WILLIAM J. ENGELHARDT, JR. VS. DIANA ENGELHARDT (FM-15-0658-04, OCEAN COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) ( 2020 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
DOCKET NO. A-1183-18T3
WILLIAM J. ENGELHARDT,
JR.,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
DIANA ENGELHARDT,
Defendant-Respondent.
__________________________
Argued November 4, 2019 – Decided February 24, 2020
Before Judges Fasciale and Moynihan.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
Chancery Division, Family Part, Ocean County, Docket
No. FM-15-0658-04.
Michael Jude Gunteski argued the cause for appellant
(Law Offices of Darren C. O'Toole, LLC, attorneys;
Carrie Ayn Smith, of counsel and on the brief).
Respondent has not filed a brief.
PER CURIAM
Plaintiff William J. Engelhardt, Jr. (husband), appeals from the trial
court's August 30, 2018 order granting, in part, his motion to terminate/modify
alimony to defendant 1 Diana Engelhardt (wife) and its October 29, 2018 order
denying his motion for reconsideration of the August 2018 order. 2
On appeal, husband argues the trial court erred by: failing to properly
consider and weigh the applicable statutory factors in determining his alimony
obligation; considering income from his retirement benefit that wife received as
part of the equitable distribution to which the parties agreed; and failing to
consider his right to maintain the marital lifestyle and setting an alimony
obligation that resulted in wife having a greater income than he. We are
unpersuaded by husband's arguments but are constrained to remand this matter
for the trial court to explain the calculation of its alimony award.
Husband moved to permit his immediate retirement and terminate his
weekly alimony obligation, set at $550 in an oral stipulation of settlement that
1
Wife was represented by counsel at the trial court level. In a letter filed March
12, 2019, she informed this court she could no longer afford legal representation
and would proceed pro se. She further indicated she would not be filing a brief
although she disagreed with husband "and his requests on appeal."
2
Husband did not separately brief the denial of his motion for reconsideration
but incorporates references to the court's October 29, 2018 order in parts of his
arguments.
A-1183-18T3
2
was incorporated in the parties' dual judgment of divorce (DJOD) entered in
January 2005. The trial court held a two-day plenary hearing at which both
parties testified. Determining husband was entitled to a modification of his
alimony obligation, the court, in a written decision, reduced same to $250 per
week. Husband filed a motion for reconsideration, arguing the court failed to
consider wife's social security benefit of $1127 per month and should have
considered only his active contribution to his retirement fund since the divorce,
which was $26,000. The court denied the motion in a written decision.
Our review of Family Part orders is limited; we accord deference to the
court's "special jurisdiction and expertise" in family law matters. Cesare v.
Cesare, 154 N.J. 394, 413 (1998). The family court's findings are binding so
long as its determinations are "supported by adequate, substantial, credible
evidence." Id. at 411-12. Evidence derived from testimony is given great
deference since the trial court is better suited to evaluate the credibility of the
witnesses. Id. at 412. Only when the trial court's findings are "so manifestly
unsupported by or inconsistent with the competent, relevant and reasonably
credible evidence as to offend the interests of justice" is reversal warranted.
Rova Farms Resort, Inc. v. Inv'rs. Ins. Co. of Am., 65 N.J. 474, 484 (1974)
(quoting Fagliarone v. Township of North Bergen, 78 N.J. Super. 154, 155 (App.
A-1183-18T3
3
Div. 1963)). The trial court's "legal conclusions, and the application of those
conclusions to the facts, are subject to [this court's] plenary review,"
Spangenberg v. Kolakowski, 442 N.J. Super. 529, 535 (App. Div. 2015)
(quoting Reese v. Weis, 430 N.J. Super. 552, 568 (App. Div. 2013)), as are all
legal issues, Ricci v. Ricci, 448 N.J. Super. 546, 565 (App. Div. 2017).
"Motions for reconsideration are governed by Rule 4:49-2, which provides
that the decision to grant or deny a motion for reconsideration rests within the
sound discretion of the trial court." Pitney Bowes Bank, Inc. v. ABC Caging
Fulfillment, 440 N.J. Super. 378, 382 (App. Div. 2015). Reconsideration "is not
appropriate merely because a litigant is dissatisfied with a decision of the court
or wishes to reargue a motion[.]" Palombi v. Palombi, 414 N.J. Super. 274, 288
(App. Div. 2010). "[A] motion for reconsideration provides the court, and not
the litigant, with an opportunity to take a second bite at the apple to correct
errors inherent in a prior ruling." Medina v. Pitta, 442 N.J. Super. 1, 18 (App.
Div. 2015). It "does not provide the litigant with an opportunity to raise new
legal issues that were not presented to the court in the underlying motion." Ibid.
Turning first to husband's argument that the trial court failed to weigh the
factors set forth in N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23(j)(3), the record shows that the court
A-1183-18T3
4
analyzed each factor of the statute 3 and detailed its findings of fact, recounting
the parties' testimony, in determining the alimony award.
