Lisa A. Birkhimer v. Neil S. Birkhimer ( 2012 )

FILED
Dec 26 2012, 9:43 am
FOR PUBLICATION CLERK
of the supreme court,
court of appeals and
tax court
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: APPELLEE PRO SE:
E. DAVIS COOTS NEIL S. BIRKHIMER
BRANDON ANN GIBSON Noblesville, Indiana
Coots, Henke & Wheeler, P.C.
Carmel, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
LISA A. BIRKHIMER, )
)
Appellant-Petitioner/Cross-Appellee, )
)
vs. ) No. 29A02-1111-DR-1058
)
NEIL S. BIRKHIMER, )
)
Appellee-Respondent/Cross-Appellant. )
APPEAL FROM THE HAMILTON SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable Daniel J. Pfleging, Judge
Cause No. 29D02-0504-DR-383
December 26, 2012
OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION
CRONE, Judge
Case Summary
Lisa Birkhimer filed a petition for legal separation from her husband, Neil Birkhimer,
on April 25, 2005. Neil has historically been employed in high-paying financial management
positions; however, at the time that this case was completed at the trial level, Neil was
unemployed. Lisa co-owns a car dealership and several real estate holding companies with
her brother. Lisa acquired her interest in these businesses from her father. Her interest in the
holding companies was a gift, and she executed a promissory note for her interest in the
dealership. Lisa works part-time for the dealership and receives a salary; she also receives
periodic distributions from the family businesses, which she uses to pay taxes and make
interest payments on the note to her father. Due mainly to the difficulty of valuing Lisa’s
business interests, discovery in this matter was complex, contentious, and protracted. The
final hearing spanned seven days, beginning on July 20, 2010, and concluding on February
10, 2011. Each party presented testimony from multiple experts.
In its dissolution decree, the trial court valued all marital assets as of the date of
separation, and the court adopted the values that Neil’s experts proposed for Lisa’s business
interests. The court awarded Lisa 67% of the total marital estate, including her business
interests. In order to effect the division, Lisa was ordered to make a substantial payment to
Neil. The trial court adopted the parties’ agreement that they would have joint custody of
their children and exercise equal parenting time. The court ordered Lisa to pay child support
to Neil and also ordered her to pay a portion of Neil’s attorney’s fees and litigation expenses.
2
After the decree was issued, each party made several motions. Lisa filed a motion to
correct error, which was deemed denied, and also filed a motion to stay, which was granted.
Neil requested security for the cash award, which was denied, and also requested additional
attorney’s fees for work done post-judgment and the anticipated appeal, which was granted.
Each party has appealed the dissolution decree, and Lisa also appeals the order
requiring her to pay a portion of Neil’s post-judgment and appellate attorney’s fees. The
parties each raise several issues, and we conclude that the following issues require remand to
the trial court: (1) the trial court did not include Lisa’s debt to her father in the marital estate;
(2) the court allowed Lisa to deduct certain expenses from her income for child support
purposes, but did not make findings supporting these deviations from the Child Support
Guidelines; and (3) the parties both agree that because Lisa is responsible for paying the
children’s controlled expenses, the parenting time credit should be applied to Neil.
Therefore, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand with instructions, which are outlined
in the conclusion of this opinion.
Facts and Procedural History
The facts favorable to the judgment are as follows. Neil and Lisa were married on
March 21, 1992. They lived in Dayton, Ohio; Seymour, Indiana; Henniker, New Hampshire;
and Columbus, Indiana, before settling in Noblesville, Indiana, in 1997. Neil and Lisa have
two daughters, J.B., born in 1996, and A.B., born in 1998.
The move to Noblesville was motivated at least in part by Lisa’s desire to be near her
family. Lisa’s father, Ivan Gingerich, and her brother, Rex Gingerich were each 50% owners
3
of H.E. McGonigal, Inc., a car dealership (“the dealership”) located in Kokomo. Ivan and
Rex also owned McGonigal Building Partnership (“MBP”), a real estate holding company.
From these two companies, three subsidiary real estate holding companies were formed:
Tority, Juliash, and Birkhimer. After the move to Noblesville, Lisa started working ten to
fifteen hours a week for the dealership, mainly performing human resources functions. Neil
got a job at Remy International. Neil has a bachelor’s degree in economics, an MBA, and a
Series 7 license, and has been licensed as a certified public accountant and a certified
manufacturing accountant. He has held various positions with Remy, mostly involving
financial management.
In 1999, Ivan became concerned that, in the event of his death, his children would
have to sell the family businesses to pay the inheritance taxes. After consulting an attorney
about his estate plan, Ivan decided to gift his interest in MBP to Lisa. Ivan also sold half of
his shares of the dealership to Rex and half to Lisa. The end result is that Lisa owns 25% of
the dealership, 50% of MBP, 50% of Birkhimer, 25% percent of Tority, and 25% of Juliash;
Rex owns the remaining shares of each of these companies. Lisa signed a promissory note in
the amount of $596,000 and makes monthly interest payments to Ivan in the amount of
$3,383.33. Ivan forgave $16,000 of the principal, and the entire principal will be forgiven in
the event of Ivan’s death. The dealership is an S corporation and the real estate holding
companies are limited liability corporations, all of which are taxed as pass-through entities.
Lisa does not participate in the management of any of the family businesses, including the
ones she owns equally with Rex. Rex makes the business decisions and determines the
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timing and amount of dividends. Rex regularly makes distributions in an amount sufficient
to allow Lisa and himself to pay their taxes and the interest owed to Ivan. When the
distributions exceed the amount that Lisa needs to pay these expenses, she places the funds in
an account that is in her name alone.
On April 25, 2005, Lisa filed a petition for legal separation. Neil temporarily moved
to an apartment, but then returned to the marital residence. Lisa moved into an apartment in
January 2006. In July 2006, she purchased a residence approximately three blocks from the
marital residence. Lisa makes mortgage payments on the new residence. The mortgage on
the marital residence had been paid off in 2003, so Neil has not been making a mortgage
payment.
