Shahnaz M. Ahmed v. Syed M. Ahmed ( 2004 )

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Judges Annunziata, Kelsey and Senior Judge Overton
Argued at Salem, Virginia
SHAHNAZ M. AHMED
v. Record No. 0256-04-3
SYED A. AHMED MEMORANDUM OPINION* BY
JUDGE NELSON T. OVERTON
SYED M. AHMED OCTOBER 12, 2004
v. Record No. 0269-04-3
SHAHNAZ A. AHMED
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF DANVILLE
William N. Alexander, II, Judge
Ronald S. Evans (Lawrence D. Diehl; Betsy H. Phillips, on briefs),
for Shahnaz M. Ahmed.
Richard L. Locke (Robert W. Partin; Locke & Partin, PLC, on
briefs), for Syed A. Ahmed.
Shahnaz M. Ahmed (wife) and Syed A. Ahmed (husband) appeal from a final decree of
divorce entered December 31, 2003. On appeal, husband contends the trial court erred by (1)
ruling he failed to establish that the parties’ separation agreement “was unconscionable or
entered into under fraud or duress,” (2) “finding that there was no reconciliation between the
parties and interpreting/effectuating the Agreement based on that erroneous finding,” (3) finding
wife had an interest in husband’s medical practice, (4) determining wife’s interest in the former
marital residence, (5) awarding attorney fees to wife, and (6) reinstating the prior divorce case
*
Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
“after the parties reconciled and dismissed the case by an agreed order.” Husband also seeks
attorney’s fees and costs relating to these appeals.
Wife contends the trial court erred by ruling (1) certain assets were husband’s separate
property and were not to be divided according to the parties’ written separation agreement, (2)
the London apartment was husband’s separate property and was not purchased using marital
funds, and (3) “the attempted reconciliation . . . eliminated [husband’s] obligations to the
children for their educational costs . . . .” She also seeks attorney’s fees and costs related to these
appeals.
For the following reasons, we affirm the trial court’s rulings.
BACKGROUND
The parties married on November 22, 1974. Four children were born of the marriage, all of
whom were emancipated at the time of the entry of the final decree of divorce. The parties
separated in the fall of 1999, and wife filed a bill of complaint seeking a divorce from husband on
October 19, 1999. On March 8, 2000, the parties entered into a “marital agreement and stipulation”
purporting to “adjust and settle” their “rights and obligations.” In June 2000, the parties resumed
cohabiting and lived together until September 2001, at which time they separated permanently.
In a July 19, 2000 consent order, the court “affirmed, ratified and incorporated, but not
merged, by reference” pursuant to Code § 20-109.1, the parties’ marital agreement. On January 11,
2001, by agreement of the parties, the court removed wife’s case from its active docket. Following
the execution of the marital agreement, the parties implemented many portions of it, by, for
example, transferring the deed of the marital residence to wife, dividing certain jointly held
accounts, and transferring or selling a part of husband’s medical practice.
On September 17, 2002, husband filed a bill of complaint seeking a divorce from wife. In
his bill of complaint, husband acknowledged the execution of the marital agreement, its previous
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incorporation in wife’s case, and he requested that the terms of the agreement “be implemented to
the extent not previously implemented by the parties.”
On October 10, 2002, husband filed an amended bill of complaint asserting the marital
agreement was void as being unconscionable, that wife had failed to disclose significant marital
assets, that the agreement was executed under duress, and that a fraud had been perpetrated in its
procurement based upon an alleged reliance on a reconciliation between the parties.
On October 30, 2002, wife filed a petition to reinstate her case “in order to enter such orders
as are necessary to complete the divorce action between the parties and to complete the effectuation
and enforcement of the parties’ written agreement dated March 8, 2000 . . . .”
At a July 22, 2003 hearing, the court heard evidence on the validity of the agreement. At the
conclusion of the hearing, the court granted wife’s motion to strike, finding the agreement valid. On
November 25, 2003, the court heard evidence on the issue of the interpretation of the agreement. In
its December 31, 2003 final decree, the court consolidated the two cases and granted wife a divorce
from husband.
