Hamilton v. Reynolds ( 2013 )

[Cite as Hamilton v. Reynolds, 2013-Ohio-5660.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
HANCOCK COUNTY
AMY M. HAMILTON,
NKA AMY BARROWS,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, CASE NO. 5-13-11
v.
JEFFREY G. REYNOLDS, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLEE.
Appeal from Hancock County Common Pleas Court
Juvenile Division
Trial Court No. 20240150
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: December 23, 2013
APPEARANCES:
Garth W. Brown for Appellant
1
Case No. 5-13-11
SHAW, J.
{¶1} Plaintiff-appellant, Amy M. Hamilton nka Barrows (“Amy”), appeals
the March 15, 2013 judgment of the Hancock County Juvenile Court granting a
motion to modify child support and a motion for judgment on overpayment filed
by the Hancock County Child Support Enforcement Agency (“HCCSEA”), and
issuing a judgment against Amy in the amount of $18,105.52 for a child support
overpayment made by defendant-appellee, Jeffrey G. Hamilton (“Jeffrey”), and
ordering Amy pay the judgment in monthly installments of $500.00, plus
processing fees.
{¶2} This case has a long and contentious history regarding custody of the
parties’ children. For economy, we will only include those facts pertinent to the
child support issue raised in the assignments of error.
{¶3} In August of 2002, this case was initiated when Amy filed a complaint
requesting the trial court to adopt an administrative order issued by the HCCSEA
on July 23, 2002. In this order, the HCCSEA determined Jeffrey to be the legal
father of Amy’s three children, N.M.R. (born in October 1999), N.C.R. (born in
October 1999), and A.R. (born in September 2001), and ordered Jeffrey to pay
child support in the amount of $963.66 per month.
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{¶4} On January 28, 2003, the trial court issued a judgment entry finding
Jeffrey to be the natural father of the three children and ordering him to pay
monthly child support of $963.66.
{¶5} On November 6, 2003, the HCCSEA filed a motion to modify
Jeffrey’s child support to increase his monthly obligation. The trial court
subsequently issued an order modifying Jeffrey’s child support to $1,365.00 per
month.
{¶6} On August 2, 2005, the HCCSEA filed a motion to modify Jeffrey’s
child support to decrease his monthly obligation. On July 17, 2006, trial court
issued a judgment entry modifying Jeffrey’s child support to $990.14 per month.
{¶7} On August 8, 2008, the parties agreed to modify Jeffrey’s monthly
child support obligation to $463.87, commencing May 1, 2008, via a consent
judgment entry. In this consent judgment entry, the parties acknowledged that
Jeffrey had been injured in an accident and was no longer employed. The new
monthly child support figure was calculated based on the long-term disability
benefits Jeffrey received through a private insurance policy. The judgment entry
also stated that Jeffrey had a pending claim in a civil lawsuit through which he
expected to be compensated for lost wages. Accordingly, based upon the parties’
agreement, the judgment entry ordered “that should [Jeffrey] recover any lost
wages attributable to the year 2008, this amount shall be considered as [Jeffrey’s]
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income and the child support worksheet attached hereto shall be recalculated.”
(Doc. No. 181 at 2).
{¶8} On March 26, 2009, the HCCSEA filed a “Motion to Modify Child
Support and to Give Credit for Benefits Received.” In this motion, the HCCSEA
stated that after the last child support modification on August 8, 2008, Jeffrey
applied for and was approved to receive Social Security disability benefits in the
amount of $1,603.00 per month.
{¶9} In a supporting memorandum, the HCCSEA explained that each of the
three children had also received a lump sum payment of $4,663.00 (or $13,989.00
total) in derivative Social Security benefits due to Jeffrey being deemed disabled
from April 2007 through October 2008. However, the HCCSEA further stated
that during this time period Jeffrey had remained current in his child support
obligation by making payments either directly from his disability benefits plan
through his private insurance policy or from other income sources available to
him. The HCCSEA argued that Jeffrey had effectively paid his child support
obligation twice when Amy received the $13,989.00 in Social Security funds on
the children’s behalf. Accordingly, the HCCSEA requested Jeffrey’s child support
account be adjusted to reflect a credit of $13,989.00.
