Doubler v. Doubler , 2023 Ohio 393 ( 2023 )

[Cite as Doubler v. Doubler, 2023-Ohio-393.]
STATE OF OHIO ) IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
)ss: NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
COUNTY OF MEDINA )
AUDRA DOUBLER C.A. No. 22CA0002-M
Appellee
v. APPEAL FROM JUDGMENT
ENTERED IN THE
STEVEN G. DOUBLER COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
COUNTY OF MEDINA, OHIO
Appellant CASE No. 19DR0463
DECISION AND JOURNAL ENTRY
Dated: February 10, 2023
SUTTON, J.
{¶1} Defendant-Appellant Steven G. Doubler appeals the judgment of the Medina
County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, which granted him a divorce from
Plaintiff-Appellee, Audra G. Doubler, and ordered Mr. Doubler to pay spousal and child support.
For the reasons that follow, this Court affirms in part and reverses in part.
I.
{¶2} The parties were married on June 27, 2008, and had two minor children together:
A.D., born in May 2009, and P.D. born in August 2011. Ms. Doubler filed a complaint for divorce
on October 22, 2019. Along with her complaint for divorce, she filed a motion for exclusive
occupancy of the marital residence. Mr. Doubler filed an answer to the complaint, along with a
counterclaim for divorce, on November 15, 2019.
{¶3} On December 9, 2019, the parties reached a voluntary agreement with regard to
parenting time and occupancy of the marital residence. On January 22, 2020, the magistrate issued
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temporary orders ordering Mr. Doubler to pay child support to Ms. Doubler. The order did not
contain an award of spousal support to Ms. Doubler.
{¶4} A trial commenced on October 21, 2020. After taking testimony of the Guardian
ad Litem and three other witnesses, the parties recessed. The next day, on October 22, 2020, the
parties indicated on the record that they reached an agreement on some of the issues, and entered
into an agreed judgment entry of divorce, a shared parenting plan, and a separation agreement.
The only issues left to be resolved were spousal support and child support. The trial court issued
an order asking the parties to submit briefs on both issues and stated it would then issue a ruling
on the remaining issues.
{¶5} On April 28, 2021, the parties amended their separation agreement with respect to
the division of property and certain debts. The judgment entry of divorce, shared parenting plan,
and original separation agreement the parties entered into on October 22, 2020, were journalized
on May 28, 2021. The May 28, 2021 order also included the trial court’s rulings on spousal support
and child support.
{¶6} On June 30, 2021, Mr. Doubler filed a notice of appeal along with a motion to stay
the trial court’s enforcement of the May 28, 2021 order. This Court dismissed the appeal for lack
of a final and appealable order pursuant to Civ.R. 75(F).
{¶7} On remand, the trial court issued an order entitled “Final Judgment Entry Re: Child
Support and Spousal Support with Incorporations by Reference” on December 20, 2021. The trial
court subsequently issued a nunc pro tunc judgment entry on December 28, 2021, to correct an
oversight in the December 20, 2021 judgment entry. The child support worksheet was not attached
to the December 20, 2021 entry. The child support worksheet was attached to the December 28,
2021 judgment entry.
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{¶8} It is from that final entry that Mr. Doubler appeals, assigning fourteen errors for our
review. We have reordered and regrouped certain assignments of error to facilitate our analysis.
II.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO PROVIDE FOR A FINAL
APPEALABLE ORDER, AND THEREBY DIVESTING THIS
HONORABLE COURT WITH JURISDICTION.
{¶9} In his first assignment of error, Mr. Doubler argues the December 28, 2021 final
judgment entry is not a final and appealable order, thereby divesting this Court of jurisdiction. We
disagree.
{¶10} Civ.R. 75(F)(2) provides that a trial court: “shall not enter final judgment as to a
claim for divorce, *** unless ***: (2) Issues of property division, spousal support, and allocation
of parental rights and responsibilities or shared parenting have been finally determined in orders,
previously entered by the court, that are incorporated into the judgment[.]” (Emphasis added.)
{¶11} Here, the December 28, 2021 judgment entry states:
Pursuant to Civ.R. 75(F), the [c]ourt hereby incorporates by reference into
this Judgment Entry, as if fully rewritten herein, the agreed Judgment Entry
journalized April 21, 2021. Keith v. Keith, 9th Dist. Lorain No.
