.

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the evidence as “[c]ar rides and phone calls” that “can only rise to the level of mere

conjecture[.]” Husband specifically argues there is no direct evidence of “sexual

intercourse, sexual acts, or sexual contact.”

      It is well-established that direct evidence of illicit sexual behavior or

indignities as a result of that behavior is not required but can be shown by

circumstantial evidence:

                    Where adultery is sought to be proved by
                    circumstantial evidence, resort to the
                    opportunity and inclination doctrine is
                    usually made. Under this doctrine, adultery is
                    presumed if the following can be shown: (1)
                    the adulterous disposition, or inclination, of
                    the parties; and (2) the opportunity created to
                    satisfy their mutual adulterous inclinations.
             Thus, if a plaintiff can show opportunity and inclination, it
             follows that such evidence will tend to support a conclusion
             that more than mere conjecture exists to prove sexual
             intercourse by the parties.

Coachman v. Gould, 122 N.C. App. 443, 447, 470 S.E.2d 560, 563 (1996) (citation and

quotation marks omitted).

      The evidence at trial included a private investigator (“PI”) who testified that

on 6 August, before separation, she witnessed and photographed Husband kissing

Ms. Smith.    The investigative report, admitted as an exhibit, shows that the

investigator parked near Husband’s truck in the parking lot of a shopping mall at

1:09 p.m. and waited until 3:45 p.m., when Husband and Ms. Smith arrived, and Ms.

Smith parked her car next to Husband’s truck. Husband and Ms. Smith kissed.

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Husband then got into his own truck, and both vehicles left at the same time.

Thereafter, on 18 and 19 August, two nights in a row only ten days after the parties’

separation, the PI saw Husband’s and Ms. Smith’s vehicles parked overnight at a

hotel.    Although the overnight stays at the hotel were shortly after the parties

separated, “[n]othing herein shall prevent a court from considering incidents of post

date-of-separation marital misconduct as corroborating evidence supporting other

evidence that marital misconduct occurred during the marriage and prior to date of

separation[.]” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.3A(b)(1) (2015).

         Furthermore, Wife testified that prior to their separation Husband began to

repeat specific suspicious behaviors he exhibited in 2011 when he had a prior affair;

these actions prompted her to hire the PI. For example, Husband failed to come home

one night. Wife also saw Husband and Ms. Smith together, including at Husband’s

temporary residence, shortly after the date of separation, and when Wife confronted

the Husband about the other woman, he said, “she was a better woman than” Wife.

We conclude there was competent evidence to support finding of fact 11(a) and (b).

This argument is overruled.

         3.    Retirement Income

         Defendant next challenges finding of fact 16 which states, “The Plaintiff has

significant funds upon which he can enjoy upon retirement based on Plaintiff’s

employment.      The Defendant has little to no independent source of retirement

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                                   Opinion of the Court

income, but did receive a portion of the Plaintiff’s retirement in the Order for

Equitable Distribution.” Husband contends there was no evidence of the value of his

retirement account before the trial court “at the time of the trial.” But Husband

testified quite extensively about his 401K account, including the large sums he had

removed from the account. Husband does not dispute that Wife had no retirement

savings other than the portion of Husband’s retirement she received in their equitable

distribution. The trial court did not find an exact amount of Husband’s retirement

but rather noted the funds were “significant” due to his income and continuing

contributions. The trial court found uncontested, and thus binding, that Husband’s

monthly income was $10,471.94 while Wife’s monthly income was $2,772.08. See

generally Koufman v. Koufman, 330 N.C. 93, 97, 408 S.E.2d 729, 731 (1991) (“Where

no exception is taken to a finding of fact by the trial court, the finding is presumed to

be supported by competent evidence and is binding on appeal.”). While there was

some confusion around how much Husband currently deposits to his 401K, he does

make deposits which his employer matches. The trial court need not find a specific

value for the parties’ retirement accounts for purposes of alimony. Finding 16 is

simply a comparison of “[t]he relative assets and liabilities of the spouses” as required

under North Carolina General Statute § 50-16.3A(b)(10). N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-

16.3A(b)(10) (2015). There was competent evidence to support finding 16, so this

argument is overruled.

