Ramsey v. Ramsey , 2014 Ohio 1227 ( 2014 )

[Cite as Ramsey v. Ramsey, 2014-Ohio-1227.]
STATE OF OHIO, JEFFERSON COUNTY
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
SEVENTH DISTRICT
DAVID RAMSEY, )
) CASE NO. 13 JE 17
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, )
)
VS. ) OPINION
)
STEPHANIE RAMSEY, )
)
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. )
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDINGS: Civil Appeal from Common Pleas Court,
Domestic Relations Division, Case No.
12DR164.
JUDGMENT: Affirmed.
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee: David Ramsey, Pro se
255 Sutton Road
Richmond, Ohio 43944
For Defendant-Appellant: Attorney R. Aaron Miller
P.O. Box 166
Wellsburg, West Virginia 26070
JUDGES:
Hon. Joseph J. Vukovich
Hon. Cheryl L. Waite
Hon. Mary DeGenaro
Dated: March 24, 2014
[Cite as Ramsey v. Ramsey, 2014-Ohio-1227.]
VUKOVICH, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Stephanie Ramsey (Wife) appeals from certain
aspects of the divorce decree entered by the Jefferson County Common Pleas Court,
Domestic Relations Division. Four issues are raised in this appeal. The first is
whether the trial court abused its discretion in allowing plaintiff-appellee David
Ramsey (Husband) 24 months to refinance the marital home. The second issue is, in
the event that appellee cannot obtain refinancing, did the trial court abuse its
discretion in ordering that Wife is liable for half of the deficiency. The third issue is
whether the trial court abused its discretion when it imputed income (minimum wage)
to Wife for purposes of computing spousal and child support. The final issue is
whether the trial court abused its discretion in limiting the duration of spousal support
to 8 years.
{¶2} For the reasons expressed below, the record does not demonstrate an
abuse of discretion in allowing Husband 24 months to refinance the house, in dividing
the debt that may result from foreclosure, in imputing income to Wife, or in ordering
spousal support to last for 8 years. The judgment of the trial court is hereby affirmed.
Statement of the Case
{¶3} Husband and Wife were married December 1980 and four children
were born as issue of the marriage. Husband filed for divorce on May 31, 2012. At
the time of this filing, all but one child was emancipated.
{¶4} Multiple hearings were held in this case; the contentious nature of this
divorce is obvious from the record. The matter was tried before a magistrate.
Following hearings, the magistrate found that the parties are incompatible and
granted a joint decree of divorce on that ground. 01/30/13 Magistrate Decision.
{¶5} In dividing the marital property, the trial court indicated that the marital
residence is in foreclosure and a “deficiency is anticipated whether privately sold or
sold at Sheriff’s sale.” The magistrate also acknowledged that Husband wants to
keep the residence since his father parceled out the lot from the family farm;
Husband’s brother lives on one side of him and his sister on the other. The
magistrate acknowledged that Husband has made a good faith effort to resolve the
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foreclosure action, but as of yet has been unable to do so. Thus, the magistrate
awarded Husband the marital residence and stated:
In the event that the property is sold through the foreclosure
process, Plaintiff and Defendant shall be equally responsible for any
deficiency. In the event that the foreclosure is dismissed, Plaintiff shall
refinance the house within two (2) years of the decree. Defendant,
Stephanie Ramsey, shall execute all necessary documents to
effectuate the refinancing.
01/30/13 Magistrate Decision.
{¶6} In determining the appropriate amount of spousal and child support, the
magistrate stated that Husband earns $100,898.51 a year at First Energy and Ross
Township. As for Wife, the magistrate concluded that she is voluntarily unemployed
and has a potential income of full-time minimum wage. The magistrate, in drawing
this conclusion, indicated that although Wife had been a stay at home mom for
almost the entire time of the marriage and suffers from some hearing loss, the fact
that she had a license in cosmetology in 1980, babysat for 6 years during the
marriage, and worked at Kroger for 6 months during the marriage demonstrates that
she has the ability to work. Furthermore, given the age of the child (approximately 16
years old), the magistrate found that it is appropriate for Wife to seek full-time
employment outside the home.
{¶7} The magistrate then awarded supposal support:
Plaintiff, David Ramsey, shall pay Defendant, Stephanie
Ramsey, spousal support of $850.00 per month, plus 2% processing
charge, effective June 1, 2013. This obligation shall continue until the
earliest of the following events occur: the death of either party, the re-
marriage or cohabitation of Defendant, or until May 31, 2015.
