213 Conn. 686 | Conn. | 1990
This is an appeal from certain orders concerning the judgment by the trial court, Bassick, J., dissolving the parties’ marriage. The defendant wife contends, inter alia, that the trial court erred in (1) finding certain facts concerning the distribution of property, both real and personal,
The parties were first married in 1958. As a result of this marriage, the parties had two children. This marriage was terminated by a Mexican divorce on April 14, 1966. The parties, however, remarried on December 18, 1968. At the time of the parties’ first divorce, they had no assets other than a rent controlled apartment in New York City which had been awarded to the defendant by the Mexican decree.
The plaintiff husband instituted an action to dissolve the second marriage on December 15, 1986. The defendant wife filed a cross complaint seeking a dissolution, alimony, equitable distribution and other relief. The case proceeded to trial on June 14, 1988, and occupied approximately five days. Both parties testi
The defendant contends that certain factual findings by the trial court are not supported by the evidence. In particular, the defendant claims that the trial court’s finding that a condominium and dock in Stamford were “inherited, gifted or acquired with inherited funds by the plaintiff” was clearly erroneous. The trial court found that this asset had a value of $300,000. The defendant asserts that only one half of the condomin
General Statutes § 46b-81
Fairness requires that we set out the considerations, evident to this court from the record, that create that lack of clarity for which we order a further articulation. In doing so, we point out, as we have in the past in domestic relations cases, that we cannot retry the case. See, e.g., Cookson v. Cookson, 201 Conn. 229, 243, 514 A.2d 323 (1986); Kaplan v. Kaplan, 186 Conn. 387, 391, 441 A.2d 629 (1982); Yontef v. Yontef, 185 Conn. 275, 278-79, 440 A.2d 899 (1981); Lucy v. Lucy, 183 Conn. 230, 232-33, 439 A.2d 302 (1981); Koizim v. Koizim, 181 Conn. 492, 498, 435 A.2d 1030 (1980). As the defendant points out, the plaintiff’s own “Claims for Relief” clearly state that only one half of the purchase price of the condominium and dock, i.e., $150,000, was
The defendant further claims that the balance, i.e., $150,000, of “the condominium purchase came from the Chemical account by liquidation of stocks and bonds that were not inherited, but were accumulated during the marriage.” The defendant asserts that evidence that the balance of the funds for the purchase of the Stamford condominium and dock, i.e., $150,000, was accumulated during the marriage is found in the plaintiffs testimony that at the time of the parties’ remarriage in 1968, he had no assets, he earned a large income from 1968 through 1981, he received a large
On the other hand, the plaintiff contends that the defendant misstates the trial court’s finding by claiming that it said that the condominium and dock were acquired “entirely” with funds inherited from his father. The plaintiff asserts, rather, that the court was correct in finding that the condominium and dock were acquired with inherited funds. The plaintiff also points out that he testified that he purchased one half ($150,000) of the condominium with funds from the Swiss bank account inherited from his father. Therefore, the plaintiff contends, since the court did not find, as the defendant maintains, that the condominium and dock were acquired “entirely” with inherited funds, there was no error in this finding.
Alternatively, the plaintiff argues that it would have been reasonable for the court to conclude on the evidence that the property was purchased entirely with inherited funds. His argument proceeds as follows. The plaintiff testified that he transferred his stocks and bonds account from Merrill Lynch to Chemical Securities, a special department of Chemical Bank. The plaintiff asserts that, although there was no testimony introduced concerning the source of funds for the Merrill Lynch account, the trial court could have made a reasonable inference from the evidence presented that it was established with the proceeds from the sale of one half of the plaintiff’s interest in the New York real estate partnership that was inherited from his mother. In 1973, the plaintiff inherited from his mother’s estate
In addition, the plaintiff claims that from 1979 to 1981 he was spending more than he was earning. Therefore, the plaintiff asserts, it would have been reasonable for the court to conclude that the only possible source of funds for the stocks and bonds held in the plaintiffs Merrill Lynch account was either the proceeds from the sale of the West End Avenue property or his retirement fund from Merban Corporation that he withdrew when he left that company in 1981. When he left Merban Corporation, he testified that he received a check from the employee pension trust for $228,614. He further testified that he invested $205,000 of that money in several stock investments that did not include the investments with Merrill Lynch. On the basis of this testimony, the plaintiff asserts that the only reasonable inference that could be drawn was that he funded his Merrill Lynch account with proceeds acquired from the sale of his interest in the West End Avenue partnership that had been inherited.