{¶10} The HCCSEA also informed the trial court that Jeffrey had since
returned to work and his children were no longer receiving Social Security
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dependency benefits. Therefore, the HCCSEA requested Jeffrey’s child support
obligation again be adjusted to reflect his current income.
{¶11} Shortly thereafter, pursuant to a court order, the $13,989.00 was
“impounded” and the distribution of the funds was delayed until after a hearing on
the matter. (Doc. No. 185).
{¶12} On July 17, 2009, the trial court issued a judgment entry modifying
Jeffrey’s child support obligation to $612.61 a month, plus processing fees,
commencing November 1, 2008.
{¶13} On August 7, 2009, the magistrate issued a decision addressing the
issue of the overpayment. In her decision, the magistrate cited Williams v.
Williams, 88 Ohio St. 3d 441, 444, in which the Supreme Court of Ohio stated that
a child support obligor “is entitled to a full credit in his or her child support
obligation for Social Security payments received by a minor child.” The
magistrate specifically stated the following regarding the overpayment:
It is clear that a disabled parent is entitled to a full credit against
his or her child support obligation for social security payments
received by a minor child. [Amy] received derivative benefits
for the three children from April 2007 to October 2008. During
that time, [Jeffrey’s] actual support liability, not including
processing fees, was $15,655.04. [Amy] received $13,989.00 in
Social Security payments and $16,008.03, not including
processing fees, in direct payments by [Jeffrey] or his disability
insurance. Since [Jeffrey’s] payments exceeded the amount due
for the period from April 2007 through October 2008, he should
receive a credit of $13,989.00 against future child support due.
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As of the end of June 2009, [Jeffrey] had a credit of
approximately $1,961.50, which represents his credit as of the
end of 2008, and no payments were charged in the months of
February through June 2009, by [the HCCSEA]. The amount
due for those five months is approximately $2,319.40, which
monies were impounded by [the HCCSEA]. The [HCCSEA]
should be ordered to release the impounded funds to [Jeffrey].
It is clear that [Jeffrey] will have a large futures amount, and the
issue is how he is to recoup that amount from [Amy]. The Court
must consider the best interest of the children, and assume that
Obligee needs money to support the children of the parties,
however, [Amy] should not receive a windfall of double
payments for 18 months. The current Order provides that
[Jeffrey] is to pay $612.61, per month, plus processing charge, as
long as health insurance is provided * * *[.] Jeffrey should be
ordered to pay the sum of $412.61 per month, plus processing
charge * * *[.] This is a repayment of $200.00 per month on the
Social Security benefits.
(Doc. No. 194 at 5-6). On October 19, 2009, the trial court approved the
magistrate’s decision and issued a judgment entry setting forth orders in
accordance with that decision.
{¶14} On May 7, 2010, Amy filed “Motion to Recalculate Child Support
Based Upon Income to Defendant in the Year 2008 Pursuant to this Court’s
Judgment Entry of August 8, 2008.” In a subsequent hearing addressing the
motion, it was revealed that Jeffrey had settled his civil lawsuit and received
compensation for lost wages in 2008. In a judgment entry dated March 21, 2011,
Jeffrey’s child support obligation for the year of 2008 was increased by $928.44
and the trial court ordered the “futures” account to be deducted by that amount.
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{¶15} On January 18, 2012, the HCCSEA filed a motion to modify child
support due to Jeffrey’s approval for Social Security disability benefits as of
December 2009. On the same day, the HCCSEA also filed a “Motion For
Judgment on Overpayment,” informing the trial court that Amy had again received
a lump sum payment of derivative Social Security benefits on behalf of the
parties’ children due to Jeffrey’s recent approval for disability benefits. The
HCCSEA requested the trial court to determine if Jeffrey had overpaid his child
support for the most recent time period he was entitled to receive Social Security
disability benefits. The HCCSEA also requested the trial court to reduce any
amount of overpayment to a judgment in favor of Jeffrey and order Amy to make
reasonable payments to satisfy the judgment.
