In Re The Marriage Of Pamela S. Johnson And David L. Johnson Upon The Petition Of Pamela S. Johnson N/k/a Pamela S. Wobbeking

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF IOWA
No. 08–1326
Filed April 30, 2010
IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF PAMELA S. JOHNSON
AND DAVID L. JOHNSON
Upon the Petition of
PAMELA S. JOHNSON n/k/a PAMELA S. WOBBEKING,
Appellee,
And Concerning
DAVID L. JOHNSON,
Appellant.
On review from the Iowa Court of Appeals.
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, John D. Lloyd
(summary judgment) and Karen A. Romano (trial), Judges.
A spouse requests further review of a court of appeals decision
affirming a district court’s decision not to modify medical support
payable to his former spouse. DECISION OF COURT OF APPEALS
VACATED, JUDGMENT OF DISTRICT COURT AFFIRMED IN PART
AND REVERSED IN PART, AND CASE REMANDED TO DISTRICT
COURT WITH DIRECTIONS.
Robert A. Nading II of Nading Law Firm, Ankeny, for appellant.
Susan L. Ekstrom, Des Moines, for appellee.
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WIGGINS, Justice.
In this appeal, we must decide if medical support, in the form of
health insurance payments, constitutes modifiable spousal support or is
part of the unmodifiable property settlement. Because we find medical
support constitutes spousal support payments and is modifiable, we
vacate the court of appeals’ decision and reverse that part of the district
court’s judgment holding otherwise. Additionally, we affirm the district
court’s denial of attorney fees. Accordingly, we remand the case to the
district court to enter a judgment consistent with this decision.
I. Standard of Review.
Our review of a decision in a proceeding to modify the terms of a
marriage dissolution decree is de novo. In re Marriage of Barker, 600
N.W.2d 321, 323 (Iowa 1999).
II. Background Facts and Proceedings.
On our de novo review, we find the facts as follows. In 1989
Pamela and David Johnson were married in Las Vegas, Nevada. On
January 30, 2004, the district court dissolved the parties’ marriage in a
document entitled “Joint Stipulation and Decree of Dissolution of
Marriage.” The dissolution decree provided:
Health and dental insurance coverage. David is presently
providing medical and dental coverage for Pamela, and David
shall be required to pay to Pamela up to $300 per month for
health insurance after entry of the Decree. If the cost to
Pamela is less than $300, David shall only be required to pay
the lessor cost of the insurance.
Both parties complied with the dissolution decree, and David
consistently met his medical support obligations under the decree. After
the dissolution, Pamela remained on David’s employer-based COBRA
health insurance policy, for which he paid through a payroll deduction.
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Initially, the cost of keeping Pamela on David’s plan was approximately
$240 a month; however, this cost eventually increased to approximately
$298 a month.
In December 2006 Pamela became engaged to Bill Wobbeking.
During the engagement, Pamela put her home up for sale and it
unexpectedly sold in one week. Thus, in June 2007 Pamela moved into
Bill’s house and began to cohabitate with him. At about the same time,
Pamela also reduced her work hours to approximately twenty hours a
week.
Upon learning of Pamela’s cohabitation with Bill, David filed an
application to modify the dissolution decree on October 17, 2007,
alleging that there had been a substantial and material change in
circumstances, which warranted a modification of the medical support
provision of the decree.
On January 8, 2008, Pamela married Bill. Prior to being married,
the couple entered into a prenuptial agreement. After the marriage,
Pamela notified David that he could remove her from his health
insurance policy because, effective February 1, 2008, she would begin to
receive health and dental insurance through her current husband, Bill.
David removed Pamela from his health insurance policy, and from that
point on, David simply reimbursed Pamela for her medical expenses by
sending her a monthly check for approximately $300. At trial, Pamela
claimed she reimbursed her current husband for the medical coverage he
provided her by writing him monthly checks and/or depositing the $300
checks she received from David into a joint bank account.
David filed a motion for summary judgment alleging, as a matter of
law, the court should terminate the payments due to Pamela’s
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remarriage, improved financial status, and lack of need for the payments.
The district court overruled David’s motion for summary judgment.
The case proceeded to trial on the issue of whether the medical
support payments constituted an unmodifiable property division or
modifiable spousal support. The district court found the decree’s
language was clear, and the medical support was separate and distinct
from spousal support. Thus, the court concluded the medical support
payments were “more akin to part of the property settlement” and treated
them in that fashion. Accordingly, the court held the payments were
unmodifiable and ordered David to continue to pay Pamela $300 a
month for her medical expenses. The court filed its final ruling with the
clerk of court on August 1, 2008.
David filed a notice of appeal from the district court’s rulings.
