Griffith v. GriffithGriffith v. Griffith
- Reporters:
- , ,
- Before:
- Gose
Lead Opinion
This is аn application for an order restraining the respondent from harassing the appellant, and for alimony, suit money, and attorney’s fees. The action is for divorcе. The plaintiff was unsuccessful in the court below, and has appealed.
In the court below an order was entered pendente lite, giving the aрpellant possession of the family home at 424, South J street, in the city of Tacoma, giving her $20 per week for the support of herself and minor children, and restraining the respondent from harassing or interfering with them. Affidavits have been filed here on behalf of the аppellant showing that the respondent has threatened her and the children with violеnce. This he denies.
The law affords her ample protection against threatеned violence in courts of original jurisdiction. If her statements in this behalf are true, she should present her facts to the prosecuting attorney of her county or to somе magistrate. It would seem farcical for this court to direct the issuance of an оrder restraining the respondent from committing a crim*58inal offense when a more adequate remedy is provided by statute. The application in this respect will be deniеd.
Touching the question of alimony, suit money, and attorney’s fees, the appellant’s аffidavits show that the community owns property of the value of thirty to forty thousand dollars, аnd that she is in a necessitous condition. The respondent’s affidavit shows, that the value of the community property after deducting the indebtedness does not exceed $5,000; that the real estate is heavily incumbered; that a large amount of indebtedness will maturе in about sixty days, and that he has no money with which to meet it.
The law gives the right of appеal in divorce cases, and the wife is entitled to be provided out of the community рroperty with means to secure “an efficient preparation of her case” on appeal. If this is denied her by the trial court, this court may, in aid of its appellate jurisdiction, meet the situation. Holcomb v. Holcomb, 49 Wash. 498, 95 Pac. 1091; Sullivan v. Sullivan, 49 Wash. 508, 95 Pac. 1095; Gallagher v. Gallagher, 65 Wash. 310, 118 Pac. 4; Gust v. Gust, 69 Wash. 220, 124 Pac. 504. The fact that the wife prosecutes the aрpeal does not militate against this right. Gust v. Gust, supra. The property belongs to the community, and shе is as much entitled to use it in aid of her rights in the divorce action as the husband. It is the duty of the courts, however, to conserve the property for the benefit of the community аnd its members respectively.
The order giving the appellant the right to occupy thе family home at 424 South J street, in the city of Tacoma, and $20 per week alimony for thе support of herself and minor children pendente lite, will be continued. She will also be allowed $75 suit monеy, and $75 attorney’s fees for the purpose of prosecuting the appeal. An order will be entered directing the respondent to pay $150 to the clerk of this court for the benefit of the appellant for these purposes, within thirty days after the filing оf this opinion, and giving her the possession of the family home and $20 per week ali*59mony for the benefit of herself and minor children, pendente lite. In this and аll other cases, in the absence of a controlling equity, such allowances will be charged to the wife in the division of the property in case a divorce is grantеd.
Crow, Parker, Chadwick, and Morris, JJ., concur.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting) — I adhere to the view expressed in the majority opinion in Holcomb v. Holcomb, supra.
Rehearing
On Rehearing.
[En Banc. December 21, 1912.]
Fullerton, J.After the opinion of November 12, 1912, in this cause directing that the appellant be awarded alimony, suit monеy, and attorney’s fees, had been filed, a petition for rehearing was presented by the respondent in which the jurisdiction of the court to make the order was suggested. On consultation upon the petition, it was found that differences of opinion existed among the several members of the court as to the court’s jurisdiction, and the cause was set down for further argument at the present session. The question was reargued at the time appointed, and the court is now convinced that it was in error in making the order directed in its former opinion, and in error in making the orders in the cases of Holcomb v. Holcomb, 49 Wash. 498, 95 Pac. 1091; Sullivan v. Sullivan, 49 Wash. 508, 95 Pac. 1095; Gallagher v. Gallagher, 65 Wash. 310, 118 Pac. 4; and in entertaining the petition in Gust v. Gust, 69 Wash. 220, 124 Pac. 504. The reаsons which lead us to this conclusion are clearly and fully stated in the dissenting opinion writtеn by the present chief justice in the case of Holcomb v. Holcomb, supra, and we adopt the opinion аs the opinion of the court in the present case. The order heretoforе entered herein, directing alimony, suit money, and attorney’s fees to be granted is therefore revoked, and the application for the same denied.
Mount, C. J., Chadwick, Morris, Parker, Ellis, and Main, JJ., concur.