{¶16} On July 31, 2012, Amy and Jeffrey appeared pro se before the
magistrate on the issue of the overpayment and reimbursement. Legal counsel for
the HCCSEA was also present at this hearing and admitted into evidence several
administrative records regarding Jeffrey’s child support account.
{¶17} In a subsequent decision, the magistrate made the following findings
of fact based upon the evidence presented at the hearing: (1) Amy received a lump
sum payment of $5,684.00 for each of the three children (or $17,052.00) based
upon Jeffrey’s qualification for Social Security disability benefits for the time
period of December 2009 through January 2012; (2) Jeffrey’s child support
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obligation during this time period was $15,927.86; (3) As of December 2009, the
“futures” account which was funded by the child support overpayment Amy
received in 2007 and 2008 contained $11,468.95; (4) During the time period
between December 1, 2009 through the end of January, the “futures” account was
reduced in monthly increments to satisfy a portion of Jeffrey’s child support
obligation; (5) During March of 2011, the parties litigated a dispute regarding lost
wage compensation awarded to Jeffrey in a civil lawsuit which resulted in a
judgment reducing the “futures” account by $928.44; (6) At the end of January
2012, the “futures” account contained $2,177.66;1 (7) In addition to the child
support payments made from the “futures” account, Jeffrey also paid $7,565.01 in
child support from other income sources for the period of December 2009 through
January 2012; (8) Amy disputed that she received any overpayment in child
support for the relative time period; (9) Amy also informed the court she spent the
entire amount she received from Social Security on the children’s behalf and
generally alluded to some significant medical issues experienced by one of the
children but provided no specific evidence regarding the medical issue at the
motion hearing. (Doc. No. 233 at 6-7).
1
The record reflects that the “futures” account had a zero balance as of May 2012 and that the funds
remaining at the end of January 2012 were used to pay Jeffrey’s child support obligation from February
2012 until the “futures” account was depleted. It should be noted that Amy was also receiving Social
Security benefits on behalf of the children during this time.
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{¶18} Based on the evidence at the hearing, the magistrate concluded that
Jeffrey had once again overpaid his child support when Amy received the lump
sum payment of Social Security benefits on behalf of the children as a result of
Jeffrey being deemed disabled for the period of December 2009 through January
2012 and when Amy also received monthly child support payments from Jeffrey
during this timeframe. Specifically, the magistrate found that this time Jeffrey was
entitled to a reimbursement of $18,105.52. This number consisted of the balance
of the “futures” account as of December 2009 ($11,468.95), minus the judgment
for Jeffrey’s lost wages relating back to 2008 ($928.44), plus the amount Jeffrey
paid in monthly child support payments from other income sources during the time
period of December 2009 through January 2012 ($7,565.01).
{¶19} The magistrate then made the following recommendations based on
the evidence presented at the motion hearing:
1. The Court should find that current child support should be
adjusted to $0.00 effective February 1, 2012 based upon the derivative
benefits received by [Amy] on behalf of the child[ren] exceeding the
child support amount owed. [Amy] is providing health insurance for
the children and the amount paid is provided for in the calculation.
Accordingly, no cash medical support is owed.
2. The Court should find that [Jeffrey] has overpaid support to
[Amy] in the amount of $18,105.52. The Court should order that the
HCCSEA establish a separate SETS account for this overpayment,
should grant judgment on the overpayment, and should order that
[Amy] pay this amount to [Jeffrey] in installments of $500.00 per
month plus processing fees.
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3. The Court should order that the parties split the costs of these
proceedings equally.
(Doc. No. 233 at 9).
