Court Opinion

ID: 4636196
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-11-24 22:33:20.165359+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:58:30.207905
License: Public Domain

2020 IL App (1st) 190234

                                                                     FIFTH DIVISION
                                                                     SEPTEMBER 18, 2020

No. 1-19-0234

In re MARRIAGE of                                    )       Appeal from the
                                                     )       Circuit Court of
DANA DEA,                                            )       Cook County.
                                                     )
       Petitioner-Appellee,                          )
                                                     )       No. 2008 D 8694
and                                                  )
                                                     )
PAUL DEA,                                            )       Honorable
                                                     )       Jeanne Cleveland Bernstein,
       Respondent-Appellant.                         )       Judge Presiding.

       JUSTICE CUNNINGHAM delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
       Justices Mikva and Harris concurred in the judgment and opinion.

                                            OPINION

¶1     The respondent-appellant, Paul Dea (Paul), appeals from the circuit court of Cook County’s

denial of his motion to modify maintenance regarding the maintenance amount he receives from

petitioner-appellee, Dana Dea (Dana). For the following reasons, we affirm the judgment of the

circuit court of Cook County.

¶2                                      BACKGROUND

¶3     The parties were married in 1989 and divorced on April 3, 2012. In the judgment for

dissolution, the trial court awarded maintenance to Paul in the amount of $1600 per month (the

2012 dissolution judgment). The trial court determined that Dana’s monthly living expenses were

$4853.09 and Paul’s monthly living expenses were $3800. Paul is disabled due to multiple

sclerosis (MS) and receives social security benefits. Prior to his MS diagnosis in 2005, Paul worked
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as a truck driver. For most of the marriage, Dana took care of the parties’ children and worked as

a waitress. In 2001, however, she began a career in information technology (IT). She was working

in IT at a law firm and earning a salary of $83,642 when the parties divorced. In the 2012

dissolution judgment, the trial court noted that Dana’s financial status had improved through her

recent career change and that her income was steadily growing, while Paul’s income had declined

due to his disability. The 2012 dissolution judgment stated: “Paul Dea has no present or future

ability to earn income and he cannot be rehabilitated so as to support himself through appropriate

employment.”

¶4     Dana appealed the 2012 dissolution judgment. On appeal, this court remanded the case

back to the trial court regarding the maintenance amount. In re Marriage of Dea, 2013 IL App

(1st) 122213. We held that the trial court had failed to consider Paul’s income from his social

security benefits when it determined the maintenance award. Id. ¶ 22. We found that Paul only

needed an additional $395 per month to pay for his expenses. Id. ¶ 29. Our opinion also noted that

Dana would not be able to pay for her own expenses if she was required to pay a maintenance

amount of $1600 per month. Id. ¶ 30.

¶5     On remand, the trial court modified the 2012 dissolution judgment and adjusted Paul’s

maintenance award to $395 per month.

¶6     On February 14, 2017, Paul filed a motion to modify maintenance, which is the subject of

the instant appeal. His motion alleged that there had been a substantial change in circumstances,

necessitating an increase in his maintenance award. Specifically, Paul alleged, inter alia, that his

Social Security benefits had been reduced by $200 per month, that his MS had “worsened,” making

“any type of employment nearly impossible,” and that Dana had a “substantial income” that could

support him.

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¶7     A hearing on Paul’s motion to modify maintenance commenced. Paul testified that his

mortgage payment is $737 per month and his health insurance deductible is $184 per month. Paul

testified that his social security benefits are $2272 per month. Paul’s counsel later clarified to the

trial court that Paul’s social security benefits have increased approximately 5% over the last five

years. Paul also testified that, in the 2012 dissolution judgment, he was awarded $216,000 from

his retirement account, but it was down to $33,000 at the time of his motion to modify. Paul further

testified that he does not have any credit card debt and is able to pay his monthly expenses. He

explained that he puts the monthly maintenance payments that he receives from Dana into a

savings account “in case [he] need[s] things done to the house or something [he] may need.”

¶8     Paul testified that he worked as a security guard at a wind farm for a short time after the

2012 dissolution judgment, where he made $10 per hour, but he no longer worked because of his

health issues. During his testimony, the following exchange ensued:

                       “[PAUL’S COUNSEL]: Now, could you—are you suffering

               from any physical conditions at this time, sir?

                       [PAUL]: Well, I have multiple sclerosis.