09CA009657, 2010-Ohio-1085 (domestic relations court is permitted to
issue separate decisions upon various issues, so long as the determinations
are incorporated into one final judgment per Civil Rule 75(F)(2)). The
[c]ourt further incorporates by reference into this Judgment Entry as if fully
rewritten herein, the Judgment Entry of Divorce, Separation Agreement and
Shared Parenting Plan, which were journalized May 28, 2021.
The record shows the trial court’s final judgment entry included sufficient incorporation by
reference language to incorporate the judgment entry of divorce, the separation agreement, and the
shared parenting plan to make the order a final and appealable order. As the trial court correctly
noted, “a domestic court is permitted to issue separate decisions upon various issues, these
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determinations must all be incorporated into one final judgment.” Keith at ¶ 6. We note that this
incorporation language included in the December 28, 2021 judgment entry was not included in the
May 28, 2021 judgment entry that formed the basis for Mr. Doubler’s first appeal.
{¶12} Mr. Doubler’s first assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR II
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DETERMINING THE PARTIES’
RESPECTIVE INCOME FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING AN
APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLE SUPPORT OBLIGATION[].
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR V
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT CONSIDERING THE
APPLICABLE R.C. 3105.18(C)(1) FACTORS COLLECTIVELY
REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING THE
APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLENESS OF AN AMOUNT AWARDED
FOR SPOUSAL SUPPORT.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR VI
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT CONSIDERING THE
APPLICABLE R.C. 3105.18(C)(1) FACTORS COLLECTIVELY
REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING THE
APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLE DURATION OF A SPOUSAL
SUPPORT AWARD.
{¶13} In his second, fifth, and sixth assignments of error, Mr. Doubler argues the trial
court erred in determining the parties’ income for the purposes of calculating spousal support. For
the reasons that follow, we agree.
{¶14} “This Court reviews a trial court's award of spousal support under an abuse of
discretion standard.” Krone v. Krone, 9th Dist. Summit No. 25450, 2011-Ohio-3196, ¶ 8; see also
Brubaker v. Brubaker, 9th Dist. Summit No. 22821, 2006-Ohio-1035, ¶ 7, citing Pauly v. Pauly,
80 Ohio St.3d 386, 390 (1997); Booth v. Booth, 44 Ohio St.3d 142, 144 (1989). An abuse of
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discretion is more than an error of judgment; it means that the trial court was unreasonable,
arbitrary or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219 (1983).
{¶15} R.C. 3105.18(C)(1) states:
In determining whether spousal support is appropriate and reasonable, and in
determining the nature, amount, and terms of payment, and duration of spousal
support, which is payable either in gross or in installments, the court shall consider
all of the following factors:
(a) The income of the parties, from all sources, including, but not limited to, income
derived from property divided, disbursed, or distributed under section 3105.171 of
the Revised Code;
(b) The relative earning abilities of the parties;
(c) The ages and the physical, mental, and emotional conditions of the parties;
(d) The retirement benefits of the parties;
(e) The duration of the marriage;
(f) The extent to which it would be inappropriate for a party, because that party will
be custodian of a minor child of the marriage, to seek employment outside the
home;
(g) The standard of living of the parties established during the marriage;
(h) The relative extent of education of the parties;
(i) The relative assets and liabilities of the parties, including but not limited to any
court-ordered payments by the parties;
(j) The contribution of each party to the education, training, or earning ability of
the other party, including, but not limited to, any party's contribution to the
acquisition of a professional degree of the other party;
(k) The time and expense necessary for the spouse who is seeking spousal support
to acquire education, training, or job experience so that the spouse will be qualified
to obtain appropriate employment, provided the education, training, or job
experience, and employment is, in fact, sought;
(l) The tax consequences, for each party, of an award of spousal support;
(m) The lost income production capacity of either party that resulted from that
party's marital responsibilities;
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(n) Any other factor that the court expressly finds to be relevant and equitable.
(Emphasis added.)
{¶16} The record shows the trial court, in its final judgment entry, considered all of the
factors under R.C. 3105.18(C)(1)(a-n). However, R.C. 3105.18(C)(1)(a), requires that the trial
court “shall consider *** the income of the parties, from all sources[.]” (Emphasis added.) The
record shows the trial court erred and did not consider all sources of Ms. Doubler’s income.
