Riley v. Riley , 2013 Ohio 1604 ( 2013 )


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  • [Cite as Riley v. Riley, 
    2013-Ohio-1604
    .]
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
    ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
    ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO
    CAROLYN RILEY,                                  :      OPINION
    Plaintiff-Appellee,            :
    CASE NO. 2012-A-0037
    - vs -                                  :
    THOMAS K. RILEY,                                :
    Defendant-Appellant.           :
    Civil Appeal from the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2010 DR
    42.
    Judgment: Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.
    Robert M. McNair, McNair & Geary Co., L.P.A., 35 West Jefferson Street, Jefferson,
    OH 44047; William P. Bobulsky, William P. Bobulsky Co., L.P.A., 1612 East Prospect
    Road, Ashtabula, OH 44004 (For Plaintiff-Appellee).
    Kyle B. Smith, Smith & Miller, 36 West Jefferson Street, Jefferson, OH 44047 (For
    Defendant-Appellant).
    DIANE V. GRENDELL, J.
    {¶1}     Defendant-appellant, Thomas Riley, appeals the July 19, 2012 Judgment
    Entry of the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas, terminating his marriage to
    plaintiff-appellee, Carolyn Riley, dividing the marital estate, establishing spousal
    support, and ordering him to pay a portion of Carolyn’s legal fees. The issues before
    this court are whether an award of spousal support is unreasonable when it renders the
    recipient with a larger income than the payor; whether the decision to fix the date of the
    termination of marriage as the final day of hearing is unreasonable when the parties
    separated at the time the divorce was filed; whether a division of marital assets is
    unreasonable where the value of the estate is divided approximately 52.3%-47.7%; and
    whether it was unreasonable to order one party to pay legal fees where the recipient
    had the ability (more net income and fewer expenses) to pay her own fees. For the
    following reasons, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand the case for further
    proceedings consistent with this opinion.
    {¶2}   On February 4, 2010, Carolyn filed a Complaint for Divorce against
    Thomas.
    {¶3}   On May 13, 2010, Thomas filed an Answer and Counterclaim for Divorce.
    {¶4}   On April 18 and June 17, 2011, hearings were held on the Complaint and
    Counterclaim.
    {¶5}   On July 19, 2012, the trial court issued its Judgment Entry. The court
    found that the parties were married on August 7, 1986, and that one child, now
    emancipated, was born as issue of the marriage.        The court granted the parties a
    divorce on the grounds of incompatibility. The court established the termination date of
    the marriage, divided the marital estate, and ordered Thomas to pay spousal support.
    The details of the trial court’s order will be set forth under the appropriate assignments
    of error.
    {¶6}   On August 10, 2012, Thomas filed a Notice of Appeal.            On appeal,
    Thomas raises the following assignments of error:
    {¶7}   “[1.] The court erred in awarding spousal support to plaintiff in the amount
    of $1,500.00 per month when such award left plaintiff a larger income than defendant.”
    2
    {¶8}    “[2.] The court erred in determining the termination of marriage to be the
    first day of the final hearing, April 18, 2011, rather than February 4, 2010, the date of
    separation.”
    {¶9}    “[3.] The court erred when it failed to equally or equitably divide the assets
    in the marital estate.”
    {¶10} “[4.] The court erred in ordering defendant to pay plaintiff’s legal fees in
    the amount of $7,500.00.”
    {¶11} In the first assignment of error, Thomas challenges the trial court’s award
    of spousal support.
    {¶12} “In divorce and legal separation proceedings, upon the request of either
    party and after the court determines the division or disbursement of property * * *, the
    court of common pleas may award reasonable spousal support to either party. During
    the pendency of any divorce, or legal separation proceeding, the court may award
    reasonable temporary spousal support to either party.” R.C. 3105.18(B).
    {¶13} “In determining whether spousal support is appropriate and reasonable,
    and in determining the nature, amount, and terms of payment, and duration of spousal
    support, which is payable either in gross or in installments, the court shall consider all of
    the following factors: (a) The income of the parties * * *; (b) The relative earning abilities
    of the parties; (c) The ages and the physical, mental, and emotional conditions of the
    parties; (d) The retirement benefits of the parties; (e) The duration of the marriage; * * *
    (g) The standard of living of the parties established during the marriage; (h) The relative
    extent of education of the parties; (i) The relative assets and liabilities of the parties * * *;
    * * * (n) Any other factor that the court expressly finds to be relevant and equitable.”
    R.C. 3105.18(C)(1).