ANALYSIS
Validity of the Agreement
“[M]arital property settlements entered into by competent
parties upon valid consideration for lawful purposes are favored in
the law and such will be enforced unless their illegality is clear and
certain.” Cooley v. Cooley, 220 Va. 749, 752, 263 S.E.2d 49, 52
(1980) (citation omitted); Derby v. Derby, 8 Va. App. 19, 25, 378
S.E.2d 74, 77 (1989). Therefore, in this case, [husband] “had the
burden at trial to prove by clear and convincing evidence the
grounds alleged to void or rescind the agreement.” Drewry v.
Drewry, 8 Va. App. 460, 463, 383 S.E.2d 12, 12 (1989).
Webb v. Webb, 16 Va. App. 486, 491, 431 S.E.2d 55, 59 (1993).
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Husband asserts the trial court should have set aside the agreement as unconscionable.
[U]nconscionability is more concerned with the intrinsic fairness
of the terms of the agreement in relation to all attendant
circumstances, including the relationship and duties between the
parties. A party may be free of fraud but guilty of overreaching or
oppressive conduct in securing an agreement which is so patently
unfair that courts of equity may refuse to enforce it.
Derby, 8 Va. App. at 28, 378 S.E.2d at 78. However, “[c]ourts cannot relieve one of the
consequences of a contract merely because it was unwise.” Owens v. Owens, 196 Va. 966, 974,
86 S.E.2d 181, 186 (1955). Appellant asserts the distribution of assets as outlined in the agreement
is grossly disproportionate as wife received approximately seventy percent of the marital estate.
Husband represents that wife received approximately $12,000,000 more of the estate than he did.
The agreement itself provides:
WHEREAS this Agreement is entered into voluntarily,
without duress or coercion, for valuable consideration, after due
and considered deliberation, no representations of fact or otherwise
having been made by either party to the other except as herein
expressly set forth, and each party considers the terms of this
Agreement and Stipulation to be fair and equitable and not
unconscionable.
The record reveals the agreement was negotiated between the parties over a period of several
months while they were both represented by counsel. Husband’s counsel was present when
husband signed the agreement. The record reveals husband was experienced with managing his
wealth. He states the “value [of the assets] was increased through [his] efforts.” He was aware
of the extent of his wealth, was counseled during the negotiation of the contract, understood the
terms of the agreement, and voluntarily executed the contract.
Husband’s assertions that he was misled by wife’s representations that she would not
seek to enforce the agreement are belied by his initial request, in his original bill of complaint,
following the parties’ failed reconciliation attempt, for the court to enforce the martial
agreement. Additionally, in July 2000 husband agreed to have the court affirm, ratify and
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incorporate the agreement in the case initiated by wife. He also willingly began executing the
agreement by dividing and re-titling property pursuant to its terms.
The agreement specifically, provides it “contains the entire understanding of the parties,
and there are no representations, warranties, covenants, or understanding other than those
expressly set forth herein.” Husband’s supposed reliance on alleged representations by wife that
are not included in the agreement is not supported by the record; particularly the pre-agreement
correspondence between the parties’ counsel.
Husband introduced the testimony of Dr. Lynn Carson Blackwood, Jr., a clinical
psychologist. Blackwood examined husband and concluded husband’s cognitive functions were
impaired when the parties signed the marital agreement. The trial court “was not impressed at all
with Blackwood’s testimony,” and found “the weight to be given to [the testimony] is nil.” “The
credibility of the witnesses and the weight accorded the evidence are matters solely for the fact
finder who has the opportunity to see and hear that evidence as it is presented.” Sandoval v.
Commonwealth, 20 Va. App. 133, 138, 455 S.E.2d 730, 732 (1995).
Husband’s former counsel testified he advised husband throughout the negotiations of the
agreement and repeatedly counseled husband not to sign the agreement. On February 28, 2000,
husband signed a letter drafted by his counsel stating he understood that “when the Agreement is
executed it will be binding on [him], and there are no assurances whatsoever that [wife] will
reconcile with [him].”
The evidence failed to establish that wife coerced husband into signing the agreement.