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      4.     Reasonable Expenses

      Husband next contests two findings of fact determining the parties’ reasonable

expenses and relative financial needs.

             a.     Husband’s Expenses

      Husband specifically contests that his reasonable expenses are $1,675.00

because his financial affidavit alleged a higher sum. Husband argues that the trial

court accepted Wife’s expenses as stated on her financial affidavit but did not accept

his. But the trial court can accept or reject the alleged expenses on any financial

affidavit, based upon its evaluation of the credibility of the evidence and the

reasonableness of the expenses alleged. See Burger v. Burger, ___ N.C. App. ___, ___

790 S.E.2d 683, 687 (2016) (“This Court has long recognized that the determination

of what constitutes the reasonable needs and expenses of a party in an alimony action

is within the discretion of the trial judge, and he is not required to accept at face value

the assertion of living expenses offered by the litigants themselves.” (citation,

quotation marks, and brackets omitted)). There was extensive testimony about the

expenses, and during the hearing, Husband’s attorney agreed Husband’s recurring

monthly expenses were $1,675.00.         The trial court has discretion to determine

reasonable expenses. See generally Kelly v. Kelly, 167 N.C. App. 437, 445, 606 S.E.2d
364, 370 (2004) (noting trial court has discretion to determine reasonable expenses).

Findings of fact 18(a)(i) and 19 were supported by competent evidence.                This

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                                    Opinion of the Court

argument is overruled.

              b.    Wife’s Expenses

      Husband next contests the findings that Wife’s reasonable expenses are

$5,745.84 a month. Husband makes separate arguments as to the determination of

Wife’s reasonable expenses. Husband first takes issue with the trial court relying on

Wife’s financial affidavit for its calculations noting various bits of testimony about

various individual expenses and contending that the trial court should have found

lower amounts than those stated on Wife’s affidavit. During trial, the trial court

thoroughly considered Wife’s financial affidavit as evidence of her reasonable

expenses and needs; the affidavit is competent evidence. See Parsons v. Parsons, 231
N.C. App. 397, 399, 752 S.E.2d 530, 533 (2013) (“Plaintiff primarily contends that the

trial court’s findings of fact on defendant’s expenses were erroneous because the

financial affidavit presented by defendant, on which the trial court largely based its

findings regarding defendant’s income and expenses, was unsupported by other

evidence. Plaintiff fails to recognize that the affidavit itself is evidence of defendant's

expenses.”)

      Husband next contends that “reasonable expenses” and “relative financial

needs” cannot be the same number -- here, both were $5,745.84 -- although he cites

no authority for this contention. Under North Carolina General Statute § 50-

16.3A(b)(13), the trial court must consider “[t]he relative needs of the spouses[.]” N.C.

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Gen. Stat. § 50-16.3A(b)(13) (2015).            The term “relative” is an adjective describing

“needs of the spouses[.]” Id. In the context of North Carolina General Statute § 50-

16.3A(b), the term “relative” is used simply to direct a comparison of the expenses of

the husband and the wife.2 We see no reason the “relative financial need” of Wife

must differ from her “reasonable expenses.”                  Instead, in most cases, the terms

“relative financial need” and “reasonable expenses” probably will be the same. The

trial court’s calculation of Wife’s need for alimony is clear, whether the number is

called “reasonable expenses” or “relative financial needs”:

    Wife’s expenses (or “relative financial needs”)                                            $5745.84

    Wife’s income                                                                             -$2772.08

    Deficit (alimony award)                                                                    $2973.76

The meaning of the trial court’s finding is clear, and the evidence supports the

amounts stated in the findings of fact. This argument is overruled.

         Husband also contends Wife’s expenses for foster children, grandchildren, and

nieces and nephews are not reasonable expenses because Wife has no legal financial

obligation for the foster children or her relatives in the same manner as a parent

2  In addition to the “relative needs of the spouses,” North Carolina General Statute § 50-16.3A(b) also
requires the trial court to consider “[t]he relative earnings and earning capacities of the spouses;”
“[t]he relative education of the spouses[;]” and “[t]he relative assets and liabilities of the spouses and
the relative debt service requirements of the spouses[.]” N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.3A(b) (2015).