    3
    {¶14} “[W]hen reviewing the propriety of a trial court’s determination in a
    domestic relations case,” including spousal support, “[the Ohio Supreme Court] has
    always applied the ‘abuse of discretion’ standard.” Booth v. Booth, 
    44 Ohio St.3d 142
    ,
    144, 
    541 N.E.2d 1028
     (1989).
    {¶15} The trial court ordered Thomas to pay $1,500 per month for spousal
    support, “commencing on June 1, 2012 for a period of Five (5) years and subject to
    further Order of this Court.” The court made the following findings with respect to
    spousal support:
    {¶16} In 2010, [Carolyn] was employed by Verizon Wireless in customer
    service and her gross wages were Thirty Thousand Four Hundred Fifty
    Dollars ($30,450.00). [Thomas] was employed in 2010 by FirstEnergy
    Corporation doing environmental work with his gross wages being Eight[y]
    Thousand Five Hundred Three Dollars ($80,503.00). [Thomas] seems to
    be secure in his employment for the future.
    {¶17} [Carolyn] received a verbal warning in February, 2011 from her
    supervisor concerning the performance of her duties and testified
    that she has been informed that if her performance does not
    improve, she will be terminated from employment.
    {¶18} [Carolyn] had been employed at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant on
    a full-time basis but quit her employment to take care of the parties’
    son and when she resumed employment, she did seasonal work
    and was not employed full-time until she became employed by
    Verizon. She has been employed at Verizon for Four (4) years.
    4
    {¶19} [Carolyn] is Fifty-Four (54) years old and testified that she has been
    under the care of a psychiatrist, Doctor Feldman, for at least Six (6)
    years for attention deficit disorder and depression for which she
    takes Prozac and Adderall. She testified that her condition has
    affected her employment at Verizon. [Carolyn] testified that she
    applied for disability and then changed her mind and tried to seek
    employment on her own.
    {¶20} [Thomas] is Fifty-Three (53) years old and commenced his
    employment with FirstEnergy in 1982. He is in good health.
    {¶21} The parties were married for over Twenty-Four (24) years.
    {¶22} The parties enjoyed a comfortable middle-class standard of living.
    {¶23} [Carolyn] has at least Two (2) years of college education, studying
    engineering and art, however, the Court finds that [Carolyn’s]
    current medical issues, although self-reported by her testimony, but
    not substantially rebutted by [Thomas], minimizes the positive
    effects of [Carolyn’s] education. [Carolyn’s] counsel explained that
    he spent additional time working with Carolyn in preparing for this
    case because of her Attention Deficit Disorder.
    {¶24} [Thomas] did not attend college and served Six (6) years in the
    United States Navy where he attended Nuclear Power School and
    served on submarines. He then became employed at the Perry
    Nuclear Power Plant as a plant operator. His training in the United
    States Navy has provided him with secure employment with a
    comfortable income with FirstEnergy Corporation.
    5
    {¶25} [Carolyn] requested spousal support when she filed her divorce
    complaint which was opposed by [Thomas] and a hearing was set
    for all pending motions. The Court has been advised by [Carolyn’s]
    prior counsel that the pending matters had been settled but no
    Judgment Entry was submitted and on May 6, 2010, the Court
    noted that fact and set a pretrial for June 7, 2010 which was
    continued by [Carolyn] and reset for July 8, 2010, which was again
    continued by [Carolyn] and reset for September 2, 2010, at which
    time counsel requested additional time to complete discovery with a
    final hearing set for December 14, 2010 and reset again to
    February 17, 2011 by Judge H.F. Inderlied, Jr., acting judge in this
    judge’s absence and then reset for April 18, 2011.
    {¶26} The Court noted during direct examination of [Carolyn] at the final
    hearing on April 18, 2011 that there had not been a subsequent
    specific request to establish spousal support in this matter except
    for the original motions filed by [Carolyn], which the Court had been
    advised had been settled.
    {¶27} Counsel for [Thomas] labels the withdrawal of Thirty-Three
    Thousand     Dollars   ($33,000.00)     from   the    parties’   joint
    checking/savings account as financial misconduct, however, the
    Court declines to make that finding of fact since [Carolyn] was not
    receiving spousal support for a significant period of time and the
    Court will consider that sum as spousal support, plus division of
    marital property.
    6
    {¶28} Thomas raises several arguments as to why the spousal support order
    constitutes an abuse of discretion.