Husband was repeatedly advised not to sign the document and acknowledged understanding wife
was not obligated to reconcile. The record, thus, supports the trial court’s finding that the
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agreement constituted a valid contract and was one entered into freely and voluntarily by both
husband and wife.1
Reconciliation
The marital agreement provides in Section 6.3 as follows:
Effect of Reconciliation. In the event of reconciliation and
resumption of the marital relationship between the parties, the
provisions of this agreement for settlement of property rights,
spousal support, debt payments and all other provisions not
relating to their children, shall nevertheless continue in full force
and effect without abatement of any term or provision hereof,
except as otherwise provided by written agreement duly executed
by each of the parties after the date of the reconciliation.
(Emphasis added.)
The agreement also provides in Section 2.2(A), concerning the marital residence, in
pertinent part:
As to said marital residence, the parties agree that Wife
shall have the sole use and possession of the residence, and any
future occupancy thereof by Husband shall be at the sole authority
and discretion of Wife. Should Husband resume his occupancy of
said residence with Wife’s consent, whether in the nature of a
reconciliation or a mere cohabitant without reconciliation, Wife
shall continue to have the sole authority, at her sole discretion, to
require Husband to immediately vacate the residence and upon
such demand by Wife, Husband shall be required to vacate the said
residence within a week.
The parties further agree that in the event a reconciliation
does not occur between the parties, and a final division of the
1
We note that at the conclusion of the hearing, wife’s counsel moved the court to strike
the evidence. It appears from the record that the court addressed the probative weight of the
evidence and issued a ruling on the merits, rather than employ the standard governing motions to
strike. See Central Virginia Obstetrics v. Whitfield, 42 Va. App. 264, 281 n.7, 590 S.E.2d 631,
637 n. 7 (2004) (observing that, when presented with a motion to strike, the only issue is whether
“the plaintiff has not made out a prima facie case,” and thus, “the judge does not ask whether he
personally believes that the evidence rises to a preponderance — rather, he asks whether the
conclusion the plaintiff draws from the evidence would so ‘defy logic and common sense’ that
no rational factfinder could adopt it”). Husband does not challenge the court’s action, and we
find no error in the trial court’s converting a motion to strike to a decision on the merits, in the
context of a bench trial.
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marital assets is implemented, that Wife shall have the right to
retain the marital residence as her sole and separate property
subject to Husband’s right to receive a 30 percent share of the fair
market value of the marital residence.
(Emphasis added.) Similarly, Section 2.7, addressing husband’s medical practice provides, in part,
that
[i]n the event a reconciliation does not occur, the Wife shall be
entitled to an award of 70% of the value of the Husband’s medical
practice known as Danville Cardiology center . . . . The parties
agree that they shall defer any division of said medical practice and
its valuation, but in the event of any future divorce being entered
into between the parties, that Wife shall be entitled to a monetary
award in the amount of 70% of the fair market value of the said
medical practice, or any additional or successor practice in which
the Husband had an interest at the time of the divorce.
(Emphasis added.)
Husband argues the parties “reconciled” and that wife was therefore not entitled to seventy
percent of the value of the marital residence or seventy percent of the value of husband’s medical
practice. The trial court concluded that husband and wife “attempted” to reconcile, but that the
attempt failed, that the reconciliation was not permanent, and therefore the limiting provisions in the
two noted subsections did not take effect. We agree with the trial court’s interpretation of the
contract.
While the court “should not undertake to construe away the plain letter of a contract,”
Seward v. American Hardware Co., 161 Va. 610, 625, 171 S.E. 650, 659 (1933), where the
language of a contract is susceptible of more than one construction, it is the duty of the court to
construe the language of the agreement, pursuant to established rules of construction. Great Falls
Hardware Co. of Reston v. South Lakes Village Ctr. Associates, 238 Va. 123, 125-26, 380
S.E.2d 642, 643 (1989). In construing a contract the intention of the parties must be ascertained
from the entire instrument, as expressed in or fairly implied in the writing. Bott v. N.
Snellenburg & Co., 177 Va. 331, 338, 14 S.E.2d 372, 374 (1941). All the provisions of a
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contract shall be taken into consideration and reconciled, if possible, so that the true intent of the
parties to the contract may be ascertained. Id. at 339, 14 S.E.2d at 374; Justice v. Stuyvesant Ins.