{¶20} In making these recommendations, the magistrate specifically noted
that “[Amy] has been through this before and it is unconscionable that she would
simply cash the [Social Security] check and spend the money knowing of [sic] the
amount of futures owed and the fact that [Jeffrey] also paid support during this
time. Furthermore, the $500.00 is reasonable in light of amount of the debt and
taking into account the financial situation of the parties.” (Doc. No. 233 at 8-9).
{¶21} Amy subsequently filed objections to the magistrate’s decision which
were overruled by the trial court. On March 15, 2013, the trial court approved the
magistrate’s decision and issued orders in accordance with the magistrate’s
recommendations.
{¶22} Amy now appeals asserting the following assignments of error.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. I
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW
WHEN WILLIAMS V. WILLIAMS WAS USED AS THE
JUSTIFICATION FOR THE RETROACTIVE
MODIFICATION OF THE CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS
FOLLOWING THE RECEIPT OF SOCIAL SECURITY
BENEFITS BY THE FATHER.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NO. II
EVEN IF IT IS FOUND THAT THE APPLICATION OF
WILLIAMS WAS NOT IN ERROR, IT WOULD BE
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INEQUITABLE TO REQUIRE APPELLANT TO MAKE
MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO APPELLEE GIVEN HER
CURRENT FINANCIAL SITUATION.
First Assignment of Error
{¶23} In her first assignment of error, Amy argues that the trial court
misapplied the ruling of the Supreme Court of Ohio in Williams v. Williams, 88
Ohio St.3d 441 (2000), when it concluded that Jeffrey had overpaid his child
support for the period of December 2009 through January 2012 and was entitled to
reimbursement from Amy.
{¶24} In Williams, the Supreme Court was asked to resolve a conflict
between the appellate districts and answer the following question: “Should a
disabled parent’s child support obligation be directly set off by Social Security
payments received on behalf of a minor child, or should the joint child support
obligation of both parties be reduced by the amount of the Social Security
payments?” Id. at 442. The Supreme Court answered the question raised by
joining “ ‘an overwhelming majority’” of “jurisdictions” that permit a disabled
parent’s child support obligation to be directly set off by Social Security payments
received on behalf of the minor child.” Id. at 444.
{¶25} Central to the Supreme Court’s rationale in Williams is the principle
that “Social Security benefits are characterized as a substitute for the disabled
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parent’s earnings rather than gratuities from the federal government.” 2 Williams
at 443. The reasoning for this is twofold: (1) the underlying intent behind Social
Security disability payments to a child is to provide support that the disabled
parent is unable to provide; and (2) Social Security disability benefits represent
contributions that a worker has made throughout the course of employment and
the worker has a vested right in the payments. Thus, in this sense, the benefits
represent earnings in much the same way as do benefits paid by an insurance
company. Id. at 443-44.
{¶26} The Supreme Court further addressed concerns about whether its
decision retroactively modifies an obligor’s child support obligation and stated, “it
is illogical to suggest that the granting of a credit will result in a windfall to the
obligor and will penalize the child by providing that child with less money for his
or her support. In essence, ‘a credit for * * * Social Security benefits does not
retroactively modify the disabled parent’s monthly child support obligation; it
merely changes the source of the payments.’ ” Id. at 444, citing In re Marriage of
Cowan, 279 Mont. 491, 500, 928 P.2d 214, 220 (1996) (emphasis added).3
2
Notably, courts in other jurisdictions which have denied credit to a child support obligor have either
characterized Social Security disability payments made on the child’s behalf as mere gratuities from the
federal government or as funds belonging to the child. See Davis v. Davis, 780 N.W.2d 707 (N.D. 2010)
(discussing the different approaches taken by courts in various jurisdictions).
3
The Supreme Court in Williams also clarified that if the Social Security payments received on the child’s
behalf exceed the obligor’s support obligation, then “the trial court shall enter judgment reflecting that no
child support is owed from the first time [the child] received the Social Security benefits.” Williams at 445.
