Court Opinion

ID: 2700842
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 19:26:05.147276+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:53:16.289479
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Fordyce v. Fordyce, 2013-Ohio-536.]
                              STATE OF OHIO, NOBLE COUNTY

                                 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                                       SEVENTH DISTRICT

MARGARET E. FORDYCE                            )   CASE NO. 11 NO 389
                                               )
        PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE                     )
                                               )
VS.                                            )   OPINION
                                               )
ROCKY A. FORDYCE                               )
                                               )
        DEFENDANT-APPELLANT                    )

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS:                          Civil Appeal from the Court of Common
                                                   Pleas of Noble County, Ohio
                                                   Case No. 209-0071

JUDGMENT:                                          Affirmed.

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee:                            Atty. Miles D. Fries
                                                   320 Main Street, P.O. Box 190
                                                   Zanesville, OH 43702-0190

For Defendant-Appellant:                           Atty. Alan P. Friedman
                                                   7110 E. Livingston Avenue
                                                   Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068

                                                   Atty. Kathryn R. Gugle
                                                   2720 Airport Drive, Suite 100
                                                   Columbus, Ohio 43219

JUDGES:

Hon. Cheryl L. Waite
Hon. Gene Donofrio
Hon. Mary DeGenaro
                                                   Dated: February 14, 2013
[Cite as Fordyce v. Fordyce, 2013-Ohio-536.]
WAITE, J.

        {¶1}    This matter is before us following a remand from our earlier decision.

Appellant Rocky Fordyce and Margaret Fordyce, Appellee, were divorced in 2010.

Appellee filed an appeal of the trial court’s division of property and spousal support

order. On appeal, this Court reversed both the division of property and the spousal

support order because it did not appear that the court applied the appropriate

statutory requirements when making either determination.

        {¶2}    On remand the trial court applied the appropriate factors and issued a

new support order. Appellant has appealed the order as it involves spousal support,

contending that the trial court did not have jurisdiction on appeal to award indefinite

support and abused its discretion in awarding both the duration and amount of

support. Based on our review of the record, the judgment of the trial court was

reasonable and took into account the necessary factors. Because the trial court did

not abuse its discretion, Appellant’s two assignments of error are without merit and

are overruled.

                                 Factual and Procedural History

        {¶3}    The facts are unchanged from the prior appeal. Appellant and Appellee

were married in 1980. The couple has two children who were emancipated adults

when Appellee filed her complaint for divorce.          At the time of the final hearing

Appellee was 47 and Appellant was 50 years old.              Appellee has a high school

education and, at the time of the final hearing, was studying social services at

Washington State Community College. Throughout the marriage Appellee worked

mostly part-time in minimum wage jobs. Her last full-time job was over ten years
                                                                                     -2-

ago. Prior to filing for divorce, Appellee worked at Pilot, where she earned $7.21 an

hour and earned a total of $8,871.27 in 2008. Appellee estimated that she worked,

on average, 16 hours a week. Appellee testified that she left her employment at Pilot

in January of 2009 to “work on her marriage,” which she admitted amounted to sitting

down and talking about the marriage with Appellant. Appellee also testified she had

health problems including diabetes, a heart stent, severe depression, and anxiety.

      {¶4}   Appellant was the primary source of income during the marriage. He

has a high school education and worked at Furmanite of America for the last sixteen

years. Appellant testified he was an account manager in 2009, with a salary of

$72,000 a year, but two weeks before the final hearing in the divorce case the

company downsized and he was demoted to supervisor, with an hourly wage of

$26.00. Appellant testified that because of this demotion his yearly income would be

$54,000.

      {¶5}   Appellee filed a complaint for divorce as well as a motion for various

temporary orders. Appellant responded. After a hearing, the trial court issued an

order on June 10, 2009 that required Appellant to pay the mortgage, utilities, taxes,

insurance, and car payments during the pendency of the divorce, provide health

coverage for Appellee and pay her $500 a month in temporary spousal support until

a permanent determination was made by the court.

      {¶6}   Subsequently, on February 19, 2010, the trial court granted a divorce.