Co., 265 F. Supp. 63, 65 (S.D. W.Va. 1967) (“A desire to effectuate the intentions of the parties
creates the necessity of looking to the constituent elements of the contract, elucidating one by the
other and reconciling them, if practicable, to one common intent or design present to the minds
of the contracting parties.”). “It is a well-recognized principle that a contract should be
construed as a whole, thereby gathering meaning from its entirety and not from particular words,
phrases or clauses.” Northern Virginia Sav. & Loan Ass’n v. J.B. Kendall Co., 205 Va. 136,
142, 135 S.E.2d 178, 183 (1964); see also Roanoke Marble & Granite Co. v. Standard Gas & Oil
Supply Co., 155 Va. 249, 254, 154 S.E. 518, 520 (1930).
“In reconciling . . . provisions, any apparent inconsistency between a clause that is
general and broadly inclusive in character, and a clause that is more specific in character, should
be resolved in favor of the latter.” Chantilly Constr. Corp. v. Commonwealth, 6 Va. App. 282,
294, 369 S.E.2d 438, 445 (1988); see also Bott, 177 Va. at 339, 14 S.E.2d at 374-75 (“[W]here
there is a repugnancy, a general provision in a contract must give way to a special one covering
the same ground.”). In construing contract documents as a whole, the court will not treat any
word or clause as meaningless if any reasonable interpretation consistent with the other portions
of the contract can be ascribed to it. The contract must be construed so as to give effect to every
part of it, as parties are not presumed to have included a provision of no effect. Ross v. Craw,
231 Va. 206, 214, 343 S.E.2d 312, 317 (1986); see also First Am. Bank of Virginia v. J.S.C.
Concrete Constr., Inc., 259 Va. 60, 69, 523 S.E.2d 496, 501 (2000). Thus, “when two provisions
of a contract appear to be mutually conflicting, they should be reconciled if a reasonable basis
for reconciliation is afforded by the instrument’s language.” First Am. Bank, 259 Va. at 69, 523
S.E.2d at 501.
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Section 6.3 of the agreement provides that, unless otherwise provided in a “written
agreement duly executed by each of the parties after the date of the reconciliation,” the
provisions of the agreement shall continue in full force. The specific provisions of Sections
2.2(A) and 2.7 were not executed after the date of the purported reconciliation. Instead, the
provisions were added to the original agreement prior to its execution by the parties before the
attempted reconciliation.
Read together, the plain language of the contract envisions a successful reconciliation in
order to trigger the limiting provisions added to the two sections. Section 2.2(A) allows for the
possibility that the parties could cohabit “without reconciliation” and, in the second quoted
paragraph, contemplates the seventy-thirty division of the property in the event “a final division of
the marital assets is implemented” and a reconciliation does not take place. Indeed, when the
reconciliation attempt failed, the parties sought a final division of the martial assets. Likewise,
Section 2.7 of the agreement references “any future divorce being entered into between the
parties,” and provides wife with seventy percent of the value of husband’s existing medical
practice “or any additional or successor practice in which the Husband had an interest at the time
of the divorce.” The parties clearly contemplated a permanent reconciliation in order to activate
the limiting provisions.
Instead, the parties’ period of cohabitation was “a mere conditional, experimental, and
temporary living together of the parties, without any intention to abandon the agreement . . . .”
Barnes v. American Fertilizer Co., 144 Va. 692, 724, 130 S.E. 902, 912 (1925). See Smith v.
Smith, 19 Va. App. 155, 156, 449 S.E.2d 506, 506 (1994) (finding a nine-month period of
cohabitation following a separation of the parties was merely an “unsuccessful reconciliation
attempt”). We find no error in the trial court’s interpretation of the contract provisions
concerning reconciliation.
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Reinstatement of Wife’s Case
Husband argues the trial court erred by reinstating wife’s original divorce action.
In any suit which has been stricken from the docket, and in
which complete relief has not been obtained, upon the motion or
application of either party to the original proceedings, the same
shall be reinstated upon the docket for such purposes as may be
necessary to grant full relief to all parties.
Code § 20-121.1.
Husband cites no support for his contention that “Code § 20-121.1 does not provide grounds
for reinstatement” of wife’s case. He asserts the attempted reconciliation between the parties
eliminated “any cause of action that might have otherwise existed as set forth” in wife’s bill of
complaint.
As part of the Qualified Domestic Relations Order entered January 11, 2001, wife’s case
was “removed from the active docket of th[e] Court and placed among the ended causes herein.”
