Ostanek v. Ostanek ( 2020 )

[Cite as Ostanek v. Ostanek, 2020-Ohio-3930.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LAKE COUNTY, OHIO
JULIA M. OSTANEK, : OPINION
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
CASE NO. 2019-L-140
- vs - :
GREGORY F. OSTANEK, :
Defendant-Appellant. :
Civil Appeal from the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations
Division, Case No. 2000 DR 000178.
Judgment: Affirmed in part and reversed in part; remanded.
R. Russell Kubyn, Kubyn & Ghaster, 8373 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, OH 44060 (For
Plaintiff-Appellee).
Kenneth J. Cahill, Dworken & Bernstein Co., L.P.A., 60 South Park Place, Painesville,
OH 44077 (For Defendant-Appellant).
TIMOTHY P. CANNON, P.J.
{¶1} Appellant, Gregory F. Ostanek, appeals from an October 15, 2019
judgment of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division,
denying his Civ.R. 60(B) motion to vacate a domestic relations order issued on January
22, 2013. The judgment is affirmed in part and reversed in part.
The Divorce Decree
{¶2} Following a marriage of 23 years and two children born of the marriage,
Gregory Ostanek and Julia Ostanek (appellant and appellee, respectively)1 were
1. The parties are identified by their first names herein, for clarity and convenience.
granted a divorce, pursuant to a judgment entry of divorce issued by the trial court on
October 17, 2001. The parties entered into stipulations regarding, inter alia, the nature
and extent of separate and marital property, separate and marital debt, and the
disposition of each item. The stipulations were incorporated by reference into the
divorce decree and were approved and ordered into execution by the trial court.
{¶3} By stipulation, it was ordered that “during the marriage” is the time from
the date of marriage on February 25, 1978, to the date of trial on April 23, 2001.
Relevant herein, the parties also stipulated that “the house shall immediately be placed
for sale.” The parties further stipulated, with regard to Gregory’s pension under the
Federal Employees Retirement System (“FERS”), that “[t]he FERS shall be divided
50/50 with the court reserving jurisdiction to issue a QDRO if/when the law changes.”
The pension was listed in the stipulated schedule of Marital Assets and Liabilities as
follows:
PROPERTY ITEM VALUE/DEBT
***
Federal Employees Retirement System Pension (H) $58,461.41
{¶4} As it pertains to the house and Gregory’s pension, the trial court ordered
as follows in the final divorce decree:
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the following is
the parties’ marital property and debts. Each party shall retain, free
and clear of any interest of the other, the property attributed to
him/her and each party shall pay, indemnify and hold the other
harmless on the debt attributed to him/her:
PROPERTY ITEM VALUE/DEBT
The marital residence located at 2597 Townline Road, Madison,
OH, shall immediately be placed for sale, the mortgage
extinguished and the net proceeds divided evenly between the
parties.
2
WIFE
***
One-half of FERS Pension by QDRO approx. $29,230.71
HUSBAND
***
One-half of FERS Pension approx. $29,230.71
** The FERS Pension shall be divided by QDRO. Both parties shall
cooperate and execute any and all documents necessary to
effectuate the division of this asset.
***
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that no just cause
for delay under Civ.R. 54(B) exists and the Court shall retain
jurisdiction to approve the QDRO which is to be submitted. The
parties shall take all action necessary to prepare and present for
signature and filing any QDRO required by this judgment entry.
{¶5} The divorce decree reflects an address for each party, neither of which
was the marital residence. Julia used another address in Madison, Ohio; Gregory used
a Wickliffe, Ohio address. Following the divorce, the marital residence was sold.
Gregory moved to Washington, D.C.
The COAP
{¶6} Over 11 years later, on January 22, 2013, the trial court issued a Court
Order Acceptable for Processing under the Federal Employees Retirement System
(“COAP”).2 The COAP was prepared by the QDRO Group at the direction of, and
approved by, Julia’s counsel. It was not signed by Gregory or his counsel but indicated
that Gregory had been “served per attached.” The certificate of service indicates a copy
of the COAP had been sent to Gregory on January 9, 2013, via regular U.S. mail at
2597 Townline Rd., Madison, Ohio 44057—the parties’ previous marital residence.
2. A COAP is a form of qualified domestic relations order (“QDRO”) used to effectuate a judicial division of
rights in a federal pension retirement plan.