    {¶29} First, Thomas asserts that, in light of Carolyn’s employment and education
    prior to marriage, and recent employment history, the trial court could not find “that she
    is unable to work or limited in her working capacity without medical testimony to that
    effect.”
    {¶30} Thomas cites no authority for the proposition that expert testimony is
    necessary for a trial court to consider a party’s mental condition in establishing an
    award of spousal support. Moreover, the court did not find that Carolyn was unable to
    work or is prevented from working.        Rather, the court recognized Carolyn’s mental
    condition as an impediment to her obtaining better employment than she currently
    enjoys and a contributing factor to the instability of her present employment.
    {¶31} The case relied upon by Thomas, Sasey v. Sasey, 11th Dist. No. 93-P-
    0008, 
    1993 Ohio App. LEXIS 4782
     (Sept. 30, 1993), is distinguishable and/or supports
    the spousal support award in the present case. In Sasey, the appellee, “in relatively
    poor health, suffering from a combination of blood pressure and prostate problems,”
    was ordered to pay appellant, “diagnosed as a bi-polar manic depressive” and
    unemployed, spousal support for a period of five years. Id. at *2-3. On appeal, the
    appellant argued she was entitled to a longer period of support, based on the evidence
    of “a letter from her attending psychiatrist * * *, which stated that in his opinion, appellant
    was permanently disabled as a result of her mental disorder.” Id. at *4. This court
    affirmed the award, noting that the “appellant did not present any credible evidence
    indicating that she is completely unable to work, or * * * affirmatively demonstrate that
    she was totally incapable of modestly supplementing her income.” Id. at *4-5.
    7
    {¶32} In the present case, the letter from Carolyn’s psychiatrist merely attested
    the fact of her diagnosis and that she is receiving “appropriate treatment.” Carolyn and
    her attorney testified regarding the effects of her mental condition; and Thomas
    acknowledged her condition as well as her “tics.” The trial court’s consideration of this
    evidence was consistent with its relative probative value and, as in Sasey, the evidence
    was adequate to support an award of five years.
    {¶33} Thomas next argues that the spousal support award is unreasonable
    because it causes Carolyn to have a greater monthly income than his own. According
    to Thomas, the spousal support award increases Carolyn’s monthly income from $2,000
    to $3,500, while decreasing his monthly income from $4,827 to $3,327. We disagree.
    {¶34} As reported in the parties’ W-2 Forms, Carolyn received taxable wages of
    $28,628.51 in 2010, or about $2,385.71 per month; Thomas’ taxable wages in 2010
    were $80,503.09, or about $6,708.59 per month. Thomas’ lower monthly figures are the
    result of deductions made for taxes, saving plans/401K, and health and life insurance.
    Thomas’ lower monthly income reflects the fact that he contributes $201 every biweekly
    pay period to savings, whereas Carolyn only contributes $70.10 per biweekly pay to
    savings. Thomas also pays for health and life insurance out of his biweekly pay, an
    expense that Carolyn was not paying for at the time of the divorce. While savings
    contributions and insurance payments reduce Thomas’ monthly income to a greater
    extent than Carolyn’s, he enjoys the benefits that accrue with these contributions.
    {¶35} Thomas also fails to account for the tax implications of the spousal
    support award, which constitutes taxable income for the recipient and a tax deduction
    for Thomas. In other words, spousal support decreases Thomas’ taxable income while
    increasing Carolyn’s, a change that was not reflected in the parties’ W-2 Forms
    8
    admitted at the hearings or otherwise acknowledged. Leaving aside the deductions for
    savings, insurance, and taxes, the spousal support award increases Carolyn’s annual
    taxable wages to $46,628.51, or $3,885.71 per month, which is still significantly less
    than Thomas’ annual taxable wages of $62,503.09, or $5,208.59 per month.
    {¶36} Finally, Thomas argues that the trial court abused its discretion by
    ordering support for “a period of five years and subject to further order of the Court.” By
    retaining jurisdiction over the award, the court retains the ability to extend the duration
    of the award. Kopczak v. Kopczak, 11th Dist. No. 2011-A-0056, 
    2012-Ohio-3014
    , ¶ 22.