In May 2007, Neil received notice from Firestone that the creek adjacent to the
property on which the marital residence is located had been contaminated. Firestone
performed environmental remediation work that included digging up a portion of the yard,
putting down new sod, and planting trees. In addition, Firestone paid Neil a settlement of
$62,000, which covered diminution of the value of the property and loss of enjoyment while
the remediation work was in progress. The marital residence had been appraised at a value of
$284,000 in 2006, before the contamination issue came to light. Neither party obtained a
new appraisal afterwards.
In November 2008, the parties reached a partial settlement agreement, in which they
agreed to joint physical and legal custody of the children and equal parenting time. The issue
of child support was left unresolved.
5
Discovery in this case was complex and contentious. Due to the turmoil in the
economy and especially the auto industry during the pendency of this case, the parties hotly
disputed which date should be used to value Lisa’s business interests. Lisa took the position
that the businesses should be valued as of the date of separation, while Neil took the position
that a more recent date should be used. Each approach posed difficulties, and each party
hired multiple experts. Valuing the businesses as of the date of separation was difficult in
that the experts had to use a retrospective analysis. Using later dates was difficult in that a
number of changes occurred during the pendency of the case. For example, new properties
were acquired, the dealership property was renovated, the dealership moved its Jeep
inventory to a different dealership in exchange for a $2 million note, and the dealership
acquired the Pontiac inventory from a dealership that had gone out of business.
Lisa retained Michael Lady to appraise the real estate owned by her family businesses
using valuation dates of April 2005 and January 2009. Lisa referred Lady to Rex to get the
information needed to complete his appraisals, and Rex neglected to inform Lady that MBP
owned an empty lot along U.S. Highway 31 and that one of the properties had a truck
terminal on it in April 2005 that had since been demolished; thus, Lady’s appraisal reports
initially omitted this information. Neil was aware that MBP owned the empty lot on U.S.
Highway 31 because it had been mentioned at a family meeting. Neil also hired a real estate
appraiser, Leo Lichtenberg, to review Lady’s appraisals and to complete his own appraisals
using valuation dates of April 25, 2005, and September 30, 2009. Lichtenberg discovered
that one of the properties had had a truck terminal on it by reviewing tax records.
6
Lisa hired Bret Brewer to appraise the businesses as of April 2005 and December
2008. Neil hired John Sandlin to value Lisa’s interest in the real estate holding companies
and hired Carl Woodward and James Alerding to appraise the dealership as of April 2005,
June 2008, and April 2010. Woodward testified that 2005 and 2010 were “typical” years for
the dealership, but in 2008, the auto industry “fell off the cliff” and it was “the lowest period
in many, many years.” Tr. at 588, 594. Woodward and Alerding noticed that Brewer had
misinterpreted the dealership’s financial statements, which resulted in an omission of $2.5
million in inventory; Brewer issued revised appraisals after the mistake was called to his
attention.
The parties’ experts all testified at length about their own methodology and critiqued
the methodology used by the other parties’ experts. Lisa’s experts valued her business assets
at $2,786,400 in 2005, while Neil’s experts valued those assets at $3,559,700 in 2005.
Lisa presented testimony from James Troutman, an accountant who has prepared taxes
for the dealership for several years, has prepared taxes for the Birkhimers in the past, and
continues to prepare Lisa’s taxes. Troutman testified that Lisa and Neil started filing
separately in 2004. Lisa informed him that Neil was going to claim the exemptions for both
children. Troutman testified that in 2004, Lisa paid an additional $12,679 in taxes due to the
decision to file separately; in 2005, she paid an extra $12,388. Troutman prepared an exhibit,
admitted as Petitioner’s Exhibit 28, which shows Lisa’s gross income – consisting of wages,
employer contributions to her 401(k), commissions, and distributions from the dealership –
from 2004 through 2009, as well as estimates for 2010. The exhibit then shows Lisa’s net
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cash flow after paying all taxes, her mortgage, and the interest owed to her father. According
to the exhibit, her average net cash flow during the pendency of the divorce has been about
$109,000.
Lisa testified that she has a B.S. in accounting, but she has not done accounting work
since before the move to New Hampshire. Since the return to Indiana, she has been
continuously employed by the dealership, except for a short break when A.B. was born. Lisa
typically works two days a week doing payroll work and running the company’s wellness
program. Her salary is $48,000 per year. Lisa also receives a vehicle from the dealership for
her personal use. She currently drives a Yukon, and Rex testified that if that vehicle were
being offered for sale, the monthly payment would be about $1065 per month. Lisa testified
that Neil was the one who decided to file separate tax returns, and she did not question or
oppose his decision.
In the past, Neil has taken some pay cuts and made lateral moves within Remy in
order to have flex time so that he could spend more time with his daughters. Although he
had earned more earlier in his career, at the time of the final hearing, Neil’s weekly gross
income was $1917.30.
The final hearing was held on July 20-22, 2010; September 29-30, 2010; October 14,
2010; and February 10, 2011. The trial court issued the dissolution decree on August 9,
2011. The court incorporated the parties’ November 2008 partial settlement agreement
regarding custody and parenting time. For child support purposes, the court found that Neil’s
weekly gross income was $1917.30. Relying in part on Lisa’s Exhibit 28, the court found
8
that Lisa’s weekly gross income was $2342. The court rejected the child support obligation
worksheets (“CSOW”) prepared by each party and created its own. The court applied the
parenting time credit to Lisa and concluded that she should pay Neil $77.59 per week in child
support. The court also ordered Lisa to pay the children’s fixed expenses.
At the beginning of the hearing, the parties stipulated to the value of most of their
assets other than Lisa’s business interests. The trial court chose 2005 as the valuation date
for all marital assets. The court awarded the business interests to Lisa, but used the values
proposed by Neil’s experts. The debt to Lisa’s father was also assigned to Lisa. Neil
received the marital residence and the Firestone settlement payment. Each party received
some personal property and financial accounts. After a thorough consideration of the
statutory factors, the court concluded that deviation from an equal division was just and
reasonable and awarded 33% of the marital estate to Neil and 67% to Lisa. In order to effect
this division, the court ordered Lisa to pay $870,948.47 to Neil in equal monthly payments
over ten years, with interest. The court also ordered Lisa to pay a portion of Neil’s attorney’s
fees and litigation costs.
