William Bindley Profilet, Jr. v. Cynthia C. Profilet

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 1999-CA-02068-COA
IN THE MATTER OF THE DISSOLUTION OF THE MARRIAGE OF
CYNTHIA C. PROFILET AND WILLIAM BINDLEY PROFILET, JR:
WILLIAM BINDLEY PROFILET, JR. APPELLANT
v.
CYNTHIA C. PROFILET APPELLEE
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 10/26/1999
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. GAIL SHAW-PIERSON
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: MADISON COUNTY CHANCERY COURT
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: JOHN W. CHRISTOPHER
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE: JESSE LEE HOWELL III
PATRICIA H. COTTINGHAM
NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION: ALIMONY INCREASED FROM $400 /MONTH TO
$4000/MONTH. ATTORNEYS FEES OF $3987
AWARDED.
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 02/06/2001
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED: 2/20/2001
CERTIORARI FILED: 7/31/2001; granted 1/3/2002
MANDATE ISSUED:
EN BANC:
KING, P.J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1. Cynthia C. Profilet filed a petition to modify alimony provisions of a divorce decree. Following a hearing
on May 19, 1999, which her ex-husband, William Bindley Profilet, Jr., failed to attend, the Chancery Court
of Madison County granted her petition and ordered William to increase his monthly support from $400 to
$4,000 and to pay $3,987.25 in reimbursement for Cynthia's attorney's fees. William appeals, asserting:
I. THE COURT COMMITTED MANIFEST AND REVERSIBLE ERROR IN ITS
ORDER MODIFYING THE FINAL JUDGMENT TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF
PERIODIC ALIMONY;
II. THE COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND COMMITTED MANIFEST ERROR
IN CONDUCTING HE TRIAL OF THIS CASE WITHOUT THE TRIAL DATE HAVING
BEEN SET ACCORDING TO M.R.C.P. 40 OR 81;
III. THE COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND COMMITTED MANIFEST
ERROR IN REFUSING TO GRANT THE DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR A
CONTINUANCE.
¶2. Finding no prejudicial error, this court affirms.
FACTS
¶3. William and Cynthia were divorced in 1982 on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. Cynthia was
granted custody of the couple's only child, child support and $200 a month in periodic alimony. In 1986,
William filed a petition to modify the judgment of divorce, which resulted in an agreed order by which he
was granted custody of the child and Cynthia's periodic alimony was increased to $400 a month. On
March 16, 1999, Cynthia filed a petition to modify the judgment of divorce by increasing periodic alimony.
Cynthia predicated her requested increase upon her debilitating medical problems, and their attendant
treatment costs.
¶4. Cynthia presented evidence of total disability due to bi-polar disorder. Dr. Pugh, her treating
psychologist, noted that the illness had so progressed that Cynthia cycled from depressed to manic states,
often on a daily basis, with little likelihood that medications would significantly improve her condition.
Cynthia, who after the divorce worked as a teacher in the Jackson Public Schools for over thirteen years,
testified her illness had progressed to the point she could no longer function in a classroom. Dr. Pugh
testified that Cynthia's inability to continue working contributed to the severity of her mental condition.
Cynthia proved living expenses, of approximately $4,000 per month, and income of $1195.
¶5. The evidence established that William's latest gross income was $479,477, and he had assets of $594,
000.
ANALYSIS
DID THE COURT COMMIT MANIFEST ERROR IN CONDUCTING HE TRIAL OF THIS
CASE WITHOUT THE TRIAL DATE HAVING BEEN SET ACCORDING TO M.R.C.P. 40
OR 81
and
DID THE COURT COMMIT MANIFEST ERROR IN DENYING WILLIAM'S MOTION
FOR A CONTINUANCE
¶6. This Court deems it appropriate to first address Appellant's issues 2 and 3,. Cynthia filed her petition to
modify the judgment of divorce on March 16, 1999. A summons was issued for William, which recited the
date this matter was set for trial. Before the summons was served, counsel for both parties conferred by
telephone, and William's attorney agreed to waive service of process. Cynthia's counsel mailed a copy of
the summons to William's counsel the next day, March 17, 1999. This summons indicated the trial would be
held on May 20, 1999. In accordance with M.R.C.P. 4 (e), William's counsel executed a waiver of
process on March 23, 1999, which was filed on April 12, 1999.
