Fine v. Fine , 2012 Ohio 105 ( 2012 )

[Cite as Fine v. Fine, 2012-Ohio-105.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
Nos. 96433 and 96434
PATRICIA LYNN FINE
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE
v.
ROBERT M. FINE, M.D.
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED
Civil Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Domestic Relations Division
Case No. D-318143
BEFORE: Sweeney, J., Celebrezze, P.J., and Keough, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: January 12, 2012
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Lawrence J. Rich, Esq.
Zashin & Rich Co., L.P.A.
55 Public Square
Fourth Floor
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE
Thomas J. Lafond, Esq.
Schneider, Smeltz, Ranney & Lafond, P.L.L.
1111 Superior Avenue, Suite 1000
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
JAMES J. SWEENEY, J.
{¶ 1} Appellant Robert M. Fine, M.D. (“Robert”) appeals the court’s granting his
motion to modify the amount of spousal support he is ordered to pay his ex-wife, Patricia
L. Fine (“Patricia”). After reviewing the facts of the case and pertinent law, we affirm.
{¶ 2} The parties were divorced in November of 2008, after a 27-year marriage.
As part of the settlement, Robert was ordered to pay Patricia $19,890 per month in
spousal support, which was based, in part, on Robert’s $550,000 annual salary. In July
of 2009, Robert lost his job, although he received his salary through October 6, 2009.
Robert filed motions to terminate and/or modify the spousal support, alleging that poor
health hindered him from gaining new employment. In December of 2009, Robert got a
new job with an annual salary of $300,000.
{¶ 3} On May 5, 2010, the magistrate issued a decision granting Robert’s motion
to modify and reducing his spousal support obligation to $11,220 per month. Robert
filed timely objections to the magistrate’s decision. On January 20, 2011, the court
overruled these objections, adopted the magistrate’s decision, and granted Robert’s
motion to modify spousal support. Robert appeals from this order, essentially arguing
that the court abused its discretion in modifying the amount of spousal support.
{¶ 4} Robert raises 13 assignments of error for our review, the first three of which
will be reviewed together as they allege error regarding the same issue.
I. “The trial court erred and abused its discretion in determining
that the appellant be required to remove principal from his retirement
accounts.”
II. “The trial court erred and abused its discretion in ordering a
computation of funds to be removed from the appellant’s retirement
accounts when the accounts were already divided and each party at the time
of the divorce received one-half of the retirement funds.”
III. “The trial court erred and abused its discretion in not considering
appellee’s retirement funds.”
{¶ 5} We review spousal support issues under an abuse of discretion standard.
See Dunagan v. Dunagan, Cuyahoga App. No. 93678, 2010-Ohio-5232, ¶12. The Ohio
Supreme Court has held that “a trial court lacks jurisdiction to modify a prior order of
spousal support unless the decree of the court expressly reserved jurisdiction to make the
modification and unless the court finds (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,
¶33.
{¶ 6} R.C. 3105.18(C)(1)(a)-(n) aids courts in determining whether spousal
support should be awarded and, if so, the amount of the award. “When considering a
motion to modify a spousal support order, the trial court need not reexamine all the
factors listed in R.C. 3105.18(C)(1). The court need only consider the factors which have
actually changed since the last order.” Mizenko v. Mizenko (June 7, 2001), Cuyahoga
App. No. 78409.
{¶ 7} Upon review of the instant case, we find that the court’s November 6, 2008
divorce decree expressly reserved jurisdiction over spousal support modifications. We
further find that the loss of a job and a salary decrease from $550,000 to $300,000
annually upon finding new employment qualifies as a change in circumstances. See
R.C. 3105.18(F) (stating that a change in circumstances “includes, but is not limited to,
any increase or involuntary decrease in the party’s wages, salary, bonuses, living
expenses, or medical expenses”). See, also, Dean v. Dean, Cuyahoga App. No. 96434,
2011-Ohio-2401; Kaput v. Kaput, Cuyahoga App. No. 94340, 2011-Ohio-10.
Additionally, there is no evidence in the record that this change of circumstances was
contemplated at the time the divorce was granted. See Dean, ¶16-19.
{¶ 8} Robert argues that it was error for the court to “require” him “to remove
principal from his retirement accounts.” However, upon review of the magistrate’s May
5, 2010 decision, we find no such requirement. Rather, the magistrate’s decision
imputed $48,840 to Robert’s annual income based on retirement funds he was not yet
using. Nonetheless, as support for his argument, Robert cites to Streza v. Streza, Lorain
App. No. 05CA008644, 2006-Ohio-1315. However, our review of Streza shows that it
does not apply to the case at hand because it analyzes whether a retirement plan was
marital or separate property, having nothing to do with spousal support.