Pamela filed a notice of cross-appeal due to the district court’s failure to
award her attorney fees and costs. We transferred the case to the court
of appeals. The court of appeals affirmed the decision of the district
court and held that “the health and dental insurance coverage provision
was in the nature of a property division, which is not subject to
modification.” The court of appeals also affirmed the district court’s
failure to award Pamela her attorney fees. David then filed an
application for further review, which we granted.
III. Issues.
In this appeal, we must decide whether the medical support
payments are modifiable and whether the court was correct in not
awarding Pamela attorney fees.
IV. Analysis.
A. Summary Judgment Claim. David argues the court erred in
failing to grant his motion for summary judgment. We have said on
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numerous occasions that the district court’s denial of a motion for
summary judgment is not appealable if the case proceeded to a trial on
the merits. Lindsay v. Cottingham & Butler Ins. Servs., Inc., 763 N.W.2d
568, 572 (Iowa 2009); Kiesau v. Bantz, 686 N.W.2d 164, 174 (Iowa 2004);
Klooster v. N. Iowa State Bank, 404 N.W.2d 564, 567 (Iowa 1987). The
previous denial of a motion for summary judgment merges with the
subsequent trial on the merits when the trier of fact has fully reviewed
the exhibits and listened to the testimony of the witnesses. Kiesau, 686
N.W.2d at 174. Thus, on an appeal from a final judgment following a
trial, the trial court’s final judgment supersedes a prior order denying a
motion for summary judgment. Klooster, 404 N.W.2d at 567.
Consequently, we decline to consider David’s assignments of error
relating to the summary judgment stage of this litigation and instead
consider only the assignments of error that relate to the district court’s
final ruling on the application to modify.
B. Whether the Medical Support Payments Were a Property
Settlement or Spousal Support. The court entered its dissolution
decree in 2004; therefore, the 2003 Iowa Code controls the outcome of
this issue. 1 At the time of the decree, the legislature authorized property
settlements and spousal support awards in section 598.21 of the Code.
Iowa Code § 598.21(1), (3) (2003). Property settlements are
unmodifiable. Id. § 598.21(11). Spousal support awards are modifiable
upon a showing of a substantial change of circumstances. Id.
§ 598.21(8). Thus, if the medical support payments are part of a
property settlement, the district court was correct in holding it did not
have the authority to modify those payments. On the other hand, if the
1All references to the Iowa Code in this section of our opinion will be to the 2003
Code.
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medical support payments are spousal support, the district court had
the authority to modify those payments.
Iowa Code section 598.21(1) authorizes the court to divide the
parties’ property in a dissolution action. Id. § 598.21(1). The legislature
did not define the term “property” in chapter 598. When the legislature
fails to define a term and its meaning is not established in the law, we
give the term its ordinary and common meaning by considering the
context in which the term was used. City of Des Moines v. Employment
Appeal Bd., 722 N.W.2d 183, 196 (Iowa 2006). The dictionary defines
“property” as:
2 a : something that is or may be owned or possessed . . .
b : the exclusive right to possess, enjoy, and dispose of a
thing : a valuable right or interest primarily a source or
element of wealth . . . c : something to which a person has a
legal title.
Webster’s Third New Int’l Dictionary 1818 (unabr. ed. 2002). The purpose
of a property settlement in a dissolution action is to award each party a
just and equitable share of the property accumulated during their
marriage. In re Marriage of Hitchcock, 309 N.W.2d 432, 437 (Iowa 1981).
Iowa Code section 598.21(3) authorizes the court in a dissolution
action to award support payments to either party. Iowa Code
§ 598.21(3). The legislature has defined “support” or “support payments”
in chapter 598. Id. § 598.1(9). The Code provides:
“Support” or “support payments” means an amount which the
court may require either of the parties to pay under a
temporary order or a final judgment or decree, and may
include alimony, child support, maintenance, and any other
term used to describe these obligations. For orders entered
on or after July 1, 1990, unless the court specifically orders
otherwise, medical support is not included in the monetary
amount of child support.
Id.
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From this statutory scheme, it is clear the legislature intended an
award requiring a spouse to pay a monthly payment to the other spouse
for health insurance to be spousal support rather than part of a property
settlement. The purpose of the medical support payments David made to
Pamela was to preserve part of the health insurance David maintained
for Pamela during the marriage. Pamela was entitled to these payments
for future health care expenses, not as a payment for the division of an
asset she and David owned, possessed, or accumulated during their
marriage.
The legislature’s definition of “support” or “support payment”
includes “maintenance, and any other term used to describe these
obligations.” Id. Moreover, in defining “support” or “support payment,”
the legislature makes specific reference to “medical support,” indicating it
is a form of support. Id. This reference indicates a legislative intent to
include medical support as a form of support.
