NATALEE MOSSING-LANDERS v. MICHAEL D. LANDERS
Appellate Case No. 27031
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT MONTGOMERY COUNTY
November 4, 2016
2016-Ohio-7625
WELBAUM, J.
Trial Court Case No. 14LS3 (Appeal from Domestic Relations Court)
Rendered on the 4th day of November, 2016.
DAVID P. MESAROS, Atty. Reg. No. 0012725, ADAM R. MESAROS, Atty. Reg. No. 0089828, 7051 Clyo Road, Centerville, Ohio 45459 Attorneys for Plaintiff-Appellee
MICHAEL D. LANDERS, 6359 West Behrend Dr., Glendale, Arizona 85308 Defendant-Appellant-Pro Se
WELBAUM, J.
{¶ 2} We conclude that the trial court did not err in connection with the issue of whether Michael’s veteran’s disability benefits should be included in income for purposes of calculating child support. Michael failed to present evidence that these benefits fit the statutory exclusion in
I. Facts and Course of Proceedings
{¶ 4} Prior to the time the action was filed, Michael had retired from the United States Air Force (“USAF“), and was receiving a pension. In addition, Michael received a veteran’s disability pension. Around the time the complaint was filed in January 2014, Michael was also earning more than $100,000 in income from other employment. However, during the litigation, Michael decided to become a golf pro. As a result, he went to Chandler, Arizona, in the winter of 2015 to attend school and pursue a golf management career.
{¶ 5} The trial for the divorce was set for March 27, 2015, and Michael was represented by counsel at the time. The record does not reflect what occurred at the hearing, and no transcript of the hearing has been filed. According to Natalee’s testimony at the support modification hearing, there was a dispute about the number to use for Michael’s income and the judge decided to assign a figure of $85,000.
{¶ 6} According to the amended pretrial statement that Michael filed on March 26, 2015, his yearly income at the time from employment was $14,560, based on two part-time golf internships in Arizona that paid about $8.00 per hour. However, Natalee’s testimony at the modification hearing was that Michael’s income at the time of the decree was about $20,000. In addition, Michael’s pretrial statement listed a retirement pension of $3,094 per month and USAF disability benefits of $1,509.51 per month.
{¶ 7} On May 5, 2015, the trial court filed a motion and entry for contempt based on the attorneys’ failure to file the final judgment and decree of divorce. According to
{¶ 8} On May 26, 2015, the trial court granted the motion of Michael’s counsel to withdraw. Michael’s counsel indicated that there had been differing opinions and courses of strategy about how to proceed. In addition, Michel had said he no longer wished his attorney to represent him.
{¶ 9} The final judgment and decree of divorce was filed on June 1, 2015. At the support modification hearing, Natalee indicated that Michael would not either sign the divorce decree or cooperate in finalizing it. The decree as filed stated that if private health insurance were provided, Michael would pay monthly child support of $770 per child, for a total of $1,540, plus 2% poundage, for a total of $1,570.80. In the child support worksheet that was attached, Michael’s income was listed as $85,000 and Natalee’s income was listed as $50,000. The amount of $9,020 in childcare expenses was credited to Natalee, and a percentage of that amount, consistent with Michael’s share of the parties’ combined income, was added to Michael’s annual support obligation.
{¶ 10} Spousal support was not ordered, but Natalee was granted 24% of Michael’s disposable military retirement pay. Michael was required to transfer this amount to Natalee within three days of receipt each month. This was based on the fact that Natalee had not been married to Michael long enough for the military to make direct
{¶ 11} No appeal was taken from the final judgment and decree.3 About two weeks after the decree was filed, Michael filed a pro se motion for change of child support, and a change of parenting time. In the motion, Michael alleged that a change of circumstances had occurred, as he had moved back to Dayton, Ohio, from Arizona, and was working two part-time jobs. He contended that the child support payments were a hardship, and asked the court to reduce his support obligation to $500 per month per child. He also asked that the amount of non-insured health care expenses be reduced to $50 per month per child.