{¶ 9} Pursuant to R.C. 3105.18(C)(1)(d), in determining the amount of spousal
support, “the court shall consider * * * [t]he retirement benefits of the parties * * *.”
See, also, Manzella v. Manzella, Montgomery App. No. 20618, 2005-Ohio-4519, ¶15
(holding that “while [a party] is entitled to elect to defer receipt of retirement income in
order to maximize the amount of those eventual payments, the court cannot ignore the
current availability of that income when re-evaluating a spousal support order”).
{¶ 10} In the instant case, the original spousal support award of $19,890 per month
equalled approximately 43 percent of Robert’s $550,000 annual income. The modified
spousal support award of $11,220 per month equals approximately 45 percent of Robert’s
modified $300,000 annual income. In Mizenko, this court held that “[w]hen a payor
spouse’s income has involuntarily decreased, it is not an abuse of discretion to reduce
support by the percentage decrease in income.” Although the $48,840 associated with
retirement funds was listed on the magistrate’s worksheet, the modification in spousal
support appears to be based only on the change in circumstances, i.e., the decrease in
Robert’s annual salary.
{¶ 11} Accordingly we cannot say that the court abused its discretion by awarding
modified spousal support in the amount of $11,220 per month. Robert’s first, second,
and third assignments of error are overruled.
{¶ 12} In Robert’s fourth assignment of error, he argues as follows:
IV. “The trial court erred and abused its discretion in not considering
the prior support order upon the appellant to pay his previous spouse * * *
$2,500 per month * * *.”
{¶ 13} It is undisputed that Robert has a $2,500 per month spousal support
obligation unrelated, and in addition to the case at hand. Pursuant to R.C.
3105.18(C)(1)(i), when determing the amount of spousal support, “the court shall
consider * * * [t]he relative assets and liabilities of the parties, including but not limited
to any court-ordered payments by the parties * * *.”
{¶ 14} Attached to the magistrate’s decision is a worksheet itemizing Robert and
Patricia’s income less deductions. Although the line item “Support Previous Marriage”
was left blank, there is no evidence that the court failed to take this into consideration
because Robert’s previous support obligation did not change from his and Patricia’s
original divorce decree. In other words, as discussed above, Patricia was originally
awarded approximately 43 percent of Robert’s base salary. Patricia’s modified award
equals approximately 45 percent of Robert’s modified salary, which is the only change of
circumstance. See Mizenko, supra.
{¶ 15} Robert’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 16} In Robert’s fifth assignment of error, he argues as follows:
V. “The trial court erred and abused its discretion in failing to
terminate the spousal support during the period of the appellant’s
unemployment from October 6, 2009 until December 15, 2009.”
{¶ 17} Pursuant to App.R.16(A)(7), “[t]he appellant shall include in its brief, * * *
[a]n argument containing the contentions of the appellant with respect to each
assignment of error presented for review and the reasons in support of the contentions,
with citations to the authorities, statutes, and parts of the record on which appellant
relies.”
{¶ 18} Additionally, App.R. 12(A)(2) states that the “court may disregard an
assignment of error * * * if the party raising it fails to * * * argue the assignment
separately in the brief, as required under App.R.16(A).”
{¶ 19} In the instant case, Robert’s argument supporting his fifth assignment of
error states in its entirety: “In reviewing the Decision of the Trial court, the Appellant’s
employment ceased on October 6, 2009 and he did not start his new job until December
15, 2009. The trial court erred and abused its discretion in not terminating the spousal
support order during the period of time from October 6, 2009 until December 15, 2009,
when the Appellant was totally unemployed and had no income.”
{¶ 20} Robert failed to cite legal authority or list any reasons to support his
contention that the court abused its discretion. Accordingly, under App.R. 12 and 16,
his fifth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 21} In Robert’s sixth and seventh assignments of error, he argues that:
VI. “The trial court erred and abused its discretion in making a
determination that the wife’s earning’s [sic] abilities are very limited.”
VII. “The trial court erred and abused its discretion in determining
that the appellee cannot acquire full employment.”
{¶ 22} Pursuant to R.C. 3105.18(C)(1)(b), in determining the amount of spousal
support, the court shall consider the “relative earning abilities of the parties * * *.” In
the decision modifying spousal support, the magistrate made the following findings of
fact: “[Patricia] testified that she has had a serious spinal injury by falling off of a horse
and cannot stand for a long period of time. * * * [Patricia’s] earning abilities are very
limited.”