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would have a legal obligation to support her own child. But the question here is not

Wife’s legal obligation to support the children; it is the parties’ accustomed standard

of living during the marriage as our Supreme Court has established that the

accustomed standard of living is based upon the parties’ lifestyle during the marriage

and not just economic survival:

                    We think usage of the term accustomed standard of
             living of the parties completes the contemplated legislative
             meaning of maintenance and support. The latter phrase
             clearly means more than a level of mere economic survival.
             Plainly, in our view, it contemplates the economic standard
             established by the marital partnership for the family unit
             during the years the marital contract was intact. It
             anticipates that alimony, to the extent it can possibly do so,
             shall sustain that standard of living for the dependent
             spouse to which the parties together became accustomed.
             For us to hold otherwise would be to completely ignore the
             plain language of G.S. 50-16.5 and the need to construe our
             alimony statutes in pari materia. This we are unwilling to
             do.

Williams v. Williams, 299 N.C. 174, 181, 261 S.E.2d 849, 855 (1980).

      The evidence showed that “the economic standard established by the marital

partnership for the family unit during the years the marital contract was intact”

included caring for about fifteen foster children over the years as well as generosity

to relatives. Id. For some families, the “economic standard[,]” id., and lifestyle

established during the marriage includes expenses for golf, vacations, boats, hobbies,

and entertainment, and these types of expenses can be included as part of the

reasonable expenses for purposes of alimony. See, e.g., Rhew v. Felton, 178 N.C. App.

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                                  Opinion of the Court

475, 484, 631 S.E.2d 859, 865–66 (2006).          For example, in Rhew, this Court

determined the trial court properly considered evidence of the parties’ “standard of

living” during the marriage, which included frequent travel and “major vacations” to

“Canada, New Orleans, Hawaii and Cancun; [“a boat they “used regularly[;]”

contributions to their church; playing golf; “arts, crafts and making jewelry[;]” going

“out every Friday evening[;]” going dancing and to movies; going out to “lunch every

Sunday[;]”   entertaining friends in their home; and engaging “the services of a

housekeeper.” Id. Here, instead of pursuing expensive leisure activities, Husband

and Wife established a lifestyle of caring for foster children; this economic choice is

certainly worth at least the same consideration as golf and vacations. The trial court

did not abuse its discretion by including these expenses in Wife’s needs.         The

arguments as to Wife’s reasonable expenses are overruled.

5.    Monthly Surplus

      Husband also challenges the determination that he has a monthly surplus of

$8,796.94. Since we have already determined the underlying findings of fact were

supported by competent evidence, this number is simply the mathematical result of

those findings, so we need not address this argument further. This argument is

overruled.

B.    Alimony Amount and Duration

      Husband next contends that the trial court erred in setting alimony, but his

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only argument is again challenging the same findings of fact, and thus we need not

re-address those issues. Husband then challenges the trial court’s determination that

he has the ability to pay alimony and the duration of the alimony. Again, the findings

of fact based on competent evidence show that Husband has $8,796.94 of excess

income so he has the ability to pay in alimony. Lastly, Husband contends the trial

court did not make adequate findings of fact to support the duration of alimony for

126 months.

      North Carolina General Statute § 50-16.3A(b) sets out the factors the trial

court should use to determine the “Amount and Duration” of alimony:

              The court shall exercise its discretion in determining the
              amount, duration, and manner of payment of alimony. The
              duration of the award may be for a specified or for an
              indefinite term. In determining the amount, duration, and
              manner of payment of alimony, the court shall consider all
              relevant factors, including:
                     (1)    The marital misconduct of either of the
                     spouses. Nothing herein shall prevent a court from
                     considering incidents of post date-of-separation
                     marital misconduct as corroborating evidence
                     supporting other evidence that marital misconduct
                     occurred during the marriage and prior to date of
                     separation;
                     (2)    The relative earnings and earning capacities
                     of the spouses;
                     (3)    The ages and the physical, mental, and
                     emotional conditions of the spouses;
                     (4)    The amount and sources of earned and
                     unearned income of both spouses, including, but not
                     limited to, earnings, dividends, and benefits such as
                     medical, retirement, insurance, social security, or
                     others;