Effective June 1, 2015, Plaintiff shall pay Defendant spousal
support of $1,400.00 per month, plus 2% processing charge. This
obligation shall continue until the earliest of the following events occur:
the death of either party, the re-marriage or cohabitation of Defendant
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or seventy-two (72) months. The Court expressly reserves jurisdiction
to modify the spousal support obligation.
02/07/13 Magistrate Decision.
{¶8} Thus, Wife was awarded a total of 8 years of spousal support.
{¶9} As for child support, using the worksheet, the magistrate computed
child support to be $805.09 per month plus a 2% processing charge. In reaching this
amount, the magistrate found that Wife is voluntarily unemployed and has a potential
income of full-time minimum wage. Thus, the magistrate imputed income to the Wife.
02/07/13 Magistrate Decision.
{¶10} Wife filed objections on February 12, 2013. The objections that are
relevant to this appeal concern imputed income, refinancing the marital residence
and duration of spousal support. Specifically, she contended that the magistrate
should not have imputed income to her because she has progressive hearing loss,
no post-high school education, was a homemaker spouse, and has no ability to
become employed. As to refinancing, she argued that the magistrate erred in
allowing Husband 24 months to refinance the marital residence; this was too long of
a time period. As to the duration of spousal support, she asserted that spousal
support should be ordered until she is eligible to receive social security benefits; the
spousal support as ordered will end when she is 60 years old. She asked for it to be
extended until she is at least 65 years old.
{¶11} A hearing on the objections occurred on April 30, 2013. Wife was
unrepresented at the hearing; her counsel withdrew 30 days prior to the hearing and
she was unable to obtain new counsel. Husband’s counsel and Wife presented
arguments at the hearing.
{¶12} Following the hearing, the trial court indicated that child support should
be calculated with imputing full time minimum-wage income to Wife. The trial court
also found that the length of time that the magistrate gave Husband to refinance the
home was not unreasonable and overruled Wife’s objection to the contrary. Wife’s
objection to spousal support duration was also overruled because the trial court
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found that there was no reason why Wife could not obtain employment. 05/28/13
J.E.
{¶13} Wife timely appeals.
First Assignment of Error
{¶14} “The trial court abused its discretion by ordering appellant to pay one-
half of any deficiency should the marital residence be foreclosed upon.”
{¶15} The magistrate found in the event that the marital residence is sold
through foreclosure, the parties are equally responsible for any deficiency. 02/07/13
Magistrate’s Decision. The trial court adopted this finding. 06/04/13 J.E. In the
appellate brief, Wife asserts that while this is an equal division of the property, it is
not equitable. She believes it should be divided in proportion to their relative
earnings, which according to her would mean that appellee is liable for 90% of the
deficiency, while she is liable for 10% (these are the proportions when income is not
imputed to Wife).
{¶16} The record before us evinces that she did not specifically object to the
magistrate’s finding regarding any deficiency that may result from foreclosure.
Furthermore, out of the eight objections that she raises, it cannot even be concluded
that there is a general objection that would encompass her argument.
{¶17} Civ.R. 53 governs magistrates and magistrate decisions. Pursuant to
that rule, objections to a magistrate's decision must be specific and state with
particularity the grounds of objection. Civ.R. 53(D)(3)(b)(ii); Smith v. Bank of Am., 7th
Dist. No. 11-MA-169, 2013-Ohio-4231, ¶ 17. Additionally, “[e]xcept for a claim of
plain error, a party shall not assign as error on appeal the court's adoption of any
factual finding or legal conclusion * * * unless the party has objected to that finding or
conclusion as required by Civ.R. 53(D)(3)(b).” Smith, citing Civ.R. 53(D)(3)(b)(iv).
Courts have held that general objections do not meet Civ.R. 53's standard. See
Thrower v. Akron, 9th Dist. No. 21518, 2003–Ohio-5361; Rush v. Schlagetter, 4th
Dist. No. 96CA2215, 1997 WL 193169 (Apr. 15, 1997).
{¶18} Therefore, although we typically review a trial court’s property division
determination for an abuse of discretion, as to this finding, we should only review it
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for plain error. Neville v. Neville, 99 Ohio St.3d 275, 2003–Ohio–3624, 791 N.E.2d
434, at ¶ 5 (property division reviewed for an abuse of discretion). Although the plain
error doctrine is generally disfavored in civil cases, the doctrine may apply in “the
extremely rare case involving exceptional circumstances” where error “to which no
objection was made at the trial court, seriously affects the basic fairness, integrity, or
public reputation of the judicial process, thereby challenging the legitimacy of the
underlying judicial process itself.” Goldfuss v. Davidson, 79 Ohio St.3d 116, 122–23,
679 N.E.2d 1099 (1997).
{¶19} R.C. 3105.171(B) indicates that trial courts must divide marital property
equitably between the spouses. In most cases, this requires that marital property be
divided equally. R.C. 3105.171(C)(1). Thus, the court starts with the presumption
that an equal division of marital assets constitutes an equitable division of the
property. Kapadia v. Kapadia, 8th Dist. No. 94456, 2011–Ohio–2255, ¶ 24; Franklin
v. Franklin, 10th Dist. No. 11AP–713, 2012–Ohio–1814, ¶ 3; R.C. 3105.171(C).