    {¶37} The trial court’s retention of jurisdiction does not constitute an abuse of
    discretion. On the contrary, many courts, including this one, have recognized that “if
    spousal support is ordered for a substantial period of time and the economic condition
    of the parties is likely to change, a trial court abuses its discretion by not providing that
    the order is subject to later modification.” (Citation omitted.) Edwards v. Edwards, 2nd
    Dist. No. 25309, 
    2013-Ohio-117
    , ¶ 57; Humphrey v. Humphrey, 11th Dist. No. 2000-A-
    0092, 
    2002-Ohio-3121
    , ¶ 49 (“[b]ased on the circumstances in a specific case, a trial
    court’s failure to retain jurisdiction to modify a spousal support award based on changes
    in the parties’ incomes, may constitute a breach of discretion”); Straube v. Straube, 11th
    Dist. No. 2000-L-074, 
    2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 3528
    , *14 (Aug. 10, 2001) (the trial court
    abused its discretion by not retaining jurisdiction: “[w]hile the record in the case sub
    judice suggests that the parties’ incomes will likely remain the same, six years is too
    long a duration for the court to predict the parties’ incomes and monthly expenditures”).
    {¶38} Given the circumstances of Carolyn’s employment history and mental
    condition in the present case, the trial court was well within its discretion to retain
    jurisdiction. We note, however, that the retention of jurisdiction to modify or extend the
    9
    award does not necessarily mean that the court may exercise that jurisdiction. Rather,
    a court’s exercise of jurisdiction to modify a support award is dependent upon the
    findings “(1) that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred and (2) that the
    change was not contemplated at the time of the original decree.”            Mandelbaum v.
    Mandelbaum, 
    121 Ohio St.3d 433
    , 
    2009-Ohio-1222
    , 
    905 N.E.2d 172
    , paragraph two of
    the syllabus.
    {¶39} The first assignment of error is without merit.
    {¶40} In the second assignment, Thomas argues the trial court abused its
    discretion by fixing April 18, 2011, the first day of the final hearing, as the termination
    date of the marriage.
    {¶41} The term “[d]uring the marriage” means “the period of time from the date
    of the marriage through the date of the final hearing in an action for divorce or in an
    action for legal separation.” R.C. 3105.171(A)(2)(a). “If the court determines that the
    use of either or both of the dates specified in division (A)(2)(a) of this section would be
    inequitable, the court may select dates that it considers equitable in determining marital
    property. If the court selects dates that it considers equitable in determining marital
    property, ‘during the marriage’ means the period of time between those dates selected
    and specified by the court.” R.C. 3105.171(A)(2)(b).
    {¶42} A trial court enjoys broad discretion in determining the dates constituting
    the duration of the marriage. Berish v. Berish, 
    69 Ohio St.2d 318
    , 319-320, 
    432 N.E.2d 183
     (1982).
    {¶43} The trial court “select[ed] the final hearing date of April 18, 2011 as the
    termination of the parties’ marriage due to the parties engaging in protracted discovery
    in this matter from the time of the filing of the complaint and continuing after the pretrial
    10
    held on September 22, 2010, when both parties requested an additional Sixty (60) days
    to complete discovery and conduct depositions before the final hearing which was set
    for December 14, 2010.”
    {¶44} Thomas contends the termination date of the marriage should be February
    4, 2010, the date Carolyn filed for divorce, since, as a practical matter, that date was the
    de facto termination of the marriage. Thomas further contends that the April 18, 2011
    date is inequitable in that he continued to make contributions toward his savings plan
    during the course of the protracted court proceedings, despite the parties having
    established separate lives. We disagree.
    {¶45} “Generally, trial courts use a de facto termination of marriage date when
    the parties separate, make no attempt at reconciliation, continually maintain separate
    residences, separate business activities and/or separate bank accounts.”           (Citation
    omitted.) Marini v. Marini, 11th Dist. Nos. 2005-T-0012 and 2005-T-0059, 2006-Ohio-
    3775, ¶ 13. However, “[c]ourts should be reluctant to use a de facto termination of
    marriage date solely because one spouse vacates the marital home.”                 (Citation
    omitted.) 
    Id.
     “Rather, a trial court may use a de facto termination of marriage date
    when the evidence clearly and bilaterally shows that it is appropriate based upon the
    totality of the circumstances.” (Citation omitted.) 
    Id.
    {¶46} In the present case, the parties separated at the time the Complaint for
    Divorce was filed and did not attempt to reconcile. These facts do not compel the trial
    court to choose a de facto termination of marriage date. Although Thomas voluntarily
    vacated the marital home, Carolyn had filed an Emergency Ex Parte Motion for
    Occupancy of the residence. Also following their separation, Thomas continued to pay
    11
    the car and homeowner’s insurance, the property taxes, and helped Carolyn maintain
    the home.