The trial court found that Appellee was voluntarily underemployed but ordered

Appellant to pay $500 a month in spousal support until January 15, 2013, or until
                                                                                   -3-

Appellee marries or cohabits with another, whichever occurs earlier. Appellee filed a

timely appeal of this entry, challenging both the division of property and the spousal

support award on the grounds that the trial court abused its discretion in dividing

property and awarding support without explicitly considering the factors set forth in

R.C. 3105.18(C)(1). This Court sustained both of Appellee’s assignments of error,

reversed both the division of property and the support order, and remanded the

matter to the trial court for further proceedings in accordance with R.C. 3105.171 and

3105.18(C)(1).   On remand, the trial court held a hearing on both issues.         On

September 23, 2011, the court issued another entry dividing the parties’ property and

ordering support. Appellant filed a timely appeal from this order as it pertains to

support.

                                 Argument and Law

                             Assignment of Error No. 1

      THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION ON REMAND WHEN

      IT MODIFIED ITS PRIOR ORDER WHICH LIMITED THE PAYMENT

      OF SPOUSAL SUPPORT TO JANUARY 15, 2013 BY EXTENDING

      THE PAYMENT OF SPOUSAL SUPPORT INDEFINITELY.

                             Assignment of Error No. 2

      THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION ON REMAND WHEN

      IT    RE-DETERMINED          SPOUSAL        SUPPORT       USING       AN

      EQUALIZATION OF INCOME STANDARD.
                                                                                      -4-

       {¶7}   Appellant first argues that our order reversing the original support order

was not a complete reversal because Appellee explicitly mentioned only the amount

of the support order in her 2010 appeal, and did not appear to attack the entire order.

Appellant contends that because of this, that portion of the trial court’s decision as to

the duration of support is res judicata and survived reversal. In Appellant’s argument,

he misunderstands the effect of reversal of a final appealable order, misapplies the

doctrine of res judicata, and ignores the explicit language of R.C. 3105.18(C), which

we expressly charged the trial court to apply when making a new determination of

spousal support. Appellant also attaches material to his brief that was not filed in the

trial court. This material is not properly before us on appeal. We cannot consider

information that was not provided to the trial court, and we must disregard all such

material filed in this instance. State ex rel. Montgomery Cty. Pub. Defender v. Siroki,

108 Ohio St.3d 207, 2006-Ohio-662. 842 N.E.2d 508.            The balance of both of

Appellant’s assignments of error challenge the trial court’s discretion in awarding

spousal support, and for this reason they will be considered together.

       {¶8}   We vacated the trial court’s original support award in its entirety and

remanded the matter, as follows:

       In sum, the case is remanded to the trial court because this Court

       cannot adequately review the decision of the trial court. The trial court’s

       entry does not determine whether certain property was marital or

       separate property.    Moreover, the spousal support award does not

       reference R.C. 3105.18(C)(1) or analyze the factors contained therein.
                                                                                         -5-

       Accordingly, both of Margaret’s assignments of error are meritorious,

       and the trial court’s judgment regarding the property division and

       spousal support is reversed, and the case remanded for further

       proceedings on these issues.

Fordyce v. Fordyce, 7th Dist. No. 10 NO 372, 2011-Ohio-3406, ¶20. The effect of

our reversal of the trial court’s original order was to return the matter to the trial court

for a complete review and determination of the division of assets and support. No

portion of the original order as to those issues remained intact once the order was

reversed and remanded.

       {¶9}   The code section we explicitly charged the trial court to consider, R.C.

3105.18(C)(1), provides:

       In determining whether spousal support is appropriate and reasonable,

       and in determining the nature, amount, and terms of payment, and

       duration of spousal support, which is payable either in gross or in

       installments, the court shall consider all of the following factors* * *

The section explicitly includes the duration of support and continues with a list of

factors for the court to consider. On remand, the trial court ordered the parties to

submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law as to what property, if any,

should be excluded from the division of property. The parties were also ordered to

submit information relevant to whether spousal support should be ordered, and the

amount and duration of that award. On September 23, 2011, the trial court issued an

order encompassing findings of fact and conclusions of law as to the division of
                                                                                     -6-

property and spousal support. The trial court explicitly reserved jurisdiction over the

support issue in ¶6, p. 6 of the entry.