Finally, Pamela argues the district court awarded her medical
support because of a disparate property settlement. Thus, she claims
the medical support is really part of a property settlement and is
unmodifiable. We disagree.
Pamela’s argument fails to consider the statutory scheme the
legislature enacted concerning an award of spousal support. One factor
a court takes into consideration when awarding spousal support is the
property settlement made by the court under section 598.21(1). Id.
§ 598.21(3)(c). The court’s consideration of a disparate property
settlement when awarding additional support to a spouse does not
change the fact that the additional support awarded is a spousal support
award. If we were to hold otherwise, the property settlement no longer
would merely be a circumstance to be used by the court in determining
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whether to award spousal support and/or determine the amount of a
spousal support award. Rather, the property settlement would be
determinative as to whether a spousal support award is in fact a property
settlement. Just because a court applies the law as envisioned under
section 598.21(3)(c) and makes a spousal support award based upon a
disparate property settlement, the court does not transform the spousal
support award into a property settlement. Any other interpretation of
section 598.21(3)(c) is contrary to the statutory scheme and the intent of
the legislature.
Therefore, we conclude as a matter of law that a provision in a
dissolution decree requiring one spouse to provide medical support in the
form of health insurance payments to the other spouse is modifiable
spousal support under Iowa Code section 598.21(3).
C. Whether the District Court Erred When It Failed to
Terminate the Medical Support on Pamela’s Remarriage. David filed
his modification action in 2007; therefore, the 2007 Iowa Code controls
the outcome of this issue. 2 At the time David filed his action, the
legislature authorized the modification of support awards when there has
been a substantial change in circumstances. Id. § 598.21C(1) (2007).
When determining whether there has been a substantial change in
circumstances justifying a modification, a court must consider, among
other factors, changes in the resources of a party, changes in the
residence of a party, remarriage of a party, and the possible support of a
party by another person. Id. § 598.21C(1)(a), (f), (g), (h). The burden is
on the person seeking the modification to prove a substantial change in
2All references to the Iowa Code in the remaining sections of our opinion will be
to the 2007 Code.
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circumstances by a preponderance of the evidence. In re Marriage of
Wessels, 542 N.W.2d 486, 489–90 (Iowa 1995).
David claims Pamela’s remarriage was a substantial change in
circumstances. In the area of alimony, we have held that a subsequent
remarriage does not automatically end an alimony obligation; instead, it
shifts the burden to the recipient spouse to show extraordinary
circumstances justifying the continuation of the alimony payments. In re
Marriage of Shima, 360 N.W.2d 827, 828 (Iowa 1985). The rationale for
this rule is that it is illogical and unreasonable for a person to receive
support by way of alimony from a former spouse and an equivalent
obligation from the present spouse at the same time, unless
extraordinary circumstances exist. Id.The legislature requires a spouse to be liable for the “reasonable
and necessary expenses of the family.” Iowa Code § 597.14. We have
interpreted this section to mean that a spouse is responsible for the
payment of the other spouse’s medical and hospital expenses incurred
during the marriage. St. Luke’s Med. Ctr. v. Rosengartner, 231 N.W.2d
601, 602 (Iowa 1975). Thus, as with alimony, upon remarriage the prior
spouse and the current spouse are responsible for an equivalent medical
support obligation. Just as with alimony, the requirement of two
persons being responsible for the same obligation is illogical and
unreasonable. Accordingly, the same rationale supporting the
termination of alimony upon the recipient spouse’s remarriage is equally
applicable to the termination of medical support. Therefore, a
subsequent remarriage does not automatically terminate a medical
support obligation; instead, it shifts the burden to the recipient spouse to
show extraordinary circumstances justifying its continuation.
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Recognized extraordinary circumstances include: (1) the
annulment or invalidity of the second marriage, (2) the inability of the
subsequent spouse to furnish support, (3) the death of the subsequent
spouse, or (4) the dissolution of the subsequent marriage. Shima, 360
N.W.2d at 829. These circumstances conform to the underlying rationale
that it is illogical and unreasonable for a person to receive equivalent
obligations of support from two persons at the same time. In re Marriage
of Wendell, 581 N.W.2d 197, 200 (Iowa Ct. App. 1998).
Upon her remarriage, Pamela had the burden to show
extraordinary circumstances warranted her continued receipt of medical
support payments from David. Pamela has failed to prove any of the
extraordinary circumstances recognized by our courts. Pamela’s
marriage to Bill has not been annulled or found invalid. Bill has not died
and neither party has petitioned for a dissolution of marriage. Moreover,
Bill is clearly able, and in fact, is currently furnishing medical support to
Pamela. At the modification trial, Bill admitted that his current net
worth is approximately $1.5 million. In addition, since February 2008
Pamela has received health and dental insurance through Bill’s health
insurance policy. Thus, Pamela’s failure to show extraordinary
circumstances after her remarriage warrants the termination of David’s
obligation to provide medical support payments to Pamela.
