In Matter of Marriage of Baumgartner and Baumgartner

770 P.2d 965 (1989) 95 Or.App. 723

In the matter of the Marriage of Monte L. BAUMGARTNER, Respondent, and
Maria G. Baumgartner, Appellant.

CC86-3475; CA A48138.

Court of Appeals of Oregon.

Argued and Submitted January 27, 1989. Decided March 22, 1989. Reconsideration Denied May 5, 1989.

Ira L. Gottlieb, Portland, argued the cause for appellant. With him on the brief were Keller, Gottlieb & Gorin, Portland.

Elizabeth A. Baldwin, Astoria, argued the cause and filed the brief for respondent.

Before JOSEPH, C.J., and RIGGS and EDMONDS, JJ.

EDMONDS, Judge.

In this dissolution proceeding, wife assigns as error the trial court's division of property, its requirement that she be medically examined each year to determine her employability and the failure to grant her permanent spousal support. On de novo review, we modify the property division, eliminate the medical examination requirement and affirm the award of spousal support.

At the time of trial, husband, age 35, and wife, age 41, had been married eight years. Wife is a college graduate and worked as an executive secretary before the marriage, but has not worked since. She suffers from a condition known as candidiasis, but it will likely resolve in three to five years. She is currently unemployable. Husband has a dental practice with a gross income of $160,000 and a net income of $50,000 per year. At the time of the marriage, husband had completed dental school, but neither party had any significant assets.

The trial court's division of marital property results in husband receiving net assets of $87,366. Wife was awarded net assets of $50,628, including a judgment of $20,000. The trial court believed that the disparity in award was justified because the dental practice was the source of money to pay marital obligations and spousal support. That rationale was rejected by this court in Stewart and Stewart, 59 Or. App. 713, 717, 651 P.2d 1379 (1982); see also Goebel and Goebel, 56 Or. App. 52, 641 P.2d 59 (1982). As was the case in Stewart and Goebel, husband's ability to earn income will not be diminished by considering his dental practice as a marital asset. We find that the statutory presumption of equal contribution has not been overcome. ORS 107.105(1)(f). We modify the property division to equalize the division of marital property.^[1]

The trial court ordered that wife submit to a medical examination by a physician chosen by husband on an annual basis and that the physician make a report to both parties as to whether wife is physically capable of full-time employment. We agree with wife that the court erred in imposing this requirement. A court's authority to grant relief in dissolution cases is solely statutory. Grayson v. Grayson, 222 Or. 507, 513, 352 P.2d 738 (1960). We find no authority in the statutes or case law which would permit a trial court to impose a requirement of physical examination of a former spouse in the circumstances in this record. Since the court's power is limited to that expressly conferred by ORS 107.135 and that implied to carry an express grant into effect, the trial court was without authority to enter the order. See Burke v. Burke, 216 Or. 691, 340 P.2d 948 (1959).^[2]

Because of wife's age, employment history and projected recovery from her health problems, we hold that the spousal support award structured by the trial court over a period of five years is appropriate. See Coats v. Coats, 64 Or. App. 594, 669 P.2d 370 (1983).

Judgment modified to award wife $38,369, payable at the rate of not less than $5,500 per year, plus interest; first payment due 30 days after effective date of appellate judgment; requirement of annual medical examination deleted; affirmed as modified. Costs to wife.

NOTES

[1] The trial court divided the property as follows:

A. Family Assets                              Wife      Husband
Cash payment to wife                      $ 2,500    $
Personal Property*                         16,628      5,825
Dental Office Building Award*                         40,000
Warrenton House-Est. Net Proceeds
Split                                   $11,500    $11,500
B. Dental Practice Assets
Dental Equipment                                      30,000
Accounts Receivable                                   20,000
Good Will                                             59,750
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total Assets Awarded                         $30,628   $167,075
---------------------------------------------------------------
C. Family Liabilities
Bank of Astoria                                      (2,000)
Citibank VISA                                        (2,346)
1st Card VISA                                        (4,784)
D. Dental Practice Liabilities
Total Equipment Loans                               (24,545)
Total Education Loans                               (26,034)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total Liabilities Awarded                             ($59,709)
---------------------------------------------------------------
NET ASSETS AWARDED (Assets-Liabilities)      $30,628   $107.366
Judgment for 1/2 of value of dental
office building                             20,000   (20,000)

When the division of property is equalized, wife's judgment increases to $38,369.00.

[2] A person's physical condition is a highly personal matter, the disclosure of which is protected by law unless waived by the person's own actions. See State ex rel Grimm v. Ashmanskas, 298 Or. 206, 212, 690 P.2d 1063 (1984). ORCP 44 provides for medical examinations if the physical condition of a party is "in controversy." It further provides that an order for an examination can only be made "on motion for good cause shown." This provision requires a trial court to hold a hearing after a controversy exists and before the examination occurs. The trial court's judgment did not require that.