{¶ 12} On September 22, 2015, the magistrate held a hearing, at which both Michael and Natalee testified. During the hearing, Michael indicated that he was working about 27 to 32 hours weekly at Yankee Trace Golf Club, at a pay rate of $9.10 per hour, and at Dick’s Sporting Goods for 13 to 15 hours weekly, at a pay rate of $9.00 per hour. He also stated that his gross (not net) retirement pay was $3,443 per month, and his 60% veteran’s disability pension was $1,534.32. Natalee testified to the facts as indicated above, and further stated that she was still currently incurring about $9,000 in childcare expense for the children.
{¶ 14} In addition, the magistrate heard testimony about an increase in parenting time, as the prior order granted only about 4 days per month, due to Michael’s residence in Arizona. However, he had since moved back to Ohio.
{¶ 15} After hearing the testimony, the magistrate granted Michael’s motion for more parenting time, and allowed him time pursuant to the court’s standard order. The magistrate also reduced Michael’s child support to $463 per month per child, based on an income figure on the child support worksheet for Michael of $22,748. In addition, the magistrate attributed $50,000 in income to Natalee, and credited her with $3,752 in daycare costs. This latter amount was based on the $2,720 shown for the summer in Ex. 1, and $1032 for the year, as an extrapolation from the amounts the parties provided for childcare for the year to Centerville Safe Care.
{¶ 16} Natalee filed objections to the magistrate’s decision and then filed supplemental objections after the transcript of the hearing had been filed. On January 27, 2016, the trial court overruled Natalee’s objections in part and sustained them in part.
{¶ 17} In this regard, the court noted that, even though Michael had moved back to Ohio from Arizona, his income remained essentially the same as it had at the final divorce hearing, and had only increased by about 4%. The court also observed that Michael was still voluntarily unemployed, there had been no change in his present income, and that the situation was of Michael’s own making. And finally, the court observed, without elaboration, that there had been no substantial change of circumstances in the childcare expenses.
{¶ 18} Michael now appeals from the trial court’s decision.
II. Alleged Inclusion of Veteran’s Disability Benefits
{¶ 19} Michael’s First Assignment of Error states that:
The Trial Court Erred in Overruling Magistrate Stoermer’s 28 October 2105 [sic] Decision [
Civ.R. 53 ] to Reduce Child Support Based on My Veterans Affairs 60% Disability Rating and Pay.
{¶ 20} Under this assignment of error, Michael contends that the trial court erred in rejecting the magistrate’s conclusion that his veteran’s disability benefits should be excluded as income for child support calculation purposes.
{¶ 21} We review child support decisions for abuse of discretion. Booth v. Booth, 44 Ohio St.3d 142, 144, 541 N.E.2d 1028 (1989). ” ‘Abuse of discretion’ has been defined as an attitude that is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable.” (Citation
{¶ 22}
{¶ 23}
{¶ 24} In Avery v. Avery, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2001-CA-100, 2002 WL 360296 (Mar. 8, 2002), we rejected the appellant’s argument that his veteran’s disability income
While this may be true, it is irrelevant. Specifically, Joseph is not being charged for child support purposes with the full amount of his military pension; he is being charged only with the amount left after deduction of the disability waiver. Adding the disability waiver simply means that Joseph will be charged, for child support purposes, only with the actual amount of income he receives. Contrary to Joseph’s belief, no amount is being counted twice. In fact, Joseph benefits from receiving part of his military retirement as disability, since it reduces the taxable amount of the retirement pay.
Id.
{¶ 25} The record at the hearing is devoid of evidence that Michael’s veteran’s disability benefits met the requirements of
{¶ 27} In re-calculating child support, the Magistrate omitted the disability income and credited Michael with $62,064 in gross income. This included $20,748 in income from Michael’s employment and $41,316 in Michael’s retirement benefits (12 x $3,443 (the USAF retirement pension) per month = $41,316). If the magistrate had included the $1,534.32 that Michael also received monthly for his veteran’s disability payment, his gross income for purposes of calculating child support would have been $80,475.84. ($1,534.32 x 12 = $18,411.84. $18,411.84 + $62,064 = $80,475.84.)