On September 8, 2011, Lisa filed a motion to correct error. Neil filed a response on
September 22, 2011. On September 29, 2011, Lisa filed a motion to stay, which Neil
responded to on October 6, 2011. Lisa’s motion to correct error was deemed denied on
October 24, 2011. The trial court held a hearing on Lisa’s motion to stay on November 22,
2011. At that time, Neil filed a motion requesting post-judgment and appellate attorney’s
9
fees. Lisa objected to Neil’s motion, arguing that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to
entertain the motion. The court asked the parties to submit briefs on the issue.
On December 27, 2011, the trial court held an evidentiary hearing on Neil’s motion.
Neil testified that his employer informed him that his flex time would be eliminated, that he
would have to work more than forty hours a week, and that his job duties would be
“undetermined.” Tr. of Hearing on Pending Motions at 64.1 Alternatively, Neil was given
the option to resign and accept a separation package that included six month’s pay. Neil
chose to take the separation package and received his final payment at the end of 2011. Neil
testified that he was not looking for work at that time “[b]ecause my job is going to be out
there. I’m not worried about getting employment. The most important thing to me right now
is to get through this process of the divorce.” Id. at 38. Neil testified that he had liquidated
several assets, had accrued credit card debt, and had taken out a personal loan.
Lisa testified that she had also depleted her cash accounts. She testified that her
distributions in 2011 had not exceeded her interest and tax payments. She also stated that the
dealership had required her to make a capital contribution of $50,000.
On December 29, 2011, the trial court granted Lisa’s motion to stay and set a bond.
On January 20, 2012, the trial court issued an order on Neil’s motion. The court noted the
work that counsel had performed for Neil post-judgment, including responding to Lisa’s
motions and appearing at hearings. The court ordered Lisa to pay $3750 toward Neil’s post-
1
The transcript of the final hearing consists of six consecutively paginated volumes. The November
22 and December 27, 2011 hearings are transcribed in a separate volume titled “Transcript of Hearing on
Pending Motions.”
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judgment attorney’s fees. In addition, the court ordered Lisa to pay half the cost of the
transcript and $15,000 toward Neil’s appellate attorney’s fees.
Both parties have appealed the divorce decree, and Lisa also appeals the trial court’s
order of January 20, 2012. Each party filed a notice of appeal, and the cases have been
consolidated under this cause number with Lisa designated as the appellant/cross-appellee
and Neil designated as the appellee/cross-appellant.2
Discussion and Decision
The trial court issued findings of fact and conclusions thereon pursuant to Indiana
Trial Rule 52(A). Our standard of review is well-settled:
First, we must determine whether the evidence supports the trial court’s
findings of fact. Second, we must determine whether those findings of fact
support the trial court’s conclusions of law. We will set aside the findings only
if they are clearly erroneous. Findings are clearly erroneous only when the
record contains no facts to support them either directly or by inference. A
judgment is clearly erroneous if it applies the wrong legal standard to properly
found facts.
In applying this standard, we neither reweigh the evidence nor judge the
credibility of the witnesses. Rather, we consider the evidence that supports the
judgment and the reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom. To make a
determination that a finding or conclusion is clearly erroneous, our review of
the evidence must leave us with the firm conviction that a mistake has been
made.
2
Neil filed a notice of appeal on September 7, 2011, before the filing of Lisa’s motion to correct error
had been entered on the chronological case summary. Neil’s appeal was assigned case number 29A02-1109-
DR-827. Lisa filed a notice of appeal on November 23, 2011, after her motion to correct error was deemed
denied. Her appeal was assigned case number 29A02-1111-DR-1058. On January 30, 2012, these appeals
were consolidated under case number 29A02-1111-DR-1058. After the trial court issued its order awarding
Neil additional fees, Lisa filed a second notice of appeal, which was assigned case number 29A04-1202-DR-
84. On March 2, 2012, we consolidated Lisa’s second appeal with the existing appeal under case number
29A02-1111-DR-1058.
11
Hartley v. Hartley, 862 N.E.2d 274, 281 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (quoting Gregg v. Cooper, 812
N.E.2d 210, 214-15 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004), trans. denied).
Each party raises several issues on appeal.3 Because some of the issues are inter-
related, rather than addressing the appeal and cross-appeal issues separately, we will first
address all issues relating to property division, then the issues relating to child support, and
then all remaining issues.
I. Property Division
A. Valuation Date
The trial court has broad discretion in determining the value of property in a
dissolution action, and its valuation will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion.
Quillen v. Quillen, 671 N.E.2d 98, 102 (Ind. 1996). The trial court may value the marital
3
Lisa raises five distinct issues, which she states as: (1) the trial court erred by giving Neil the credit
for controlled expenses on the CSOW despite finding that Lisa should pay for the controlled expenses; (2) the
trial court’s findings do not support any award of attorney’s fees to Neil and the trial court abused its discretion
in ordering Lisa to pay 33% of Neil’s attorney’s fees and litigation expenses; (3) the trial court erred by not
including Lisa’s $580,000 debt when dividing the marital estate; (4) the trial court’s division of the marital
estate and order requiring Lisa to pay $870,948.47 to Neil is not supported by its findings; and (5) the trial
court abused its discretion by awarding post-judgment and appellate attorney’s fees to Neil when the parties
have similar resources and Neil is voluntarily unemployed. Appellant’s Br. at i.
Neil raises seven issues, which he states as: (1) the approval, merger, and incorporation of Neil and
Lisa’s “Partial Settlement Agreement Regarding Custody and Parenting Time” in the decree was clearly
erroneous due to significant deficiencies in the trial court’s attempt to incorporate the previously approved
agreement; (2) the trial court abused its discretion by selecting April 30, 2005, as the valuation date for H.E.
McGonigal, instead of choosing April 30, 2010; (3) the trial court, through plain error or abuse of discretion,
distributed the marital estate in a manner that was not just and reasonable; (4) the trial court abused its
discretion by not providing any security, after the completion of the appeal, on the distribution payment or fee
award ordered to be paid to Neil by Lisa; (5) the trial court “made clear error” by limiting Neil’s and Lisa’s
claims and rights beyond the trial court’s jurisdiction and authority; (6) the trial court’s net cash flow figure for
Lisa of $109,000 used in calculating child support is clear error; and (7) the trial court needs to fully address
the content of its judgment, pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 58(B). Appellee’s Br. at ii-iii. Neil’s third issue is
broken into several subsections, in which he identifies some scrivener’s errors in the dissolution decree and
argues that the marital estate should have been divided equally. Neil abandons the seventh issue in his reply
brief; therefore, we will not address it. See Cross-Appellant’s Reply Br. at 21 (Neil states that he “waives this
argument”).