However, if the trial court determines that an equal division would produce an
inequitable result, it must divide the property in a way it deems equitable. R.C.
3105.171(C)(1). Division of marital property includes marital debt. See Hiscox v.
Hiscox, 7th Dist. No. 07CO7, 2008-Ohio-5209, at ¶ 53. Therefore, under R.C.
3105.171(C)(1), marital debt should also be divided equally unless such a division
would be inequitable. Elliott v. Elliott, 4th Dist. No. 05CA2823, 2005–Ohio–5405, at ¶
16 (“[A]n equitable division of marital property necessarily implicates an equitable
division of marital debt.”).
{¶20} Excluding the marital residence, Husband’s total value of marital
property (including debt) is $74.30 and Wife’s is $74.31. The court noted that the
marital residence is valued at approximately $75,000, however, the parties owe more
than $100,000 on the property. If Husband is able to refinance he is liable for the
entire debt, since it is his choice to attempt to retain the marital residence, which is
part of his family’s farm. If Husband is unable to refinance and the property is sold,
the net proceeds or deficiency is to be equally assessed. Likewise, if the property is
foreclosed upon, the deficiency is divided equally. Thus, in dividing the marital
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property and debt, the division was equal, if the marital residence is sold or
foreclosed upon.
{¶21} Dividing any deficiency resulting from a foreclosure on the martial
residence does not create an inequitable division; the property division still remains
equal. As stated above, an equal property division is presumed to be equitable. It is
acknowledged that the parties’ earnings (including imputed earnings) are not
proportionate to each other. However, they are not as disproportionate as Wife
suggests. Wife has an adjusted annual gross income of $26,216 (which includes
imputed income), while Husband has an adjusted gross income of $89,598.92. Thus,
the proportionality is roughly 30% to Wife and 70% to Husband. Admittedly, the trial
court could have divided the debt proportionate to the earnings. The failure to do so,
however, does not automatically indicate that the division is inequitable; inequity in a
disproportionate distribution must be evident on the record.
{¶22} Here, the record provides ample justification for failing to assign a
proportional division of the marital residence debt if the property is foreclosed. The
record shows that Husband has attempted to refinance during the divorce
proceedings, but Wife has thwarted that attempt. In fact, she allegedly has withheld
papers from Husband and has had to be threatened with contempt to get her to sign
papers that would allow Husband to refinance. As stated above, if the house is
refinanced, none of the debt associated with the house is her obligation. Thus, it is in
her best interest to have the mortgage refinanced. Therefore, making her liable for
half of any deficiency if the house is foreclosed upon, is one means to ensure that
she is cooperative during the refinancing process.
{¶23} Regardless of whether this issue is reviewed under an abuse of
discretion or plain error standard of review, there is no merit with the argument. The
division of the martial property, including debt, was equitable. This assignment of
error is deemed meritless.
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Second Assignment of Error
{¶24} “The trial court abused its discretion by granting the plaintiff twenty-four
months to refinance the marital residence in the event that the foreclosure action
regarding the same is dismissed.”
{¶25} Wife objected to the magistrate’s decision to allow Husband 24 months
to refinance the marital residence, if the foreclosure of the same is dismissed. The
trial court overruled that objection and adopted the magistrate’s decision. Wife
contends that decision amounts to an abuse of discretion and should be reversed
because allowing Husband 24 months to refinance “imposes an unreasonable
financial burden” upon her by restricting her “ability to obtain credit and move forward
with her life.”
{¶26} Since the determination of 24 months to refinance is part of the trial
court’s allocation of martial property and debt, it is reviewed using an abuse of
discretion standard of review. An abuse of discretion connotes more than a mere
error of judgment; it implies that the court's attitude is arbitrary, unreasonable or
unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140(1983). When applying this standard of review, we may not freely substitute our
judgment for that of the trial court. In re Jane Doe I (1991), 57 Ohio St.3d 135, 137-
138, 566 N.E.2d 1181 (1991).
