Court Opinion

ID: 987440
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-02 22:15:24.641119+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:24:20.904941
License: Public Domain

LED
                                                                                      COURT OF APPr- LS

                                                                                  2013 MAR 26 Ai' 9:9
                                                                                                   2
                                                                                  S

                                                                                  S

        IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                           DIVISION II

In re                                                               No. 42660 9 II
                                                                              - -

JULIE ANN RILEY,

                               Petitioner,

         and

ROGER EUGENE HORTON,                                          UNPUBLISHED OPINION

                               Resbondent.

             BRINTNALL
         QuwN-                J. —   Julie Riley and Roger Horton were involved in a committed
                                                        2008.- Following- heir breakup Rile Y - and -__
                                         1990 - o April -
                                              t   - p                   tg their     _      _ - -__
intimate   relationship '- rom January
                      p

Horton equally divided all of their assets;except their retirement accounts, as previously agreed
in a 2006 "Non -
               Marital Partnership Agreement" the 2006 Agreement). They divided the assets
                                               (

without resort to the courts. Despite both parties substantively following the 2006 Agreement, in

2009, Riley filed a petition for equitable distribution of her and Horton's assets, seeking half of
Horton's retirement accounts. After finding the parties' 2006 Agreement unenforceable in light.

of a mutual mistake of fact, the trial court reassessed the parties"property distribution and

awarded Riley $ 9, 00 to more equally distribute quasi -community assets.
              6 0
No.42660 9 II
         - -

        Riley now appeals, arguing that (1) parties created a new agreement in 2008 that the
                                           the

trial court failed to properly enforce; 2) trial court abused its discretion by considering the
                                        ( the

decline in value of the family home now owned by Horton, while not simultaneously considering

the decline in value of Riley's new home; and (3)the trial court erred in finding that part of

Horton's retirement account at his new employer had not yet vested at the time the parties

separated. Because all Riley's claims lack merit, we affirm.
                                            FACTS

BACKGROUND

         Horton and Riley began dating in 1989 while both were in the process of divorce

proceedings.' The couple moved in together in November 1989 and, in 1992, Riley gave birth to
a   daughter, Alex. Following Alex's birth, Horton and Riley began pooling their resources,

including purchasing a new home. Horton, Riley, and Alex lived together as a family for the
next 16 years although Horton and Riley never married.

         For most of their relationship, Horton worked for the Washington State Department of

Transportation WSDOT)
               (    asan having begun his career iri1977. - to enteringthe - -- - -
                                -                -        Prior - -
relationship with Riley, Horton had already contributed a sizeable sum of money to his PERS I
retirement account. This was the only significant " eparate" asset Horton brought into the new
                                                  s

    Riley's divorce became final in October 1989, and Horton's became final in December of that
year.

2
 During the pendency of this litigation, paternity testing revealed that Horton was not the child's
biological father, although the record reflects that this has not negatively impacted Horton's
relationship with Alex.

                                                 2
No. 42660 9 II
          - -

relationship. Riley began working for WSDOT in 1994 and at the time the parties began their

relationship, had no significant separate assets.

        In 2005, Riley approached Horton about entering into the 2006 Agreement to protect

them both in case of separation or death. Horton agreed and Riley found an attorney to prepare

the agreement. The 2006 Agreement set forth which of the parties' assets would be considered
joint"property and which would be treated as "separate" property in case of separation. The
most   significant joint   asset   was   the   family   residence.   The parties' most significant separate

assets `were their individual retirement accounts; prior to executing the 2006 Agreement, Horton

made clear to Riley that it was important for him to be able to retain his retirement accounts as

separate property because his retirement accounts had been a contentious issue during his
divorce.

        The 2006 Agreement listed the " current value" of Horton's PERS I account, on

December 31, 2005, as $171, 44. and the value of his deferred compensation account as
                       69 4

9. .
47, 52. The 2006 Agreement listed the "current value" of Riley's PERS II account as of
  1
  7
December 31, 2005,as 16, 27. and her deferred compensation account -as - -- -
                     39
                     $ 7                                             -

93.
122, 53. These numbers reflected the parties' own retirement contribution amounts, not the
   7
actual (or even estimated) value of the accounts. Both parties were advised that they had the
right to consult an attorney of their choice prior to signing the agreement and both parties
declined.