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                   (5)    The duration of the marriage;
                   (6)    The contribution by one spouse to the
                   education, training, or increased earning power of
                   the other spouse;
                   (7)    The extent to which the earning power,
                   expenses, or financial obligations of a spouse will be
                   affected by reason of serving as the custodian of a
                   minor child;
                   (8)    The standard of living of the spouses
                   established during the marriage;
                   (9)    The relative education of the spouses and the
                   time necessary to acquire sufficient education or
                   training to enable the spouse seeking alimony to find
                   employment to meet his or her reasonable economic
                   needs;
                   (10) The relative assets and liabilities of the
                   spouses and the relative debt service requirements
                   of the spouses, including legal obligations of support;
                   (11) The property brought to the marriage by
                   either spouse;
                   (12) The contribution of a spouse as homemaker;
                   (13) The relative needs of the spouses;
                   (14) The federal, State, and local tax ramifications
                   of the alimony award;
                   (15) Any other factor relating to the economic
                   circumstances of the parties that the court finds to
                   be just and proper.
                   (16) The fact that income received by either party
                   was previously considered by the court in
                   determining the value of a marital or divisible asset
                   in an equitable distribution of the parties’ marital or
                   divisible property.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-16.3A(b) (2015).

      Finding of Fact 5 states:

             The Court has considered the financial needs of the parties,
             the accustomed standard of living of the parties prior to
             their separation, the present employment income and

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             other recurring earnings of the parties from any source, the
             income earning abilities of the parties, the separate and
             marital debt service obligations of the parties, those
             expenses reasonably necessary to support each of the
             parties, and each parties’ respective legal obligation to
             support any other person.

But the trial court did not simply recite that it had considered this list of factors; it

made findings of fact regarding the relevant factors. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50A-16.3(b-

c) (2015) (noting findings of fact are shall be made for factors for which evidence was

presented). Other findings in the order, including findings we have not quoted in this

opinion because they were not challenged by Husband, specifically address many of

these factors in detail, including marital misconduct; the relative earnings and

earning capacities of the parties; the duration of the marriage; the good health and

ages of the parties; the standard of living established during the marriage; the

relative assets and liabilities of the parties; and the relative needs of the parties. The

trial court properly considered the required factors and set the duration of the

alimony in its discretion. We discern no abuse of discretion in the trial court granting

10.5 years of alimony. See Hartsell v. Hartsell, 189 N.C. App. 65, 75, 657 S.E.2d 724,

730 (2008) (“N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50–16.3A(b) (2007) directs that the court shall exercise

its discretion in determining the amount, duration, and manner of payment of

alimony. The duration of the award may be for a specified or for an indefinite term.

Decisions about the amount and duration of alimony are made in the trial court's

discretion, and the court is not required to make findings about the weight and

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                                   Opinion of the Court

credibility it assigned to evidence before it.” (citations and quotation marks omitted)).

This argument is overruled.

                                   III.     Conclusion

      We conclude competent evidence supports the findings of fact and the trial

court did not abuse its discretion in awarding alimony of $2,780 for a term of 126

months.

      AFFIRMED.

      Judge ZACHARY concurs.

      Judge MURPHY concurs in part and dissents in part in a separate opinion.

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 No. 18-95– Rea v. Rea

       MURPHY, Judge, concurs in part and dissents in part.

       I concur in the portions of the Majority’s opinion concluding that the trial

court’s findings of fact in the alimony order relating to (1) the foster children, (2)

Husband’s retirement income, (3) the parties’ reasonable expenses and relative

financial needs, and (4) Husband’s monthly income surplus were supported by

competent evidence.        However, I respectfully dissent from the Majority’s

determination that the trial court’s finding of fact of Husband’s marital misconduct

was supported by competent evidence and that the trial court made adequate findings

of fact as to the duration of alimony.

                                  A. Marital Misconduct

       Regarding Husband’s marital misconduct, the trial court made the following

findings of fact:

              A. Plaintiff engaged in acts of illicit sexual behavior prior
              to the parties’ separation. Plaintiff had the inclination and
              opportunity and had in fact committed adultery with [Sue
              Smith].

              B. Prior to the parties’ separation, Plaintiff offered
              indignities that rendered Defendant’s condition intolerable
              and her life burdensome, due to him acting on his
              adulterous relationship and Defendant becoming aware of
              that adultery prior to separation. Specifically, Defendant
              found Plaintiff kissing [Sue Smith] in a parked vehicle in
              Greenville prior to separation.

       [R 260]
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                                 MURPHY, J., dissenting

      Marital misconduct of either spouse is a relevant factor the trial court must

consider in determining the amount, duration, and manner of alimony payment.

N.C.G.S. § 50-16.3A(b)(1) (2017). There are several enumerated acts which constitute

“marital misconduct” within the meaning of N.C.G.S. § 50-16.3A(b)(1), including

illicit sexual behavior and “[i]ndignities rendering the condition of the other spouse

intolerable and life burdensome.” N.C.G.S. § 50-16.1A(3) (2017).