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assets as of “any date between the date of filing the dissolution petition and the date of the
hearing.” Id. Neil argues that the trial court erred by selecting April 25, 2005, as the
valuation date for Lisa’s business interests because that was the date that Lisa petitioned for
legal separation, not dissolution.
Lisa argues that Neil waived this argument by not raising the issue in the trial court.
In fact, Neil asked the trial court to value certain assets as of April 25, 2005, and his
proposed order stated that, pursuant to Indiana Code Section 31-9-2-46, the court “may use
any date between the Separation Date and the date disposition of the property is effective to
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value an asset.”4 Appellee’s App. at 364. Thus, we agree with Lisa that Neil waived his
argument that April 25, 2005, was not a valid date for valuing assets. See Grathwohl v.
Garrity, 871 N.E.2d 297, 302 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (“If a party does not present an issue or
argument to the trial court, appellate review of the issue or argument is waived.”).
B. Lisa’s Debt to Ivan
Lisa argues that the trial court erred by not including her debt to Ivan when dividing
the marital estate. In paragraph 55 under the heading “Property Issues,” the court found that
4
Indiana Code Section 31-9-2-46 states:
“Final separation”, for purposes of IC 31-15-7, means the date of filing of the petition
for dissolution of marriage under IC 31-15-2-4 (or IC 31-1-11.5-3 before its repeal).
However, if:
(1) a legal separation proceeding involving the parties was pending when the petition
for dissolution of marriage under IC 31-15-2-4 (or IC 31-1-11.5-3 before its repeal)
was filed; or
(2) a provisional order or final decree for legal separation of the parties was in effect
when the petition for dissolution of marriage under IC 31-15-2-4 (or IC 31-1-11.5-3
before its repeal) was filed;
the term means the date that the petition for legal separation was filed under IC 31-15-3-4 (or
IC 31-1-11.5-3 before its repeal).
On January 19, 2006, Lisa filed a verified motion to amend petition for legal separation to petition for
dissolution of marriage. The motion was granted on January 20, 2006. On February 13, 2006, Lisa filed a
motion to strike the January 20 order and issue a reworded order. An order granting Lisa’s motion and setting
a preliminary hearing was signed on February 23 and filed on February 27, 2006. Neil argues that this order
was issued by a judge pro tempore who had not been properly appointed, and the order therefore did not
effectively cause the petition for dissolution to relate back to the date of filing the petition for legal separation.
It does not appear that Neil challenged the validity of this order at any time prior to this appeal, nor does he
indicate how he was prejudiced by any defect in the order. See Ind. Trial Rule 61 (“The court at every stage of
the proceeding must disregard any error or defect in the proceeding which does not affect the substantial rights
of the parties.”). Had he called the issue to the court’s attention, the court could have issued a new order
remedying any defect, and this new order would still relate back to the date of separation pursuant to Indiana
Code Section 31-9-2-46. Therefore, we conclude that this argument is waived. See Robles v. State, 705
N.E.2d 183, 187 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998) (an issue is waived if not raised in the trial court because trial court
should be given opportunity to promptly correct the alleged error).
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Lisa “is indebted to her Father, Ivan Gingerich, in the amount of $580,000 plus interest at the
annual rate of 7% which debt shall be set over to Lisa.” Appellant’s App. at 39. In the
section of the order titled “Decree of Dissolution of Marriage,” the court sets out a chart
listing thirty items of property, their value, and the party to whom each asset is awarded.5
Lisa’s 25% share of the dealership is valued at $1,400,000, and the debt is listed as “$0.00.”
Id. at 45. The $580,000 debt does not appear anywhere in the chart. The court’s 33/67 split
is based on the values listed in this chart.
“It is well-established that all marital property goes into the marital pot for division,
whether it was owned by either spouse before the marriage, acquired by either spouse after
the marriage and before final separation of the parties, or acquired by their joint efforts.”
Smith v. Smith, 938 N.E.2d 857, 860 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010) (citing Ind. Code § 31-15-7-4(a)).
Marital property includes both assets and liabilities. Id. “The trial court has no authority to
exclude or set aside marital property but must divide all property.” Id.Lisa is correct that the debt to her father should be included in the marital estate. Neil
argues that Lisa invited the error because the trial court adopted paragraph 55 and the chart
from Lisa’s proposed order. Nevertheless, it is clear that the trial court was aware of the debt
5
Earlier in the order, in paragraph 4(e) under the heading “Conclusions of Law,” the trial court sets
out a chart containing Lisa’s proposed values and a chart containing Neil’s proposed values. Appellant’s App.
at 42-43. The court introduces Lisa’s chart by stating, “Using Lisa’s values and the division of marital
property as agreed by the parties (i.e. which asset goes to which party) the distribution shall be as follows.” Id.
at 41 (emphasis added). After setting out Neil’s chart, the order states, “The Court adopts Neil’s values.” Id.
at 44 (emphasis added). The chart contained in the section titled “Decree of Dissolution of Marriage” uses
some of Lisa’s values and some of Neil’s and includes the court’s calculation of the 33/67 split. The intent of
paragraph 4(e) appears to be to set out the parties’ arguments, whereas the final chart appears to be the court’s
ruling; however, as Neil points out in his appellee’s brief, paragraph 4(e) contains some contradictory
language. On remand, the court should clarify paragraph 4(e).
15
and knew that it needed to be distributed. Therefore, we remand with instructions to include
the debt in the chart setting forth the marital assets. Based on the chart, it appears that the
trial court reached the decision to divide the marital assets 33/67 without considering the
impact of Lisa’s debt. After including Lisa’s debt, the trial court may determine that a
different division is just and reasonable. See Miller v. Miller, 763 N.E.2d 1009, 1012 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2002) (“Because it will likely upset the division of property equation, the
adjustment of one asset or liability may require the adjustment of another to avoid an
inequitable result or may require the reconsideration of the entire division of property.”).