3
N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23(j)(3) provides:
When a retirement application is filed in cases in which
there is an existing final alimony order or enforceable
written agreement established prior to the effective date
of this act, the obligor's reaching full retirement age as
defined in this section shall be deemed a good faith
retirement age. . . . In making its determination, the
court shall consider the ability of the obligee to have
saved adequately for retirement as well as the following
factors in order to determine whether the obligor, by a
preponderance of the evidence, has demonstrated that
modification or termination of alimony is appropriate:
(a) The age and health of the parties at the time of the
application;
(b) The obligor's field of employment and the generally
accepted age of retirement for those in that field;
(c) The age when the obligor becomes eligible for
retirement at the obligor's place of employment,
including mandatory retirement dates or the dates upon
which continued employment would no longer increase
retirement benefits;
(d) The obligor's motives in retiring, including any
pressures to retire applied by the obligor's employer or
incentive plans offered by the obligor's employer;
A-1183-18T3
5
Husband contends the trial court, "despite alleging that it gave significant
weight to ['the ability of the obligee to have saved adequately for retirement,'
N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23(j)(3),] failed to afford adequate weight to [wife's] ability to
save." He argues wife failed to invest her share of the retirement account
pursuant to the DJOD which required her to transfer her one-half share of
$160,634 retirement fund "into an Individual Retirement Account in [her] sole
(e) The reasonable expectations of the parties regarding
retirement during the marriage or civil union and at the
time of the divorce or dissolution;
(f) The ability of the obligor to maintain support
payments following retirement, including whether the
obligor will continue to be employed part-time or work
reduced hours;
(g) The obligee's level of financial independence and
the financial impact of the obligor's retirement upon the
obligee; and
(h) Any other relevant factors affecting the parties'
respective financial positions.
[See Landers v. Landers, 444 N.J. Super. 315, 324-25
(App. Div. 2016) (finding N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23(j)(3)
governs the analysis of motions for modification or
termination of alimony based on retirement where the
alimony order is established prior to the effective date
of the statute's amendment, September 10, 2014).]
A-1183-18T3
6
name by way of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, if required." Husband
asserts wife received $155,000.00 from the divorce and these "funds have been
squandered and liquidated." Finally, he argues the court's findings regarding
wife's "financial interdependence contradict the findings regarding the ability to
save."
In assessing the statutory ability-to-save factor, the court determined wife
had some opportunity to save for retirement, having "left the marriage with
assets and essentially no liabilities," and with the proceeds from the sale of the
marital home and $10,000 from equitable distribution. The court found wife
received weekly alimony of $550 and $80,000 in retirement assets from
husband's fund, paid over ten years in amounts of $8000. Wife used this money
to pay taxes on her alimony payments, credit card bills, car repairs, and
Christmas gifts for her family. The court found wife did not have a financial
plan and never appreciated the possibility that alimony payments might one day
change. The court recognized wife's employment instability throughout the
years, and the budget cuts and implemented money-saving efforts she made in
reaction to this situation.
The court gave "some significant" weight to this factor, but also properly
considered other factors in determining the amount of the alimony award ,
A-1183-18T3
7
including the age and physical condition of the parties, and their employment
capabilities and projected earnings. The court noted wife was already required
to move from moderate income housing to low income housing. The court
concluded: "Although [it] did find that [wife] had the ability to some extent to
save for retirement, the [c]ourt is clearly convinced that [wife] would not be able
to live independently and would have great difficulty in maintaining a
permanent residence in the absence of alimony." In that the trial court's
conclusion is based on a consideration of all the statutory factors and its
determination is "supported by adequate, substantial, credible evidence,"
Cesare, 154 N.J. at 412, it is entitled to our deference.
We determine husband's argument that the trial court did not consider
wife's income, including her social security benefits, in determining the alimony
award is without merit. In denying husband's reconsideration motion, the court
recognized his contention that it "failed to consider that [wife] receives a gross
[s]ocial [s]ecurity benefit of [$1127] per month." The court found that husband
was "mistaken in this regard. That source of income was, indeed, considered by
the [c]ourt."
That finding is supported. In its initial decision, just before noting wife's
dependence on alimony payments and the income she received from her two
A-1183-18T3
8
part-time jobs, the court recounted wife's testimony during the plenary hearing
and stated, wife "made the determination that she would need to begin to collect
her social security early in order to meet her expenses." Wife testified at the
plenary hearing she received $13,257 in yearly social security benefits.
We, likewise find meritless husband's argument that in determining the
alimony award, the trial court contravened N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23(b) and N.J.S.A.
2A:34-23(j) by erroneously considering both the retirement fund that was
equitably distributed to wife and income derived therefrom.
N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23(b) provides: "When a share of a retirement benefit is
treated as an asset for purposes of equitable distribution, the court shall not
consider income generated thereafter by that share for purposes of determining
alimony." N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23(j)(4) provides: "The assets distributed between
the parties at the time of the entry of a final order of divorce or dissolution of a
civil union shall not be considered by the court for purposes of determining the
obligor’s ability to pay alimony following retirement."
