Fox v. Fox , 2015 Ark. App. LEXIS 443 ( 2015 )

Cite as 2015 Ark. App. 367
ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION I
No. CV-14-1078
Opinion Delivered JUNE 3, 2015
PAUL D. FOX APPEAL FROM THE SEBASTIAN
APPELLANT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT,
FORT SMITH DISTRICT
V. [NO. DR-14-76]
HONORABLE ANNIE POWELL
PERLA YASMINE ESPINOZA FOX HENDRICKS, JUDGE
APPELLEE
AFFIRMED IN PART; REVERSED
AND REMANDED IN PART
KENNETH S. HIXSON, Judge
Appellant Paul Fox and appellee Perla Fox were divorced by a decree entered by the
Sebastian County Circuit Court on August 18, 2014. Perla was awarded custody of the
parties’ four minor daughters, ranging in age from seven to sixteen, and Paul was given
standard visitation. Paul was ordered to pay $2193 in bi-monthly child support based on his
bi-monthly net income of $8090.1 Further, Paul was ordered to pay bi-monthly alimony in
an amount which increased over the years commensurately as his child-support obligation
decreased.
Paul now appeals from the divorce decree, arguing that the trial court erred in not
granting his request to award the parties joint custody of the children. Paul also argues that
1
As used by the trial court in the divorce decree, bi-monthly means twice a month.
Cite as 2015 Ark. App. 367
the trial court erred in awarding child support and alimony based on his previous employment
income, asserting that he was unemployed and without income at the time the divorce decree
was entered. We affirm the award of primary custody to Perla. However, we reverse and
remand for reconsideration of child support and alimony.
Paul and Perla were married in 1996, and they lived in Mexico for the first four years
of their marriage. The parties’ two oldest daughters were born while the parties lived in
Mexico. Paul worked for Tyson Foods and was eventually promoted to general manager.
In 2000, the parties moved to Springdale, Arkansas, where their third daughter was
born, and Paul worked for Tyson Foods as an executive in its international department.
Paul’s annual salary in 2000 was $200,000, and it had increased to $260,000 by 2006. Paul’s
employment between 2000 and 2006 required frequent overnight travel.
In 2006, the parties moved to Idaho, where their youngest daughter was born, and
Paul was employed with Dickinson Frozen Foods as president and CEO. Paul worked for
Dickinson for four years at a base salary of $280,000.
In 2010, Paul accepted a job in Michigan with Marfrig at an annual salary of $300,000.
Perla and the girls continued to live in Idaho, and Paul would commute from Michigan to
visit his family on weekends.
In January 2012, Paul accepted employment in Fort Smith, Arkansas, as CEO of OK
Foods, at an annual salary of $340,000. Paul continued to visit his family on weekends in
Idaho, and Perla and the girls moved to Fort Smith after the school year ended in June 2012.
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In January 2014, Perla filed for divorce in Sebastian County Circuit Court on grounds
of general indignities, and Paul subsequently counterclaimed for divorce on the same grounds.
Perla asked that she be awarded custody of the children, and Paul requested joint custody.
At the divorce hearing held on June 30, 2014, there was testimony that both Paul and
Perla are excellent parents and have a close relationship with their children. During the
marriage, Paul was the breadwinner and Perla was a stay-at-home mom.
Perla testified that Paul’s employment with OK Foods ended in February 2014, and
that he had a severance package that paid him through the middle of August 2014. Perla
stated that, when Paul was working, his job was time-consuming and stressful. She indicated
that on a typical workday, Paul would leave the house early in the morning and arrive home
around 6:30 or 7:00 in the evening. Perla stated that all of Paul’s employment during the
marriage was demanding.
Perla testified that, on a typical day, she wakes the girls up, makes their lunches, helps
the youngest one get dressed, and takes them to school. After the girls arrive home, Perla
monitors their homework and cooks dinner for them. Perla also said that she takes the
children to doctor and dentist appointments, as well as extracurricular activities. Perla stated
that it was very rare for Paul to take the girls to extracurricular activities, although he
sometimes attended their games on Saturday mornings. Perla also said that she attended every
parent-teacher conference, which Paul did not attend. Perla stated that she had no desire to
exclude Paul from being involved with his daughters because it was important for them to
have their father involved in their lives. However, she also testified:
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I am asking for custody because I have always been with my daughters since they were
born. I am the one that nurtures them and counsels them. I take them to activities
and am always there. I cook and clean for them. They are my life. It’s what I do.
In her testimony, Perla acknowledged that on a few occasions during the marriage she
took trips alone, and that on those occasions Paul or Paul’s mother would care for the
children. Perla stated that she was comfortable with Paul caring for the children in her
absence, and also with Paul’s mother spending time with the children. Perla indicated that
the majority of her trips were to visit her parents who lived in Mexico, and that one of the
reasons she would leave the girls at home on these visits was for safety reasons because of
kidnappings and insecurity in the town where her parents lived.