Because of our resolution of this issue, we do not reach Neil’s argument that the court
should have divided the marital estate equally or Lisa’s argument that she should receive a
percentage of the estate large enough to eliminate the need to make a monetary payment to
Neil.6 However, we point out that the trial court thoroughly considered all the statutory
factors in reaching its conclusion that the presumption in favor of an equal division had been
rebutted. See Ind. Code § 31-15-7-5 (establishing a presumption that an equal division is just
6
Neil also points out that there is a typographical error in the final paragraph of the order, which states
that Lisa is to “pay Neil the sum of $870.948.47.” Appellant’s App. at 46. We presume that this mistake will
be rectified when the court recalculates the property division.
16
and reasonable and setting forth factors that may be considered to rebut the presumption).7
On the other hand, those findings do not dictate that Lisa must receive the full value of all the
assets assigned to her without making a payment to Neil.
II. Child Support
A. Calculation of Lisa’s Income
The trial court made the following findings regarding Lisa’s income:
5. Lisa’s W-2 income for the calendar year 2010 was $48,000 ($923 per
week). In addition to Lisa’s W-2 income, Lisa received the use of a “demo”
automobile from the HE McGonigal, Inc. Dealership valued at $1,065.00 per
month ($245 per week).
6. Lisa periodically receives irregular income in the form of dividends paid by
HE McGonigal, Inc. Such irregular income is disclosed on Lisa’s annual 1040
Federal Tax Return. While the amount of Lisa’s irregular income varies from
year to year, the net average was $61,000.00 per year during the pendency of
this divorce action. When this amount is added to her $48,000.00 per year and
the income derived due to the demo automobile, she received an average
annual income computed by Doug Troutman on Exhibit 28.
Appellant’s App. at 24.
Petitioner’s Exhibit 28, prepared by Lisa’s accountant, Doug Troutman, is titled “Lisa
Birkhimer Cash Flow.” The exhibit first shows Lisa’s total cash inflow, consisting of W-2
wages, employer contributions to her 401(k), commissions, and distributions from the
7
Neil argues that the trial court misapplied the second of these factors, the extent to which the
property was acquired by each spouse before the marriage or through inheritance or gift. Ind. Code § 31-15-7-
5. In paragraph 50(d) under the heading “Property Issues,” the court stated that “Lisa received a 25% interest
in HE McGon[ig]al, Inc. from her father in calendar year 2000 as a part of his estate plan.” Appellant’s App.
at 37. Neil argues that the court implied that Lisa’s interest in the dealership was a gift. The same paragraph,
however, acknowledges that Lisa executed a note for $580,000 and that she pays interest on this amount.
While Lisa’s acquisition of a share of the dealership was not strictly a gift, the court highlighted aspects of the
transaction that were more generous than an arms-length transaction likely would have been, such as the fact
that the principal is forgiven in the event of Ivan’s death. We do not agree that the trial court misstated the
evidence or misapplied this factor.
17
dealership. The exhibit then shows cash outflows, including FICA and Medicare
withholding, federal and state income tax withholding, quarterly estimated state and federal
taxes due on the family businesses, interest paid to Ivan, and “Itemized Deductions,” which
Troutman testified included expenses such as Lisa’s mortgage payments and real estate tax.
Pet. Ex. 28. Troutman then subtracted the outflows from the inflows to arrive at a net cash
flow figure for each year from 2004-2009, as well as an estimate for 2010. To calculate
Lisa’s irregular income, it appears that the trial court used years 2005-2010, averaged them,
and subtracted $48,000.
Neil argues that the trial court’s calculation artificially deflates Lisa’s income. First,
Exhibit 28 deducts all of Lisa’s taxes from her income. The Indiana Child Support
Guidelines, however, call for the use of gross income:
One of the policy decisions made by the Judicial Administration Committee in
the early stages of developing the Guidelines was to use a gross income
approach as opposed to a net income approach. Under a net income approach,
extensive discovery is often required to determine the validity of deductions
claimed in arriving at net income. It is believed that the use of gross income
reduces discovery. (See Commentary to Guideline 3A). While the use of
gross income has proven controversial, this approach is used by the majority of
jurisdictions and, after a thorough review, is considered the best reasoned.
The basic support obligation would be the same whether gross income is
reduced by adjustments built into the Guidelines or whether taxes are taken out
and a net income option is used. A support guideline schedule consists of a
column of income figures and a column of support amounts. In a gross income
methodology, the tax factor is reflected in the support amount column, while in
a net income guideline, the tax factor is applied to the income column. In
devising the Indiana Guidelines, an average tax factor of 21.88 percent was
used to adjust the support column.
Of course, taxes vary for different individuals. This is the case whether a gross
or net income approach is used. Under the Indiana Guideline, where taxes
18
vary significantly from the assumed rate of 21.88 percent, a trial court may
choose to deviate from the guideline amount where the variance is
substantiated by evidence at the support hearing.
Ind. Child Support Guideline 1, cmt. Thus, the trial court not only deviated from the
guidelines, but because a tax rate of 21.88% is built into the Guidelines, the court also
reduced Lisa’s income by more than 100% of her taxes.
Second, Exhibit 28 deducts Lisa’s payments to Ivan – a debt that is part of the marital
pot – as well as her mortgage payments and real estate taxes. These are not items that are
normally used to offset a child support obligation.
Distributions from the family businesses make up the lion’s share of Lisa’s income.
Lisa’s business interests result in a substantial tax liability, and she depends upon dividends
from the business to pay her taxes, but she does not hold a controlling interest in any of the
companies. Calculating irregular income presents a particular challenge for the trial court,
see Ind. Child Support Guideline 3, cmt. 2(b), and this may well be a case where a deviation
is warranted. However, deviations must be supported by written findings. Ind. Child
Support Rule 3. The trial court’s findings do not specifically address why Lisa was allowed
the deductions included in Exhibit 28. On remand, the trial court shall recalculate Lisa’s
income. If a deduction is made for her taxes, the deduction should not exceed 100% of her
taxes. The court shall enter written findings to support any deviations from the Guidelines.