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{¶27} While the Supreme Court in Williams resolved the issue of how to
apply Social Security disability payments received on the child’s behalf to the
obligor’s current child support obligation, it did not specifically address the
additional question raised on appeal in this case—specifically, whether a child
support obligor who has remained current in his or her child support obligation is
entitled to a reimbursement when the obligee receives a lump sum Social Security
payment on the child’s behalf representing the same months that the obligor paid
his or her support obligation. Nevertheless, we find the Williams case to be
instructive in determining this issue because Williams has incorporated into Ohio
jurisprudence the legal proposition that a child support obligor is entitled to a
credit in his or her child support obligation when the child receives Social Security
dependency benefits as a consequence of the obligor being deemed disabled.
{¶28} As mentioned in Williams, a majority of other jurisdictions have also
adopted the premise that Social Security payments paid on the child’s behalf as a
result of the obligor’s disability are considered earnings that directly off-set the
obligor’s child support obligation. Many of these jurisdictions, including some
other Ohio appellate districts, have also permitted the obligor to credit portions of
a lump sum payment of Social Security dependency benefits to child support
arrearages accrued during the months represented by the lump sum payment. See
e.g., Tibor v. Bendrick, 593 N.W.2d 395, ¶¶ 7-8 (N.D. 1999); Anderson v.
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Anderson, 955 N.E.2d 236 (Ind. 2011); see, also, Marder v. Marder, 12th Dist.
Clermont No. CA2007-06-069, 2008-Ohio-2500, ¶ 22; Breen v. Kraus, 12th Dist.
Butler No. CA2002-06-143, 2003-Ohio-505; Terrell v. Terrell, 9th Dist. Summit
No. 15363 (June 24, 1992); Pride v. Nolan, 31 Ohio App. 3d 261, 263 (1st Dist.
1987).
{¶29} Moreover, at least two courts in other jurisdictions have addressed
the precise issue raised in this appeal and have found that under these
circumstances the obligor is entitled to reimbursement from the obligee for the
child support previously paid. See Davis v. Davis, 780 N.W.2d 707 (N.D. 2010);
see, also, Paulhe v. Riley, 295 Wis.2d 541 (2006). Both of these courts
determined that if, under applicable state law, the obligor is entitled to a dollar for
dollar credit in his or her child support obligation when the child receives Social
Security dependency benefits, then the obligor is also entitled to reimbursement
for child support paid to the obligee when the obligee subsequently receives a
lump sum of Social Security dependency benefits representing the same months
that the obligor paid child support. Davis at ¶ 15; Paulhe at ¶ 25. The Court in
Paulhe aptly noted an important public policy ground supporting this result.
The paramount goal of child support is to promote the best
interests of children and to avoid financial hardship to children
of divorced parents. If we were to limit a payor’s credit
entitlement to only situations of “unpaid support,” we would
encourage disabled payors who nonetheless have the ability to
pay support, to terminate child support payments in anticipation
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that potential future social security disability payments will
eventually make up the shortfall. That would leave the child
without child support during this interim, a result clearly
contrary to the public policy underpinning child support. To his
credit, [the obligor] did not take this route. Instead, he honored
his child support obligations. As a result, he is now rightfully
entitled to credit against those payments based on the social
security disability payments that he funded by his earnings while
working.
Paulhe at ¶ 22 (internal citations omitted). We agree with this reasoning and
therefore conclude that permitting Jeffrey to be entitled to reimbursement from
Amy for the child support he paid during the period of December 2009 through
January 2012 is consistent with the rule announced by the Supreme Court of Ohio
in Williams.
{¶30} We note that on appeal Amy heavily relies upon Filon v. Green, 9th
Dist. Summit No. 23087, 2006-Ohio-4868, to contend that Jeffrey is not entitled to
reimbursement. The court in Filon addressed the same issue as the one raised by
Amy in this appeal and found that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in
denying reimbursement to the obligor based on the particular facts in that case. Id.
at ¶ 15.