                       ***

                       [PAUL’S COUNSEL]: Now, sir, have—what do you—how

               long have you experienced—strike that. How long have you

               suffered from multiple sclerosis?

                       [DANA’S COUNSEL]: You know, Judge, I’m going to

               object again for relevance.

                       THE COURT: I don’t know what the relevance is.

               [Counsel]?

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                   [PAUL’S COUNSEL]: He’s had multiple sclerosis—

                   THE COURT: He had it before.

                   [PAUL’S COUNSEL]: And he still has it. Judge.

                   THE COURT: Okay. And he was on Social Security

            disability then. He’s still on Social Security.

                   [PAUL’S COUNSEL]: That’s correct.

                   THE COURT: So, if you’re looking for something different,

            he’s not going to get more money from Social Security or anybody

            else, because his condition is what it was. So where are we going

            with this?

                   [PAUL’S COUNSEL]: Well, because his condition

            worsened and he can’t—he was able to earn money under Social

            Security. And it shortly—well, two or three years after the judgment

            was entered he got a job driving security for wind farms in

            construction. At that time, he was able to work—

                   [DANA’S COUNSEL]: I’m going to object.

                   THE COURT: This is an offer—I’m going to treat this as an

            offer of proof. So you can go ahead.

                   [PAUL’S COUNSEL]: And he worked on a wind farm that

            required him—he could drive and check all day. He worked there

            and he earned money. Since that time, his physical condition has

            deteriorated. He’s not able to walk without the use of the walker. He

            has a hard time making it the length of his house.

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                    [DANA’S COUNSEL]: Judge, again, objection. Relevance.

                    THE COURT: It’s an offer of proof. You can object at the

            end of the offer of proof and I’ll determine or not whether to go

            ahead with it.

                    [DANA’S COUNSEL]: Okay.

                    [PAUL’S COUNSEL]: He’s also fallen twice but

            hospitalized for serious urinary infections and has lost his mobility

            to a point where he can’t walk. He can’t even earn side money. But

            as—in addition to that, our testimony will show that when you’re

            disabled, you have to spend more money. And he has to go into a—

            he’s going to testify that he has to go into an assisted living [facility]

            which runs in his area between $4,500 and [$]8,000 a year. He is

            only able to maintain his house because his neighbor is a real nice

            guy. And that is the change of circumstances.

                    THE COURT: Okay. Is that the end of your offer of proof?

                    [PAUL’S COUNSEL]: On that portion, yes.

                    THE COURT: Okay.

                    [DANA’S COUNSEL]: Objection. Relevance, Judge. In the

            initial ruling, Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage, it was found

            that [Paul] did not work, wasn’t employed at all. So, in fact, he’s—

            the fact that he was working at all since that happened is a change

            in the opposite direction. The award was based on his inability to

            work and on his being disabled and having multiple sclerosis. Judge.

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              And there’s no—and I’m objecting to counsel testifying as to

              what—

                        THE COURT: He’s not testifying. He made an offer of

              proof.

                        ***

                        THE COURT: I don’t think that I have heard anything in

              your offer of proof that would sway me to think there was [a] change

              in circumstances. It sounds like the same things that were going on

              in 2012.

                        ***

                        THE COURT: But the basis of all of this was he wasn’t able

              to work. He’s now not able to work. One would anticipate that

              multiple sclerosis is a downward spiral. That may have been taken

              into consideration. But nothing in your offer of proof would be

              persuasive in allowing for a modification of maintenance at this

              point.”

¶9     Dana testified that she earned $93,316 in 2016 and $105,000 in 2017. She further testified

that she had accumulated $165,000 in assets since the 2012 dissolution judgment.

¶ 10   Following the hearing, Paul filed a memorandum in support of his motion to modify

maintenance. His memorandum argued that his income and retirement account had both decreased

since the 2012 dissolution judgment while Dana’s income and assets had increased. He claimed

that, coupled with his deteriorating health, the changes in both parties’ incomes established a

substantial change in circumstances warranting a maintenance modification.

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¶ 11   Dana filed a memorandum in opposition to Paul’s motion. Her memorandum argued: that

the evidence showed that Paul’s expenses had decreased since the 2012 dissolution judgment; that

Paul’s social security benefits had increased by approximately 5% in the last five years; and that

Paul had other sources of income that he had not disclosed. She also highlighted Paul’s testimony

that he is able to pay for all his expenses on his own and puts his maintenance payments from Dana

into a savings account. Dana conceded that her income has increased by approximately 20% since

the 2012 dissolution judgment, but argued that, standing alone, that was insufficient to constitute

a substantial change in circumstances justifying a maintenance modification.