D. Effective Termination Date of the Medical Support
Payments. David argues the court should retroactively terminate the
medical support payments on one of the following dates: (1) the date
Pamela and Bill began to cohabitate, (2) the date Pamela remarried,
(3) the date Pamela began to receive health benefits at allegedly no cost
from Bill, or (4) at the very least, the date the trial court denied David’s
motion for summary judgment.
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The Code allows a child support obligation to be retroactively
modified only from three months after the date the opposing party
received notice of the modification petition. Iowa Code § 598.21C(4).
There is no corresponding provision in the Code dealing with the
retroactive modification of spousal support awards. Our courts have no
authority to retroactively decrease a spousal support award to the date of
the filing of the application for modification unless and until the
legislature gives the courts the authority to do so. In re Marriage of
Shepherd, 429 N.W.2d 145, 146 (Iowa 1988); In re Marriage of Harvey,
393 N.W.2d 312, 314 (Iowa 1986); Delbridge v. Sears, 179 Iowa 526,
536–37, 160 N.W. 218, 222 (1916). This rule is based on the premise
that each installment payment of a spousal support award in the original
decree becomes a binding final judgment when it comes due and cannot
be decreased until a subsequent judgment is entered decreasing the
original award. See Shepherd, 429 N.W.2d at 146; Walters v. Walters,
231 Iowa 1267, 1270, 3 N.W.2d 595, 596 (1942). This rule is true even
though a change of circumstances may have occurred prior to the entry
of the modification decree. Shepherd, 429 N.W.2d at 146; Walters, 231
Iowa at 1270, 3 N.W.2d at 596. Consequently, we have refused to
retroactively terminate spousal support awards upon a party’s
remarriage; instead, we have consistently terminated spousal support
payments prospectively, from the date the trial court issued its
modification ruling. See, e.g., In re Marriage of Harvey, 466 N.W.2d 916,
918–19 (Iowa 1991) (holding alimony should terminate as of the date of
the modification decree); Harvey, 393 N.W.2d at 314 (recognizing a trial
court cannot terminate alimony payments which accrue prior to the date
the modification order was entered); In re Marriage of Bonnette, 431
N.W.2d 1, 5 (Iowa Ct. App. 1988) (holding the trial court acted properly
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when it terminated alimony payments prospectively from the date of the
filing of its opinion). Therefore, we can only terminate the medical
support award from the date the district court entered its decree.
A district court’s modification decree is effective when the court
files it with the clerk of court. Iowa R. Civ. P. 1.453. The district court
filed its final ruling with the clerk of court on August 1, 2008. Our
decision reversing the district court “is also effective as of the date of the
trial court’s entry of the modification decree.” In re Marriage of Schradle,
462 N.W.2d 705, 708 (Iowa Ct. App. 1990). Therefore, our decision
reversing the district court is effective as of August 1, 2008.
If David has paid any medical support after August 1, 2008, we
order Pamela to repay said support to David. Pamela shall also pay
interest as provided by law on any repayment because each installment
payment of a spousal support award becomes a binding final judgment
when it becomes due. See Schwennen v. Abell, 471 N.W.2d 880, 884
(Iowa 1991) (stating, “ ‘If payment has been made to the judgment
creditor or to his agent, or to an officer who has paid the judgment
creditor, upon reversal of the judgment the payor is entitled to receive
from the creditor the amount thus paid with interest.’ ” (quoting
Restatement of Restitution § 74 cmt. d (1937))).
E. Attorney Fees. Pamela cross-appealed claiming the district
court should have awarded her attorney fees. This opinion reverses the
district court’s judgment holding the medical support payments due
Pamela are unmodifiable. Therefore, Pamela is not a prevailing party in
this litigation. The Code only allows our courts to award attorney fees to
the prevailing party in a proceeding seeking modification of a decree.
Iowa Code § 598.36. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s decision
not to award Pamela attorney fees.
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V. Disposition.
We vacate the court of appeals’ decision and reverse that part of
the district court’s judgment holding medical support was part of a
property settlement and unmodifiable. We affirm the district court’s
ruling not to award Pamela attorney fees. Accordingly, we remand this
case to the district court to enter a judgment terminating David’s medical
support obligation effective August 1, 2008, and order Pamela to repay
any medical support paid by David after August 1, 2008, with interest as
provided by law.
DECISION OF COURT OF APPEALS VACATED, JUDGMENT OF
DISTRICT COURT AFFIRMED IN PART AND REVERSED IN PART,
AND CASE REMANDED TO DISTRICT COURT WITH DIRECTIONS.