{¶27} There is no bright line as to the number of months for refinancing that
would constitute an abuse of discretion. In reviewing the facts of appellate court
divorce opinions, it seems that it is common for trial courts to permit 6 months or 12
months to refinance a home. Stites v. Stites, 2d Dist. No. 25595, 2013-Ohio-4950, ¶
1 (6 months); Sable v. Sable, 5th Dist. No. 2012CA00230, 2013-Ohio-2635, ¶ 22 (12
months); Sparks v. Sparks, 12th Dist. No. CA2010-10-096, 2011-Ohio-5746, ¶ 2 (6
months); Shih v. Byron, 9th Dist. No. 25319, 2011-Ohio-2766, ¶ 8 (6 months);
Kumpus v. Kumpus, 5th Dist. No. 2009CA00106, 2010-Ohio-3960, ¶ 5 (6 months);
Woodland v. Woodland, 7th Dist. No. 06BE9, 2007-Ohio-3503, ¶ 3 (12 months is not
unreasonable time to require refinancing to be accomplished). However, 48 months
and 72 months have also been ordered. Hanifon v. Hanifon, 11th Dist. No. 2004-L-
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187, 2006-Ohio-332, ¶ 25 (72 moths given the facts of the case was not
unreasonable time to allow refinancing to occur); Espenschied v. Espenschied, 5th
Dist. No. 2002AP030021, 2002-Ohio-5119, ¶ 12 (48 months). In Hanifon, the
appellate court specifically indicated that it was not unreasonable, considering all of
the facts of the case, to give the party 72 months to refinance. Hanifon.
{¶28} Thus, in determining whether the 24 month period is unreasonable we
must consider not only the amount of time allowed, but all other relevant factors.
{¶29} Wife’s conduct is one factor that is relevant in determining if this
duration is an abuse of discretion. As was discussed in the first assignment of error,
Wife has not been cooperative in Husband’s efforts to refinance. At the hearing on
the objections, Husband indicated that he works two jobs in an attempt to “save” the
house. 04/30/13 Tr. 18. The lending agency moved to foreclose on the house during
the pendency of the divorce. Husband did not immediately know of the foreclosure
action because the action was sent to the marital residence, Wife signed for it and
held it for a week or two prior to giving the papers to Husband. After finally receiving
the papers and talking to the lending agency, he attempted loan modification.
11/07/12 Tr. 25-27. In order to do this, he needed the couples’ income tax returns
and a reinstatement fee of $4,600. 11/07/12 Tr. 25-27. He sent $4,600 to the
mortgage company for a loan modification, which was returned and sent to the
marital residence. 11/07/12 Tr. 25-27. Wife held onto the money for two weeks and
did not inform Husband that it was returned. 11/07/12 Tr. 25-27. He also asked for
the tax returns from Wife, but she refused to give them to him. 11/07/12 Tr. 25-27.
He then had to request and obtain an order from the magistrate not only to obtain his
tax return, but also to have Wife sign the necessary documents to do the refinancing.
04/30/13 Tr. 18-19. In fact, the record indicates that the magistrate informed her that
if she would not sign she would be held in contempt. 12/04/12 Tr. 14-18. It was at
that point that she finally did sign, but her actions caused numerous delays. 12/04/12
Tr. 14-18.
{¶30} Wife’s actions have been summarized by Husband’s counsel as:
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She’s done everything in her power to prevent him from
refinancing, but yet she wants to complain because the mortgage is in
foreclosure. All he wants to do is get it out of foreclosure, get the house
— CitiMortgage is working with them. It just – it’s – she’s prevented
that. She hasn’t allowed him to do it.
04/30/13 Tr. 19.
{¶31} Thus, the trial court’s order of 24 months may take into account the time
Husband needs if Wife remains uncooperative and has to be brought into court to
comply with the trial court’s order for her to cooperate.
{¶32} Furthermore, as Husband notes, refinancing is in Wife’s best interest. If
he is able to refinance, the debt will be taken off of Wife’s credit. If he is not able to
refinance and the property is foreclosed upon, this has a negative impact on her
credit. It appears from the record that refinancing was (and still may be) likely.
{¶33} That said, it is acknowledged that during this 24 month period Wife’s
name is still on the loan and this affects her credit. The trial court stated that
although her credit is at risk for the time of refinancing, that risk is not excessive. The
court noted that Husband is ordered to pay the mortgage and he will be held in
contempt if he is late on mortgage payments. 05/28/13 J.E.
{¶34} Considering all factors, affording Husband 24 months to refinance does
not appear under the facts of this case to amount to an abuse of discretion. This
assignment of error is meritless.