{¶31} Initially, we note that in reaching its decision, the court in Filon
relied upon jurisprudence from other jurisdictions that either, 1) does not
recognize the earnings nature of Social Security disability payments as the
Supreme Court of Ohio did in Williams or, 2) has since been abrogated to permit
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the obligor to receive a credit in his or her child support. See e.g., Anderson v.
Anderson, 955 N.E.2d 236 (Ind. 2011) (noting that Brown v. Brown, 849 N.E. 2d
610 (Ind. 2006), which the court in Filon heavily relied upon, has since been
superseded by statute).
{¶32} Second, and perhaps more persuasive to the court in Filon, were the
specific circumstances surrounding the obligor in that case which led the court to
conclude that equity did not favor a return of the obligor’s child support
overpayment. Id. at ¶12. There, the court found that the obligor’s actions of
refusing to inform the obligee of the status of his pending application for Social
Security disability benefits and telling the obligee that “it was none of her concern
and that she ‘was not getting any more money’ ” impaired the obligee’s ability “to
properly allocate resources to prepare to repay [the obligor] his overpaid support.”
Id. at ¶ 13. The court in Filon further determined that the obligor’s actions
demonstrated a complete disregard for the financial situation of the parties’ child
and noted that the obligee had used the lump-sum payment to invest in a college
fund for the child. Id. The court concluded its opinion by stating:
[O]ur ruling serves the important public policy of encouraging
parties who have children together to openly communicate about
matters which directly affect the children’s well-being. While
the issue is not presently before this Court, an obligor who
timely communicates the status of his pending application for
benefits undoubtedly places himself in a much stronger position
to urge that reimbursement is equitable. Appellant chose not to
cooperate with Appellee, despite the important ramifications of
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his actions on his own child. Accordingly, we cannot say that the
trial court abused its discretion in finding that it was inequitable
for Appellee to repay Appellant.
Id. at ¶ 15.
{¶33} Unlike the obligor in Filon, the facts in the instant case demonstrate
that Jeffrey had placed himself in the “stronger position to urge that
reimbursement is equitable.” Filon at ¶ 15. Specifically, the record reflects that
Jeffrey was always forthcoming about the pending status of his Social Security
disability applications with both Amy and the HCCSEA. Moreover, as noted in
the findings of both magistrate and the trial court, the parties had previously dealt
with this same overpayment issue in 2009. The trial court at that time determined
that Jeffrey had overpaid his child support and was entitled to reimbursement from
Amy which resulted in the “impounding” of $13,989.00 into the “futures” account.
Thus, having been through this scenario once before, Amy was on notice that she
likely would not be entitled to keep both the lump sum Social Security
dependency payment and Jeffrey’s child support payments for the time period of
December 2009 through January 2012. Therefore, unlike the obligee in Filon,
Amy was clearly on notice that she may have to allocate resources to prepare to
repay Jeffrey for his overpayment of child support. 4
4
According to the record, Amy received the check from the Social Security Administration for the lump
sum payment on February 9, 2012, nearly a month after the HCCSEA filed a motion requesting the court to
address any potential overpayment and reimbursement issues. (Doc. No. 241 at 7). Thus, not only was
Amy on notice of the overpayment issue by the resolution of parties’ prior court proceeding, but she was
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{¶34} Despite all of this, Amy made the decision to spend the entire lump
sum payment (of $17,052.00) in the few months that elapsed between receiving
the check and the trial court’s determination of the overpayment and
reimbursement issue. Notably, also unlike like the obligee in Filon, Amy failed to
provide any specific details to the court explaining how she spent the lump sum
payment and therefore the court was unable to determine that any of these funds
were in fact spent for the benefit of the children. Thus, even applying the rationale
of the court in Filon, all of these factors weigh in favor of the trial court’s decision
to order Amy to reimburse Jeffrey for his child support overpayment.