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{¶7} The COAP explains that “this Order creates and recognizes the existence
of a former spouse’s right to receive a portion of the employee’s benefits payable under
[FERS]. Such benefits may represent a portion of the Employee Annuity, a Refund of
Employee Contributions or may award a Survivor Annuity to the former spouse. It is
intended to constitute a Court Order Acceptable For Processing under final regulations
issued by the Office of Personnel Management (‘OPM’).” Specifically, the COAP
ordered the following with regard to Gregory’s pension (in relevant part and original
emphasis):
7. Amount of Former Spouse’s Benefit: This Order assigns to
Former Spouse an amount equal to Fifty Percent (50%) of the
Marital Portion of the Employee’s Self-Only, unreduced Monthly
Annuity determined as of the Employee’s date of retirement. For
purposes of calculating Former Spouse’s share of Employee’s
benefit, the Marital Portion shall be determined by multiplying the
Employee’s Self-Only, unreduced Monthly Annuity by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the total number of months of Creditable
Service earned by the Employee during the marriage (from
February 25, 1978 to April 23, 2001) and the denominator of
which is the total number of months of the Employee’s Creditable
Service accrued under [FERS] * * *. The marriage began on
February 25, 1978.
In addition to the above, when COLA’s [Cost-of-Living Adjustment]
are applied to Employee’s retirement benefits, the same COLA
shall apply to the Former Spouse’s share.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the
Former Spouse’s assigned share of the Employee Annuity as
calculated above, shall be reduced in accordance with the terms
set forth in Section 10 regarding the Former Spouse’s entitlement
to a Former Spouse Survivor Annuity.
8. Benefit Commencement Date: The Former Spouse shall
commence her benefits as soon as administratively feasible
following the date this Order is approved as a [COAP], or on the
date the Employee commences his benefits, if later. Payments
shall continue to Former Spouse for the remainder of Employee’s
lifetime, however, should Former Spouse predecease the
Employee, then such benefits shall become payable to her estate.
The Employee agrees to arrange or to execute all forms necessary
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for the OPM to commence payments to the Former Spouse in
accordance with the terms of this Order.
9. Refund of Employee Contributions: If Employee leaves
Federal service before retirement and applies for a refund of
employee contributions under FERS, Former Spouse shall be
entitled to a prorata share of the refund of such employee
contributions.
10. Former Spouse Survivor Annuity: Pursuant to Section
8341(h)(1) of Title 5, United States Code, Former Spouse shall be
awarded a former spouse survivor annuity under [FERS] equal to a
pro-rata share.
Further, the costs associated with providing this surviving spouse
annuity coverage shall be divided equally between the Employee
and the Former Spouse. Employee agrees to take all necessary
steps to elect Former Spouse as the designated beneficiary for
purposes of establishing and sustaining such surviving spouse
coverage for Former Spouse.
15. Continued Jurisdiction: The Court shall retain jurisdiction with
respect to this Order to the extent required to maintain its status as
a [COAP] and the original intent of the parties as stipulated herein.
Further the Court shall retain jurisdiction to enter such further
orders as are necessary to enforce the award to Former Spouse of
the benefits awarded herein, including the recharacterization
thereof as a division of benefits earned under another retirement
system in lieu of the retirement benefits under FERS or other
benefits received in lieu of FERS retirement benefits, or to make an
award of alimony (in the sum of benefits payable plus future cost of
living adjustments) in the event that Employee fails to comply with
the provisions contained above requiring said payments to Former
Spouse by any means.
{¶8} No appeal was taken from the 2001 judgment entry of divorce or from the
2013 COAP.
Motion to Vacate
{¶9} Over five years later, on April 5, 2018, Gregory filed in the trial court a
“Motion to Vacate [the COAP] filed January 22, 2013 Pursuant to Civil Rule 60(B)(5).”
Julia was represented by the same counsel she had at the time of the divorce, whereas
Gregory had obtained new counsel.
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{¶10} In an attached affidavit, Gregory averred he never saw the COAP prior to
its filing, as Julia’s counsel sent it to their previous marital residence where Julia knew
he had not lived since 2001. Gregory further averred that he attempted to rectify the
matter through FERS, to no avail, and subsequently obtained a copy of the COAP from
his present counsel.
{¶11} As cause for his motion to vacate the COAP, Gregory stated that Julia
“has, and continues to receive, approximately $2,065.50 from my pension plan when in
fact [Julia] should only be receiving approximately $722.89 per month. The Court Order
filed January 22, 2013 has been misconstrued by the Pension Plan administrator to pay
far more benefits to [Julia] than she is entitled to receive. Therefore, it is necessary for
this Court to issue a new court order reducing [Julia’s] monthly allowance from
[Gregory’s] pension plan.” Within the memorandum of law in support of his motion to
vacate, Gregory contended the following:
It was the intent of the parties that [Julia] should only receive a
pension benefit equal to fifty percent (50%) of the accrued benefit
from February 25, 1978 through April 23, 2001. The attached
report from the QDRO Group definitely reflects that [Julia] has
received a monthly benefit far above what she should have
received if [the COAP] had not been misconstrued and more
definitively explained the extent of [Julia’s] benefit.