    {¶47} The trial court selected the date of the final hearing based on the
    protracted period of discovery before the final hearing. Thomas fails to set forth a
    convincing argument why this date is inequitable. Thomas cites the increase in value of
    his savings plan during the course of the proceedings. As Carolyn points out, this
    increase in value was largely passive based on the value of the plan at the time of
    separation. Thus, the court’s choice of the hearing date for the termination of marriage
    effectively awards Carolyn for this increase, to which she was entitled.
    {¶48} The second assignment of error is without merit.
    {¶49} In the third assignment of error, Thomas argues the trial court erred by not
    equally/equitably dividing the marital estate.
    {¶50} “In divorce proceedings, the court shall * * * determine what constitutes
    marital property and what constitutes separate property,” and “divide the marital and
    separate property equitably between the spouses.” R.C. 3105.171(B). With certain
    exceptions, “the division of marital property shall be equal.” R.C. 3105.171(C)(1). “If an
    equal division of marital property would be inequitable, the court shall not divide the
    marital property equally but instead shall divide it between the spouses in the manner
    the court determines equitable.” R.C. 3105.171(C)(1).
    {¶51} The division of marital property is entrusted to the broad discretion of the
    trial court. Berish, 69 Ohio St.2d at 319-320, 
    432 N.E.2d 183
    .
    {¶52} The trial court identified the following marital assets: the marital residence
    ($142,500); personal property ($41,000); Carolyn’s 401K ($18,500); Thomas’ savings
    12
    plan as of March 2011 ($189,000); Thomas’ pension plan as of February 2010
    ($193,709). The court made the following division of property:
    {¶53} The marital residence located at 2916 Sexton Road, Geneva, Ohio,
    44041, currently occupied by [Carolyn], has a stipulated value of
    One Hundred Forty Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars
    ($142,500.00), shall be listed for sale with a mutually agreed-upon
    realtor at a mutually agreed-upon price, with the parties to equally
    divide the proceeds after deducting the costs of the sale. [Carolyn]
    shall pay the utilities and insurance upon the marital property until it
    is sold and [Thomas] shall be obligated to pay the real estate taxes.
    {¶54} Personal property: The parties entered into a stipulation that the
    personal property should be divided according to who has
    possession of such property. [Carolyn] is awarded the personal
    property in her possession with a value of Twenty-Five Thousand
    Dollars ($25,000.00) * * *.
    {¶55} [Thomas] is awarded the personal property in his possession with a
    value of Sixteen Thousand Dollars ($16,000.00). * * *
    {¶56} The parties shall equally divide the Defendant’s FirstEnergy
    Corporation Savings Plan which had a value, as of March, 2011, of
    One Hundred Eighty Nine Thousand Dollars ($189,000.00) with
    [Carolyn] to be awarded the sum of Ninety-Four Thousand Five
    Hundred Dollars ($94,500.00) and [Thomas] awarded the sum of
    Ninety-Four Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($94,500.00). * * *
    13
    {¶57} [Carolyn] is awarded Fifty percent (50%) of [Thomas’] FirstEnergy
    Corporation Pension Plan earned during the marriage to be
    secured by a Qualified Domestic Relations Order * * *.
    {¶58} In sum, the trial court ordered the equal division of the marital residence,
    Thomas’ savings plan, and Thomas’ pension plan. Each party retained the personal
    property in their possession. Carolyn retained her 401K, inasmuch as the court made
    no express division of this asset. According to the court’s order, Carolyn was to receive
    $27,500 more than Thomas from a marital estate valued at $584,709, or about 52.35%
    of the marital estate.
    {¶59} Thomas raises several arguments as to why the division of property is
    inequitable.   Thomas notes that the trial court failed to divide Carolyn’s 401K or
    otherwise assign it as her separate property. Thomas argues the court’s order allows
    Carolyn to live “rent free” in the marital residence, without any incentive for her to
    cooperate in effecting its sale. Thomas also raises arguments regarding the parties’
    separate, pre-divorce accounts, which the court did not include in the marital estate.
    {¶60} We find no abuse of discretion inherent in the trial court’s approximately
    52.3%-47.7% division of the marital estate, as that figure is close to an even division of
    property. However, there are several aspects of the court’s division of property which
    require consideration.
    {¶61} Initially, it cannot be presumed that the court’s silence regarding Carolyn’s
    401K signifies the court’s intention to award her the entirety of this marital asset. Such
    an award should be expressly made and, if necessary, the failure to divide the asset
    evenly should be explained.