¶ 12   On January 8, 2019, the trial court entered an order denying Paul’s motion to modify

maintenance. The trial court found that Paul had failed to meet his burden and prove that there was

a substantial change in circumstances. The order stated: “[Paul] does not use the maintenance

payments for his day-to-day expenses and *** he puts his maintenance payments into a savings

account to save for his future.” The order further explained that Paul does some side work for his

neighbors in exchange for food and supplies, which he did not disclose in his financial statements.

Additionally, the order noted that Paul “continues to be a heavy smoker, smoking two packs a day,

at the cost of upwards of $100 per 2 cartons of cigarettes.” Paul subsequently appealed the trial

court’s order.

¶ 13                                        ANALYSIS

¶ 14   We note that we have jurisdiction to consider this matter, as Paul filed a timely notice of

appeal following the denial of his motion to modify maintenance. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 301 (eff. Feb.

1, 1994).

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¶ 15    Paul presents the following issues on appeal: (1) whether the trial court erred in denying

his motion to modify maintenance; and (2) whether the trial court erred in preventing him from

testifying about his health problems.

¶ 16    As an initial matter, we address Dana’s argument that Paul has failed to provide this court

with a sufficient record. Specifically, she claims that only one of the 30 exhibits that Paul

introduced at trial are included in the record on appeal. In response, Paul points out that evidence

of the parties’ incomes is included in the record, which is sufficient for this court to review this

matter. Indeed, the parties’ testimony regarding the specifics of their financial situations are

included in the record on appeal, while the associated exhibits, such as the parties’ tax returns, are

not. Our supreme court has long held that in order to support a claim of error on appeal, the

appellant has the burden of presenting a sufficiently complete record. Foutch v. O’Bryant, 99 Ill.

2d 389, 391-92 (1984). “Any doubts arising from an incomplete record must be resolved against

the appellant.” In re Marriage of Sharp, 369 Ill. App. 3d 271, 278 (2006). We are able to review

this matter based on the record before us, but to the extent that our review is hindered by an

incomplete record, any deficiencies resulting from an incomplete record will be resolved against

Paul.

¶ 17    Paul first argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion. He claims that there was a

substantial change in circumstances, warranting a maintenance modification. The thrust of his

argument is that his income and retirement account have decreased since the 2012 dissolution

judgment while Dana’s income has increased. Paul avers that these income changes, coupled with

his deteriorating health, constitute a substantial change in circumstances. Paul additionally argues

that the trial court erred by considering his smoking habit in its ruling.

¶ 18    An order for maintenance may be modified only upon a showing of a substantial change in

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circumstances. 750 ILCS 5/510(a-5) (West 2016). Courts in Illinois have held that a “ ‘substantial

change in circumstances’ ” means that either the needs of the party receiving maintenance or the

ability of the other party to pay that maintenance has changed. In re Marriage of Anderson, 409

Ill. App. 3d 191, 198 (2011). The party seeking modification of a maintenance order has the burden

of showing that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred. Id. A trial court’s decision to

modify maintenance will not be disturbed absent a clear abuse of discretion. Id. at 199. An abuse

of discretion occurs when the trial court’s ruling is arbitrary, fanciful, unreasonable, or where no

reasonable person would take the view adopted by the trial court. Id.

¶ 19   Although Paul claims that his income has decreased since the 2012 dissolution judgment,

the record reflects that his social security benefits have actually increased over the last five years.

He also stresses that his retirement account has decreased, but since Paul is retired, it naturally

follows that he has been withdrawing money from his retirement account. More importantly, aside

from vaguely claiming that his medical bills are increasing, Paul does not specifically argue that

he needs more maintenance. In fact, the record reflects that his living expenses have decreased

since the 2012 dissolution judgment. Most significantly, he even testified that he puts his

maintenance payments from Dana into a savings account because he is able to pay for all his

expenses on his own. Thus, Paul cannot prove a substantial change in circumstances warranting

additional maintenance under these facts and circumstances.