Because “complete relief ha[d] not been obtained” in the case, as the order did not address all the
issues raised in the bill of complaint, the trial court permissibly reinstated wife’s case pursuant to
Code § 20-121.1.
Attorney’s Fees Award
Husband argues the trial court erred by awarding wife attorney’s fees following his
challenge to the validity of the marital agreement.
The agreement states:
5.2 Attorney’s Fees. Each party agrees to pay their own attorney’s
fees incurred by themselves in connection with the preparation of
this Agreement and for any action for divorce a vinculo matrimonii
in accordance with Paragraph 5.1 of this Agreement. The parties
further agree that in the event either party defaults under the
provisions of this Agreement, the defaulting party shall be liable
for all expenses incurred by the non-defaulting party in connection
with the enforcement of this Agreement, including, but not limited
to all legal fees, court costs, and travel expenses.
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“The noun ‘default’ is defined as a ‘failure to do something required by duty or law.’”
Clevert v. Soden, Inc., 241 Va. 108, 111, 400 S.E.2d 181, 183 (1991) (quoting Webster’s Third
New International Dictionary 590 (1986)) (holding that breach in performing contract would be
default). The agreement contained provisions averring that: (a) the parties were represented by
counsel; (b) they entered the agreement “voluntarily, without duress or coercion, for valuable
consideration, after due and considered deliberation”; and (c) “no representations of fact or
otherwise having been made by either party to the other . . . each party considers the terms of this
Agreement and Stipulation to be fair and equitable and not unconscionable.” Moreover, Section
5.1 of the agreement requires each party to agree “to petition the Court to affirm, ratify and
incorporate the provision of this Agreement,” if a final decree of divorce is awarded to either party.
Despite affixing his signature to the agreement which contained the above-mentioned
representations, husband alleged that the signed agreement was unconscionable and is not a
valid, proper and fair agreement. Thus, he attempted to have the contractual provisions voided,
thereby requiring wife to obtain legal assistance to enforce the contractual provisions. Therefore,
the trial court did not err in finding husband in default in fulfilling his obligations pursuant to the
agreement and in awarding attorney’s fees.
Husband’s Separate Property
Wife argues the trial court erred by “ruling that assets listed in the revised Exhibit A . . .
were the separate property of” husband and “ruling that the London apartment was the separate
property of [husband] and was not purchased from marital funds.”
Section 2.6 of the agreement states, in pertinent part:
The parties have agreed between them, to their mutual
satisfaction, as to ownership, possession, and use, of any and all
monies, securities, notes, investment accounts, profit-sharing
plans, IRAs, and negotiable instruments of any kind which are
current on deposit, or which may have been on deposit in the past.
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Specifically, the parties agree that Wife shall be entitled to
the sum of seventy percent (70%) of the value on the date of
division . . . of the investment and accounts as listed on “Exhibit
A” as items B(1), B(2), B(3), B(4), B(5), B(6) and B(7), which
value shall be based upon the fluctuating value thereof.
Exhibit A to the agreement encompasses a summary of the parties’ assets. It lists, in separate
sections, the parties’ real estate, investments, and bank accounts. The division of the real estate
is addressed separately in the agreement, and those assets are not a subject of this appeal. In
addition to the exhibit items listed in the above-quoted section, Exhibit A lists as “investments”
items labeled B(8) through B(12). Items labels C(1) and C(2) are listed as “bank accounts.”
Item B(8) is husband’s cardiology center and is addressed separately in the agreement, as noted
above.
Wife asserts that items B(9), B(10), B(11), B(12), C(1) and C(2) should also have been
divided by the trial court, with her receiving seventy percent of their value. She contends that,
due to a mutual mistake, the items were not specifically listed in Section 2.6 of the agreement.
“A contract may be reformed or rescinded in equity on the ground of mutual mistake.”
Langonan v. Alumni Assoc. of the Univ. of Virginia, 247 Va. 491, 503, 442 S.E.2d 669, 677
(1994). To prevail on a claim of mutual mistake, husband had the burden to present proof which
was “clear, convincing, satisfactory, and such as to leave no reasonable doubt on the mind that
the writing does not correctly embody the intention of the parties.” Dickenson County Bank v.