B. Parenting Time Credit
Lisa argues that the trial court erred in its application of the parenting time credit. The
trial court rejected the CSOWs proffered by each party and created its own. The trial court
19
gave Lisa a parenting time credit based on 182 overnights, which resulted in Lisa owing
$77.59 per week in child support. In the order, the trial court stated:
Given that the parties share physical custody and therefore have equal
parenting time, this Court must determine which party shall receive the
overnight parenting time credit and which party shall pay the controlled
expenses. Neil proposed Lisa pay the controlled expenses. Lisa did not
present a proposal. The evidence was that the common practice was that Wife
had been paying more expenses that would be considered controlled expenses.
The Court finds Wife shall receive the overnight parenting time credit and
Wife shall pay the controlled expenses, clothing, education, school books and
supplies, and personal care of the children, and the first Six Percent (6%) of
uninsured healthcare expenses.
Appellant’s App. at 25-26. Thus, the trial court cited evidence that would support assigning
controlled expenses to Lisa, but then also ordered her to pay child support, offset by the
parenting time credit.
Lisa argues, and Neil concedes, that the parenting time credit should not go to the
party paying the controlled expenses. See Ind. Child Support Guideline 6, cmt. (stating that
“controlled expenses are not shared and remain with the parent that does not get the parenting
time credit” and that in cases where parenting time is equally divided, “either the mother or
father must be designated as the parent who will pay the controlled expenses. Then, the other
parent is given the parenting time credit.”). Lisa and Neil agree that Lisa should pay the
controlled expenses and Neil should receive the parenting time credit. See Appellant’s Br. at
14 (“[T]he child support order should be set aside and recalculated based on Lisa receiving
the credit for controlled expenses and Neil receiving the credit for parenting time.”);
Appellee’s Br. at 11 (“The support calculation should reflect that Lisa is the designated
parent paying controlled expenses as per the court’s findings. According to the guidelines,
20
Neil should get the parenting time credit.”). On remand, the trial court should complete a
new CSOW using Lisa’s recalculated income and assigning the parenting time credit to Neil.8
III. Incorporation of Partial Settlement
In its order, the trial court incorporated the parties’ partial settlement agreement,
which concerned custody and parenting time, with the following language: “The parties shall
share joint legal and physical custody of the children and the Court incorporates the Partial
Settlement Agreement filed by the parties November 21, 2008.” Appellant’s App. at 46.
Neil argues that this language is insufficient to give binding legal effect to the partial
settlement agreement.
First, Neil argues that this language does not identify the partial settlement agreement
clearly enough because the title on the document is “Partial Settlement Agreement Regarding
Custody and Parenting Time” and it was signed by the parties on November 17, 2008. Neil
argues that this is important because “there were two previous agreements which also
addressed custody and parenting time.” Appellee’s Br. at 26. Our review of the record leads
us to the conclusion that there is no real confusion as to which document the trial court was
referencing. The chronological case summary (“CCS”) entry for November 21, 2008, states,
“Partial Settlement Agreement Regarding Custody and Parenting Time entered. Signed
11/20/08 and entered 11/21/08.” Appellant’s App. at 8. The two previous agreements that
Neil refers to are a “Provisional Agreed Entry” stamped May 6, 2005, and an “Agreed Entry”
8
We note that if the court increases Lisa’s income, application of the parenting time credit to Neil
could result in a negative support obligation for Neil. If that is the case, it may be appropriate for the court to
order Lisa to pay child support to Neil. See Grant v. Hager, 868 N.E.2d 801, 802-04 (Ind. 2007).
21
stamped December 1, 2006. Appellee’s App. at 26, 31. Neither of these agreements is
referred to as a partial settlement agreement, and neither of them bears any relationship to the
date of November 21, 2008. Furthermore, neither party contends that the trial court should
have incorporated or intended to incorporate a document other than the “Partial Settlement
Agreement Regarding Custody and Parenting Time.”
Neil’s second point of contention is that the trial court’s order did not state that the
partial settlement agreement was “fully approved, merged, and incorporated” into the divorce
decree. Appellee’s Br. at 27. None of the cases cited by Neil persuades us that the trial court
must use this “magic language” in order to make a settlement agreement binding. Neil relies
on In re Marriage of Pond, 676 N.E.2d 401 (Ind. Ct. App. 1997), trans. granted, 700 N.E.2d
1130 (Ind. 1998); Anderson v. Anderson, 399 N.E.2d 391 (Ind. Ct. App. 1979); and Grace v.
Quigg, 150 Ind. App. 371, 276 N.E.2d 594 (1971). The issue in Pond was whether the
parties’ agreement should be construed as an antenuptial agreement or a postnuptial
agreement. Anderson and Grace were both cases where the parties had entered a settlement
agreement, but the court did not reference the agreement in the dissolution decree at all.
None of these cases holds that the trial court must use particular language in order to give
binding effect to a settlement agreement. Notably, Grace did not use the “approved, merged,
and incorporated” language that Neil insists is necessary; the Grace court stated that the
agreement “would only be binding if it were included and approved by the court in the final
decree.” Grace, 150 Ind. App. at 599, 276 N.E.2d at 379 (emphasis added).
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In this case, it is clear that the trial court approved the partial settlement agreement; it
would not have incorporated the agreement if it did not approve of it. In this context, the
words “merge” and “incorporate” have similar meanings. See BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY
781, 1009 (8th ed. 2004) (defining “incorporate” as “[t]o combine with something else,” and
defining “merger” as “[t]he act or an instance of combining or uniting”). Neil’s argument
promotes form over substance, and we see no basis or need for the highly formulaic rule
proposed by Neil. We conclude that the trial court’s incorporation of the partial settlement
agreement was sufficient.
IV. Discharge and Satisfaction of Claims
Paragraph 3 of the court’s order under the heading “Decree of Dissolution of
Marriage” states: “The obligations imposed upon the parties by this Decree shall be in
complete discharge and satisfaction of all claims and rights which either ever had, now has or
might hereafter have against the other by reason of their former relationship as Husband and
Wife.” Appellant’s App. at 46. Neil believes that this paragraph exceeds the court’s
jurisdiction, and he provides a list of hypothetical claims that he believes would be barred by
paragraph 3, including “liability to former spouse for electronic surveillance violation,”
“liability to former spouse for torts,” “ability to challenge former spouse’s fraud on the court
in dissolution of marriage proceedings,” assertion of the “privilege of communication
between husband and wife,” “filing contempt or collection proceedings should Lisa fail to
fulfill her financial obligations to him under the decree,” “seeking attorney fee
reimbursement for defending tax audits and claims arising out of the marriage relating to
23
Lisa’s famil[y’s] business dealings,” and “contesting any bankruptcy filing … that seeks to
discharge Neil’s decree awards for money distributions and attorney and expert fee
reimbursements.” Appellee’s Br. at 49-51.