    14
    {¶62} The trial court noted that the parties stipulated to the value of the personal
    property and that each party should retention of the property in their possession. The
    actual stipulation made at hearing was that “there were personal property appraisals
    conducted in February or March of 2010 by Dennis Huey and the property that Tom has
    right now is valued at $16,000 and the value of property that Carolyn has is at $25,000.”
    The parties did not stipulate that each parties’ retaining the property in their possession
    would effect an equal division of the property, as the court’s Judgment Entry suggests.
    Accordingly, the court may, in the exercise of its discretion on remand, compensate
    Thomas with a distributive award for the difference in the value of the personal property.
    {¶63} Regarding the parties’ pre-divorce accounts, the trial court essentially
    awarded Carolyn this money in lieu of spousal support pendente lite. Thomas suffered
    no prejudice by retaining the pre-divorce funds in his separate account.
    {¶64} Finally, with respect to the marital residence, we note that “in general it is
    preferable that parties be permitted the opportunity to sell property voluntarily in the
    market.” Glover v. Glover, 2nd Dist. No. 2009-CA-23, 
    2009-Ohio-5742
    , ¶ 12. It must
    also be recognized that the circumstances of divorce “usually are not conducive to joint
    decision making by parties,” and so “some effort should be made to disentangle the
    parties’ economic affairs.” Hoyt v. Hoyt, 
    53 Ohio St.3d 177
    , 183, 
    559 N.E.2d 1292
    (1990). In the present case, the court should set a fixed amount of time for the parties
    to agree upon a price and realtor and list the property for sale. If the parties are unable
    to do so within the time given, the order should provide for an alternative means of
    effecting the sale independent of the parties’ ability to cooperate. See, e.g., Reed v.
    Reed, 5th Dist. Nos. 2007 CA 00321 and 2007 CA 00329, 
    2008-Ohio-4349
    , ¶ 20-22.
    {¶65} To the extent indicated above, the third assignment of error is with merit.
    15
    {¶66} In the fourth and final assignment of error, Thomas argues the trial court
    erred in ordering him to pay Carolyn’s attorney fees in the amount of $7,500.
    {¶67} “In an action for divorce * * *, a court may award all or part of reasonable
    attorney’s fees and litigation expenses to either party if the court finds the award
    equitable. In determining whether an award is equitable, the court may consider the
    parties’ marital assets and income, any award of temporary spousal support, the
    conduct of the parties, and any other relevant factors the court deems appropriate.”
    R.C. 3105.73(A).
    {¶68} “[A]n award of attorney fees is within the sound discretion of the trial
    court.” Rand v. Rand, 
    18 Ohio St.3d 356
    , 359, 
    481 N.E.2d 609
     (1985), citing Cohen v.
    Cohen, 
    8 Ohio App.3d 109
    , 111, 
    456 N.E.2d 581
     (11th Dist.1983).
    {¶69} The trial court ordered Thomas to pay $7,500 towards Carolyn’s attorney’s
    fees. Carolyn’s attorney testified as to his rate, the hours spent on the case, and that
    Carolyn’s fees were in excess of $14,000. Carolyn’s attorney further testified:
    {¶70} Lastly, and most importantly, [Carolyn] has a health problem of
    attention deficit disorder and depression. Because of her problem,
    and I think we saw it today in her testimony here in the courtroom, I
    had a very difficult time all through this case getting information
    from her and also preparing her for the last hearing and this
    hearing, because of her attention deficit disorder. And that, in turn,
    made my bill higher than usual.
    {¶71} Thomas contends the award is unreasonable in light of the simplicity of
    this case, i.e., there were no children and property values were stipulated, Carolyn’s
    16
    repeated continuing of pretrials and hearings, and the significant spousal support
    award.
    {¶72} There was no abuse of discretion in the order for Thomas to pay what
    ultimately amounts to less than half of Carolyn’s attorney fees.     Thomas enjoys a
    substantially greater income than Carolyn and better health. There was evidence that
    Carolyn’s mental condition caused her attorney fees to be higher than usual. Also, both
    parties motioned the court for an additional two months to complete discovery and
    conduct depositions, and Thomas bears some of the responsibility for the delay in this
    case.
    {¶73} The fourth assignment of error is without merit.
    {¶74} For the foregoing reasons, the Judgment of the Ashtabula County Court of
    Common Pleas is reversed with respect to the division of property, affirmed in all other
    respects, and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Costs to
    be taxed against the parties equally.
    CYNTHIA WESTCOTT RICE, J.,
    THOMAS R. WRIGHT, J.,
    concur.
    17