An appellate court will not disturb a trial court’s orders in domestic relations cases unless the court has abused its discretion or it is found that it could not reasonably conclude as it did, based on the facts presented. McPhee v. McPhee, 186 Conn. 167, 177, 440 A.2d 274 (1982); Gallo v. Gallo, 184 Conn. 36, 50, 440 A.2d 782 (1981). It is within the province of the trial court to find facts and draw proper inferences from the evidence presented. Solomon v. Aberman, 196 Conn. 359, 378, 493 A.2d 193 (1985). “ ‘ “ ‘On appeal, it is the function of this court to determine whether the decision of the trial court is clearly erroneous. See Practice Book, [§ 4061]. . . . [W]here the factual basis of the court’s
We have set out certain evidence together with claims of the parties directed to the source of the disputed half of the purchase price, i.e., $150,000 of the Stamford condominium and dock. As we have indicated, the appellate record concerning that matter is such that that issue is not amenable to meaningful appellate review. “It is the duty of the judge who tried the case to set forth the basis of his decision.” Powers v. Powers,
On remand, the trial court, Bassick, J., must answer two questions. First, whether the Stamford condominium and dock were entirely or partly inherited, gifted or acquired with inherited funds by the plaintiff. The trial court must fully set out the factual basis of its answer to this question. Second, having answered the first question as directed, the trial court must then answer the question of what effect, if any, its answer to the first question has on the overall disposition of the real and personal property of the parties as set out in its memorandum of decision. In the event that its answer to the second question is that it has no effect, it should say that. If, however, its answer is that it does have an effect, the trial court should then set out the factual basis for its determination of the nature of that effect. Once the trial court, Bassick, J., has articulated as directed, it should promptly file its findings and conclusions with the clerk of this court for our review. In addition, we want to emphasize that in remanding this case, we intimate no view on the issue to be resolved by the trial court or of any of the defendant’s other claims of error which we may later be called upon to decide.
Accordingly, the case is remanded to the trial court, Bassick, J., for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.
In this opinion the other justices concurred.
The defendant contends that the property distribution was tainted by the trial court’s having committed clear error in making the following findings of fact: (1) that neither party was responsible for the breakdown of the marriage; (2) that the plaintiff purchased the Stamford condominium and dock solely with funds inherited from his father; (3) that all of the nonin-
General Statutes § 46b-82 provides: “(Formerly Sec. 46-52). alimony. At the time of entering the decree, the superior court may order either of the parties to pay alimony to the other, in addition to or in lieu of an award pursuant to section 46b-81. The order may direct that security be given therefor on such terms as the court may deem desirable, including an order to either party to contract with a third party for periodic payments or payments contingent on a life to the other party. In determining whether alimony shall be awarded, and the duration and amount of the award, the court shall hear the witnesses, if any, of each party, except as provided in subsection (a) of section 46b-51, shall consider the length of the. marriage, the causes for the annulment, dissolution of the marriage or legal separation, the age, health, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate and needs of each of the parties and the award, if any, which the court may make pursuant to section 46b-81, and, in the case of a parent to whom the custody of minor children has been awarded, the desirability of such parent’s securing employment.”
The defendant’s last claim of error challenges the propriety of Judge Thim’s ruling on the defendant’s motion to open and vacate the judgment and for reargument. Following the trial before Judge Bassick and his memorandum of decision on this matter, Judge Bassick became ill and was absent from the bench for some time. Judge Thim heard and denied the defendant’s motion during that period. The defendant contends that the motion should have been heard by Judge Bassick and that it was improper for another judge to hear and decide such motion where the trial judge’s term of office had not expired and the judge had not retired because of disability and had not died or resigned during the pendency of this case. General Statutes § 51-183 (f). During oral argument before this court, the defendant’s attorney abandoned this issue; therefore, we will not address it.
General Statutes § 46b-81 provides: “(Formerly Sec. 46-51). assignment of PROPERTY and TRANSFER OF TITLE, (a) At the time of entering a decree annulling or dissolving a marriage or for legal separation pursuant to a complaint under section 46b-45, the superior court may assign to either the husband or wife all or any part of the estate of the other. The court may pass title to real property to either party or to a third person or may order the sale of such real property, without any act by either the husband or the wife, when in the judgment of the court it is the proper mode to carry the decree into effect.
“(b) A conveyance made pursuant to the decree shall vest title in the purchaser, and shall bind all persons entitled to life estates and remainder interests in the same manner as a sale ordered by the court pursuant to the provisions of section 52-500. When the decree is recorded on the land records in the town where the real property is situated, it shall effect the transfer of the title of such real property as if it were a deed of the party or parties.
“(c) In fixing the nature and value of the property, if any, to be assigned, the court, after hearing the witnesses, if any, of each party, except as provided in subsection (a) of section 46b-51, shall consider the length of the marriage, the causes for the annulment, dissolution of the marriage or legal separation, the age, health, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate, liabilities and needs of each of the parties and the opportunity of each for future acquisition of capital assets and income. The court shall also consider the contribution of each of the parties in the acquisition, preservation or appreciation in value of their respective estates.”
It is important to note that the plaintiffs financial affidavit filed with the court on June 14, 1988, lists the condominium and dock, valued at $300,000, along with several other assets. In listing the other assets, however, the plaintiff specifically included only his share of the equity, whereas in listing the condominium and dock, he listed the entire value. He listed, for example, a one-half equity interest in the property at Remsenburg, Long Island, New York, valued at $900,000 and a one-half interest in the property in Uruguay, valued at $32,500.
In addition, the plaintiff purchased the Stamford condominium and dock in October, 1986, which was after the parties had separated in 1984.