{¶17} After reaching an agreement on the shared parenting plan and separation
agreement, the trial court asked the parties to brief the issue of spousal support. In Ms. Doubler’s
brief, she stated that her “earnings from her three positions total $42,362.84 per year.” Her brief
stated that she earned $36,400 at her full-time job, plus she also maintained part-time jobs at Select
Employment Services and Medina Hospital that constituted the additional income. In its final
judgment entry, the trial court wrote: “[Ms. Doubler] is employed and earns $36,400 annually.”
This statement by the trial court is incorrect and not reflective of the record.
{¶18} With regard to the calculation of Mr. Doubler’s income, in his brief to the trial
court, he stated: “[i]n the summer of 2020, Husband was drowning in debt and took a once in a
life job opportunity earning $100,000 per year. He earns an additional $6,127.31 in the Air Force
Reserves.” Despite being aware that his new job did not start until the summer of 2020, the trial
court used Mr. Doubler’s annual salary at his new position as it’s calculation for the entire year,
even though Mr. Doubler did not earn that amount. He only held that position for approximately
the last half of the year, and the trial court did not consider his income from his prior employer for
the first half of the year. Therefore, the trial court incorrectly considered the sources of Mr.
Doubler’s income for 2020.
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{¶19} This Court has previously held that a failure to consider income from all sources,
pursuant to R.C. 3105.18(C)(1)(a), constituted an abuse of discretion. C.S. v. M.S., 9th Dist.
Summit No. 29070, 2019-Ohio-1876, ¶ 12-13 (A trial court’s exclusion of bonus income from
spousal support calculation constituted an abuse of discretion because the trial court failed to
consider income from all sources.). This Court concludes, therefore, because the trial court did
not consider all sources of Ms. Doubler’s income, this constituted an abuse of discretion.
{¶20} Mr. Doubler’s second, fifth, and sixth assignments of error are sustained.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR III
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY INCORRECTLY DETERMINING THE
PARTIES’ RESPECTIVE INCOME WHEN CALCULATING THE CHILD
SUPPORT OBLIGATION.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR VIII
THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO APPROPRIATELY CREDIT AND/OR
OTHERWISE INCLUDE THE SPOUSAL SUPPORT
AWARD/OBLIGATION WITHIN THE CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES.
{¶21} In his third and eighth assignments of error, Mr. Doubler argues the trial court erred
in calculating the parties’ income when calculating child support. For the reasons that follow, we
agree.
{¶22} “[A] trial court’s decision regarding child support obligations falls within the
discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed absent a showing of an abuse of discretion.”
Berthelot v. Berthelot, 9th Dist. Summit No. 21345, 2003-Ohio-4519, ¶ 6, quoting Pauly, supra,
citing Booth, supra. An abuse of discretion is more than an error of judgment but instead connotes
a decision that is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore, supra. When applying
the abuse of discretion standard, an appellate court may not substitute its judgment for that of the
trial court. Berk v. Matthews, 53 Ohio St.3d 161, 169 (1990).
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{¶23} R.C. 3119.05(B) provides, “[w]hen a court computes the amount of child support
required to be paid under a court child support order [,] * * * the amount of any court-ordered
spousal support actually paid shall be deducted from the gross income of that parent to the extent
that payment under the child support order or that payment of the court-ordered spousal support is
verified by supporting documentation.” (Emphasis added.) The child support worksheet includes
a line (line 10) to account for such deduction. Moreover, gross income, for purposes of calculating
child support, and as defined in R.C. 3119.01(C)(7), includes “spousal support actually received
[.]” R.C. 3119.01(C)(7).
{¶24} Here, the child support worksheet does not include a deduction for the payment of
spousal support to the income of Mr. Doubler and does not include a credit to the income of Ms.
Doubler for spousal support received. This Court has held that a trial court’s failure to credit as
income spousal support paid to an obligee and deduct spousal support from an obligor on a child
support worksheet constitutes an error by the trial court. See Foy v. Foy, 9th Dist. Medina No.
14CA0113-M, 2016-Ohio-242, ¶ 23 (“[W]e conclude that the trial court erred in failing [to]
include as income to Ms. Foy the $750 per month payment and erred in failing to deduct from Mr.
Foy’s income the same payment.”) Therefore, Mr. Doubler’s arguments that the trial court erred
when calculating the parties’ income when determining the child support obligation are well taken.
{¶25} Mr. Doubler’s third and eighth assignments of error are sustained.
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ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR IV
THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED [MR. DOUBLER]’S DUE PROCESS BY
RETROACTIVELY MODIFYING A TEMPORARY SUPPORT
OBLIGATION.