{¶ 23} Robert argues that “substantial income should have been imputed to
[Patricia]” because she was “purposely unemployed.” Robert cites no legal authority to
support his position. See App.R. 12 and 16. Rather, Robert merely opines that Patricia
should have been able to work as a nurse because she took “extensive vacations, * * * she
is able to drive a Mercedes sports car and go out on extensive evenings on the town.”
{¶ 24} Evidence in the record shows that Patricia is a registered nurse who kept her
license active, but who only worked in the field “not quite two years in 1978 [and 1979].”
Patricia did not work outside of the home during her 27-year marriage to Robert.
Nonetheless, Patricia had applied for three nursing jobs at the time of the spousal support
modification hearing, and she testified that her lack of experience and her health issues
rendered her unqualified for many nursing positions.
{¶ 25} Upon review, we find that the court properly considered Patricia’s earning
ability and found it to be limited. The court did not abuse its discretion, and Robert’s six
and seventh assignments of error are overruled.
{¶ 26} In Robert’s eighth assignment of error, he argues as follows:
VII. “The trial court erred and abused its discretion in not
considering the sum of $1,600.00 per month which the appellant must pay
for housing in Cleveland while he is working in Cleveland and residing in
Erie, Pennsylvania.”
{¶ 27} Robert testified that he spends an additional $1,600 per month for hotels
and meals because he commutes to work in Ohio and returns home to Pennsylvania on the
weekends. Nothing suggests that the court did not consider this when reducing Robert’s
spousal support obligation from $19,890 to $11,220 per month. See Cherry v. Cherry
(1981), 66 Ohio St.2d 348, 356, 421 N.E.2d 1293 (stating that “a reviewing court will
presume that the trial court has considered the factors listed in R.C. 3105.18 and all other
relevant factors”).
{¶ 28} Accordingly, Robert’s eighth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 29} Robert’s ninth assignment of error states the following:
IX. “The trial court erred and abused its discretion in not determining
that the appellee’s budget was inflated and in determining there was a need
for her to spend $4,200.00 per month for life insurance on appellant’s life.”
{¶ 30} Specifically, Robert argues that “spousal support is to be used for income
and the proceeds of life insurance would be for principal and property.” It is unclear
how this is related to Robert’s allegation of court error. To support his argument, Robert
cites to Tremaine v. Tremaine (1996), 111 Ohio App.3d 703, 676 N.E.2d 1249, which
stands for the proposition that an increase in one party’s income decreases that party’s
need for support. This case sheds no light on Robert’s argument and his ninth
assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 31} In Robert’s tenth assignment of error, he argues that:
X. “The trial court erred and abused its discretion when it failed to
take into consideration 15 U.S.C.S. §1673, which limits garnishment to 50
per centum of disposable earnings.”
{¶ 32} Under 15 U.S.C. 1673, the maximum amount that may be withheld from an
individual’s paycheck for spousal support shall not exceed 50 percent of the earnings.
In the instant case, Robert argues that the court-ordered $11,220 support obligation
violated federal law. However, as noted in Cramblett v. Cramblett (Sep.1, 2006),
Harrison App. No. 05HA581, ¶20, “there is a vast difference between a wage withholding
order and a child support order. There is no statute either in the Ohio Revised Code or
in the United States Code that prevents a court from ordering a support amount that is in
excess of 50% of a person’s earnings.”
{¶ 33} As there is no evidence of garnishment over 50 percent, we find no abuse of
discretion, and the tenth assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 34} In the 11th, 12th , and 13th assignments of error, Robert argues as follows:
XI. “The trial court erred and abused its discretion when it
determined that the appellant would have $12,048 per month left to pay for
expenses.”
XII. “The trial court erred and abused its discretion when it
computed the after tax cash support statement which is factually incorrect.”
XII. “The trial court erred and abused its discretion in upholding the
order of trial court magistrate * * * in the portion of the order which states
as follows: * * * Robert * * * shall * * * [c]ontinue to pay $11,220.00 per
month * * *.”
{¶ 35} In Robert’s final three assignments of error, he repeats arguments that have
been made and rejected in his previous assignments of error. For example, he takes
issue with the fact that he “is under a court order to pay $2,500.00 to his previous
spouse,” and “has a $1,600.00 per month expense for housing in Cleveland.” We once
again find no error or abuse of discretion in the court’s order granting Robert’s motion to
modify spousal support. Assignments of error 11, 12, and 13 are overruled.
Judgment affirmed.
It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed.
The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate be sent to said court to carry this judgment into
execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
JAMES J. SWEENEY, JUDGE
FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., P.J., and
KATHLEEN ANN KEOUGH, J., CONCUR