[Gregory] further states that [the COAP] was filed more than eleven
(11) years after the Judgment Entry of Divorce. [Gregory] never
saw the court order of January 22, 2013 prior to its filing. [Gregory]
had moved out of state more than eleven (11) years earlier and
[Julia] was well aware of where he lived in the Washington DC
area.
{¶12} Attached to his motion are a letter and report from the QDRO Group,
which estimated Gregory’s “frozen” benefit accrued as of April 23, 2001, the date the
marriage was terminated, to be $1,369.04 per month. Because the service was all
marital, Julia would have been entitled to one-half that amount, or $684.52 per month.
6
Increasing that amount for COLA since February 2013, the current amount to which
Julia would be entitled of Gregory’s “frozen” benefit would be $722.89 per month.
{¶13} On July 27, 2018, Gregory also filed a “Motion to Disgorge Funds.”
Gregory alleged Julia was erroneously paid an approximate amount of $80,000.00 from
his FERS pension and requested the trial court order Julia to disgorge those funds.
{¶14} Julia did not file a response to the Civ.R. 60(B)(5) motion. She filed a
Motion to Strike Gregory’s motion to disgorge funds, claiming Gregory’s remedy lies
with the FERS pension plan administrator, not with Julia.
{¶15} Gregory procured a congressional inquiry into the matter with the United
States Office of Personnel Management (“OPM”), which administers FERS pension
plans. Pursuant to correspondence dated November 29, 2018, OPM reviewed
Gregory’s plan and determined it had miscalculated the Former Spouse’s Marital Share.
Gregory had been underpaid from his self-only annuity in the amount of $58,379.32
from May 1, 2013, through November 30, 2018. However, OPM withheld the
underpayment until it was adjusted to reflect the former spouse survivor annuity. OPM
further stated it would continue to honor the survivor annuity that was awarded to Julia
in the COAP and that Julia was to pay for the cost of the survivorship benefit from the
court-ordered payments. The cost of providing for the former spouse survivorship
benefit ($139.50) would be subtracted from Julia’s marital share ($1,393.13) of
Gregory’s monthly retirement payments ($4,956.00). Thus, OPM determined Julia was
entitled to a monthly payment of $1,253.63—she had been receiving over $2,000.00
each month since Gregory retired in 2013.
{¶16} Subsequently, Gregory received notice from OPM that he had received an
overpayment in the amount of $18,542.00, representing the entire monthly cost of
providing for the survivor annuity from February 1, 2013, through November 30, 2018.
7
OPM scheduled a reduction of Gregory’s monthly annuity by $515.05 per month for the
next 36 months. Gregory filed an objection with OPM as to this determination, which
had not been resolved at the time of trial.
{¶17} On February 25, 2019, a trial was held before the magistrate on the
motion to vacate the COAP. Both parties were represented by counsel. Gregory
testified, as did Brian Hogan from the QDRO Group. Julia did not appear for trial; the
magistrate noted that her presence had not been excused.
Magistrate’s Decision & Trial Court’s Order
{¶18} The magistrate issued a decision on April 26, 2019, denying Gregory’s
Civ.R. 60(B)(5) motion because it “does not comply with the rule in that [it] was not filed
within a reasonable time.” With regard to this dispositive issue of timeliness, the
magistrate concluded as follows:
In the case at hand, [Gregory] testified that he first became aware
of the division of his U.S. Postal retirement account in 2013. In
fact, at that time he took several affirmative actions in order to find
out additional information about the distribution percentages
between himself and [Julia]. These actions included emailing the
United States Office of Personnel Management [OPM] and meeting
with a case manager at OPM on three separate occasions in order
to get information. [Gregory’s] last contact with OPM was in 2013.
From 2013 until 2018, no other action was taken by [Gregory] in
order to get clarification or documentation. [Gregory], through
counsel, filed a Motion to Vacate in April 2018, a full five years after
his first communication with OPM about the distribution of his
pension.
Taking all of these facts into consideration this is not a “reasonable
time” within the consideration of Civil Rule 60(B)(5), and therefore,
[Gregory’s] Motion to Vacate should be dismissed. As a result, no
analysis is necessary regarding any other testimony that was
presented.
{¶19} Gregory filed objections to the magistrate’s decision. He argued that his
motion to vacate was filed within a reasonable period of time under the circumstances
and that, regardless of Civ.R. 60(B)(5), the trial court had continued jurisdiction and
8
equitable power to rectify the mistake of Julia receiving more of the pension award than
the court had ordered and more than the parties had intended. He further objected on
the basis that his due process right to receive notice of the COAP had been violated
when it was mailed to the parties’ previous marital residence.