       {¶10} The factors the trial court was to consider on remand are as follows:

       (a)   The income of the parties, from all sources, including, but not

       limited to, income derived from property divided, disbursed, or

       distributed under section 3105.171 of the Revised Code;

       (b) The relative earning abilities of the parties;

       (c) The ages and the physical, mental, and emotional conditions of the

       parties;

       (d) The retirement benefits of the parties;

       (e) The duration of the marriage;

       (f) The extent to which it would be inappropriate for a party, because

       that party will be custodian of a minor child of the marriage, to seek

       employment outside the home;

       (g)   The standard of living of the parties established during the

       marriage;

       (h) The relative extent of education of the parties;

       (i) The relative assets and liabilities of the parties, including but not

       limited to any court-ordered payments by the parties;
                                                                                  -7-

      (j) The contribution of each party to the education, training, or earning

      ability of the other party, including, but not limited to, any party’s

      contribution to the acquisition of a professional degree of the other

      party;

      (k) The time and expense necessary for the spouse who is seeking

      spousal support to acquire education, training, or job experience so that

      the spouse will be qualified to obtain appropriate employment, provided

      the education, training, or job experience, and employment is, in fact,

      sought;

      (l)   The tax consequences, for each party, of an award of spousal

      support;

      (m) The lost income production capacity of either party that resulted

      from that party’s marital responsibilities;

      (n) Any other factor that the court expressly finds to be relevant and

      equitable.

R.C. 3105.18(C)(1)(a)-(n).

      {¶11} The trial court determined with regard to factors (a), (b), and (m) that

Appellant has been steadily employed at Furmanite of America for the past 16 years,

working as a superintendent until he was promoted to account manager. As account

manager he earned $72,000, the use of a car, and a stipend for living expenses.
                                                                                    -8-

Around the time the divorce was filed, Appellant’s income was reduced due to

downsizing and his income at the time of hearing on remand was $54,000. Appellee

was again found to be voluntarily unemployed, and the court imputed a minimum

wage of $15,400 as income, commensurate with her earning ability.

       {¶12} Appellee was primarily a homemaker during the marriage, and took

care of the children, as well as her dying father. She also occasionally worked part-

time during the marriage, but was not employed at the time of trial. Her workplaces

included a convenience store and a clothing factory. She was also employed as a

home health aide, but the field now requires certification which she does not have,

and apparently does not intend to obtain. Her highest earnings in any single year

were $17,000, more than a decade ago. Most recently, Appellee was working at a

Pilot convenience store, but quit her job there. She was actively, but unsuccessfully,

looking for work at the time of the hearing.

       {¶13} The parties did not have income-generating assets. The findings made

and conclusions reached by the trial court as to the remaining factors are as follows:

       {¶14} (c) At the time of the divorce, Appellant was 50 and Appellee was 47.

Appellant was in good health and would have no trouble continuing to work.

       {¶15} (d) Appellant has retirement benefits in the form of a 401(k) account;

Appellee has no retirement benefits.

       {¶16} (e) The parties were married on July 5, 1980 and the marriage lasted

approximately thirty years.

       {¶17} (f) The parties have two children, but both are emancipated.
                                                                                       -9-

       {¶18} (g) The standard of living during the marriage was moderate; needs

were met, but without luxuries.

       {¶19} (h)    Appellant and Appellee both have a high school education;

Appellant has completed law enforcement training and worked in law enforcement

prior to the marriage.      Appellee has attended classes at Washington State

Community College, but has not received any degree.

       {¶20} (i) There is a substantial income disparity between the parties.

       {¶21} (j) Neither party contributed significantly to the education of the other.

       {¶22} (k) Appellee, the spouse seeking support, has skills sufficient to obtain

a minimum wage job and was seeking employment.

       {¶23} (l) Appellee, earning minimum wage, would be in the 15% tax bracket

and her net income would be approximately $11,550; Appellant, earning $54,000, is

in the 25% tax bracket and would net approximately $36,000 after taxes. A spousal

support award would make their net income approximately equivalent.

       {¶24} (n) According to the trial court, the long duration of the marriage, the

disparity in the earnings and earning capacities of the parties, and the lack of income-

producing assets allocated to Appellee all made an award of spousal support for an

indefinite term reasonable and appropriate.

       {¶25} When reviewing an award of spousal support, an appellate court will not

reverse the trial court's award absent an abuse of discretion. Miller v. Miller, 7th Dist.