¶7. On March 18, 1999, Cynthia's counsel presented an order to the chancery court requesting the hearing
date be changed from May 20, 1999 to May 19, 1999. This order was signed by the chancellor on March
18, 1999. Cynthia's counsel mailed a copy of this order to William's counsel on March 23, 1999. William's
counsel acknowledged receipt of the March 16, summons, and a copy of the order of March 18, 1999.
¶8. On May 14, 1999, William's counsel filed a motion for continuance, alleging a conflicting prior court
setting. The chancery court denied this motion. Neither William nor his attorney appeared on May 19,
1999, and the trial was held in their absence.
¶9. William contends the chancery court erred in allowing the matter to be heard on May 19, 1999 because
that date was not set in accordance with M.R.C.P. 81 and 40. William acknowledges that M.R.C.P. 81
was complied with in establishing the original date of the hearing. Further, William concedes that his
attorney's waiver of process and actual receipt of the summons via mail was sufficient to satisfy the notice
and service of process protections of M.R.C.P. 81. However, he contends that the order amending the
hearing date was improper.
¶10. Initially, we note that M.R.C.P. 81 is the exclusive means for setting a hearing date in matters of
divorce, alimony and child support. M.R.C.P. 81 (5) provides:
[U]pon the filing of any action or matter listed in subparagraphs (1) and (2) above, summons shall
issue commanding the defendant or respondent to appear and defend at a time and place, either in
term time or vacation, at which the same shall be heard. Said time and place shall be set by special
order, general order or rule of the court.
Other means of initiating an action or initially setting a matter on a docket are inapplicable in these actions.
See, e.g., Caples v. Caples, 686 So. 2d 1071, 1074 (Miss. 1996); Stinson v. Stinson, 738 So. 2d 1259,
1261-62 (Miss. Ct. App. 1999). Thus, any reliance William places upon M.R.C.P. 40's provisions of how
actions are docketed is misplaced.
¶11. William waived formal service of process and accepted the summons through his counsel. That
summons listed the date of the hearing as May 20, 1999. The chancery court subsequently entered an order
which changed the date to May 19, 1999. Although he admits to having received a copy of this order,
William argues that M.R.C.P. 81 was not complied with because the summons and the order conflicted as
to the dates.
¶12. M.R.C.P. 81 requires that a party receive a summons which states when the action is to be taken up
and whether the trial court requires an answer. Saddler v. Saddler, 556 So. 2d 344, 346 (Miss. 1990);
Sanghi v. Sanghi, 759 So. 2d 1250, 1255-56 (Miss. Ct. App. 2000). It is, the purpose of this rule to
provide "reasonable notice and an opportunity to be heard" regarding a M.R.C.P. 81 matter. Caples v.
Caples, 686 So. 2d 1071, 1074 (Miss. 1996). This purpose was fully met. The record reveals that William
(1) received notice, (2) filed an answer to the complaint and (3) participated in discovery.
¶13. Because we find the purpose of M.R.C.P. 81 to have been accomplished, this assignment of error is
without merit.
¶14. William also contends that the trial court committed error in denying the motion for a continuance. The
summons was issued on March 16, 1999. The order changing the hearing date was executed on March 18,
1999, and a copy immediately made available to William's counsel. The motion for continuance was filed
on May 13, 1999, six days prior to the initial hearing date.
¶15. No action was taken on the motion for continuance, and neither William nor his counsel responded to
the call of this case on May 19, 1999.
¶16. William was obligated to timely file his request for a continuance. Pursuant to M.R.C.P. 6, (a) and (d)
that motion should have been filed 5 working days prior to its disposition. The motion was filed three
working days prior to the trial day. The trial, court when appropriate, may excuse the failure to comply with
the appropriate time, or shorten that time. M.R.C.P. 6(d). However, such an exception must be based
upon a finding of "excusable neglect." L.W. v. C.W.B. 762 So. 2d 323 (¶11)(Miss. 2000).
¶17. William offered no facts to justify waiting three working days prior to trial to file a motion for
continuance. This failure is particularly acute where he had almost two months notice of the trial setting.
¶18. Finding the absence of excusable neglect, this Court finds no merit in this issue.