{¶ 28} In overruling the objections to the magistrate’s decision, the trial court did
{¶ 29} “In order to modify child support, the trial court must find a substantial change in circumstances, which is defined in
{¶ 30} We agree with the trial court that no substantial change in circumstances in this regard occurred under
{¶ 31} Michael’s Second Assignment of Error states that:
The Trial Court Erred in Overruling Magistrate Stoermer’s 28 October 2015 Decision [
Civ.R. 53 ] Regarding Child Care Expenses Found on Line 19b of the Child Support Computation Worksheet Filed with the June 1, 2015 Final Judgment and Decree of Divorce at $9,200.6
{¶ 32} Under this assignment of error, Michael contends that the trial court erred in using a figure of more than $9,000 in childcare expenses for purposes of calculating the support obligation, rather than the $3,752 figure the magistrate used. In responding to Michael’s argument, Natalee cites to the transcript of the final divorce hearing, where Michael allegedly accepted the terms of the agreement as to daycare expenses. The transcript of the final divorce hearing is not in the record, and we cannot consider facts that are not in the record.
{¶ 33} Furthermore, whether or not Michael agreed at the time is irrelevant. Parties are entitled to file for modification at any time under
If an obligor or obligee under a child support order requests that the court modify the amount of support required to be paid pursuant to the child support order, the court shall recalculate the amount of support that would be required to be paid under the child support order in accordance with the schedule and the applicable worksheet through the line establishing the
actual annual obligation. If that amount as recalculated is more than ten per cent greater than or more than ten per cent less than the amount of child support required to be paid pursuant to the existing child support order, the deviation from the recalculated amount that would be required to be paid under the schedule and the applicable worksheet shall be considered by the court as a change of circumstance substantial enough to require a modification of the child support amount.
{¶ 34} ”
{¶ 35} “When calculating child support, a trial court has discretion to determine what amount of child-care expenses should be included on a child-support worksheet.” Qi v. Yang, 2d Dist. Greene No. 2012-CA-24, 2012-Ohio-5542, ¶ 23, citing Johnson v. McConnell, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24115, 2010-Ohio-5900, ¶ 23. All claimed daycare expenses are not automatically included in the calculation; instead, the court has discretion to decide an appropriate amount. Id. We have stressed that the party who claims childcare expenses has the burden of showing “how and why the expenses she claimed are reasonable.” Daufel v. Daufel, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 22584, 2008-Ohio-3868, ¶ 38.
{¶ 36} At the hearing held in September 2015, Natalee testified that she still had
{¶ 37} Natalee did provide a paper on which she had apparently estimated various daycare expenses she would have for the year, but there is no documentation indicating that these expenses were actually incurred. See Ex. 1, p. 1. As was noted, the only childcare provider mentioned by Natalee in her testimony (other than her summer help) was Centerville Safe Care, and documentation from that facility indicated that only a total of $687.50 in expenses had been incurred through September 16, 2015. Even if this figure is ignored, Natalee still only provided some evidence of $3,302.50 for expenses incurred prior to the date of the hearing (September 22, 2015).
{¶ 38} The magistrate apparently did not credit Natalee’s unsupported testimony, which conflicted with the documentation, and used a figure of $3,752 for childcare expenses. In ruling on Natalee’s objections, the trial court disagreed, and continued to
{¶ 39} Although trial courts have discretion in these matters, they cannot ignore documentary evidence in the record, particularly when it contradicts a party’s testimony. As was noted, the evidence indicated, at best, expenses for childcare through September 22, 2015, of only $3,407.50 [$2,720 (home daycare in June and July) plus $687.50 (Centerville Safe Care)]. The magistrate extrapolated a yearly figure from this of $3,752, and the trial court’s decision to use a $9,020 figure for child care expenses is not supported by the evidence. Natalee had the burden of establishing her expenses, and she failed to do so.