 3 Sometime after the parties executed the 2006 Agreement, Horton transferred all of his deferred
 compensation account into his PERS I account. Accordingly, the trial court did not separately
 address Horton's deferred compensation account when evaluating the parties' assets.
                                                           3
No. 42660 9 II
          - -

       Riley and Horton separated less than two years after executing the 2006 Agreement and,

in April 2008, Riley moved out of the family residence. Consistent with the 2006 Agreement,

Horton bought out Riley's interest in the family home for approximately $ 000 and equally
                                                                        150,
divided the rest of the    parties'     debts and assets, except their retirement accounts.   Despite .

generally dividing the assets in accord with the 2006 Agreement, Riley filed a "Petition for
Equitable Distribution from Meretricious Relationship"in October 2009.
PROCEDURE

          At the July 2011 trial,the court addressed a number of issues, including whether the 2006

Agreement was enforceable and, if not, how the parties' assets and debts should be divided.
Riley sought to have the 2006 Agreement deemed unenforceable while simultaneously asking
the trial court to confirm the majority of the property division that occurred in 2008. Having

already received one half of the value of all of the parties' joint"assets, Riley sought one half
                     -                                        "                              -
of the portions of Horton's retirement accounts earned during their relationship. Horton sought
confirmation of the parties' 2006 Agreement dividing joint assets equally while treating his and
                                                                           - reassessment; - orton - — - -
           retirement accounts -as separate property. - In -the - event of a -
Riley's

requested that the trial court value the family residence at the time of trial, rather than at
separation, in light of the precipitous drop in the home's value since the housing market collapse.
          At trial, Riley testified that she never understood how her and Horton's different
retirement plans worked and, accordingly, failed to realize that Horton's retirement account was
 actually worth close to one million dollars (instead of the approximately $ 000 listed in the
                                                                           170,
 2006 Agreement      reflecting   his   own   contributions). Riley also testified that at the time of

 separation, Horton agreed to equally divide everything, including the retirement accounts but
 after dividing all the other assets, he changed his mind:
                                                      Ell
No. 42660 9 II
          - -

               As soon as I signed off on the house, he just laughed at me and said well,
         we're done.... goes remember this? And he held up the agreement and
                          He
         laughed.     And I said no, I don't know --   you know, what are you talking about?
         He goes it says right here in this agreement that we did that my retirement is mine
         and yours is yours.

1 Report of Proceedings (RP)at 64.

         Horton testified that contrary to Riley's assertions, he and Riley had discussed their

different retirement accounts frequently and at length and, further, that Riley understood the

differences between their retirement accounts. At trial, Horton explained that

         I was knowledgeable of what deferred comp is and I also knew what [the]PERS I
         and PERS II differences were. I knew she was going into PERS II,so I talked to
         her [in   1994] about the differences and how PERS II, you      know --   the joke is
         you've got to work till you die, you've got to work till you're 65, and so if you
         want any ability to retire earlier you need to start hitting deferred comp as hard as
         you   can.    So we discussed that at the very beginning, and she started deferred
          comp right away.

1 RP at 188 89.
            -          Horton also testified that he "developed a spread sheet that showed [his and

Riley's]potential financial resources" after retirement and that the couple reviewed that
information periodically. 1 RP at 189. He also stated that Riley knew of the contentious nature
of his divorce and thatshe agreed that their retirement assets should be kept separate prope -. - -- - --
                                                                                       -

          After the break up, Horton relied on the 2006 Agreement to divide his and Riley's assets.
Horton memorialized the division of assets in a number of ways, including in a document

entitled "Julie Riley and Roger Horton Asset Split,"
                                                   dated from April 2008, and another entitled

 4
     A version of this spreadsheet was apparently admitted as an exhibit at trial but Riley has not
 designated it for our review on appeal.
                                                       5
No. 42660 9 II
          - -

