Bayne v. Bayne , 302 Neb. 858 ( 2019 )

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www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/
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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
302 Nebraska R eports
BAYNE v. BAYNE
Cite as 302 Neb. 858
Mick E. Bayne, appellant, v.
Brittney J. Bayne, appellee.
___ N.W.2d ___
Filed April 12, 2019. No. S-18-382.
1. Divorce: Judgments: Appeal and Error. The meaning of a divorce
decree presents a question of law, in connection with which an appel-
late court reaches a conclusion independent of the determination
reached by the court below.
2. Divorce: Property Settlement Agreements: Final Orders. A decree is
a judgment, and once a decree for dissolution becomes final, its mean-
ing, including the settlement agreement incorporated therein, is deter-
mined as a matter of law from the four corners of the decree itself.
3. Judgments: Final Orders. It is inherent to a judgment’s finality that all
are bound by the original language used, and all ought to interpret the
language the same way.
4. Divorce: Judgments: Intent. The meaning of a decree must be deter-
mined from all parts thereof, read in its entirety, and must be construed
as a whole so as to give effect to every word and part, if possible, and
bring all of its parts into harmony as far as this can be done by fair and
reasonable interpretation.
5. Contempt. Civil contempt requires willful disobedience as an essen-
tial element.
6. Judgments: Intent. Doubtful or ambiguous judgments are to have a
reasonable intendment to do justice and avoid wrong.
7. Divorce: Property Settlement Agreements: Equity: Appeal and
Error. When interpreting an ambiguous dissolution decree, an appel-
late court bears in mind that an action for divorce sounds in equity
and that the division of property, specifically, is based on equitable
principles.
8. Equity. Equity looks through forms to substance; a court of equity goes
to the root of a matter and is not deterred by forms.
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BAYNE v. BAYNE
Cite as 302 Neb. 858
9. ____. Equity seeks the real and substantial rights of the parties and
applies the remedy in such a manner as to relieve those having the con-
trolling equities.
Appeal from the District Court for Douglas County: Timothy
P. Burns, Judge. Affirmed.
John A. Kinney, of Kinney Mason, P.C., L.L.O., for appellant.
James M. Buchanan, P.C., L.L.O., for appellee.
Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, Funke,
Papik, and Freudenberg, JJ.
Freudenberg, J.
NATURE OF CASE
This is an appeal from a declaratory judgment action in
which the ex-husband sought a declaration that he was entitled
to one-half of the proceeds of a home awarded to the ex-wife
in the divorce decree and sold approximately 2 years later
when she decided to remarry. At issue is the meaning of a
provision in the dissolution decree stating that the ex-wife
would “have the home refinanced into her own name within 12
months of entry of this decree” and that should she be “unable
to refinance the home into her own name within 12 months,
[the] house shall be listed for sale and the parties shall equally
divide any costs or proc[e]eds from the sale of the home.” The
provision also provided that it “shall be enforceable by the
contempt powers of this court.” The ex-wife had refinanced the
home approximately 13 months after the entry of the dissolu-
tion decree. The ex-wife was approved for refinancing within
1 year of the entry of the dissolution decree, but the bank did
not schedule closing on the refinance until approximately 13
months from the entry of the dissolution decree.
BACKGROUND
Mick E. Bayne and Brittney J. Bayne were divorced on
December 9, 2015, pursuant to a consent decree. In August
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BAYNE v. BAYNE
Cite as 302 Neb. 858
2017, Mick brought this declaratory judgment action seeking
a judgment declaring that he was entitled to one-half of the
proceeds from the sale of the marital house that was awarded
to Brittney, pursuant to a contingency refinancing provision.
The provision stated in relevant part:
The parties agree that [Brittney] shall receive the property
as her sole and separate property, holding [Mick] harm-
less from any and all claims on the property. The parties
shall cooperate in executing any and all documentation
to effectuate the transfer of possession of the home.
[Brittney] shall have the home refinanced into her own
name within 12 months of entry of this decree. This pro-
vision shall be enforceable by the contempt powers of this
court. Should [Brittney] be unable to refinance the home
into her own name within 12 months, [the] house shall
be listed for sale and the parties shall equally divide any
costs or proc[e]eds from the sale of the home.
Brittney pled the defenses of bad faith and unclean hands.
The evidence at trial demonstrated that the marital house was
purchased for $151,500 in 2012. At the time of the divorce, the
mortgage on the house was approximately $140,000. Brittney
believed the house was worth approximately $150,000 to
$160,000 at the time of the divorce. It was undisputed that
Mick had caused damage to the house before he vacated it.