We do not believe that paragraph 3 is as broad as Neil interprets it to be. Paragraph 3
applies only to claims “against the other by reason of their former relationship as Husband
and Wife.” Appellant’s App. at 46. If, for example, Lisa commits a tort against Neil in the
future, that claim would not be barred just because Lisa is Neil’s ex-wife; such a claim would
not be “by reason of their former relationship.” Neil does not identify any existing claims
that have been improperly extinguished by the language of paragraph 3. We agree with Lisa
that our courts have long taken the approach that a dissolution decree should address all
property issues. See, e.g., Draime v. Draime, 132 Ind. App. 99, 104, 173 N.E.2d 70, 73
(1961) (“A decree of divorce not only terminates the marital obligations of the parties
involved, but settles all property rights growing out of the marriage relationship.”). Neil has
not persuaded us that paragraph 3 exceeds the trial court’s jurisdiction.
V. Attorney’s Fees
In dissolution cases, the trial court is statutorily authorized to award attorney fees:
The court periodically may order a party to pay a reasonable amount for the
cost to the other party of maintaining or defending any proceeding under this
article and for attorney’s fees and mediation services, including amounts for
legal services provided and costs incurred before the commencement of the
proceedings or after entry of judgment.
Ind. Code § 31-15-10-1.
We review a trial court’s award of attorney fees in connection with a
dissolution decree for an abuse of discretion. The trial court abuses its
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discretion if its decision is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and
circumstances before it. When making such an award, the trial court must
consider the resources of the parties, their economic condition, the ability of
the parties to engage in gainful employment and to earn adequate income, and
other factors that bear on the reasonableness of the award.
Hartley v. Hartley, 862 N.E.2d 274, 286 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (citations omitted). The court
may also consider whether a party has committed misconduct that results in additional
litigation expenses. Mitchell v. Mitchell, 875 N.E.2d 320, 325 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007), trans.
denied (2008).
A. Trial Attorney’s Fees and Costs
Lisa argues that the trial court abused its discretion by ordering her to pay a portion of
Neil’s trial attorney’s fees and costs because Neil has a higher earning ability; she has a
mortgage payment, and Neil does not; and she uses her dividend income to pay interest on
her debt to her father. However, Lisa’s own cash flow exhibit (Exhibit 28), shows that even
with these expenses, her average net income exceeds Neil’s gross income.
Next, Lisa argues that Neil dissipated assets by filing separate tax returns and claiming
the exemptions for both children, which increased Lisa’s tax liability. While the trial court
took note of these facts, it did not explicitly find that it was unreasonable for Neil to file
separately. Lisa’s own testimony reflects that she did not question or oppose Neil’s decision
to file separately. The court addressed the issue of Neil claiming both children by allowing
Lisa to claim both children in 2011 and 2012; thereafter, the court ordered each party to
claim one child.
25
Lisa also argues that the trial court should have taken into account that Neil spent
much more on attorney’s fees and litigation costs than she did. Discovery in this case was
extremely contentious, especially as it related to valuation of Lisa’s business interests. Neil
filed multiple motions to compel, which Lisa contested. It appears that the trial court granted
at least two of Neil’s motions and that the issue of attorney’s fees relating to these motions
was still under advisement at the time of the final hearing.9 We note that Neil’s experts
discovered a significant error in Brewer’s appraisal of the dealership; Lisa’s interest in the
dealership would have been undervalued had Neil not hired experts to review Brewer’s work.
Neil and his experts also discovered some omissions in the real estate appraisals. Ultimately,
the trial court adopted the valuations proposed by Neil’s experts for each of Lisa’s business
interests.
Next, Lisa argues that any attorney’s fee award to Neil should be offset by the $62,000
Firestone settlement, which Neil applied toward his attorney’s fees. Neil testified that the
settlement consisted of two parts: payment for loss of use and enjoyment of the property
while Firestone was working on decontaminating the yard and payment for the decrease in
market value of the property. The marital residence was appraised as of January 10, 2006.
9
Lisa asserts that she was “forced to file at least five motions to quash and requests for protective
orders during the proceedings, and the trial court granted all but one of the same.” Appellant’s Reply Br. at 31.
It is difficult for us to reconstruct precisely what happened because a number of the CCS entries reflect only
that an order was issued and do not state whether the motion was granted or denied, and the parties’ appendices
do not include all of the discovery-related filings and orders. From the record before us, we are able to discern
that Lisa filed at least five motions to quash, and at least three of them were granted. Neil has provided copies
of two court orders, one dated April 8, 2010, and one dated June 17, 2010, both of which grant motions to
compel that had been filed by Neil. In addition, there is an order dated July 9, 2010, ordering Rex to respond
to questions that Lisa objected to during his deposition.
26
The residence was determined to have a value of $284,500 at that time; however, the
contamination issue had not yet come to light. In its distribution of property, the trial court
adopted the $284,500 value; thus, it is only fair that the payment for the decrease in market
value be set over to Neil rather than used to offset his fee award. As to the payment for loss
of use and enjoyment of the property, Lisa was not living in the home at the time that
Firestone was doing the remediation work. As the loss was specific to Neil, it is also fair that
that portion of the settlement be set over to Neil rather than used to offset his fee award. The
fact that Neil happened to use the Firestone settlement to pay attorney’s fees – as opposed to
some other source of funds – does not dictate that the settlement must offset the fee award.
Finally, Lisa notes that paragraph 57 under the heading “Property Issues” says that
“Lisa is to pay 67% of Neil’s litigation expenses and attorney fees.” Appellant’s App. at 40.