Royal Exch. Assurance, 157 Va. 94, 104, 160 S.E. 13, 16 (1931).
The trial court heard the testimony of the parties and their attorneys regarding the drafting
of the agreement. The record supports the trial judge’s finding that wife failed to establish by
clear and convincing evidence that the exclusion of the specified assets was the result of a mutual
mistake of fact by the parties. Accordingly, we affirm the decision of the trial judge that the
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assets not specifically listed in Exhibit A of the agreement remain the separate property of
husband.
Likewise, the court correctly concluded the London apartment, purchased by husband
after the agreement had been executed with funds from his separately held account was
husband’s separate property. The parties’ agreement purports to be “a full and complete
settlement of all property rights between them and their right to equitable distribution . . . .”
Accordingly, because husband purchased the apartment using his separate funds after the
execution of the agreement, the apartment, too, remains his separate property.
Education Costs
Wife argues “the trial court erred in interpreting the term ‘children’ in paragraph 6.3 of the
Agreement and in refusing to admit parol evidence to explain its intent within the terms and
meaning of the Agreement.”
Section 6.3 of the marital agreement provides as follows:
Effect of Reconciliation. In the event of reconciliation and
resumption of the marital relationship between the parties, the
provisions of this agreement for settlement of property rights,
spousal support, debt payments and all other provisions not
relating to their children, shall nevertheless continue in full force
and effect without abatement of any term or provision hereof,
except as otherwise provided by written agreement duly executed
by each of the parties after the date of the reconciliation.
(Emphasis added.)
The trial court concluded the agreement was not ambiguous and that the parties’
attempted reconciliation eliminated husband’s obligation, under Section 4.2 of the agreement, to
pay the college expenses “for each child.”
Wife argues the term “children” as used in the agreement means only “children under the
age of eighteen.” However, throughout the agreement the term “children” is modified by terms
such as “minor” or “after the emancipation of.” Because the term “children” was not modified in
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the reconciliation section, the trial court properly concluded there was no ambiguity, that the
term referred to all the parties’ off-spring, and was not limited to “minor” children. Wife does
not argue the parties’ attempted reconciliation failed to trigger the limiting provision in Section
6.3 of the agreement. Therefore, we need not address the court’s conclusion that the attempted
reconciliation activated the limiting provision.
“[P]roperty settlement agreements are contracts and subject to the same rules of . . .
interpretation as other contracts.” Smith v. Smith, 3 Va. App. 510, 513, 351 S.E.2d 593, 595
(1986).
“It is the function of the court to construe the contract made
by the parties, not to make a contract for them. The question for
the court is what did the parties agree to as evidenced by their
contract. The guiding light in the construction of a contract is the
intention of the parties as expressed by them in the words they
have used, and courts are not bound to say that the parties intended
what the written instrument plainly declares.”
Hendrick v. Hendrick, 3 Va. App. 452, 455-56, 350 S.E.2d 526, 528 (1986) (quoting Wilson v.
Holyfield, 227 Va. 184, 187, 313 S.E.2d 396, 398 (1984)). Thus, “[w]here there is no ambiguity
in the terms of a contract, we must construe it as written” and give its terms their plain and
ordinary meanings. Smith, 3 Va. App. at 514, 351 S.E.2d at 596.
Read in its entirety, the contract presents no ambiguity concerning the meaning of the
term “children.” The term was not modified in the reconciliation section, as it is in other parts of
the contract. The court correctly concluded the term referred simply to the children born of the
marriage and was not limited in any way. We find no error in the court’s ruling.
Attorney’s Fees on Appeal
Both parties request costs and attorney’s fees for matters relating to this appeal.
The rationale for the appellate court being the proper forum to
determine the propriety of an award of attorney’s fees for efforts
expended on appeal is clear. The appellate court has the
opportunity to view the record in its entirety and determine
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whether the appeal is frivolous or whether other reasons exist for
requiring additional payment.
O’Loughlin v. O’Loughlin, 23 Va. App. 690, 695, 479 S.E.2d 98, 100 (1996). In this context,
and upon consideration of the entire record in this case, we hold that neither party is entitled to
costs or attorney’s fees in the matter.
For the reasons stated above, we affirm the final order of the trial court.
Affirmed.
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