DID THE COURT COMMIT MANIFEST ERROR IN MODIFYING THE FINAL
JUDGMENT TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PERIODIC ALIMONY
¶19. William asks this Court to hold that the chancellor committed error by awarding increased alimony to
Cynthia.
¶20. Cynthia contends that because William failed to defend at the hearing he waived any error going to
whether sufficient evidence existed for the trial court to find an increase in periodic alimony was warranted.
William contends that his answer to the petition to modify preserved this factual issue. Our supreme court
has found that Miss. Code Ann. § 93-5-7 (Rev. 1994) operates to prevent a judgment on the pleadings in
a divorce action Rawson v. Buta, 609 So. 2d 426, 430 (Miss. 1992). See also Crowe v. Crowe, 641
So. 2d 1100, 1102 (Miss. 1994). The general rule of pleading is that a denial to a specific averment is
sufficient to preserve the matter in so far as the claimant must produce evidence to support any relief
granted. Wright and Miller, FEDERAL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE: CIVIL 2D § 1261 (1990). Indeed,
under Mississippi law even where a defendant to a spousal support action has failed to both answer and
appear to defend, appellate review extends to determining whether sufficient evidence exists to support the
trial court's decisions. Stinson v. Stinson, 738 So. 2d 1259, 1264 (Miss. Ct. App. 1999). Therefore, we
find that William is not precluded from challenging whether sufficient evidence existed to increase Cynthia's
periodic alimony.
¶21. All awards of periodic alimony, are subject to modification upon a finding of a change in
circumstances. Varner v. Varner, 666 So. 2d 493, 497 (Miss. 1995). See also Switzer v. Switzer, 460
So. 2d 843, 846 (Miss. 1984). Where a divorce is granted upon the grounds of irreconcilable differences,
a change in circumstances is typically a change in the parties' circumstances that was not anticipated at the
time of the divorce. See, e.g., Austin v. Austin, 557 So. 2d 509, 510 (Miss. 1990); Morris .v Morris,
541 So. 2d 1040, 1042 (Miss. 1989).
¶22. William contends that no material change in circumstances occurred. He asserts that at the time of the
divorce and agreed upon support provisions, as well as the subsequently agreed upon modification, he and
Cynthia were both aware that her existing psychological problems required medical treatment. He contends
that the chancery court committed manifest error in finding a change in circumstances occurred because
Cynthia's mental illness had become so severe as to be debilitating. This argument is without merit.
¶23. In making a determination to grant or deny periodic alimony, the chancery court is mandated to
consider the following factors:
1. Income and expenses of the parties;
2. Health and earning capacity of the parties;
3. Needs of each party;
4. Obligations and assets of each party;
5. Length of the marriage;
6. Presence or absence of minor children in the home;
7. Age of the parties;
8. Standard of living of the parties both during the marriage and at the time of the support
determination;
9. Tax consequences of the spousal support order;
10. Fault or misconduct;
11. Wasteful dissipation of assets by either party;
12. Any other factor deemed by the court to be "just and equitable" in connection with the setting of
spousal support.
Armstrong v. Armstrong, 618 So. 2d 1278, 1280 (Miss.1993).
¶24. Subsequent changes in these factors, may also provide a foundation to increase, decrease or eliminate
periodic alimony. Id at, 1281.
¶25. The evidence establishes that there had been a change in the income and expenses of the parties.
William's income had soared, while Cynthia's income had significantly deceased. This decrease in income
was the result of increased and debilitating medical problems. These increased medical problems precluded
Cynthia's gainful employment, while simultaneously increasing her expenses.
¶26. The application of the Armstrong factors to this case, demonstrates substantial evidence in support of
the chancellor's actions. Where a chancellor's decision on alimony is not contrary to the overwhelming
weight of the evidence, this Court will not disturb that decision. Monroe v. Monroe, 612 So. 2d 353, 357
(Miss. 1992). In this case, the chancellor's decision is not contrary to the overwhelming evidence.
¶27. Accordingly, we affirm.
¶28. THE JUDGMENT OF THE CHANCERY COURT OF MADISON COUNTY IS
AFFIRMED. THE APPELLANT IS ASSESSED ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL.
