Court Opinion

ID: 9666335
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 01:11:06.888252+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:26.633039
License: Public Domain

POPOVICH, Chief Judge,
concurring specially.
I concur with the majority’s decision to remand this matter for detailed findings. However, I disagree with the analysis used by the majority in two respects.
1. The majority' correctly asserts that the trial courts are accorded broad discretion in both valuation and distribution of marital assets including pensions. However, this discretion is not unlimited and must be based upon “clear documentary or testimonial evidence or by comprehensive findings issued by the court.” Ronnkvist, 331 N.W.2d at 766. Unless there is clear documentary or testimonial evidence or comprehensive findings to the contrary, the presumption with regard to retirement age advanced by amicus is a good one: A person is presumed to retire at his or her mandatory age of retirement and any pension should be valued at that date unless the evidence proves the potential retiree has made plans to retire at an earlier date. Of course, if evidence indicates the potential retiree plans to retire at an earlier date, the pension should be valued as of the planned retirement date.
The presumption advanced by amicus would lend both uniformity and fairness to pension valuations. In contrast, the use of an average age of retirement is flawed unless there is direct evidence that the individual in question is subject to the same factors which produce the average age.
In this case the use of an average age is particularly onerous. First, husband testified that he planned to retire at the mandatory age, he had no intention of retiring immediately, and he applied for a position driving a command vehicle. There was no evidence to the contrary and no evidence about the factors which produced the average age or that the factors applied to husband.
Second, recent legislation ordered Minneapolis to “make every reasonable attempt to provide less hazardous duty employment positions” to those who become marginally or less severely disabled. Minn.Stat. § 423A.13 (1984). Clearly this legislation will enable some firefighters to work longer and should significantly affect the average retirement age of 58.
2. Even with detailed findings I would be reluctant to affirm maintenance for seven years. Wife is not only working but she has been employed by one employer, the Minneapolis School Board, for the past 15 years. She has not taken any opportunity to progress because she did not want to leave the particular school in which she was working. She is relatively young. Based on her circumstances and her potential for greater income, I believe a shorter period of maintenance is sufficient.