Bank Split,"
           exhaustively detailing account balances and debts. Unlike Riley, Horton never
characterized the 2008 division of assets as a separate or " ew"agreement.
                                                           n

       On July 28, the trial court delivered its ruling. The court found that both parties were
aware of the differences between the two retirement accounts, that Riley's testimony was not

credible, and that Horton did not commit fraud or concealment in " ailing to have present value
                                                                 f
numbers" for the PERS accounts listed in the 2006 Agreement.               RP (July 28, 2011) at 13

Nevertheless, the court concluded that

                          consequence of neither   party seeking independent counsel ..   there
                 a]
                  s   a

       was a mutual mistake of fact with respect to this 2006 agreement and the mistake
       was   very   significant. None of the cases we have or that I have reviewed talk
        about a mutual mistake of fact, so this is a different theory than is discussed in the
        cases.   But in fact that is what this     case   involves. There was no concealment.
        There was no failure to disclose. Everything about these assets was disclosed. I
        believe everything about the PERS retirement was known to both parties....
                So here on the 2006 agreement was an asset of Mr. Horton listed with
        177, 00 value that was really worth about $ 000, and Ms. Riley's retirement
             0                                     900,
        was worth about five times also of the amount that was listed on that agreement.
        So I can only conclude that, although there was full disclosure of the nature and
        everything about the assets, the parties were mistaken about what the value of
        their assets were, and they were badly mistaken.

ZZP (July 2832011)at 1- - -- - -- - - - - - - - -- - --
                     20.
                      9

        After creating this new "mutual mistake" theory, the trial court announced it would not
enforce the 2006 Agreement.         The trial court also ignored Riley's request to uphold the 2008

division of assets. Instead, the court reevaluated all of the couple's assets and concluded,

 5
  We note that in the "Asset Split"document, Roger agreed to pay more than half of all expenses
related to Alex's care, including contributing 75 percent of the cost of a vehicle for Alex, paying
for Alex's car insurance, covering 75 percent of all of Alex's medical expenses, and allowing
 Julie to claim Alex as a dependent for federal income tax purposes.

 6 In line with Horton's testimony, the trial court did not treat the 2008 division of assets as a new
 or separate property agreement reached by the parties independent of the 2006 Agreement.
                                                      N
No. 42660 9 II
          - -

         I am satisfied from the documents that the parties equally divided the bank
         accounts as they existed in April 2008 and equally divided their personal
         property.

                   These   are   the values that will be put       on   the balance sheet:   The home,
         which is awarded to Mr. Horton; will be put on the balance sheet at 'a value of
         zero. Cash from the home equity loan in April 2008 was given to Ms. Riley.

         That was $
                  150, 00. That will be put on her side of the balance sheet. Ms. Riley
                      0
         has asked that an adjustment be made because the home which she purchased
         with the money has also declined in value, but it is my opinion that the Court does
         not examine how Ms. Riley chose to spend the money which she received from
         the property division of the parties. Accordingly, no adjustment will be made.
                   By the way, there were no values indicated as to what the purchase value
         was, what the current value is.

RP (July 28, 2011)at 22 24.
                        -

          In   addition, based   on   its   own   calculations,the trial court concluded that the current value

of Horton's PERS I account was $
                               588, 25, while the current value of Riley's PERS II account
                                  2

plus the value of her deferred compensation was $290, 62. After accounting for the $ 000
                                                    5                              150,
Horton had already paid to Riley for the home, the trial court concluded that a $ 9, 00 judgment
                                                                                6 0
to Riley would equitably distribute the quasi -community assets. Despite the trial court's ruling
in her favor, Riley appeals. Horton does not cross appeal.