McMILLIN, C.J., SOUTHWICK, P. J., PAYNE, THOMAS, IRVING, MYERS AND
CHANDLER, JJ., CONCUR. LEE, J., DISSENTS WITH SEPARATE WRITTEN
OPINION JOINED BY BRIDGES, J.
LEE, J., DISSENTING:
¶29. The majority expresses its view that the chancellor must be affirmed, I dissent. Being mindful of the
standard of review to which this Court is bound, that a chancellor's finding of facts must be supported by
substantial evidence, Kilpatrick v. Kilpatrick, 732 So. 2d 876, 880 (Miss. 1999), my disagreement with
the majority is predominantly a concern regarding the evidence upon which the chancellor has relied in
making her finding of facts.
¶30. First, the finding of facts states that the parties were married nearly sixteen years off and on. Though
the record corroborates this, the statement is misleading because it implies that the issues before the court
are in regard to a marriage of a sixteen year duration. Nowhere does the chancellor mention in her finding
that the parties were married twice or that they had been divorced twice. The parties separated less than
fifteen months after marrying the second time and were divorced four months later. It is the length of this
marriage that should have been contemplated by the chancellor when considering the factors listed in
Armstrong v. Armstrong, 618 So. 2d 1278, 1280 (Miss. 1993), specifically in the issue before us, the
calculation of periodic alimony. There is nothing in the record in regard to the date of the first marriage or
the date of the first divorce. It simply is not a factor in this case. The first marriage was the subject of
another divorce and property settlement and should have been irrelevant to the chancellor in regard to the
modification of alimony for the second divorce. This conclusion is logical since the relevant property
settlement and other agreements for that marriage would have been a part of the record if the first marriage
were to be considered. The modified amount of alimony awarded by the chancellor infers that she
considered this to be a marriage of much longer duration than a mere fifteen months. It is apparent from
items two and four in the finding of facts that the chancellor so construed the marriage. Those items,
including item three, state as follows:
2. That the parties were married nearly 16 years off and on.
3. That the parties filed a Joint Complaint for Divorce alleging irreconcilable differences between the
parties on April 15, 1982.
4. That this Court entered a Judgment of Divorce dissolving the marriages of the parties on June 25,
1982.
Scrutinizing item four, we find that it explicitly states that the judgment of divorce dissolved the "marriages"
of the parties. The judgment of divorce shows that it dissolved only one marriage, that entered into by the
parties on November 28, 1980. It is clear that the chancellor erroneously considered both marriages as
one. There is no precedent which allows for the tacking of marriages.
¶31. Second, the chancellor, in her finding of facts, found that William Bindley Profilet's 1997 tax return
showed gross receipts from his medical practice of $479,477. We do not find that figure to be relevant. The
record indicates that his adjusted gross income for that year was $239,516 and that he owed $61,758 in
taxes, leaving a net income of $177,758. Nowhere does the chancellor mention this figure in her finding,
which is just over twice the $80,000 income Ms. Profilet testified that she and her husband had in 1982
when they divorced and which, if correct, was the income upon which her $400 in alimony was based. In
addition, William Bindley Profilet's assets from his 1998 financial statement are listed on the chancellor's
findings as $594,000. She fails to mention that that financial statement also included liabilities in the amount
of $354,691 and that his net worth is listed in that document as only $239,309, an amount much less than
one half of his stated assets. Again, it appears that the amount of alimony the chancellor awarded was
based on the unsuitable figures listed in her finding rather than those we have indicated which were clearly
stated in the record and totally ignored.
¶32. Third, we are unable to find substantial evidence to support the chancellor's finding of fact that Ms.
Profilet now requires medication for psychotic episodes or to support the inference that Ms. Profilet
currently has a diagnosis of bipolar illness from the finding of fact that she was diagnosed as such in 1998.
The only testimony presented in this case is that of Cynthia Profilet and Dr. Sharon Pugh, a psychologist.
The record indicates that Dr. Pugh diagnosed Ms. Profilet with bipolar illness in 1998. Dr. Pugh stated in
her testimony that she thought it was important that the court know that though she had intermittently treated
Ms. Profilet since 1988, she had not treated her since October, 1998, seven months prior to the trial. Ms.