However, in paragraph 5 under the heading “Decree of Dissolution of Marriage,” the court
says that Lisa shall “reimburse Neil for 33% of his litigation expenses and attorney fees
within 90 days of this order.” Id. at 36. Neil argues that the trial court meant that Lisa is to
pay a total of 67% of his litigation expenses and attorney’s fees and that a portion of that
amount, 33%, must be paid within ninety days. However, if Neil is correct, the court’s order
does not appear to indicate when the remaining 34% should be paid. We conclude that the
evidence supports an award of attorney’s fees and litigation costs to Neil; however, on
remand the trial court should clarify the amount to be paid and the timing of the payment.
27
B. Post-Judgment and Appellate Attorney’s Fees
Lisa also argues that the trial court abused its discretion by ordering her to pay a
portion of Neil’s post-judgment and appellate fees.10 Lisa makes many of the same
arguments addressed above and also notes that as of the hearing on Neil’s motion for post-
judgment and appellate fees, Neil was voluntarily unemployed.
In making the fee award, the court found that Lisa had caused Neil to incur additional
attorney’s fees after the dissolution decree was entered. Specifically, the court noted that
Neil’s counsel filed responses to Lisa’s motion to correct error and motion for stay, appeared
at hearings, submitted proposed orders, and briefed a jurisdictional issue raised by Lisa.
Although Neil’s decision to remain unemployed for a period of time has contributed to the
depletion of his liquid assets, so did Lisa’s successful motion to stay the trial court’s
dissolution decree, which ordered her to pay Neil $870,948.47 plus interest over the next ten
years. Lisa has not persuaded us that the trial court abused its discretion by awarding Neil a
portion of his post-judgment and appellate attorney’s fees.
VI. Security
Finally, we address Neil’s argument that the trial court abused its discretion by not
ordering Lisa to provide security for the cash award to Neil. Pursuant to Indiana Code
Section 31-15-7-8, when a court issues an order dividing marital property, “the court may
provide for the security, bond, or other guarantee that is satisfactory to the court to secure the
10
The trial court also ordered Lisa to reimburse Neil for half the cost of the transcript in light of the
fact that both parties anticipated appealing portions of the dissolution decree and would each use the transcript.
It does not appear that Lisa challenges this portion of the order.
28
division of property.” We have said that the “statutory language obviously affords the court
the broadest possible discretion in requiring security” and that “we will not substitute our
judgment for that of the trial court.” In re Marriage of Davis, 182 Ind. App. 342, 350, 395
N.E.2d 1254, 1259 (1979).11
In Davis, one of just a few published opinions discussing this statute, the parties had
both contributed assets to their family business, Davis Enterprises. At the time of the final
separation, Davis Enterprises held the bulk of the parties’ assets, including a motel, a
laundry, apartments, the marital residence, a farm, and motor vehicles. Davis Enterprises
was awarded to the husband, who was ordered to make a payment of $100,000 to the wife
over a period of 130 months. On appeal, the wife argued that the trial court had abused its
discretion by failing to provide security for the cash award. Although we expressed concern
that the wife had been given “an unsecured, personal debt” in exchange for valuable assets,
we concluded that there was no abuse of discretion. Id.Subsequently, in Franklin Bank & Trust Co. v. Reed, 508 N.E.2d 1256, 1258-59 (Ind.
1987), our supreme court explained that in a dissolution case, when one party receives a
money judgment against the other, the general judgment lien statute creates an automatic lien
on the indebted party’s real estate and chattels. The dissolution statutes give the trial court
“authority to overcome the judgment lien, or to augment it, or to limit it.” Id. at 1259. If the
11
Davis addressed a predecessor statute, Indiana Code Section 31-1-11.5-15, which contained
substantially similar language.
29
trial court does not exercise its authority under Indiana Code Section 31-15-7-8, the general
lien still exists. See id.12
This case is similar to Davis in that the trial court awarded a family business to one
party and ordered that party to make a sizable payment to the other over the course of several
years. We found no abuse of discretion in Davis even though the wife was left with an
unsecured personal debt. Neil is in a better position than the appellant in Davis, because he
has an automatic lien against Lisa’s property.
Neil argues that additional security is needed “because there is a history of
considerable lack of performance during discovery and no reason to believe compliance with
performance on the money order will be any different.” Appellee’s Br. at 45. Neil argues
that Rex was likewise uncooperative and that Lisa’s ability to pay the judgment largely
depends on Rex’s willingness to continue making distributions to Lisa.
The trial court was intimately aware of the contentious nature of discovery in this
case. In addition to hearing the parties’ arguments as the issues arose, the court heard
testimony about discovery issues during the final hearing, and the court also had before it an
exhibit that Neil prepared which outlined numerous instances where Neil felt that Lisa and/or
Rex had not been cooperative or forthcoming in discovery. Lisa disputed or provided
explanations for many of the discovery issues highlighted by Neil. The court apparently did
not take the same dire view of Lisa’s performance as Neil did. Furthermore, the court heard
12
Franklin Bank also refers to Indiana Code Section 31-1-11.5-15, the predecessor of Indiana Code
Section 31-15-7-8. Also, at the time that Franklin Bank was decided, the general lien statute was codified at
Indiana Code Section 34-1-45-2; substantially similar language now appears in Indiana Code Section 34-55-9-
2.
30
evidence that Rex made regular distributions in an amount sufficient to pay both his and
Lisa’s liabilities and that he pays Lisa in proportion to the amount that he distributes to
himself. There is no evidence in the record suggesting that Rex has attempted to freeze Lisa
out or that he will attempt to do so in the future. In light of the evidence favorable to the trial
court’s judgment, Neil has not persuaded us that the trial court abused its discretion by
declining to require Lisa to provide security beyond the general judgment lien.
Conclusion
This case is remanded to the trial court with the following instructions:
(1) The court shall include Lisa’s debt to her father in the chart setting forth
the marital assets. The court shall then either recalculate the 33/67% split or
adjust the percentages if the court determines that a different division is just
and reasonable.
(2) The trial court shall recalculate Lisa’s income for child support purposes.
If a deduction is made for her taxes, the deduction should not exceed 100% of
her taxes. The court shall enter written findings to support any deviations from
the Child Support Guidelines.
(3) The trial court shall complete a new CSOW using Lisa’s recalculated
income and applying the parenting time credit to Neil.
(4) The trial court shall make the corrections or clarifications mentioned in
section V(A) of this opinion, as well as in footnotes 5 and 6.
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed in all other respects.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.
RILEY, J., and BAILEY, J., concur.
31