13 N.W.2d 606 | Minn. | 1944
The cause was founded upon willful desertion dating back to 1932. Defendant denied desertion on her part and averred as a cross-bill that plaintiff had willfully deserted her and their minor child. Both claim that the desertion took place on August 6, 1932, since which time they admittedly have lived apart. Since then, defendant further alleged, her husband has done nothing toward providing for her support, and his contributions to the support of the child have been of small consequence. Her most serious charge against her husband is that he has become "infatuated" with other women and "has made it a regular practice to associate" with them. She asks for a decree of separation from bed and board, for support money for herself and child, and for other relief.
The case was heard February 23, 1943, and on March 17 the findings and order for judgment were made and filed. In substance these are:
That the parties were married at Minneapolis on October 13, 1917; that the issue of the marriage is a son, 16 years of age at the time of trial and now past 17 years; that on August 6, 1932, "defendant willfully and without plaintiff's consent left the home of plaintiff and defendant, taking therefrom all the household *545 goods and furniture * * * together with her personal belongings, and deserted plaintiff, and has ever since and now is living separate and apart from plaintiff and continued such desertion"; that defendant is "a proper and suitable parent to have the custody and care" of their child; that plaintiff is now earning $51.20 per week less war and social security taxes. The order directed that an absolute divorce be entered; that the care and custody of the child be given the wife; and as support money for the child that plaintiff pay to the mother $30 per month "until further order of court." Plaintiff was given permission to visit his son and the son his father at "reasonable times hereafter." Fifty dollars was awarded defendant for the attorney's services, and, lastly, "defendant is not entitled to recover on her cross-complaint herein."
After entry of judgment, defendant sought a new trial and other relief. She assigned various reasons as the basis for a new trial, among them that the evidence does not justify the findings; that the court erred in not allowing her any alimony; that the support money for the child should be increased; and that plaintiff should be compelled to pay $200 attorney's fees and $25 costs in the suit. In addition she asked, in the event the foregoing relief was not given her, that the court compel plaintiff to pay $300 "for the purpose of providing her with funds to pay necessary costs, disbursements, attorney's fees, and other expenses incident to appealing from the judgment" to this court. She also asked that she be relieved of the duty of filing an appeal bond.
The motions were founded upon the minutes of the court, the files and records in the case, and upon two affidavits, one by defendant, the other by her attorney. Her affidavit in support of her claim that the amount allowed for the support of the child was inadequate averred "that said son now weighs 285 pounds and that the expense to feed said son is in excess of one dollar per day." She also asserts that her earnings do not exceed $10 per week and that her own livelihood and the expenses of caring for the son cannot be met out of her earnings alone. In his affidavit her attorney averred that the cost of the transcript for the purpose of appeal *546 would be about $40, the cost of printing the record and briefs approximately $80, and the appeal fee $15. He estimated that $150 is a reasonable sum to be allowed as her attorney's fees in this court. The court heard the motions on April 12, 1943, and by order denied each of them. From that order there is no appeal. The printing of the record has been waived, so defendant has been saved that item of expense.
1. Defendant challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the findings, largely because, in her opinion, there is lack of the corroboration required by statute. Minn. St. 1941, §
2. Our statute clearly authorizes the court to decree to a wife such alimony out of her husband's estate, earnings, and income as it "may deem just and reasonable, having regard to the ability of the husband, the character and situation of the parties, and other *547
circumstances of the case." Id. §
3. By Id. § 51814 (§ 8593), it is provided that the court, "in its discretion, may require the husband to pay any sum necessary to enable the wife to carry on or defend" a divorce suit. Accordingly, we have held in several cases that this court may allow the wife suitable attorney's fees and necessary disbursements in connection with appeals in this class of cases. 2 Dunnell, Dig. Supp. § 2804, and cases under note 59. And we have in several cases awarded to the wife attorney's fees and suit money even though she was the losing party. Eberhart v. Eberhart,
4. It is accordingly adjudged and determined that the decree below be affirmed; that defendant recover from plaintiff as attorney's fees and disbursements in this court $200; and that upon the going down of the remittitur her deposit of $75 with the clerk of the trial court be returned to her.
5. Neither party will recover from the other any costs or disbursements other than as here determined.
So ordered. *549