No. 08 JE 26, 2009-Ohio-3330 at ¶139, citing Faller v. Faller, 7th Dist. No. 07 MA

216, 2008-Ohio-6638, ¶48, Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d at 219, 450
                                                                                 -10-

N.E.2d 1140 (1983).     When reviewing a trial court's decision for an abuse of

discretion, we cannot simply substitute our judgment for that of the trial court.

Holcomb v. Holcomb, 44 Ohio St.3d 128, 131, 541 N.E.2d 597 (1989). The term

abuse of discretion connotes more than an error of judgment; it implies that the trial

court's attitude was unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable. Blakemore at 219.

The trial court's discretion is not unlimited and is governed in large part by the

spousal support statute, R.C. 3105.18. See Waller v. Waller, 163 Ohio App.3d 303,

2005-Ohio-4891, 837 N.E.2d 843, at ¶40. Pursuant to R.C 3105.18(B), the trial court

must divide marital assets before determining whether spousal support is appropriate

and reasonable. See, also, Lepowsky v. Lepowsky, 7th Dist. No. 04 CO 42, 2006-

Ohio-667, at ¶51.

      {¶26} When determining whether spousal support is appropriate and

reasonable, the trial court should consider the statutory factors as a whole and not

consider any one factor in isolation. Lepowsky, at ¶51, citing Kaechle v. Kaechle, 35

Ohio St.3d 93, 96, 518 N.E.2d 1197 (1988).         To this end, the court need not

expressly comment on each factor but must indicate the basis for an award of

spousal support in sufficient detail to enable a reviewing court to determine that the

award is fair, equitable, and in accordance with the law. Boney v. Boney, 7th Dist.

No. 09 NO 363 2010-Ohio-4245 at ¶ 23, citing Kaechle at 96.

      {¶27} The trial court in this instance applied the required factors and

determined that support for an indefinite term was reasonable and appropriate. The

court then made a support calculation designed to give both parties, after imputing
                                                                                   -11-

minimum wage income to Appellee, approximately the equivalent means of support.

The court included in its decision a calculation of net income of the parties to explain

the rationale for the support amount. The essence of Appellant’s arguments, apart

from his contention that our decision vacating the original order was limited to the

amount and not the duration of support awarded, is his dissatisfaction with how the

court weighed the factors. Questions regarding weight of the evidence fall to the

province of the trial court, whose direct interaction with the parties places it in a

superior position to view the totality of the circumstances. Unless it is apparent that

the trial court inappropriately gave undue weight to any one factor to the exclusion of

others, the fact that Appellant would apply the factors differently is not grounds for

reversal.

       {¶28} The trial court imputed income to Appellee, clearly expecting her to

contribute to her own support. The court also ordered support, demonstrating a

recognition that although she should be able to contribute some amount, she would

not be able, after a long marriage and checkered employment history, to supply

enough income to be completely self-sufficient. The court carefully considered the

tax burden on each party before using net income to calculate a reasonable support

amount. The court ordered that Appellee would receive support until she “remarries,

cohabits, or dies, or until further order of this Court.” (9/23/11 J.E., ¶5). The court

also reserved jurisdiction over support in order to allow subsequent adjustment as

necessary, and split the costs of the proceeding evenly between the parties. In its

decision, the trial court clearly applies the necessary factors and includes findings to
                                                                                  -12-

buttress its determination that support for an indeterminate duration is appropriate.

The court’s reservation of jurisdiction is designed to allow the parties to seek an

adjustment of the award should it become necessary.             If Appellee becomes

employed at a rate higher than minimum wage, Appellant has recourse. Should

Appellant’s circumstances change, both parties have recourse.         This decision is

supported by the findings, reasonably accommodates both parties, and considers the

totality of the circumstances; this record does not reflect that an abuse of discretion

may have occurred.

                                     Conclusion

      {¶29} The trial court’s decision regarding spousal support is based on a

consideration of all factors listed in R.C. 3105.18(C), without giving undue weight to

any single factor, and is expressly designed to achieve an appropriate and

reasonable result under the circumstances. Appellant’s first and second assignments

of error are without merit and are overruled.     The judgment of the trial court is

affirmed.

Donofrio, J., concurs.

DeGenaro, P.J., concurs.