1. Illicit Sexual Behavior

      Illicit sexual behavior is defined as “acts of sexual or deviate sexual

intercourse, deviate sexual acts, or sexual acts defined in G.S. 14-27.20(4), voluntarily

engaged in by a spouse with someone other than the other spouse.” N.C.G.S. § 50-

16.1A(3)(a) (2017). As the Majority notes, direct evidence is not required for a spouse

to show illicit sexual behavior.      “Where adultery is sought to be proved by

circumstantial evidence, resort to the opportunity and inclination doctrine is usually

made. Under this doctrine, adultery is presumed if the following can be shown: (1)

the adulterous disposition, or inclination, of the parties; and (2) the opportunity

created to satisfy their mutual adulterous inclinations.” In re Estate of Trogdon, 330
N.C. 143, 148, 409 S.E.2d 897, 900 (1991) (internal citations omitted) (emphasis

added). Inclination and opportunity are to be considered separately, and a showing

of inclination will not remedy a failure to show sufficient opportunity. See Coachman

v. Gould, 122 N.C. App. 443, 447, 470 S.E.2d 560, 563-64 (1996). The Majority does

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                                  MURPHY, J., dissenting

not clearly delineate this distinction, which is crucial to the determination of whether

there was competent evidence to support a finding of illicit sexual behavior in this

case.

        The evidence introduced at trial tended to show that a private investigator

(“PI”) hired by Wife observed Husband’s vehicle in the parking lot of a mall on 6

August 2014. [T 11] While conducting surveillance on Husband’s vehicle, the PI

witnessed Husband arrive in another vehicle with Sue Smith and lean over to kiss

her. [T 11] Husband admitted that, prior to the kiss, he and Sue Smith “went to the

theater [and] got something to eat[,]” after which he left to work a 12-hour shift. [T

147] The only other interaction between Husband and Sue Smith introduced as

evidence of illicit sexual behavior occurred after separation, when the PI witnessed

Husband and Sue Smith’s vehicles in a Holiday Inn parking lot overnight. [T 14]

        I agree with the Majority that, based on the kiss in the parking lot on 6 August,

it was not an abuse of discretion for the trial court to find that Husband had the

inclination to engage in sexual intercourse or sexual acts with Sue Smith within the

meaning of N.C.G.S. § 50-16.1A(3)(a). However, this is not competent evidence to

support a finding that Husband had the opportunity to engage in sexual intercourse

or acts. Our caselaw has held that car rides and kisses in public do not demonstrate

specific opportunities for sexual intercourse or acts. In Coachman v. Gould, we held

that “telephone calls and a car ride are not the type of ‘opportunities’ for sexual

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                                 MURPHY, J., dissenting

intercourse intended under the Trogdon analysis.” 122 N.C. App. at 447, 470 S.E.2d

at 563. We specifically noted that the “only evidence of…social contact” between the

wife and her alleged lover was the husband finding his wife leaving with the alleged

lover in an automobile. Id. at 445, 470 S.E.2d at 562. Additionally, in Oakley v.

Oakley, 54 N.C. App. 161, 282 S.E.2d 589 (1981), we held that “evidence hardly

establishes a case for adultery” where a spouse and his or her alleged lover “were seen

together on occasion” and “once kissed…on the cheek.” Id. at 163, 282 S.E.2d at 590.

The evidence presented here that Husband rode in a vehicle with Sue Smith and the

two shared a kiss in public falls within our caselaw holding similar evidence

insufficient to show opportunity.

      Wife and the Majority contend additional pre-separation evidence from which

opportunity could be inferred was shown through her testimony that Husband did

not come home from work “one night” in July 2014. However, when asked about that

night, Wife could not remember which night it was. [T 78] See generally Coachman,

122 N.C. App. at 445, 470 S.E.2d at 562 (“Plaintiff was unable to establish the date

on which this purported rendezvous occurred . . . .”). Husband also later testified that

he was working nights at that time in 2014. [T 147] This “amounts to no more than

mere conjecture” of opportunity and not competent evidence of such. Id. at 447, 470
S.E.2d at 563.

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                                 MURPHY, J., dissenting

      The evidence that Husband and Sue Smith’s vehicles were in the parking lot

of a hotel overnight serves only a corroborative purpose, as they occurred after the

date of Husband and Wife’s separation. N.C.G.S. § 50-16.3A(b)(1) (“Nothing herein

shall prevent a court from considering incidents of post date-of-separation marital

misconduct as corroborating evidence supporting other evidence that marital

misconduct occurred during the marriage and prior to date of separation.”) Thus, this

evidence is not to be used independently as evidence that Husband had an

opportunity to engage in sexual intercourse or acts with Sue Smith. In order for this

evidence to be considered as corroborative, there must be independent pre-separation

evidence for it to corroborate, which is lacking here. Evidence of a car ride in a public

place is insufficient to show opportunity. The Majority fails to show any other pre-

separation evidence from which the trial court could find opportunity. Accordingly,

there was not competent evidence to support the trial court’s finding of illicit sexual

behavior.

2. Indignities

      “Our courts have declined to specifically define ‘indignities,’ preferring instead

to examine the facts on a case by case basis. Indignities consist of a course of conduct

or repeated treatment over a period of time including behavior such as unmerited

reproach, studied neglect, abusive language, and other manifestations of settled hate

and estrangement.” Evans v. Evans, 169 N.C. App. 358, 363-64, 610 S.E.2d 264, 269

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                                 MURPHY, J., dissenting

(2005).   Indeed, the repeated nature of the indignities is the fundamental

characteristic of indignities, and we have found error where indignities were found

based on one occasion or act. See Traywick v. Traywick, 28 N.C. App. 291, 295, 221
S.E.2d 85, 88 (1976).

      The trial court did not base its finding of indignities on a course of conduct or

repeated treatment over a period of time. Rather, it based its finding of indignities

on one incident: “Specifically, Defendant found Plaintiff kissing [Sue Smith] in a

parked vehicle in Greenville prior to separation.” (emphasis added). [R 260] While

unfortunate for the parties involved, this one act is insufficient to support a finding

of indignities, as it is not a course of conduct or repeated treatment that would render

the condition of Wife intolerable and her life burdensome. The trial court therefore

abused its discretion in finding that Husband offered indignities.

                                   B. Alimony Duration

      While I concur with the Majority’s determination that competent evidence

supported the trial court’s finding that Husband had the ability to pay alimony, the

trial court did not make made adequate findings to support the duration of its

alimony award.

      The trial court is to “exercise its discretion in determining the amount,

duration, and manner of payment of alimony. The duration of the award may be for

a specified or for an indefinite term.” N.C.G.S § 50-16.3A(b) (2017). “Decisions about

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                                 MURPHY, J., dissenting

the amount and duration of alimony are made in the trial court’s discretion, and the

court is not required to make findings about the weight and credibility it assigned to

evidence before it.” Hartsell v. Hartsell, 189 N.C. App. 65, 75, 657 S.E.2d 724, 730

(2008). However, when awarding alimony, trial courts are required to “set forth the

reasons for the amount of the alimony award, its duration, and manner of payment.”

Fitzgerald v. Fitzgerald, 161 N.C. App. 414, 421, 588 S.E.2d 517, 522 (2003). In

Squires v. Squires, we remanded “for further findings of fact concerning the duration

of the alimony award” where the trial court did not make any findings regarding the

reason for the duration it imposed. Squires v. Squires, 178 N.C. App. 251, 264, 631
S.E.2d 156, 163 (2006).

      While the Majority is correct that the determination of the duration of the

payment of alimony is within the discretion of the trial court, this discretion does not

free the trial court from its duty to make findings regarding the basis for the duration

set. The trial court made no such finding to explain its rationale for the duration of

the award. Accordingly, our caselaw “mandate[s] that we remand for further findings

of fact regarding the basis for the amount and duration of the alimony award . . . .”

Hartsell, 189 N.C. App. at 76-77, 657 S.E.2d at 731.

                                       C. Conclusion

      Under these facts, there was not competent evidence to support a finding that

Husband committed acts of marital misconduct. Because the trial court considered

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                                MURPHY, J., dissenting

the marital misconduct in its determination of the amount, duration, and manner of

alimony payment and was required to order alimony upon its finding of Husband’s

illicit sexual behavior, I would remand the trial court’s order for a new hearing on

alimony with the additional instruction, if alimony is still ordered, to make adequate

findings regarding the duration of the award. I respectfully dissent.

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