{¶ 40} This case involves a child support computation worksheet for a sole residential parent under
{¶ 42} The amount calculated by using the formula for adjustments in Line 21a is $2,551.14. Specifically, Michael’s share of the parties’ combined annual income (62.96%) is multiplied by the sum of the amounts shown on line 19, Column II ($3,752) and line 20a, Column II ($300). The sum of these two items is $4,052. 62.96% of $4,052 equals $2,551.14. Adding $12,620.65 to $2,551.14 results in a total annual support obligation for Michael of $15,171.79. Further dividing this figure by 12 results in a monthly support obligation of $1,264.32, or 632.16 per child.8
{¶ 43} Michael’s original support obligation calculated in the worksheet attached to the divorce decree was $18,488.52 (with health insurance), and $17,402.16, plus $201.92 cash medical support (without health insurance). These amounts of support, respectively, were $1540.71 and $1,652.10 monthly (without processing fees included). Originally, a withholding order was issued on June 1, 2015, indicating that an amount of $1,570.80, which included the 2% processing fee, would be withheld. The new amount of child support after Michael’s modification motion would have been $1,264.32, plus $25.29 (the 2% processing fee), or a total of $1,289.61. Comparing these figures, there
{¶ 44} 10 percent of the amount of child support awarded in the divorce decree (1,540.71) is $154.07. That amount, subtracted from $1,540.71 is $1,386.64. A reduction to $1,264.32 would clearly exceed the requirement of being “more than ten per cent less than the amount of child support required to be paid pursuant to the existing child support order * * *.”
{¶ 45} As noted, we have previously said that “[i]n order to modify child support, the trial court must find a substantial change in circumstances, which is defined in
When a motion to modify is filed, the court must recalculate the amount of support that would be required to be paid by using the child support schedule and the applicable worksheet.
R.C. 3119.79(A) . If the amount deviates 10% more or less from the prior order, the statute states that “the deviation from the recalculated amount that would be required to be paid under the schedule and the applicable worksheet shall be considered by the court as a change of circumstance substantial enough to
require a modification of the child support amount.” (Emphasis added.)
Id. at ¶ 9. Thus, in this situation, the trial court has no discretion, but must consider the amount a change of circumstances sufficient to require modification.
{¶ 46} In Cornell, the appellant did not argue that the calculations in the worksheet were incorrect, but instead argued about the circumstances of the parties. We rejected this argument, noting the prior observation of the Supreme Court of Ohio that ” ‘[t]he ten percent difference applies to the change in the amount of child support, not to the change in circumstances of the parents.’ ” (Emphasis in original.) Id. at ¶ 11, quoting DePalmo v. DePalmo, 78 Ohio St.3d 535, 540, 679 N.E.2d 266 (1997). We also indicated that ” ‘the parties’ prior agreement cannot override the trial court’s duty to review the child-support issue * * *.’ ” Id. at ¶ 12, quoting Quint v. Lomakoski, 173 Ohio App.3d 146, 2007-Ohio-4722, 877 N.E.2d 738, ¶ 40 (2d Dist.), which in turn, cited DePalmo at 539-540.
{¶ 47} In DePalmo, the court stressed that:
The law favors settlements. However, the difficult issue of child support may result in agreements that are suspect. In custody battles, choices are made, and compromises as to child support may be reached for the sake of peace or as a result of unequal bargaining power or economic pressures. The compromises may be in the best interests of the parents but not of the child. Thus, the legislature has assigned the court to act as the child’s watchdog in the matter of support.
{¶ 49} In this regard, we note that
{¶ 50} Specifically, the part of
{¶ 51} We concluded in a prior case that “the clear language of the statute provides that the mere fact that support calculated in accordance with the guidelines differs by more than 10% from the support currently ordered, by itself, is sufficient to trigger a recalculation.” Smith v. Smith, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 16183, 1997 WL 435697, *2 (July 25, 1997) [discussing
{¶ 52} Smith was decided after DePalmo had been issued, even though it did not discuss the case. In contrast, our decision in Baire appears to be inconsistent with the decision in DePalmo, which stresses that the relevant factor is the change in the amount of support, not a change in circumstances of the parents. DePalmo, 78 Ohio St.3d at 540, 679 N.E.2d 266. Obviously, DePalmo had not yet been decided when Baire was issued. However, we did cite Baire in a subsequent case that was decided after DePalmo. See In re S.H., 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 23382, 2009-Ohio-6592, ¶ 47.
