Weidert v. Weidert

106 Wash. 410 | Wash. | 1919

Chadwick, C. J.

Plaintiff brought action for divorce. Defendant plead the general issue and set up an affirmative cause of action by way of cross-complaint and prayed for a decree.

Both plaintiff and defendant so well sustained their respective pleas that the court may well have granted a divorce to either, or denied the prayer of both. The court found “That plaintiff has not been without blame but is less blameworthy than the defendant, and that plaintiff is entitled to a divorce against the defendant. ’ ’

At this distance, we cannot say that the court abused its discretion. To which spouse a, decree is given, is of no concern to us or to the public. We therefore pass the charge that the court erred in refusing to grant the divorce to the defendant, and come to the only question in the case.

The court found, upon the admission of the defendant, that he was worth $25,000, and ordered the defendant to pay forthwith into the registry of the court for the use of the plaintiff $6,000 and $250 attorney’s fees and costs. When the parties were married in 1906, each had had previous matrimonial experience. Plaintiff had certainly about $900, and possibly $1,500. Whatever the amount may have been, she retained it as her own. Defendant had the property that he now has, and which is now his separate property. Defendant is worth more than when married, but his added worth comes from the increased value of his lands. The parties traveled much in search of health, and a considerable sum was spent for the benefit of plaintiff—defendant says about $6,000, but without a showing of all the items. It is certain, however, that a substantial aggregate sum was dispensed; for two operations were performed, one of which was to relieve a condition which, in the opinion of the surgeons, resulted from a vicious infection of some years ’ standing.

Plaintiff brought nothing to the marriage state— neither health nor property. There is nothing in the habit, conduct, or the lives of the parties to call for an admeasurement of equities. There never was a heart or a true emotion in the union; and in the dissolution we feel that the court should meet the situation in the impassiveness that moved the parties when they entered into the married state in which they have walked during the eleven years of their disastrous venture. Were the question entirely original, we would not be so liberally inclined as was tbe trial judge, or as we have decided to be, having due regard and esteem for his opinion. With this feeling, then, we have concluded that plaintiff should have no more than $5,000 including the $250 allowed for attorney’s fees.

In the notice of appeal, reference is made to an order allowing plaintiff $250 attorney’s fees on appeal and $75 per month alimony pending the appeal. We do not find such an order in the transcript. Our decision will nullify the order, if it was made, but defendant will pay plaintiff’s counsel $250 as attorney’s fees on appeal, and the balance of the $5,000 into the registry of the court for the use of plaintiff.

We find nothing to commend in either party, and have no sympathy for the one over the other. We believe this award to be just as well as generous. Respondent will recover costs on appeal.

Modified.

Fullerton, Parker, Mount, and Holcomb, JJ., concur.