¶ 20   Further, Paul’s worsening health and inability to work cannot constitute a substantial

change in circumstances when: (1) he had MS and was not working at the time of the 2012

dissolution judgment; and (2) the progression of his MS and its impact on his employment was

considered in the 2012 dissolution judgment. It is well known that MS is a progressive disease.

The trial court clearly considered the effect of Paul’s progressing MS on his future ability to work

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and factored that into the maintenance award. Indeed, the 2012 dissolution judgment explicitly

noted: “Paul Dea has no present or future ability to earn income and he cannot be rehabilitated so

as to support himself through appropriate employment.” See In re Marriage of Virdi, 2014 IL App

(3d) 130561, ¶ 30 (this court is reluctant to find a substantial change in circumstances where the

trial court contemplated and expected the financial change at issue). It should also be noted that,

although the 2012 dissolution judgment was based on the trial court’s belief that Paul was no

longer employable, Paul in fact went back to work for a period of time after that judgment was

entered. Further, Paul continues to do work in exchange for food and supplies.

¶ 21    Paul makes much of the fact that Dana’s income has increased since the 2012 dissolution

judgment. However, an increase in the paying party’s income is generally not sufficient, on its

own, to warrant modification of a maintenance award. In re Marriage of Reynard, 378 Ill. App.

3d 997, 1005 (2008). This is especially true in this case, where the trial court considered Dana’s

steadily growing income in the 2012 dissolution judgment. See In re Marriage of Salvatore, 2019

IL App (2d) 180425, ¶ 24 (“We note that a party’s increased income does not constitute a

substantial change in circumstances when the increase was based on events that were contemplated

and expected by the trial court when the judgment of dissolution was entered.”). As it did when

considering Paul’s MS, the trial court recognized that Dana’s earning potential was likely to

increase. Therefore, the trial court factored that into its maintenance award, as well.

¶ 22    Paul additionally argues that the trial court erred in considering his smoking habit in its

ruling. He claims that the trial court specifically noted his smoking in its order and penalized him

for it. However, trial courts have a responsibility to consider all of the parties’ expenses. It is clear

that the trial court was merely determining Paul’s living expenses, including the amount of money

he spends on cigarettes. Since Paul is a smoker, the trial court was entitled to consider cigarettes

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as a calculable, recurring, and discretionary expense. We note that, in all dissolution cases where

there is a finite amount of money, each party has a responsibility to recognize that fact and act

prudently in incurring discretionary expenses and spending. That aside, nothing in the record

indicates that the trial court penalized Paul for smoking and that the court denied his motion on

that basis. Instead, the trial court was clearly accounting for all of Paul’s expenses, including the

expense for his smoking habit. Thus, we reject Paul’s argument.

¶ 23    Next, Paul argues that the trial court erred in preventing him from testifying regarding the

specifics of his worsening health. Paul claims that if he had been able to detail his progressing MS

and its associated costs, his testimony would have established a substantial change in

circumstances justifying a maintenance modification.

¶ 24    The admission of evidence is within the sound discretion of the trial court. People v.

Abrego, 371 Ill. App. 3d 987, 992 (2007). Its ruling will not be reversed absent an abuse of

discretion. Id.

¶ 25    During the hearing on his motion to modify maintenance, Paul did not offer any evidence,

such as expert witness testimony, showing that his MS had progressed in a way that was not

anticipated in the 2012 dissolution judgment. The record is clear that, in the 2012 dissolution

judgment, the trial court recognized that MS is a progressive disease and carefully considered that

fact in its maintenance award. Paul’s self-serving testimony about his MS at the time of his motion

would have been irrelevant and inconsequential in determining if there had been a substantial

change in circumstances. The trial court accordingly did not abuse its discretion in excluding that

evidence.

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¶ 26                                      CONCLUSION

¶ 27   For the foregoing reasons, we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying

Paul’s motion to modify maintenance. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of

Cook County.

¶ 28   Affirmed.

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                                  No. 1-19-0234

Cite as:                 In re Marriage of Dea, 2020 IL App (1st) 190234

Decision Under Review:   Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 2008-D-
                         8694; the Hon. Jeanne Cleveland Bernstein, Judge, presiding.

Attorneys                Michael T. Tristano and Marly R. Tristano,
for                      of Tristano & Tristano, Ltd., of Hickory Hills, for appellant.
Appellant:

Attorneys                Matthew D. Elster, of Beermann LLP, of Chicago, for appellee.
for
Appellee:

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