{¶20} With leave of court, Gregory filed the trial transcript and supplemental
objections. He argued the COAP should have been vacated because it was
inconsistent with the divorce decree regarding (1) the method of calculation used to
determine the amount Julia was to receive from his pension and (2) the survivor annuity
granted to Julia, including the allocation of the expense for said benefit.
{¶21} The trial court issued a judgment entry on October 15, 2019, adopting and
supplementing the magistrate’s decision. The court supplemented the decision by
concluding the COAP was not inconsistent with the divorce decree. With regard to the
calculation method and survivor annuity, the court found as follows:
The decree clearly provides each party receives ½ of [Gregory’s]
FERS, which in 2001 had an approximate present day value of
$29,000.00. In his objection, [Gregory] ignores the transcript
testimony of Brian Hogan herein. Mr. Hogan of the QDRO Group
testified an FERS pension grants survivorship benefits as part of
the pension package. Mr. Hogan testified if a FERS pension
division is silent as to survivorship rights, the QDRO Group’s
default position is to include the right of survivorship to the alternate
payee. Mr. Hogan further testified that is also the default position of
OPM, when implementing a COAP which is silent as to
survivorship. The pension provision in the decree of divorce was
silent as to survivorship. Therefore, in that each party was awarded
½ of [Gregory’s] pension, which includes survivorship rights, each
party is to pay ½ of the monthly cost for [Julia’s] survivorship right.
The Court notes the right of survivorship for FERS employees was
not created by the QDRO Group and did not enlarge the decree of
divorce. It was part and parcel of [Gregory’s] FERS pension
package itself and OPM’s implementation of the pension division
order and corresponding COAP. [Gregory’s] objection is not well
taken.
[Gregory] also objects to the COAP division of [Gregory’s] pension
by the coverture method as opposed to the frozen method. Mr.
9
Hogan testified the QDRO Group uses the coverture method as the
default when the pension division order is silent as to which method
is to be used; OPM uses the same default. Herein, the coverture
method was used by the QDRO Group for the COAP preparation.
The Defendant’s objection is not well taken.
{¶22} The trial court also adopted the magistrate’s conclusion that Gregory’s
motion to vacate was not filed within a reasonable time. The court concluded by stating
that, as evidenced in the trial transcript, Gregory “acknowledged his strategy for the
QDRO preparation was to do nothing and wait for something to come to him. [Gregory]
now reaps the consequences of his own inaction and procrastination as to the division
of his FERS pension. [Gregory’s] Civ. Rule 60(B)(5) motion, which resulted from his
own indifference and inaction over 17 years, was properly dismissed by the Magistrate.”
Assignments of Error
{¶23} Gregory filed a timely notice of appeal from the trial court’s entry and
asserts two assignments of error:
[1.] The trial court committed prejudicial error denying defendant-
appellant, Gregory F. Ostanek’s motion to vacate pursuant to
Civ.R. 60(B)(5) upon its opinion that defendant-appellant was not
denied due process since appellant failed to cooperate as to the
execution of the paperwork necessary for the division of the
pension.
[2.] The trial court committed prejudicial error denying appellant’s
objection by finding that it was proper that appellant pay for one-
half (1/2) the survivorship expense and that it was proper use [sic]
the coverture method as required in the “COAP” even though the
judgment entry of divorce did not address these issues.
Civil Rule 60(B)
{¶24} Civ.R. 60(B)(5) provides, in pertinent part: “On motion and upon such
terms as are just, the court may relieve a party or his legal representative from a final
judgment, order or proceeding for the following reasons: * * * (5) any other reason
10
justifying relief from the judgment. The motion shall be made within a reasonable time *
* *.”
To prevail on a motion brought under Civ.R. 60(B), the movant
must demonstrate that: (1) the party has a meritorious defense or
claim to present if relief is granted; (2) the party is entitled to relief
under one of the grounds stated in Civ.R. 60(B)(1) through (5); and
(3) the motion is made within a reasonable time, and, where the
grounds of relief are Civ.R. 60(B)(1), (2) or (3), not more than one
year after the judgment, order or proceeding was entered or taken.
GTE Automatic Elec., Inc. v. ARC Industries, Inc., 47 Ohio St.2d 146 (1976), paragraph
two of the syllabus. “Civ.R. 60(B) relief is improper if one of the above requirements is
not satisfied.” LaRosa v. LaRosa, 11th Dist. Geauga No. 2001-G-2339, 2002 WL
408074, *3 (March 15, 2002), citing Strack v. Pelton, 70 Ohio St.3d 172, 174 (1994).