Paul testified on his own behalf, and he confirmed that his employment with OK
Foods had ended in February 2014 and that his severance pay would terminate in mid-August
2014. In Paul’s affidavit of financial means, he indicated that his bi-monthly net pay from the
severance package was $8090, which would terminate on August 12, 2014. Paul testified that
he had been exploring other employment and income-producing activities. He stated that
he was diligently seeking employment and had every confidence that he could find a good
job. Paul stated that his employment prospects would likely be at a salary of around $200,000,
although he would probably have to move from Fort Smith to earn that kind of money.
Paul acknowledged that Perla had spent more time with the girls during their marriage
than he had due to his work schedule. However, he vehemently disagreed with any
suggestion that he was a disinterested or absentee father. Paul stated that Perla had done an
admirable job caring for the girls, but he was confident that he was equally capable of caring
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for them. Paul also gave the opinion that Perla was trying to alienate the girls from him. Paul
proposed a joint-custody arrangement so that he and Perla would each have equal time with
the children.
Paul’s first argument on appeal is that the trial court erred in awarding Perla primary
custody of the children, and that joint custody should have been awarded. Paul acknowledges
that our court has frequently stated in the past that joint custody is not favored in Arkansas.
See, e.g., Collier v. Collier, 2012 Ark. App. 146. However, by adoption of Act 1156 of 2013,
the General Assembly has changed the law in this regard. In particular, Arkansas Code
Annotated section 9-13-101(a)(1)(A)(iii) (Supp. 2013) now provides, “In an action for
divorce, an award of joint custody is favored in Arkansas.”
Particularly in light of this recent legislative change, Paul contends that there is a clear
suitability for joint custody in this case. He asserts that he is perfectly capable of providing
care and supervision for the children, as was evidenced by his caring for them while Perla had
taken vacations. Paul further cites testimony in the record demonstrating that he had a close
relationship with his daughters and was very involved in their lives. Moreover, Paul contends
that there was no evidence of a lack of cooperation between the parties such that joint custody
would be undesirable. Although Perla was privileged to be afforded the time and opportunity
during the marriage to be the primary caregiver to the children, he submits that he should not
be penalized for pursuing time-consuming and stressful employment to provide for the family.
Paul also suggests that he is at a disadvantage because he will likely have to relocate to secure
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employment, and that an award of joint custody would facilitate his ability to relocate the
children.2 For these reasons, Paul argues that joint custody should be awarded.
Arkansas Code Annotated section 9-13-101(a)(1)(A)(i) (Supp. 2013) provides that, in
an action for divorce, the award of custody of a child born of the marriage shall be made
without regard to the sex of a parent but solely in accordance with the welfare and best
interest of the child. On appeal, in custody matters, this court considers the evidence de novo
and does not reverse unless the trial court’s findings of fact are clearly erroneous. Chaffin v.
Chaffin, 2011 Ark. App. 293. A finding is clearly erroneous when, although there is evidence
to support it, the court is left with a definite and firm conviction that the trial court made a
mistake. Id. Due deference is given to the trial court’s superior position to judge the
credibility of the witnesses. Id. The supreme court has held that there is no other case in
which the superior position, ability, and opportunity of the trial court to observe the parties
carries a greater weight than one involving the custody of minor children. Taylor v. Taylor,
345 Ark. 300, 47 S.W.3d 222 (2001). The best interest of the children is the polestar in every
child-custody case; all other considerations are secondary. Id.
On our de novo review, we hold that the trial court did not clearly err in finding that
it was in the girls’ best interest to be placed in the primary custody of their mother. Although
our legislature has amended Arkansas Code Annotated section 9-13-101 to state that an award
2
We note that, even if joint custody were awarded in this case as urged by
appellant, the presumption in favor of the relocation of a primary custodian as announced
in Hollandsworth v. Knyzewski, 353 Ark. 470, 109 S.W.3d 653 (2003), is inapplicable when
parents share joint custody. See Singletary v. Singletary, 2013 Ark. 506, 431 S.W.3d 234.
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of joint custody is favored in Arkansas, joint custody is by no means mandatory, and our law
remains consistent that custody awards are to be made solely in accordance with the welfare
and best interest of the children. See Ark. Code Ann. § 9-13-101(a)(1)(A)(i); Taylor, supra.
The record in this case demonstrates that Perla was the primary caregiver during the parties’
marriage and that the four girls have done exceptionally well, both socially and in school. We
have held that the fact that a parent has been the child’s primary caregiver is relevant and
worthy of consideration in determining which parent should be granted custody. Thompson
v. Thompson, 63 Ark. App. 89, 974 S.W.2d 494 (1998). Although the record is clear that both
Perla and Paul are good parents who love their children, on this record we are not left with
a definite and firm conviction that the trial court made a mistake in rejecting Paul’s request
for joint custody, and instead awarding primary custody to Perla subject to Paul’s reasonable
visitation with the girls.