"When a share of a retirement benefit is treated as an asset for purposes
of equitable distribution, the court shall not consider income generated
thereafter by that share for purposes of determining alimony." Innes v. Innes,
117 N.J. 496, 505 (1990) (quoting L. 1988, c. 153, § 3). "Conversely, the rule
A-1183-18T3
9
does not bar counting as income for determining alimony that portion of the
former spouse's pension attributable to post-divorce employment, and [is]
therefore not subject to division as marital property at [the] time of divorce."
Steneken v. Steneken, 367 N.J. Super. 427, 437-38 (App. Div. 2004), aff'd as
modified, 183 N.J. 290 (2005). "In other words, a supporting spouse's pension
may be considered for purposes of alimony to the extent that post-divorce
earnings enhance its value." Id. at 438; see also Claffey v. Claffey, 360 N.J.
Super. 240, 261 (App. Div. 2003) (holding that "income from pension benefits
earned after the filing of the complaint for divorce may be considered for
purposes of alimony modification").
Husband argues "despite the plain language of [N.J.S.A.] 2A:34-23(b), the
[c]ourt considered income from [his] retirement assets which had previously
been distributed as part of the divorce," and that the court erroneously
considered yearly payments of $20,000 he is to receive for the next ten years
from his retirement fund. He also contends the language of N.J.S.A. 2A:34-
23(j)(4) "clearly provides that assets previously divided as part of the divorce
shall not be considered in determining the obligor's ability to pay."
Although the court mentioned those yearly payments, it explicitly
concluded it could not consider the entirety of the amount in the fund because
A-1183-18T3
10
$80,000 plus any gains were the subject of equitable distribution during the
divorce. The balance of the fund as of April 30, 2018, was $220,000. 4 At the
time of the divorce, the account balance was $160,634. Wife received one half
of that amount, so approximately $80,000 remained. The court determined
approximately $140,000 accrued since the divorce,5 and concluded it was
permitted to consider a portion of this fund: $26,000. In arguing the maximum
amount of past-divorce contributions the trial court could consider, husband
admitted contributing that amount since the dual judgment of divorce. On
reconsideration, the court clarified "the $26,000[] figure suggested by [husband]
is the minimum amount that could be considered."
The court determined husband—who bore the burden of proof, N.J.S.A.
2A:34-23(j)(3) (providing the obligor must show, by a preponderance of the
evidence, he or she has demonstrated that modification or termination of
alimony is appropriate)—"failed to meet [his] burden with regard to the
4
The court's decision states the number is "$220,9220.62." Given husband's
testimony, this appears to be a typographical error; the number should be
$220,922.62. If husband is to receive $20,000 per year for ten years, the total
should amount to around $200,000.
5
The court's decision states the number is "$140,000,920[.]" This also appears
to be a typographical error. By subtracting the amount that remained after
equitable distribution ($80,000) from the balance as of April 2018 ($220,000),
the amount accrued post-divorce should be around $140,000.
A-1183-18T3
11
valuation of the retirement asset." The court further determined, "[t]here was
insufficient documentation provided as to the value of the asset vis a vis the
portion of the asset that had already been divided as part of [the] equitable
distribution and its increased valuation and the new contributions with their
concomitant increases in value."
During oral argument for the motion for reconsideration, the trial court
amplified its finding regarding husband's failure to meet his burden of proof:
But the fact is that he still continued to make
contributions to that fund afterwards and those
contributions also earned a result for him, and none of
that information was provided in hard fact to the Court.
So, in essence, [husband] didn’t meet [his]
burden in that regard to establish that $26,000 should
be the minimum. Thus, leaving the [c]ourt open to
consider more than the $26,000, and I can tell you that
my decision contemplated more than the $26,000
because that was the basic contribution, so he did make
income off of that.
The court made clear it did not consider more than $140,000, and it "didn't even
come close."
But it did not specify the amount it did consider over and above $26,000 ,
constraining our review of the ultimate calculation of the award. See R. 1:7-4;
Gnall v. Gnall, 222 N.J. 414, 428 (2015) ("Failure to make explicit findings and
clear statements of reasoning 'constitutes a disservice to the litigants, the
A-1183-18T3
12
attorneys, and the appellate court.'" (quoting Curtis v. Finneran, 83 N.J. 563,
569-70 (1980))). Although the court was aware of the prohibition against
considering pre-divorce contributions that were subject to equitable distribution
and the gains derived from same—explicitly saying so in its initial decision and
further explained in its reconsideration decision—it should have set forth the
considered amounts.
Thus, we remand this matter for the trial court to particularize those
values, how the court derived same and how they factored into the final alimony
award. We leave to the trial court's discretion whether it requires further
proceedings or submissions. We express no opinion regarding the ultimate
award, leaving that determination to the court's good discretion.
Inasmuch as the court's findings may have an effect on the parties' relative
standards of living, the trial court must reconsider any impact in its calculation
of the award on remand. We do not agree with husband that the court failed to
do so in its prior decisions. The record reveals the court fully considered the
parties' positions.
Remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion. We do not retain
jurisdiction.
A-1183-18T3
13