 7 At trial, Riley called a certified public accountant to testify about the value of the parties'
 retirement accounts. But as the trial court noted in its ruling, the expert's testimony "was not
 crystal clear" and the court was not "entirely clear that all of [the expert's]assumptions were
 ones on which the Court would generally rely in making a careful analysis of present value" of
 retirement accounts. RP (July 28, 2011) at 9.
 8
     This division of assets left Riley with approximately $ 09, 62 and Horton with approximately
                                                           5 5
 519, 25.
    2

                                                              7
No. 42660 9 II
          - -

                                          DISCUSSION

FAILURE TO ENFORCE THE 2008 PROPERTY " GREEMENT"
                                     A

       Riley contends that the trial court erred in failing to enforce the "2008 Agreement" and,

accordingly, she is entitled to a judgment of 143, 31.instead of the $ 000 awarded by the
                                              50
                                              $  8                   69,
trial court. Because the record does not reflect that the parties created a new agreement in 2008

but, instead, merely effectuated the 2006 Agreement at the time they separated, Riley's argument
is meritless.

        Washington courts have long recognized the validity of separate property agreements

made after a marriage, including informal oral agreements. See, e. .,
                                                                 g Gage Y. Gage, 78 Wash.
262, 265, 138 P. 886 (1914).Nevertheless, courts require that "clear and convincing evidence
shows both the existence of the agreement and mutual observance of the agreement."DewBerry
v. George, 115 Wash. App. 351, 359, 62 P. d 525, review denied, 150 Wash. 2d 1006 (2003)
                                      3
emphasis added). A court cannot, based upon general considerations of abstract justice, make
                 "
a contract for parties which they did not make for themselves." Wagner v. Wagner 95 Wash. 2d
94; 104, 621P. d 1279 (1980). ----- - - - - -- - - - -- - - -- -- -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - - --
            - 2

        On appeal, as at the trial court level, Riley simply asserts that the parties' 2008 execution
of the 2006 Agreement constituted a new, separately enforceable property agreement. In support
of this contention, Riley states that "both parties testified as to the existence of the 2008

Agreement, they both substantially complied with the 2008 Agreement, and documentary
 evidence was admitted establishing the terms of the 2008 Agreement." Br. of Appellant at 10

 footnotes omitted). Hardly any evidence, let alone the clear and convincing variety, supports
 this contention.
No.42660 9 II
         - -

       Exhibits 3 and 36 are the only documentary evidence before this court that could

conceivably support the   notion of   a "new" 2008        .Agreement.   When read together, however,

these exhibits . do little more than establish that, for the most part, the parties split the

nonretirement accounts    equally, exactly   as   called for in the 2006 Agreement.    For instance,

exhibit 36 details the parties' bank accounts and debts and exhaustively plots what must happen

to effectuate a 50150 split of the assets. Along the same lines, exhibit 3 includes a table listing

high dollar assets (like the house and cars) and high dollar debts (mortgages and car loans) and
shows that for a 50150 asset split with Horton keeping the house, Horton would need to transfer

150, 38 to Riley.
   0

        Unlike the 2006 Agreement, these 2008 "agreements"were not signed by the parties or,
for that matter, indicate that they are anything more than documents memorializing the execution
of the 2006 Agreement at the time the parties separated in 2008. And although Riley asserts that
both parties testified as to the existence of the "2008 Agreement,"the record does not support
this assertion. At trial, Riley stated that exhibit 3 was "a document that [Horton] put together

trying to put paper howwe weregonna,how weshould split our-assets.'-'-- at 48. Riley - -
        -                                                         1 -RP -
presented no other evidence at trial to support the notion of a new agreement and independent
 review of the record reflects that Horton never testified to,nor discussed, a new 2008 agreement.

        In her reply brief, Riley attempts to show how "[ he numerous differences between the
                                                       t]
 provisions of the [2006 Agreement] and the 2008 Agreement demonstrate that the parties entered
 a wholly new agreement." Reply Br. of Appellant at 3. The only differences she points this
 court to,however, involve Horton's purchase of Riley's share of the family residence. Language

 in the 2006 Agreement states that upon termination of the relationship, either party shall have
                                                                         "
 the option to buy out the interest of the other party in this property. Notice of an intention to
                                                     01
No. 42660 9 II
          - -

exercise the rights under this provision must be given in writing within thirty (30)days of the

termination of this agreement." Clerk's Papers (CP)at 14. Despite Horton clearly exercising

this option (and Riley's willingness to quitclaim her interest in the home in exchange for over
150, 00),
   0 Riley contends that Horton could not have been exercising this option under the 2006
Agreement because Horton never notified Riley of his intent to buy her half of the property,from
her, in writing. Riley's executing the quitclaim deed and her accepting $ 000 belies her lack
                                                                        150,
of proper notice argument.

       Equally frivolous, Riley asserts that because the 2006 Agreement called for each party to
select an appraiser who shall appraise the property," at 14, and, instead, only Horton had the
                                                    CP
house appraised, the parties "clearly"were operating under a new 2008 property agreement. At
trial,however, Horton testified to the fact that Riley wanted to get her own appraisal but "called
somebody and then cancelled at the last minute." 1 RP at 195. Riley's failure to get a second
appraisal does not establish the existence of a new separate property agreement.
       After declaring the 2006 Agreement unenforceable, the trial court refused to recognize
the validity of theparties' division ofassets -and reassessed all of Horton and -Riley's- - -
                2008 --
                -   -        - - -                 -          --
property (including their retirement accounts). In some instances, this reassessment favored

Riley: the trial court recognized her right to a generous portion of Horton's retirement income.
In other instances, the reassessment disfavored her, namely, when the trial court reassessed the
value of the     family home   in   light   of the decline in the   housing market. But no clear and

 convincing evidence in the record establishes the existence of a separately enforceable 2008
 agreement between the parties.       Accordingly, because courts should not "make a contract for

 parties which they did not make for themselves,"we hold meritless Riley's contention that the
 parties created a new and separately enforceable 2008 agreement. Wagner, 95 Wn.2d at 104.
                                                      10
No. 42660 9 II
          - -

REASSESSMENT OF THE FAMILY RESIDENCE

       Riley next argues that the trial court abused its discretion in valuing Horton's share of the

family residence at the time of trial, rather, than at the time of separation, without simultaneously

accounting for the    decline in value of her   own    home.   Because Riley failed to present any

evidence at trial concerning the decline in value of the home she bought with the proceeds she

received from Horton's purchase of her share of their former home, the invited error doctrine

precludes this argument.

        Trial courts have broad discretion in valuing property and we will only overturn a trial

court's valuation if there has been a manifest abuse of discretion. In re Marriage of Gillespie, 89
Wash. App. 390, 403, 948 P. d 1338 (1997).Furthermore, trial courts have the discretion to value
                        2
the parties' assets as of the time of trial, instead of the date of separation. Koher v. Morgan, 93
Wash. App. 398, 404, 968 P. d 920 (1998),
                       2             review denied, 137 Wash. d 1035 (1999).Nevertheless,
                                                          2
our Supreme Court has suggested that "[ f the property is to be valued as of the date of trial
                                      i]
rather than the date of separation, appreciation as well as depreciation in value should be
considered in making an
                     -      equitable
                            -                       Luckey v..
                                        division. - "      - Zucker; 71Wn. d
                                                                       - 2       165,168, 426 Rawle d -- - - -
                                                                                      -        2

981 (1967).

        Here, the trial court explained,its decision to devalue the worth of the family residence:

        In today's economy, both in settlement conferences and in trials dividing assets of
        parties to marriages and this type of relationship, I don't think it is fair to leave
        the party getting the real estate saddled with a high value on the house when at the
        time of trial there has been a dramatic decline in the value of the house.
                 There is nothing that the parties could have done of their own making to
        preserve the value as to what it was at the time of separation. It was a matter of
        the market.

 RP (July 28, 2011) at 21 -22. The trial court also recognized that "both parties suffer from that
 market decline."RP (July 28, 2011)at 22.
                                                  11
No.42660 9 II
         - -

              At trial, Riley failed to present any evidence that her new residence suffered the same

kind of property value decline as Horton's. contrast, Horton testified that the family residence
                                           In

was appraised at approximately $ 000 at the time of separation but only $ 50, 00 at the time
                               750,                                     5 0
of trial. Riley testified only that she purchased a home for $ 45, 00 after the relationship ended.
                                                             4 0
The trial court recognized as much, stating in its oral ruling that "there were no values indicated
as   to ...    what the current value is" Riley's home. RP (July 28, 2011)at 24.
                                         of

              Accordingly, even if the trial court erred in failing to consider the depreciation in value of

Riley's home, which we do not hold, Riley herself was responsible for any error. Because the
invited error doctrine prohibits a party from setting up an error at trial and then complaining of it
on    appeal, we      conclude that   Riley   is   precluded   from   raising   this argument   on   appeal. City of

Seattle v. Patu, 147 Wash. d 717, 720, 58 P. d 273 (2002).
                       2                 3

THE EXELTECH ACCOUNT

              Riley last argues that she is entitled to half of Horton's vested retirement account from
his new employer, Exeltech, earned before their 2008 separation. The trial court disagreed and
found that "there was no relationship interestin that account" because it had not yet vested by - - -
                                                                              -

the time of separation. CP at 83. Because substantial evidence supports the trial court's finding,
we affirm the trial court's decision as related to the Exeltech account.

              We review " indings of fact under a `substantial evidence standard, defined as a quantum
                        f

of evidence sufficient to persuade a rational fair -minded person the premise is true."'
                                                                                       Korst v.

McMahon, 136 Wash. App. 202, 206, 148 P. d 1081 (2006) quoting Sunnyside Valley Irrigation
                                     3               (
Dist. v. Dickie, 149 Wash. d 873, 879, 73 P. d 369 (2003)). is a deferential standard, which
                       2                 3              This

 9
     After retiring from the State in April 2007, Horton began working as a consulting engineer for
 Exeltech.
                                                           12
No. 42660 9 II
          - -

views reasonable inferences in a light most favorable to the prevailing party. Sunderland Family

Treatment Servs.     v.    City of Pasco,   127 Wash. d
                                                  2        782, 788, 903 P. d 986 ( 1995). If there is
                                                                          2

substantial evidence, then "a reviewing court will not substitute its judgment for that of the trial

court even though it may have resolved a factual dispute differently." Sunnyside Valley, 149
Wash. d at 879 80.
  2          -

        At trial, the parties presented conflicting evidence concerning the Exeltech account.

Horton testified that by the time the parties separated in April 2008, his Exeltech retirement

account had not yet vested "so the extra moneys if he were] to quit that day would go back to
                                                   [

his] employer." 2 RP at 229. Riley did not testify specifically about the Exeltech account but
submitted exhibit 12, an account.statement for the period from January 1, 2008 to March 31,
2008.   Although the summary appears to reflect that by March 31, 2008, $ , of the
                                                                        02
                                                                        4776.
account had vested, a disclaimer states that "[the estimated ` vested balance' is only an
                                                ]

illustration, and   your   plan   is not bound   by it. Only   your   plan   administrator ...   can decide your

vested account."Ex. 12.

        Zri light ofthisdisclaimer and Horton's testimony the trial court inferred that - - - -- -- - -- -
                  -                                           -
Horton's retirement account had not yet vested by the time the parties separated (which was less
than   one   year after Horton      began work    at   Exeltech). Because Riley has pointed to no other

evidence in the record supporting her argument, and this court is in no better position to decide
this issue than the trial court, we defer to the trial court's judgment and conclude that Horton's

Exeltech account had not yet vested at the time of separation. Sunnyside Valley, 149 Wash. d at
                                                                                       2
 879 80.
     -

         In conclusion, the record does not support Riley's contention that the parties created a

 new, separately enforceable property agreement in 2008, the trial court did not abuse its
                                                         13
No.42660 9 II
         - -

discretion in considering the family home's declining value when it reassessed the parties' assets,

and Riley fails to present evidence sufficient for us to conclude that the trial court erroneously
ruled that Horton's Exeltech account had not vested by the time the parties split up.

Accordingly, we affirm the trial court.

       A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW

040,
2.6.it is so ordered.
 0

                                                  Q V INN-
                                                         BRINTNALL, J.
We concur:

                                                 14