{¶ 53} S.H. did not deal with the 10 percent threshold test in
{¶ 54} In this regard, we cited Baire, stating that “[s]uch findings were particularly important in this case given the fact that [the obligor] was also unemployed when the initial support order was issued. See Baire v. Baire (1995), 102 Ohio App.3d 50, 55, 656 N.E.2d 984 (stating that a deviation is not sufficient to support a modification if the deviation was ‘within the contemplation of the parties and the court at the time the original support order was issued.’)” Id. at ¶ 47. Our decision was mandated, however, by Marker v. Grimm, 65 Ohio St.3d 139, 601 N.E.2d 496 (1992), which stated that “[a]ny court-ordered deviation from the applicable worksheet and the basic child support schedule must be entered by the court in its journal and must include findings of fact to support such determination.” Id. at paragraph three of the syllabus.
{¶ 55} Although Marker involved
{¶ 56} In the meantime, the Supreme Court of Ohio issued its decision in DePalmo, which dealt with a situation in which support had initially been waived in 1990. DePalmo,
{¶ 57} Under this test, use of the 10 percent threshold test was restricted in situations where the parties had agreed that the noncustodial parent was not required to make support payments. Anderkin at 690-691. Instead, courts applied the “dual threshold test,” which allowed modification only where a change in circumstances had occurred so that the custodial parent could no longer provide the total amount of support that was reasonable, or where the non-custodial parent’s circumstances had substantially changed so that the trial court could find, in its discretion, that support from the non-custodial parent was in the children’s best interests. DePalmo at 538. In support of this test, the mother in DePalmo argued that “that circumstances at the time of the hearing were substantially similar to those on * * * the date of the original agreement * * *.” Id. at 535.
{¶ 58} The Supreme Court of Ohio rejected the use of the dual threshold test. First, the court stated that whether a support order is currently in existence “is a distinction without a difference and is immaterial to whether child support should be calculated according to the statutory guidelines.” Id. at 539. As was noted, the court then stated that “[i]f a support order already exists, the only test to determine whether child support shall be modified is set forth by
{¶ 59} The court went on to stress the requirement of strictly complying with the Child Support Guidelines, and stated that “[o]bviously, when the amount of child support provided by the noncustodial parent is zero, but the Child Support Guidelines clearly establish that the noncustodial parent owes support, then that ten percent difference is clearly met.” DePalmo, 78 Ohio St.3d at 540, 679 N.E.2d 266. Notably, the court did not consider whether the change in circumstances was contemplated at the time of the original order, and did not agree with the obligor’s argument that support (or rather the order of no support) should not be modified because “circumstances at the time of the hearing were substantially similar to those on * * * the date of the original agreement.” Id. at 536-537.
{¶ 60} Ultimately, the Supreme Court of Ohio stated that “[w]hen the court is modifying a preexisting order for the payment of child support, the court must apply the ten percent test established by
{¶ 61} As a result, the trial court was required to recalculate the support and, if the difference were more or less than 10 percent, that would constitute a substantial change in circumstances. This is not to say that the trial court has no discretion at all in the
{¶ 62} Some courts have held that
{¶ 63} Bonner has been distinguished in situations not involving a voluntary agreement. See Banfield v. Banfield, 12th Dist. Clermont Nos. CA-2010-09-066, CA2010-09-068, 2011-Ohio-3638, ¶ 23.
{¶ 64} In Reik v. Bowden, 172 Ohio App.3d 12, 2007-Ohio-2533, 872 N.E.2d 1253 (1st Dist.), the court of appeals stated that a difference of more than 10 percent and the amount of the original order of child support is “a change of circumstances as a matter of law.” Id. at ¶ 18. The court of appeals distinguished Bonner, based on the fact that the parties there had “agreed to deviate from the statutory amount, and the order explained the terms of their agreement.” Id. at ¶ 27 and fn. 19. In this regard, the court noted that:
Such agreed orders function like any other contract. When parties voluntarily agree to limit the circumstances under which they will seek to modify a support order, they remain bound by the terms that they set forth in their agreement and cannot modify the order even if they can make a showing of a 10 percent change. For example, if [a] party agrees not to seek modification unless either there is a change in custody or he becomes disabled, he is bound by that agreement.
(Footnotes omitted.) Id. We have agreed with Reik that “interpretation of language used by parties in an agreed entry is governed by contract principles and is subject to the same rules.” Klein v. Botelho, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24393, 2011-Ohio-4165, ¶ 20, citing Reik at ¶ 12 (Other citations omitted.)