{¶26} In his fourth assignment of error, Mr. Doubler argues that the trial court erred by
retroactively modifying both his spousal support and child support obligations. For the reasons
that follow, we disagree.
{¶27} A review of the record shows that no support was ever retroactively modified by
the trial court, and Mr. Doubler incorrectly characterizes the final judgment entry on appeal. The
record shows that no temporary spousal support obligation was ever ordered by the trial court. Ms.
Doubler’s first motion for temporary orders included a request for spousal support, but she later
withdrew that request before the trial court ordered any spousal support. Further, when the trial
court did order spousal support in the final judgment entry, it did so “effective the date of this
[j]udgment [e]ntry[.]” Additionally, while the trial court did issue a temporary order for child
support, the final judgment entry clearly states that the new child support order is effective October
22, 2020, and did not contain any retroactive modification of Mr. Doubler’s child support
obligation.
{¶28} Mr. Doubler’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR VII
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT CONSIDERING THE
TEMPORARY SUPPORT ORDERS PAID DURING THE TWO (2) YEARS
THAT THIS MATTER WAS PENDING WHEN DETERMINING AN
APPROPRIATE AND REASONABLE []DURATION OF A SPOUSAL
SUPPORT AWARD.
{¶29} In his seventh assignment of error, Mr. Doubler argues the trial court erred in not
considering the temporary spousal support paid during the pendency of the case.
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{¶30} A review of the record shows that the trial court did not order any temporary support
during the pendency of this matter. The trial court awarded Ms. Doubler child support, but never
ordered Mr. Doubler to pay spousal support to Ms. Doubler. Because the record indicates that no
orders for temporary spousal support were issued during the pendency of this matter, Mr.
Doubler’s argument is without factual basis.
{¶31} Mr. Doubler’s seventh assignment of error is overruled.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR IX
THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO ADHERE TO THE MANDATORY
REQUIREMENTS OF R.C. 3119.051(A) AND 3119.231(A).
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR X
THE TRIAL COURT FAILED TO ADHERE TO THE
MANDATORY FINDINGS OF R.C. 3119.231(B).
{¶32} In his ninth and tenth assignments of error, Mr. Doubler argues that the trial court
erred in both failing to provide him with his statutorily entitled automatic deviation, and also failing
to provide the facts that formed the basis for the trial court’s failure to grant him a deviation when
his overnights exceeded 147 overnights per year. For the reasons that follow, we agree.
{¶33} R.C. 3119.051(A) states:
Except as otherwise provided in this section, a court or child support enforcement
agency calculating the amount to be paid under a child support order shall reduce
by ten per cent the amount of the annual individual support obligation for the parent
or parents when a court has issued or is issuing a court-ordered parenting time order
that equals or exceeds ninety overnights per year. This reduction may be in addition
to the other deviations and reductions.
(Emphasis added.)
{¶34} R.C. 3119.231 states:
(A) If court-ordered parenting time exceeds ninety overnights per year, the court
shall consider whether to grant a deviation pursuant to section 3119.22 of the
Revised Code for the reason set forth in division (C) of section 3119.23 of the
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Revised Code. This deviation is in addition to any adjustments provided under
division (A) of section 3119.051 of the Revised Code.
(B) If court-ordered parenting time is equal to or exceeds one hundred forty-seven
overnights per year, and the court does not grant a deviation under division (A) of
this section, it shall specify in the order the facts that are the basis for the court’s
decision.
{¶35} Here, the record shows the parties agreed to a shared parenting plan where parents
shared custody on a week on, week off basis. Therefore, Mr. Doubler’s overnights with his
children exceeded 147 overnights per year. The record also indicates that the trial court failed to
grant Mr. Doubler the automatic ten percent reduction he was entitled to pursuant to R.C.
3119.051(A). Further, the record shows the trial court did not grant Mr. Doubler a deviation under
R.C. 3119.231(A) and did not in the final order state facts that formed the trial court’s basis for
the decision not to grant Mr. Doubler a deviation. Therefore, Mr. Doubler’s arguments with
respect to his ninth and tenth assignments of error are well taken.
{¶36} Mr. Doubler’s ninth and tenth assignments of error are sustained.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR XI
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT DEVIATING FORM THE CHILD
SUPPORT GUIDELINES IN ACCORDANCE WITH R.C. 3119.22.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR XII
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT PROPERLY CONSIDERING THE
DEVIATION FACTORS SET FORTH WITHIN R.C. 3119.23.