Brittney described that Mick had “trashed” the house. Brittney
cleaned up and paid for repairs or replacement due to the
damage to the drywall, flooring, railings, doors, and furniture
allegedly all caused by Mick and represented by various photo-
graphs entered into evidence.
In the property division of the dissolution decree, approving
Brittney and Mick’s settlement agreement, Brittney’s retire-
ment account was split equally and the marital debt was
divided between Brittney and Mick. Mick kept several dirt
bikes worth $4,000 in total and a truck with approximately
$12,000 in equity. Brittney kept her car that was worth $3,000
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BAYNE v. BAYNE
Cite as 302 Neb. 858
and was given the house pursuant to the provision set forth
above. Brittney had obtained approval for refinancing within
12 months after entry of the dissolution decree, but did not
close on the refinancing until January 13, 2017, approximately
1 month after the 1-year anniversary of the dissolution decree.
Brittney testified that she did not set the closing date, which
was set by the bank.
Brittney explained that she began the process of refinanc-
ing in August 2016. She explained that the delay from August
2016 to January 2017 was due to the need to improve her
credit score before the bank would approve her application
to refinance. According to Brittney, her credit score had been
damaged by Mick’s failure to make payments on a credit card
account in both their names, which account had been assigned
to Mick in the dissolution decree. From August until closing,
Brittney was in weekly contact with her mortgage broker. It
was not until December that her credit score finally qualified
her for refinancing.
At the time of closing for the refinancing, the house was
appraised to be worth $170,000, and it was refinanced for what
was owed at that time, which was $136,000. Brittney incurred
$4,510.64 in closing costs for the refinance.
In addition to repairing damage caused by Mick, after the
divorce, Brittney made several other repairs and improve-
ments, which she opined had “increased the value of the house
massively.” In total, Brittney spent approximately $25,000 on
repairs and updates for the house. She replaced all the appli-
ances; made various cosmetic improvements, such as paint-
ing and adding new flooring; and added a bedroom and a
bathroom to the house. The repairs of the damage caused by
Mick, as well as the bedroom and bathroom additions, were
completed before Brittney refinanced. Brittney apparently paid
all mortgage payments and repairs to the house from the time
of the divorce.
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BAYNE v. BAYNE
Cite as 302 Neb. 858
Brittney testified that she informed Mick of the refinance
sometime around January 18, 2017, and there was evidence
that Mick acknowledged the refinance through a social media
posting on that date. Despite this, in April 2017, Mick filed
a contempt action to enforce the refinance provision of the
dissolution decree. According to Brittney, the court dismissed
the contempt action on the ground that the house was already
refinanced. That order is not in the record, and Brittney did not
plead or argue issue preclusion.
Around the same time as the contempt action, Brittney
became engaged to be married. Brittney and her fiance deter-
mined that the house would not accommodate all of their respec-
tive children, and they decided to sell the house. The house
sold in June 2017 for $194,000. After deducting $12,385.81
in closing costs and adding $1,817.05 in adjustments for taxes
already paid, Brittney received $44,998.39 from the sale.
The district court declared that Brittney had timely refi-
nanced the house and that therefore, Mick was not entitled
to one-half of the proceeds from its later sale. The court rea-
soned that nothing in the decree indicated that time was of the
essence and that the provision “[s]hould [Brittney] be unable to
refinance the home into her own name within 12 months” does
not mean that she had to have the refinance “completed” within
a year. Brittney, the court noted, was able to obtain approval
for the refinance within 1 year of the decree and was able to
close on the refinancing a little over a year after the decree.
Mick appeals.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Mick assigns that the district court erred (1) by construing
the language of the decree in a manner other than its plain
meaning and (2) by failing to declare that the decree could only
be interpreted from the four corners of the documents, that
there was no ambiguity, and that Mick was entitled to one-half
of the proceeds from the sale of the property.
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302 Nebraska R eports
BAYNE v. BAYNE
Cite as 302 Neb. 858
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[1] The meaning of a divorce decree presents a question
of law, in connection with which we reach a conclusion inde-
pendent of the determination reached by the court below.1
ANALYSIS
Mick asserts that the district court looked outside the four
corners of the dissolution decree and, regardless, that it erred
in its interpretation of the refinance provision. Mick did not
assert below and does not assert on appeal that Brittney failed
to obtain refinancing within a reasonable time of the specified
12-month deadline, that her failure to refinance by the 1-year
anniversary of the dissolution decree was willful, or that he
was damaged by the 1-month delay. Nor does he challenge the
district court’s finding that Brittney was able to refinance the
home into her own name within 1 year of the decree.
At the outset, we note that Brittney, for her part, has not
challenged whether declaratory judgment was the proper rem-
edy for Mick to enforce the refinance provision. We will
assume, without deciding, that it was proper for the district
court to entertain Mick’s request for declaratory judgment.2
[2,3] A decree is a judgment, and once a decree for dis-
solution becomes final, its meaning, including the settlement
agreement incorporated therein, is determined as a matter of
law from the four corners of the decree itself.3 It is inher-
ent to a judgment’s finality that all are bound by the original
language used, and all ought to interpret the language the
same way.4
Even when our determination involves “interpretation” of
the judgment or decree,5 its meaning is determined, as a
1
Rice v. Webb, 287 Neb. 712, 844 N.W.2d 290 (2014).
2
See Carlson v. Carlson, 299 Neb. 526, 909 N.W.2d 351 (2018).
3
Rice v. Webb, supra note 1.
4
See Kerndt v. Ronan, 236 Neb. 26, 458 N.W.2d 466 (1990).
5
See Blaine v. Blaine, 275 Neb. 87, 744 N.W.2d 444 (2008).
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BAYNE v. BAYNE
Cite as 302 Neb. 858
­ atter of law, by its contents.6 Unlike disputes over the mean-
m
ing of an ambiguous contract, the parties’ subjective inter-
pretations and intentions are wholly irrelevant to a court’s
declaration, as a matter of law, as to the meaning of an
ambiguous decree.7 The Nebraska Court of Appeals’ opinion
in Boyle v. Boyle 8 is disapproved to the extent that it holds
differently.
We find no merit to Mick’s assertion that the district court
looked outside the four corners of the dissolution decree and
improperly considered the parties’ subjective intentions and
interpretations. While there was testimony submitted by both
parties, without objection, pertaining to the negotiations lead-
ing up to the property settlement agreement, there is no indi-
cation the court relied on such testimony in reaching its con-
clusion. Moreover, even if the district court had improperly
relied on the parties’ subjective understandings of the decree,
it would be of little consequence on appeal, as we reach our
conclusion as to the meaning of the decree as a matter of law
independently from the reasoning below.9
[4] We also find no merit to Mick’s assertion that the dis-
trict court wrongly interpreted the decree. The meaning of
a decree must be determined from all parts thereof, read in
its entirety, and must be construed as a whole so as to give
effect to every word and part, if possible, and bring all of
its parts into harmony as far as this can be done by fair and
reasonable interpretation.10 Effect must be given to every part
thereof, including such effect and consequences that follow
6
See Kerndt v. Ronan, supra note 4.
7
See Carlson v. Carlson, supra note 2.
8
Boyle v. Boyle, 12 Neb. Ct. App. 681, 684 N.W.2d 49 (2004).
9
See Rice v. Webb, supra note 1.
10
See 50 C.J.S. Judgments § 742 (2009). See, also, Whaley v. Matthews, 136
Neb. 767, 287 N.W. 205 (1939); Hays v. Christiansen, 114 Neb. 764, 209
N.W. 609 (1926); 27A C.J.S. Divorce § 458 (2016).
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BAYNE v. BAYNE
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the necessary legal implication of its terms, although not
expressed.11
The real property provision of the decree provided in rel-
evant part that Brittney “shall have the home refinanced into
her own name within 12 months of entry of this decree,” that
“[t]his provision shall be enforceable by the contempt powers
of the court,” and “[s]hould [Brittney] be unable to refinance
the home into her own name within 12 months, [the] house
shall be listed for sale and the parties shall equally divide any
costs or proc[e]eds from the sale of the home.” The district
court found that the forced sale provision of the decree did
not apply, because Brittney was “able” to refinance and was
approved for refinancing within 12 months.
We cannot say that the district court erred by finding that
Mick was not entitled to relief under the forced sale provi-
sion. As the district court pointed out, the forced sale provision
applied only if Brittney was “unable” to refinance the house
into her own name within 1 year. The district court found
Brittney was “able” to refinance the house into her own name,
and Mick does not challenge this determination on appeal.
Instead, Mick responds that the decree makes logical sense
only if the forced sale provision was triggered by Brittney’s
failure to actually complete the refinancing of the home into
her own name within 1 year. Mick contends that if the decree
is not read in this way, Brittney could have refused to refi-
nance the home into her own name and he would have been
left without recourse so long as she was “able” to refinance.
This, Mick argues, would render the requirement that Brittney
refinance the home into her own name within 12 months
meaningless.
11
See, Klinginsmith v. Wichmann, 252 Neb. 889, 567 N.W.2d 172 (1997),
overruled on other grounds, Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. v. Kreikemeier,
279 Neb. 661, 782 N.W.2d 848 (2010), and disapproved on other grounds,
Hossaini v. Vaelizadeh, 283 Neb. 369, 808 N.W.2d 867 (2012); Whaley v.
Matthews, supra note 10.
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BAYNE v. BAYNE
Cite as 302 Neb. 858
[5] Even if we could ignore the fact that Mick’s argument
is not supported by the terms of the decree, we are not per-
suaded by his argument that it is illogical or unfair for the
forced sale provision to apply only if Brittney was unable to
refinance. The decree set forth three provisions with respect
to refinancing the home into Brittney’s name: (1) that Brittney
was required to do so within 12 months, (2) that this require-
ment was enforceable by the contempt powers of the court, and
(3) that if Brittney was unable to refinance within 12 months,
the forced sale provision applied. When these three terms and
the fact that civil contempt requires willful disobedience as an
essential element12 are considered together, it becomes clear
that the decree is neither illogical nor unfair to Mick.
If after 12 months, Brittney was willfully refusing to refi-
nance the home into her own name despite being able to do
so, Mick could bring an action for contempt, and the court
could, on pain of contempt, order her to refinance. The con-
tempt remedy would obviously be of no help if Brittney, for
whatever reason, did not refinance because she was unable to
do so, and that is where the forced sale provision comes into
play. If Brittney was unable to refinance within 12 months,
the house could be sold and the proceeds split. Together, these
provisions would accomplish the obvious goal of removing
Mick’s responsibility for the debt on the home in a reasonably
timely fashion.
Perhaps uncertainty could have been avoided if the decree
had been explicit that the court could use its contempt pow-
ers to compel Brittney to refinance if she willfully refused
to do so. Instead, the forced sale provision was limited to
situations where Brittney was unable to refinance. Even so,
we see no basis to find that this decree required a forced sale
merely because Brittney did not complete refinancing within
12 months.
12
See McCullough v. McCullough, 299 Neb. 719, 910 N.W.2d 515 (2018).
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BAYNE v. BAYNE
Cite as 302 Neb. 858
[6-9] Even if we were to find the decree ambiguous as to
what “refinance,” “unable,” or other terms might mean, it
would not be construed differently. “Doubtful or ambiguous
judgments are to have a reasonable intendment to do justice
and avoid wrong.”13 When interpreting an ambiguous dissolu-
tion decree, we bear in mind that an action for divorce sounds
in equity14 and that the division of property, specifically, is
based on equitable principles.15 Equity looks through forms to
substance; a court of equity goes to the root of a matter and is
not deterred by forms.16 Equity seeks the real and substantial
rights of the parties and applies the remedy in such a manner
as to relieve those having the controlling equities.17
As explained by the court in Mihalyak v. Mihalyak,18 delays
in refinancing of the marital home are frequent and, if rea-
sonable in duration, are generally tolerated. As illustrated by
the facts of this case, the process of refinancing can become
complicated by factors outside the applicant’s control and the
applicant cannot unilaterally set the closing date. Thus, the
court in Mihalyak held that a sale penalty was not triggered
despite the fact that the decree stated the wife “‘shall’” pay the
husband a certain amount representing his share of the equity
in the house awarded to the wife, “‘on or before’” a set date
after the wife’s refinancing of the mortgage, and the wife paid
the husband his share after that date.19
Brittney has the controlling equities in this case. There was
no evidence that Brittney willfully failed to complete the refi-
nance of the home within 12 months. Instead, Brittney made
13
50 C.J.S., supra note 10, § 742 at 68.
14
Hall v. Hall, 238 Neb. 686, 472 N.W.2d 217 (1991).
15
Medlock v. Medlock, 263 Neb. 666, 642 N.W.2d 113 (2002).
16
Miller v. School Dist. No. 69, 208 Neb. 290, 303 N.W.2d 483 (1981).
17
National Mortgage Loan Co. v. Hurst, 120 Neb. 37, 231 N.W. 519 (1930).
18
Mihalyak v. Mihalyak, 11 Conn. App. 610, 529 A.2d 213 (1987).
19
Id. at 612, 529 A.2d at 215.
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a good faith effort to complete refinancing within 12 months.
She was approved for the refinancing within 12 months and
was not in that sense “unable” to refinance her home within 12
months of the decree. Brittney did not control the closing date,
and there was no evidence that Mick incurred any harm as a
result of the 1-month delay in closing.
It would offend both the plain language of the real property
provision of the decree as well as equity and justice to construe
it as requiring the sale of the house and equal division of the
proceeds under these facts.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment below.
A ffirmed.