Profilet had been hospitalized subsequently to that time, and Dr. Pugh was not privy to any information
regarding that hospitalization. Furthermore, Dr. Pugh stated that she did not know who was treating Ms.
Profilet at the time nor did she know what medication Ms. Profilet was taking at the time. There is therefore
no basis for the finding that Ms. Profilet currently requires medication for psychotic episodes from a medical
doctor or psychologist working in concert with a medical doctor who has treated Ms. Profilet subsequently
to her hospitalization in November, 1998. Because Ms. Profilet was hospitalized and rediagnosed by
another physician subsequently to Dr. Pugh's diagnosis, we do not find that there is any evidence to support
that this diagnosis is the current one. Likewise we cannot rely on the fact that Ms. Profilet was receiving
social security disability benefits to support her claim in this case since we do not know the basis of that
determination, which was made at another time and with other supporting evidence which was not disclosed
in this case.
¶33. Ms. Profilet herself testified that she was hospitalized for eight days in November, 1998, six months
prior to trial, and that when she was released she saw three different psychiatrists who told her they did not
want to see her again. A statement from any one of these psychiatrists could have provided a medical basis
for a diagnosis subsequently to her hospitalization; however, there was nothing from any of these sources
entered into the record. Other than Ms. Profilet's own testimony, there was no other testimony regarding the
medical, psychiatric, or psychological nature of this most recent hospitalization or any other hospitalization.
After Ms. Profilet was discharged from the hospital in November, she testified that she began seeing Dr.
John Norton, the psychiatrist who was treating her at the time of the trial. Profilet indicated in her testimony
that it was Dr. Norton's opinion that she was misdiagnosed when she had been admitted to the hospital and
that she should not have been hospitalized. However, because there was no evidence presented by Dr.
Norton or the physician who admitted her to the hospital, we have no idea what the diagnosis was when she
was admitted to the hospital or a diagnosis from Dr. Norton. There is nothing in the record regarding the
identity of the physician who admitted and treated Ms. Profilet during this hospitalization or the medical
basis for the hospitalization. Dr. Norton did not testify nor was any evidence presented from him in the form
of affidavits or otherwise regarding Profilet's past, current, or future medical treatment or condition. In fact,
there was no professional testimony regarding Ms. Profilet's current medication and anticipated future
medication and expenses. There was no evidence presented in any form from any medical doctor who had
treated Ms. Profilet in the past or who was currently treating her. Profilet claimed $900 a month ad infinitum
in prescription expenses but did not support this with any medical evidence. The chancellor basically relied
on Profilet's mere assertions regarding her medical condition, which ran the gambit from a claim that her
eyeballs had become too large for her contact lens and she is unable to get them in and out to a need for
dental care because her teeth were patched together.
¶34. It is appropriate to mention that the brief reports of two psychologists who had treated Ms. Profilet,
other than Dr. Pugh, were entered into evidence. These reports were reviewed by Dr. Pugh when she
testified. One psychologist was no longer treating Ms. Profilet and the other, Dr. Elias-Hooper, had only
recently begun to see her just prior to the trial. However, Dr. Elias-Hooper nor Dr. Pugh are medical
doctors licensed to prescribe the medication Ms. Profilet asserts she must have at the cost of $900 per
month. The report of Dr. Elias Hooper, less than a half a page in length, was the only evidence presented at
the trial from a professional who was currently treating Ms. Profilet. Dr. Elias-Hooper's report
acknowledged that much of her reliance regarding Ms. Profilet's condition was based on information from
Profilet herself, rather than from other professionals or test results. That report stated that Ms. Profilet
would probably have difficulty maintaining stable psychological functioning in order to effectively cope with
social, familial, and occupational situations. This statement is the most profound of all professional evidence
presented on behalf of Ms. Profilet's case by anyone currently treating her and does not provide the
substance from which a tenfold increase in alimony can be justified.
¶35. Because the basis of the increase in alimony is embedded in Ms. Profilet's medical needs and expenses
for medication, it is my opinion that the medical evidence presented was insufficient to support an increase
in alimony. It is also evident that William Bindley Profilet's financial status was misrepresented in the
chancellor's findings and served as an erroneous basis from which the chancellor calculated the amount of
alimony. I therefore dissent and would reverse and render.
BRIDGES, J., JOINS THIS SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION.