Court Opinion

ID: 9591889
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:08:39.582949+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:13:31.126181
License: Public Domain

SHINN, Acting P. J.
I concur in the foregoing opinion, but wish to add a few remarks with respect to a phase of the case not treated in the briefs. Plaintiff, with an action for divorce pending, confessed to adultery with her husband’s brother. At the trial of the instant case her counsel stipulated to her guilt. In the face of her confession and defendant’s threat to charge her with the adultery by cross-complaint, she entered into a collusive agreement with defendant, by the terms of which, in consideration of an agreed division of the community property, the existence of facts which would have constituted the defense of recrimination would be concealed from the court and plaintiff would be enabled to obtain a decree of divorce without having to meet the defense. In plain terms, the parties agreed to perpetrate a fraud upon the court and they accomplished that purpose. The property settlement agreement of which plaintiff now complains was an inseparable part of their unlawful scheme. Granted that either one could have withdrawn from the agreement before it had been fully executed, neither could be heard to complain after the purposes had been fully accomplished. The parties stood in pari delicto; the judgment leaves plaintiff in the bed she made for herself and hence does her no injustice.