{¶35} Finally, we note Amy argues that even if Jeffrey is entitled to credit
in his child support obligation, the trial court erred in determining that the credit
should commence at the time Jeffrey was deemed disabled by the Social Security
Administration—i.e., December 2009. Instead, Amy argues that the credit should
not be applied until the children first received Social Security dependency
benefits—i.e., when Amy received the check for the lump sum payment in
February 2012. Again, Amy relies on Filon in support of her argument. We
acknowledge that the court in Filon does appear to endorse the application of the
credit as Amy contends. However, we do not find Filon to be persuasive on this
point. Rather, we find the application of the credit used by the Fifth Appellate
also served with legal notice that the same overpayment issue would be litigated with respect to this second
lump sum payment.
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District in Rice v. Rice, 177 Ohio App 3d. 476, 2008-Ohio-3518, ¶ 14, in which
the court determined that the obligor is entitled to credit “for each month he was
disabled, up until the full amount of this child-support obligation” to be more
consistent with the legal principle established by the Supreme Court in Williams.
{¶36} For all the reasons stated above, we conclude that the trial court did
not err when it determined that Jeffrey overpaid his child support for the time
period of December 2009 through January 2012 and therefore was entitled to
reimbursement from Amy for the overpayment. Amy’s first assignment of error is
overruled.
Second Assignment of Error
{¶37} In her second assignment of error, Amy argues that the trial court’s
order requiring her to reimburse Jeffrey for his child support overpayment in
monthly installments of $500.00 is unduly burdensome given her current financial
situation.
{¶38} An appellate court reviews child support issues under an abuse of
discretion standard. Pauly v. Pauly, 80 Ohio St.3d 386, 390 (1997). “The term
‘abuse of discretion’ * * * implies that the court’s attitude is unreasonable,
arbitrary or unconscionable.” Blakemore v. Blakemore (1983), 5 Ohio St.3d 217,
219.
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{¶39} At the July 31, 2012 hearing conducted by the magistrate on the issue
of the child support overpayment and reimbursement, counsel for the HCCSEA
questioned Amy under oath about the accuracy of the income numbers used to
compute the parties’ current child support worksheet. The child support
worksheet, which was admitted as an exhibit without objection and not disputed
by the parties on the record, reflected that Amy received a total annual income of
$26,156.00 in unemployment benefits and that Jeffrey received a total annual
income of $20,556.00 in Social Security disability benefits. The child support
worksheet also reflected that Amy continued to receive Social Security
dependency benefits for the children resulting in an annual payment of $8,136.00.
{¶40} The magistrate specifically stated that she considered the amount of
Jeffrey’s overpayment, $18,105.52, and the parties’ financial conditions in
determining that monthly installments of $500.00 was a reasonable repayment.
Furthermore, in constructing a repayment plan, the magistrate also permitted Amy
to repay Jeffrey over a period of roughly three years rather than requiring her to
repay him the entire sum all at once.
{¶41} On appeal, Amy claims the $500.00 monthly installments are
“entirely unreasonable considering her dire financial situation.” (Appellant’s Brief
at 13). However, other than generally alluding to some medical expenses for the
children, Amy presented no evidence of her “dire financial situation” either to the
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magistrate or on appeal. Moreover, Amy has cited no relevant authority
supporting her contention that the $500.00 monthly installments are unreasonable
under the circumstances and further offers no “reasonable” number in the
alternative.
{¶42} Rather, Amy implores us to find that the trial court abused its
discretion in adopting the magistrate’s decision solely on the basis of equity. In
doing so, Amy overlooks the fact that her own conduct throughout the court
proceedings and in particular her unaccounted for spending of the excess benefits
received as outlined above, found to be “unconscionable” by both the magistrate
and the trial court, is one of the primary reasons she finds herself in this situation.
Accordingly, having found no evidence in the record to support her position on
appeal, we cannot find that the trial court’s decision was unreasonable, arbitrary or
unconscionable when it ordered Amy to repay Jeffery for his child support
overpayment in monthly installments of $500.00. Amy’s second assignment of
error is overruled.
{¶43} For all these reasons, the judgment of the Hancock County Juvenile
Court is affirmed.
Judgment Affirmed
WILLAMOWSKI and ROGERS, J.J., concur.
/jlr
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