Paul’s remaining arguments on appeal challenge the trial court’s child-support and
alimony awards. The trial court ordered Paul to pay $2193 in bi-monthly child support based
on the application of the family-support chart to his bi-monthly severance-pay net income
of $8090. Paul was also ordered to pay $395 in bi-monthly alimony, which brought his total
bi-monthly support obligation to $2588. The decree provided that alimony would continue
for twelve years, and more particularly provided:
As each child turns 18 years of age and/or graduates from high school, whichever
event occurs last, then Defendant’s child support obligation will consequently reduce
by one child on the Family Support Chart. It is the Court’s intention to keep the bi-
monthly payment of $2588.00 intact—therefore, as child support reduces by one child
each time a child graduates and/or turns 18 years of age, alimony will increase by one
child on the chart, leaving the bi-monthly payment amount the same.
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We first address the child-support issue. Our standard of review from a child-support
order is de novo on the record, and we will not reverse a finding of fact by the trial court
unless it is clearly erroneous. Hall v. Hall, 2013 Ark. 330, 429 S.W.3d 219. As a rule, when
the amount of child support is at issue, we will not reverse the trial court absent an abuse of
discretion. Browning v. Browning, 2015 Ark. App. 104, 455 S.W.3d 863. However, a trial
court’s conclusion of law is given no deference on appeal. Id.
Paul argues that the trial court erred in its calculation of child support because it was
based on Paul’s bi-monthly net income of $8090, which terminated on August 12, 2014—
six days before the divorce decree was entered on August 18, 2014. We agree. The hearing
was held on June 30, 2014, but the court took the matter under advisement. The divorce
decree was not entered until August 18, 2014. Between the date of the hearing and the date
the divorce decree was filed, the severance pay that Paul had been receiving for six months
had terminated. The undisputed record showed that Paul was unemployed at the time of the
divorce hearing, and that his severance pay terminated on August 12, 2014. Therefore, at the
time the divorce decree was entered, contrary to the trial court’s finding of fact, Paul had no
income.
Arkansas Code Annotated section 9-12-312 (Supp. 2013) provides, in relevant part:
(a)(3)(A) In determining a reasonable amount of child support, initially or upon review
to be paid by the noncustodial parent, the court shall refer to the most recent revision
of the family support chart.
(B) It shall be a rebuttable presumption for the award of child support that the
amount contained in the family support chart is the correct amount of child support
to be awarded.
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Subsection (a)(3)(C) provides that, only upon written specific findings that application of the
support chart would be unjust or inappropriate, shall the presumption be rebutted.
Because Paul was unemployed and receiving no income on the date of the divorce,
there existed a rebuttable presumption that the child support should be based on his zero
income as applied to the support chart. The court could have rebutted that presumption by
making written specific findings that the application of the support chart would be unjust or
inappropriate. The court did not make such written findings. Therefore, we hold that it
erred in its calculation of child support.
That does not mean, however, that Paul should not be required to pay child support
in the same, or some other, amount. The court has the discretion to impute income under
Section III(d) of Administrative Order Number 10, which provides:
Imputed income. If a payor is unemployed or working below full earning capacity, the
court may consider the reasons therefor. If earnings are reduced as a matter of choice
and not for reasonable cause, the court may attribute income to a payor up to his or
her earning capacity, including consideration of the payor’s life-style. Income of at
least minimum wage shall be attributed to a payor ordered to pay child support.
In Grady v. Grady, 295 Ark. 94, 747 S.W.2d 77 (1988), our supreme court held that a trial
court’s decision on whether to impute income must be based on the facts and circumstances
of each case. We reverse the child support awarded by the trial court and remand for the trial
court to reassess Paul’s child-support obligation.
Paul also challenges the alimony award, contending that it was erroneously based on
income he was no longer receiving, and also that it should not have escalated over a period
of twelve years. The primary factors in determining alimony are the financial need of one
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spouse and the other spouse’s ability to pay. Johnson v. Cotton-Johnson, 88 Ark. App. 67, 194
S.W.3d 806 (2004). An alimony award is within the sound discretion of the trial court and
will not be reversed unless there is an abuse of that discretion. Jones v. Jones, 2014 Ark. App.
614, 447 S.W.3d 599. Here, the trial court specifically increased monthly alimony over
the years commensurate with the amount of decreasing child support. As such, child support
and alimony are inextricably intertwined. Because we reverse and remand for recalculation
of Paul’s child-support obligation, we also remand the issue of alimony as it necessarily will
be affected by the resolution of the child-support issue. See Boudreaux v. Boudreaux, 2009 Ark.
App. 685, 373 S.W.3d 329.
Affirmed in part; reversed and remanded in part.
GLADWIN, C.J., and VIRDEN, J., agree.
Daily & Woods, P.L.L.C., by: Jerry L. Canfield, for appellant.
Byars, Hickey & Hall, PLLC, by: Kevin L. Hickey, for appellee.
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