Third and Fourth Assignments of Error
{¶35} “The trial court abused its discretion in determining the amount of child
support and spousal support to be paid by the plaintiff-appellee by finding that the
appellant is voluntarily unemployed.”
{¶36} “The trial court abused its discretion by imputing income to the
appellant for the purpose of calculating child support.”
{¶37} Wife objected to the magistrate’s determination that she is voluntarily
unemployed and has a potential income of full-time minimum wage. The trial court
overruled the objection and stated that she is not unemployable despite her
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assertions to the contrary. The trial court ordered wages to be imputed. 05/28/13
J.E.
{¶38} In determining the appropriate level of child support, a trial court must
calculate the income of the parents. R.C. 3119.05. When a parent is unemployed,
income includes potential income that may be imputed to the parent by the trial court.
See R.C. 3119.01(C)(5)-(11). Potential income is determined by considering all
relevant factors, including the parent's education, skills, training, experience, and
earning capacity; the availability of jobs and prevailing wages in the parent's
geographic area; any mental or physical disabilities of the parent; the ages and
special needs of the children; and whether evidence demonstrates that the parent
can earn the imputed income. R.C. 3119.01(C)(11). “[W]hen a court examines the
earning capacity of a parent who is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, it does
so with a view toward imputing a specific sum of income to that parent. In turn, that
sum will be combined with other gross income to arrive at a total gross income figure
which will be used for the child support calculation.” Collins v. Collins, 9th Dist. No.
10CA0004, 2011–Ohio–2087, ¶ 18. In the absence of an abuse of discretion, the
calculation of imputed income will not be disturbed on appeal. Rock v. Cabral, 67
Ohio St.3d 108, 616 N.E.2d 218 (1993), syllabus.
{¶39} Likewise, the decision to impute income for the purpose of spousal
support is also within the discretion of the trial court. Booth v. Booth, 44 Ohio St.3d
142, 144, 541 N.E.2d 1028 (1989) (spousal support orders are reviewed under an
abuse of discretion standard of review); Havanec v. Havanec, 10th Dist. No. 08AP–
465, 2008–Ohio–6966, ¶ 23 (decision to impute is reviewed for abuse of discretion).
{¶40} Here, there is nothing in the record to indicate that the trial court abused
its discretion in imputing income. Other than hearing loss, for which she has hearing
aids, Wife indicated she is fairly healthy. The transcripts of the hearings do not
evince that her hearing loss affects her to the point that she is unemployable. In fact,
it is clear that only in a few instances was she unable to hear what was transpiring at
the hearings. The record further discloses that she has a high school education, held
a license in cosmetology in 1980, she babysat two children for six years, she worked
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at Kroger for 6 months when Husband was laid off, and she has done housekeeping
for her grandparents. Thus, the record demonstrates that she has the ability to work.
{¶41} In regards to the minor child affecting her ability to work, the record
indicates that the minor child is approximately 16 years of age, works part-time at
McDonald’s, and is active in 4-H and Golf Club. Although he has a reading disability,
nothing in the record suggests that that disability should prevent Wife from seeking
employment.
{¶42} Thus, in all, the record is devoid of any indication that the trial court’s
decision to impute income to Wife was an abuse of discretion. These assignments of
error are deemed meritless.
Fifth Assignment of Error
{¶43} “The trial court abused its discretion by imputing income to the
appellant for the purpose of determining the amount of spousal support to be paid by
the appellee and the duration for which such spousal support must be paid.”
{¶44} Wife objected to the magistrate’s decision that spousal support is to
only last 72 months after the minor child reaches the age of majority. Wife argued
that she will be 60 years of age when it terminates and too young to collect social
security. The trial court overruled this objection and found that Wife is employable.
{¶45} As aforementioned, we review a spousal support award for an abuse of
discretion. Booth, 44 Ohio St.3d at 144.
{¶46} The appellate brief does not present a specific argument as to duration
of spousal support. Rather, Wife combines this assignment with the third and fourth
assignments of error. It seems that she is asserting that if the trial court abused its
discretion in imputing income, the duration of spousal support is also an abuse of
discretion because at its termination she would be without any income since she
would be too young to collect social security.
{¶47} Since there is no merit with her imputed income argument, there
likewise is no merit with her spousal support duration position. The record discloses
that she is employable, and thus, there is no need to extend spousal support until
she is able to collect social security. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in
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ordering spousal support for a total of eight years; two years while she is still
receiving child support and for six years thereafter. This assignment of error lacks
merit.
Conclusion
{¶48} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the trial court is hereby
affirmed.
Waite, J., concurs.
DeGenaro, P.J., concurs.