{¶37} In his eleventh and twelfth assignments of error, Mr. Doubler argues the trial court
erred by not granting a deviation pursuant to R.C. 3119.22 after considering the factors enumerated
in R.C. 3119.23. Because our resolution of the third, eighth, ninth, and tenth assignments of error
necessitates that the trial court revisit its calculation of child support, consideration of the eleventh
and twelfth assignments of error are rendered premature, and as such we decline to address them.
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ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR XIII
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT PROPERLY RECOGNIZING THE
PARENT PROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE IN CONTRAST TO THE
MANDATES SET FORTH WITHIN R.C. 3119.30.
{¶38} In his thirteenth assignment of error, Mr. Doubler argues the trial court erred in
designating Ms. Doubler the health insurance obligor. For the reasons that follow, we disagree.
{¶39} R.C. 3119.30(B) states: “[t]he child support obligee is rebuttably presumed to be
the appropriate parent to provide health insurance coverage for the children subject to the child
support order.” (Emphasis added.)
{¶40} Here, Mr. Doubler did not make an argument in his brief to the trial court on spousal
and child support that he should be the one to continue to provide health insurance. His brief to
the trial court merely states: “[Mr. Doubler] pays for the health insurance and each party provided
their own childcare.” He did not make any arguments to rebut the presumption that Ms. Doubler
should be the party to provide health insurance for the children and is raising the issue for the first
time on appeal. “[A] litigant’s failure to raise an issue in the trial court waives the litigant’s right
to raise that issue on appeal.” Shover v. Cordis Corp., 61 Ohio St.3d 213, 220 (1991), overruled
on other grounds in Collins v. Sotka, 81 Ohio St.3d 506 (1998). Therefore, the trial court did not
err in utilizing the presumption that Ms. Doubler would be the appropriate parent to provide health
insurance coverage and designating Ms. Doubler the health insurance obligor.
{¶41} Mr. Doubler’s thirteenth assignment of error is overruled.
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ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR XIV
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ORDERING MORE CHILD SUPPORT
AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT THAN REQUESTED BY THE SUPPORT
OBLIGEE ([MS. DOUBLER]).
{¶42} In his fourteenth assignment of error, Mr. Doubler argues the trial court erred in
granting Ms. Doubler more spousal support and child support than she requested in her brief to the
trial court on the issue. Because our resolution of the second, third, fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, and
tenth assignments of error necessitates that the trial court revisit its calculation of spousal support
and child support, consideration of the fourteenth assignment of error is rendered premature, and
as such we decline to address it.
III.
{¶43} Mr. Doubler’s second, third, fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, and tenth assignments of
error are sustained. His first, fourth, seventh, and thirteenth assignments of error are overruled.
This Court declines to address his eleventh, twelfth, and fourteenth assignments of error as they
have been rendered premature. The judgment of the Medina County Court of Common Pleas,
Domestic Relations Division, is affirmed in part and reversed in part and this matter is remanded
for further proceedings consistent with this decision.
Judgment affirmed in part,
reversed in part,
and cause remanded.
There were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
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We order that a special mandate issue out of this Court, directing the Court of Common
Pleas, County of Medina, State of Ohio, to carry this judgment into execution. A certified copy of
this journal entry shall constitute the mandate, pursuant to App.R. 27.
Immediately upon the filing hereof, this document shall constitute the journal entry of
judgment, and it shall be file stamped by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals at which time the period
for review shall begin to run. App.R. 22(C). The Clerk of the Court of Appeals is instructed to
mail a notice of entry of this judgment to the parties and to make a notation of the mailing in the
docket, pursuant to App.R. 30.
Costs taxed equally to both parties.
BETTY SUTTON
FOR THE COURT
CALLAHAN, J.
CONCURS.
CARR, P. J.
CONCURRING IN JUDGMENT ONLY.
{¶44} I concur that this Court has jurisdiction under Assignment of Error I and concur
with reversing and remanding the issues of child support and spousal support. I would find the
remaining assignments of error moot as all the issues are intertwined with the proper calculation
of income and award of spousal and child support.
{¶45} I concur in judgment only.
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APPEARANCES:
RICHARD J. STAHL, III and EDWARD R. JANSEN, Attorneys at Law, for Appellant.
KRISTOPHER AUPPERLE, Attorney at Law, for Appellee.