{¶ 65} Assuming that the divorce decree in the case before us was an “agreed entry,” nothing in the decree precludes either party from seeking modification of child support. We also note that the decision in Adams appears to conflict with DePalmo. Specifically, in DePalmo, the trial court’s original judgment entry in 1990 “incorporated [father’s] waiver of all support from [mother].” DePalmo, 78 Ohio St.3d at 536, 679 N.E.2d 266. Despite this agreement, the Supreme Court of Ohio did not require a finding of a substantial change in circumstances beyond the 10 percent difference. Instead, the court stated that “[o]bviously, when the amount of child support provided by the noncustodial parent is zero, but the Child Support Guidelines clearly establish that the noncustodial parent owes support, then that ten percent difference is clearly met.” Id. at 540. As was noted previously, despite the re-codification of the child support statutes in 2001, nothing pertinent has changed in the wording of the provisions considered in
{¶ 66} Nonetheless, even if we required a substantial change in circumstances not contemplated by the prior order, such a change existed in the case before us. When the trial court used $9,020 as the child support figure in the original order, one assumes that it was anticipated that this was the amount that would be spent on childcare. Clearly, that did not occur.
{¶ 67} Accordingly, after due consideration, we conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in calculating the amount of childcare expenses. We, therefore, sustain the Second Assignment of Error.
{¶ 68} On remand, the trial court should enter the $3,752 figure as childcare expenses on the child support worksheet and recalculate the amount of support due. We are not remanding for further hearing on the issue of the amount of childcare expenses; this is the amount that was supported by the evidence presented at the modification hearing. Again, if Natalee had receipts for other childcare expenses, she should have presented them at the hearing, as she had the burden of establishing the amount of her childcare expenses. We express no opinion concerning whether a deviation in the amount of support ordered would be appropriate under
IV. Conclusion
{¶ 69} Michael’s First Assignment of Error having been overruled, and his Second Assignment of Error having been sustained, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed in part and reversed in part, and this matter is remanded for proceedings consistent with our opinion.
HALL, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part:
{¶ 70} I agree with the conclusion that the trial court did not include Appellant-Father’s Veteran’s Affairs disability pay in the child support computations as asserted in the first assignment of error. Father had quit his job paying over $100,000.00 per year in order to pursue a career as a golf instructor. The trial court reasonably concluded that Appellant was still voluntarily underemployed and an $85,000.00 income should be attributed to him. This is the same amount utilized for his income in the Final Decree of Divorce filed June 1, 2015, just two weeks before his June 15, 2015 motion for modification of support. It did not include his disability benefit.
{¶ 71} I write separately however to detail my analysis regarding the amount of child care expenses included in a support worksheet to determine whether there is a 10% difference in support to be considered as a change in circumstances substantial enough to require a modification.
{¶ 72} However, Mother then testified in response. She said she still had “$9,000” for child care, most likely a rounding of the $9020 used in the Decree worksheet.12 But then mother also referred to Exhibit 1, her list of daycare expenses. That statement is broken down into two parts. The first part is for “Summer/school days off” which is a detailed calculation of the costs for day care for each child for the days they are not in school during the school year, and the costs for the days that they are out of school in the summer. This amount totals $4,760.00. The remainder of the grand total is an amount projected for after-school care listed as “During the school year is $4260.” This second amount does not include the non-school days listed in the first part. The exhibit also states “(however, due to the fact that my work allows me to come home early ...I am not paying for after school care right now).” With this exhibit, mother’s evidence is that she has only $4,760.00 for annual child care expenses. It may be that she is, or was, no longer able to get off work early and actually incurred, or will incur, the additional school year work related child care, but she should not have been able to include amounts she did not actually incur unless perhaps that had been part of the agreement at the time of the settlement leading to the decree. In my opinion, these are matters for the trial court to determine upon remand. Accordingly, upon remand I would leave it to the trial court to either determine from the record the amount of child care expenses to use, not exceeding the $4,760.00 presented by the evidence, or conduct or order a new hearing under the authority of
David P. Mesaros
Adam R. Mesaros
Michael D. Landers
Hon. Timothy D. Wood