{¶25} “‘With respect to the first prong of the [Civ.R. 60(B)] test, [the rule] does
not contain any specific provision requiring a movant to submit evidential material, such
as an affidavit to support the motion for relief from judgment. However, the movant
must specifically allege operative facts which would support a meritorious claim or
defense to the judgment.’” Gaul v. Gaul, 11th Dist. Ashtabula No. 2011-A-0065, 2012-
Ohio-4005, ¶24, quoting Brewster v. Fox, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2003-L-010, 2004-Ohio-
1145, ¶9 (internal citations omitted). “‘Alternatively, the second and third prongs require
the movant to “submit material of an evidential quality that would indicate the party is
entitled to relief under one of the grounds stated in Civ.R. 60(B)(1) through (5) and that
the motion is made within a reasonable time.”’” Id., quoting Brewster, supra, at ¶9,
quoting Citibank N.A. v. Ohlin, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2000-T-0037, 2002 WL 331739,
*2 (Mar. 1, 2002).
{¶26} “In regard to the general purpose of Civ.R. 60(B), this court has indicated
that the rule ‘attempts to strike a balance between protecting the finality of judgments
and the unjust operation of a voidable judgment.’ Stated differently, the rule provides an
11
equitable remedy under which relief from a judgment should be allowed when so
dictated by the interests of justice.” Id. at ¶18, quoting Brewster, supra, at ¶6, and citing
Mortgage Elec. Registration Sys., Inc. v. Kaehne, 11th Dist. Portage No. 2007-P-0033,
2008-Ohio-4051, ¶13.
{¶27} “In reviewing the denial of a 60(B) motion on appeal, an appellate court
has an obligation to uphold the determination unless the trial court engaged in an abuse
of its discretion.” Id. at ¶31 (citation omitted).
{¶28} We initially emphasize that all three requirements of the Civ.R. 60(B) test
must be met before relief from a final judgment is warranted. Thus, a trial court is
permitted to deny a Civ.R. 60(B) motion solely on the basis that it does not satisfy the
“timeliness” requirement. In other words, even if a movant alleges a meritorious claim
or defense and establishes a reason justifying relief from the judgment, failure to file the
motion within a reasonable time is sufficiently fatal. See, e.g., Irwin v. Irwin, 11th Dist.
Lake No. 95-L-102, 1996 WL 586762, *4 (“Given that appellant’s argument concerning
the timeliness issue is without merit, her argument as to the mistake issue has
technically been rendered moot.”).
Inherent Authority to Vacate Void Judgments
{¶29} On appeal, Gregory does not assign error to the conclusion that he failed
to file his motion within a reasonable time. Rather, he circumvents the possibility of
mootness by arguing under both assignments of error that the COAP is void, not
voidable, and that the timeliness requirement of Civ.R. 60(B)(5) is therefore irrelevant.
{¶30} “The QDRO implements a trial court’s decision of how a pension is to be
divided incident to divorce or dissolution.” Wilson v. Wilson, 116 Ohio St.3d 268, 2007-
Ohio-6056, ¶7. “A division or disbursement of property * * * is not subject to future
12
modification by the court except upon the express written consent or agreement to the
modification by both spouses.” R.C. 3105.171(I).
{¶31} “Properly speaking, however, a QDRO is distinct from the decree dividing
or disbursing marital property. ‘[A] QDRO is merely an order in aid of execution on the
property division ordered in the divorce or dissolution decree. So long as the QDRO is
consistent with the decree, it does not constitute a modification, which R.C. 3105.171(I)
prohibits, and the court does not lack jurisdiction to issue it.’” Angelo v. Angelo, 11th
Dist. Trumbull No. 2012-T-0094, 2013-Ohio-5265, ¶19, quoting State ex rel. Sullivan v.
Ramsey, 124 Ohio St.3d 355, 2010-Ohio-252, ¶19 (emphasis sic). Because the sole
purpose of a QDRO is to implement the terms of a divorce decree, it “‘may not vary
from, enlarge, or diminish the relief that the court granted in the divorce decree.’”
Wilson, supra, at ¶18, quoting Lamb v. Lamb, 3d Dist. Paulding No. 11-98-09, 1998 WL
833606, *2 (Dec. 4, 1998).
{¶32} Where the terms of a QDRO conflict with the property division set forth in
the divorce decree, many courts—including this one—have held that the QDRO is void
or a legal nullity. Angelo, supra, at ¶19, citing Pawlak v. Pawlak, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga
No. 95734, 2011-Ohio-5652, ¶10; Patten v. Patten, 4th Dist. Highland No. 10CA15,
2011-Ohio-4254, ¶17; and Kachmar v. Kachmar, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 08 MA 90,
2010-Ohio-1311, ¶50; but see Pearl v. Pearl, 2d Dist. Champaign No. 2012-CA-6, 2012-
Ohio-4752, ¶17 (“a QDRO which varies from the division of pension plan benefits
ordered in a decree of divorce or dissolution in violation of R.C. 3105.171(I) * * * is
voidable for error”).
{¶33} When a party claims a judgment is void, that party need not comply with,
and the trial court need not rely on, Civ.R. 60(B). Rather, the trial court retains inherent
authority to vacate a void judgment. See Angelo, supra, at ¶18; see also Blaine v.
13
Blaine, 4th Dist. Jackson No. 10CA15, 2011-Ohio-1654, ¶17 (collecting cases). “A trial
court may exercise that inherent power by treating a Civ.R. 60(B) motion as a common-
law motion to vacate a void judgment.” Plummer v. Plummer, 2d Dist. Montgomery No.
23743, 2010-Ohio-3450, ¶27 (citation omitted); see also Beachler v. Beachler, 12th
Dist. Preble No. CA2006-03-007, 2007-Ohio-1220, ¶19 and Angelo, supra, at ¶18-22(treating a Civ.R. 60(A) motion as a motion to vacate void judgment).
{¶34} Gregory contends the COAP is void ab initio because it is inconsistent
with the divorce decree and contrary to the parties’ stipulations. Specifically, he
contends that the COAP fails to accurately implement the divorce decree by utilizing the
incorrect method of calculation and by granting a survivor annuity that inures solely to
Julia’s benefit, with the cost allocated to both parties.
{¶35} The parties evaluated Gregory’s motion using the Civ.R. 60(B) standard,
as did the magistrate’s decision. Generally, this court refrains from considering issues
on appeal that the trial court has not first considered. However, in overruling Gregory’s
objections and supplementing the magistrate’s decision, the trial court evaluated his
claim that the COAP is inconsistent with the divorce decree and explicitly determined
the two documents do not conflict. Accordingly, we may review Gregory’s argument on
appeal that the COAP is void because it conflicts with the divorce decree. See e.g.,
Blaine, supra, at ¶18.
De Novo Review
{¶36} Whether a judgment is void is a question of law this court reviews de
novo. “Moreover, whether a QDRO conflicts with a separation agreement incorporated
into a dissolution or divorce decree presents a question of law that we review de novo.”
Blaine, supra, at ¶19 (citation omitted).
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{¶37} At the time of the divorce, the parties stipulated the present value of
Gregory’s FERS pension was $58,461.41 and that “the FERS shall be divided 50/50
with the court reserving jurisdiction to issue a QDRO if/when the law changes.” The
stipulations did not include any agreement or language regarding the method of
calculation to be used or a survivor annuity.
{¶38} In approving and executing these stipulations, the trial court ordered Julia
shall retain “one-half of FERS Pension by QDRO / approx. $29,230.71” and Gregory
shall retain “one-half of FERS Pension / approx. $29,230.71.” The divorce decree did
not include any language or instruction regarding the method of calculation to be used
or a survivor annuity.
Method of Calculation
{¶39} The COAP prepared by the QDRO Group assigns to Julia an amount
equal to fifty percent (50%) of the marital portion of Gregory’s monthly annuity,
determined as of Gregory’s date of retirement. The COAP orders the marital portion is
to be determined by multiplying Gregory’s monthly annuity by a fraction. The fraction is
the total number of months of creditable service earned by Gregory during the marriage,
divided by the total number of months of creditable service accrued by Gregory under
FERS.
{¶40} This method of calculation is referred to as “traditional coverture.”
[Under] the “traditional coverture” method, or percentage method, a
court determines the amount of money due the non-participant
spouse by using the value of the pension at retirement to determine
the ‘monthly accrued benefit.’ The court then multiples this monthly
accrued benefit by the traditional coverture fraction, which employs
a ‘ratio of the number of years of employment of the employed
spouse during the marriage to the total years of his or her
employment’ to arrive at the marital portion of the pension benefit.
The non-participant spouse then receives his or her percentage
share of that marital portion. By waiting and using the value of the
pension at retirement, this method awards the non-participant
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spouse any post-divorce increase in the value that is attributable to
the non-participant’s share. Accordingly, where the eventual,
matured monthly payments are greater, due to the participant
spouse’s working after the divorce, than if he or she had retired the
day of the divorce, then the non-participant’s monthly benefit would
be greater as well.
Cameron v. Cameron, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 12AP-349, 2012-Ohio-6258, ¶18 (internal
citations omitted), quoting Hoyt v. Hoyt, 53 Ohio St.3d 177, 182 (1990).
{¶41} Gregory contends, on the other hand, that the divorce decree actually
ordered division of his pension using the “frozen coverture” method.
Under the frozen coverture method, or dollar amount, the trial court
‘freezes’ the pension benefits at the amount in the account as of the
divorce date. Sometimes called the ‘hypothetical’ approach, it
calculates the value of the participant spouse’s retirement account
had he or she retired on the same day the parties divorced, using
the then-present base pay and years of service. Where the
participant spouse started working before the marriage, the court
can apply a coverture fraction to determine the marital portion of
the ‘frozen’ amount. It does so by dividing the number of years in
the plan while the parties were married by the total number of years
in the plan at the time of the divorce. * * * Under this approach, the
non-participant spouse receives no interest the account accrues
after that date.
Id. at ¶17, citing Reising v. Reising, 2d Dist. Clark No. 2010-CA 92, 2012-Ohio-1097,
¶24.
{¶42} The Sixth District case of Borton v. Borton, 6th Dist. Fulton No. F-10-003,
2011-Ohio-143, is similar to the facts at hand. There, “the divorce decree established
that the First Energy 401(k), ‘shall be divided equally between the parties on a 50/50
basis, and the parties stipulated a value of $102,000 as of May 6, 2003.’” Id. at ¶17.
Husband contended “that any amount in excess of $51,000 accrue solely to his benefit
and not be shared equally between the parties.” Id. The Borton Court held as follows:
We note simply that the divorce entry did not establish a cap or
maximum on the distribution to [Wife] from the 401(k) at $51,000.
Rather, it established that the total value at the stated date to be
$102,000 and that the plan be divided equally on a 50/50 basis. As
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such, any appreciation or depreciation occurring between that
valuation date and the payout date must be shared equally
between the parties to comport with the unambiguous order of a
50/50 split of the value of the account. To suggest otherwise
breaches the clear terms of the agreement.
Id. at ¶18.
{¶43} Similarly, here, the divorce decree unambiguously establishes the total
value of the FERS pension at the stated date and that the plan was to be divided on a
50/50 basis pursuant to a QDRO. As such, the COAP does not conflict with the divorce
decree by utilizing the “traditional coverture” method of calculating the marital portion of
Gregory’s monthly annuity as of the date of his retirement. Nor does it vary, diminish, or
enlarge the relief granted in the divorce decree. His argument to the contrary is not well
taken.
{¶44} Gregory’s argument would possibly have merit if the divorce decree had
ordered a one-half division of the FERS pension as of the date the marriage terminated.
See, e.g., Johnson v. McCarthy, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 17AP-655, 2019-Ohio-3489,
¶20 (citation omitted) (“Where a trial court awards a percentage of an unmatured
pension to a non-participant spouse as of the date a marriage terminates, the only
permissible method for determining the amount owed to the non-participant spouse is
the frozen coverture method.”); accord Cameron, supra, at ¶25 (recognizing courts have
held that, when a property award specifies a date certain for the division of an
unmatured pension, the frozen coverture method applies); Schetter v. Schetter, 2d Dist.
Clark No. 2010 CA 35, 2011-Ohio-246, ¶18 (wife was not entitled to benefits accrued
after the marriage was dissolved where the decree unambiguously stated she was
entitled to only one-half of the value that husband had accrued as of the date of the
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dissolution); Blaine, supra, at ¶21 (where the parties agreed to equally split the value of
the account with each party receiving a sum certain).
{¶45} But the decree at hand did not include any such limiting language, and it
must therefore be enforced as written. Further, “‘mere silence on an issue or a failure to
address it does not create an ambiguity where none otherwise exists.’” Cameron,
supra, at ¶27, quoting Pierron v. Pierron, 4th Dist. Scioto Nos. 07CA3153 & 07CA3159,
2008-Ohio-1286, ¶10. We conclude the COAP is not inconsistent with the divorce
decree as it pertains to the method of calculation.
Survivor Annuity
{¶46} With regard to the survivor annuity, we find two cases from our sister
districts analogous to the situation at hand: Adkins v. Bush, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2002-05-131, 2003-Ohio-2781, and Butcher v. Butcher, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.
95758, 2011-Ohio-2550.
{¶47} In Adkins, the parties’ separation agreement merely provided that Wife
was to receive one-half of Husband’s pension. Adkins, supra, at ¶4. Wife proposed a
QDRO to the trial court, without Husband’s signature, which granted her survivorship
benefits. Id. at ¶5-17. The Twelfth District noted that, “‘where there is no uncertainty,
but only an absence in the agreement of a provision about a particular matter, the court
must not construe as included something intended to be excluded nor make the
contract speak where it was silent.’” Id. at ¶27, quoting Sowald & Morganstern,
Domestic Relations Law (2002) 438, Section 9:48. The Adkins Court then concluded as
follows:
The issues presented in this case arise from the “minimalist
language” contained in the parties’ inartfully drafted separation
agreement. That agreement provides simply that Adkins is to
receive one-half of Bush’s pension through his employer. There is
nothing ambiguous about that clause. The QDRO proposed by
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Adkins and adopted by the trial court tried to ‘fill in the gaps’ * * * by
providing Adkins with survivorship benefits. However, these
provisions of the QDRO do not simply clarify or construe an
ambiguity in the parties’ separation agreement, but, instead, amend
or modify the agreement, which is not permitted. Accordingly, the
trial court erred by adopting Adkins’ proposed QDRO and placing it
of record without Bush’s signature.
Id. at ¶28 (internal citation omitted).
{¶48} The Eighth District relied on Adkins to reach the same result in Butcher.
There, the unambiguous language in the separation agreement provided that the parties
agreed to divide Husband’s retirement account equally. Butcher, supra, at ¶14. The
trial court approved a QDRO that provided Wife with early retirement supplements,
interim supplements, temporary benefits, and pre-retirement survivorship benefits,
absent any showing the parties intended Wife to share in those benefits. Id. at ¶23.
The Eighth District held that by “filling in the gaps” of the separation agreement, the trial
court did not simply clarify or construe an ambiguity; rather, it expanded and modified
the agreement, which is prohibited by R.C. 3105.171(I). Id. Accordingly, the appellate
court concluded that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to approve the QDRO, rendering it
void. Id.
{¶49} Similarly, here, the parties’ stipulations and the trial court’s divorce decree
did not include any agreement or order as to survivorship benefits from Gregory’s FERS
pension. Further, the unrebutted evidence at the trial on the motion to vacate was that
the parties did not intend for Julia to receive a survivor annuity and that Gregory never
reviewed or approved a COAP granting her that benefit.
{¶50} Julia asserts that Gregory’s argument ignores the testimony of Brian
Hogan, an expert witness from the QDRO Group, the company that prepared the
COAP. Mr. Hogan testified that FERS grants survivorship benefits as part of the
pension package. He further testified that if a pension division is silent as to those
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benefits, the QDRO Group’s and OPM’s default position is to grant the right of
survivorship to the alternate payee (i.e., the nonparticipant former spouse).
{¶51} There are cases where this default position may be appropriate. For
instance, in Redding, the Twelfth District held that the trial court was justified in
clarifying its original property division to allow a provision in the QDRO granting Wife
survivorship benefits, where the separation agreement provided for Wife to receive one-
half of Husband’s retirement benefits in such manner “as may be of benefit to her.”
Redding v. Redding, 12th Dist. Clinton No. CA99-06-015, 1999 WL 1238834, *3 (Dec.
20, 1999). Also, in Gordon, the Eighth District held that the trial court was justified in
reissuing a new QDRO to grant Wife survivorship rights because the court had used
those rights as part of the calculation of the parties’ shares of the marital estate.
Gordon v. Gordon, 144 Ohio App.3d 21, 25 (8th Dist.2001).
{¶52} Here, however, the trial court approved a COAP that “filled in the gaps” of
the silent divorce decree, absent any evidence that the parties intended Julia to receive
survivorship benefits from Gregory’s pension. Thus, the COAP expanded and modified
the divorce decree. The trial court was without jurisdiction to approve a COAP that
granted Julia survivorship benefits, rendering it void. Thus, it was also error to
apportion half the cost of providing the survivor annuity to Gregory.
Disposition
{¶53} We conclude that Gregory’s second assignment of error has merit to the
extent indicated. The trial court did not err in approving a COAP that utilized the
“traditional coverture” method of calculating Gregory’s monthly annuity. The trial court
did err, however, in approving a COAP that granted Julia a survivor annuity and in
apportioning half the cost to Gregory. Because this renders the COAP void, the
timeliness requirement of Civ.R. 60(B)(5) is irrelevant.
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{¶54} Under his first assignment of error, Gregory asserts he is entitled to relief
from the COAP because he was never given a chance to review it or to object to it,
which fundamentally denied him due process. This issue has been rendered moot by
our disposition of his second assignment of error, and it is overruled on that basis. See
App.R. 12(A)(1)(c) and State ex rel. Ford v. Ruehlman, 149 Ohio St.3d 34, 2016-Ohio-
3529, ¶55, quoting State v. Moore, 4th Dist. Adams No. 13CA987, 2015-Ohio-2090, ¶7
(“An issue is moot ‘when it has no practical significance and, instead, presents a
hypothetical or academic question.’”).
{¶55} The judgment of the Lake County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic
Relations Division, is affirmed in part and reversed in part. This cause is remanded to
the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
THOMAS R. WRIGHT, J.,
MATT LYNCH, J.,
concur.
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