Greg Rink v. Emily Rink (mem. dec.) ( 2015 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Oct 26 2015, 8:29 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Zachary J. Stock Karen A. Wyle
Zachary J. Stock, Attorney at Law P.C. Bloomington, Indiana
Carmel, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Greg Rink, October 26, 2015
Appellant-Petitioner, Court of Appeals Case No.
29A02-1503-DR-189
v. Appeal from the Hamilton
Superior Court
Emily Rink, The Honorable Daniel J. Pfleging
Appellee-Respondent Trial Court Cause No.
29D02-1312-DR-011312
Bailey, Judge.
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Case Summary
[1] Greg Rink (“Husband”) and Emily Rink (“Wife”) divorced in 2015. Husband
challenges the final order with respect to specific facets of the trial court’s
division of the property in the marital estate.
[2] We affirm.
Issues
[3] Husband presents two issues for our review. We restate these as:
I. Whether the trial court erred when it equally divided the
estate despite a post-nuptial agreement calling for a refund
to Husband of a $150,000 down payment upon sale of a
residence; and
II. Whether the trial court erred when it relied upon Wife’s
testimony to determine the value of a business interest held
by Husband.
Facts and Procedural History
[4] Husband and Wife were married in 2008. Each spouse owned a home prior to
the marriage; Husband owned a residence in Pennsylvania, and Wife owned a
home in Maryland. Both Husband and Wife had separate investment
portfolios. Each worked in pharmaceutical sales. Two children were born to
the couple, one in 2008, and one in 2009.
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[5] Until 2011, the family lived in Pennsylvania. 1 In 2011, Wife obtained
employment in Indiana and relocated. Husband remained out of the state with
the children for several months, but eventually Husband obtained employment
in Indiana and relocated with the children. Husband sold the Pennsylvania
residence, which yielded cash of $150,000. The couple agreed that they would
use the proceeds of the sale of that home as a down payment on a home in
Indiana (“the Carmel residence”). Husband drafted a written agreement to this
effect, which Husband and Wife signed; their signatures were witnessed by an
acquaintance of Husband, Todd Hollingsworth (“Hollingsworth”). The
agreement provided, in relevant part:
This letter is being written, and to be recognized as [a] mutually
signed and agreed upon official document to the State of Indiana,
and/or the Hamilton County Judicial process regarding the
down payment and new home purchase [for the Carmel
residence] as referenced below.
In the unlikely event that the undersigned husband and wife,
[Husband], and [Wife] should separate and/or divorce, that the
initial home purchase down payment of $150,000.00 (one
hundred and fifty thousand USD) made solely by [Husband] will
be refunded and or reallocated to him as a result of the final sale
of the home…
Ex. 13
1
Wife rented the Maryland residence to a tenant, and continued to do so at all relevant times in these
proceedings.
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[6] The marriage between Husband and Wife was troubled. After an argument
with Wife, Husband left the Carmel residence in November 2013. On
December 4, 2013, Husband filed a petition seeking dissolution of the marriage.
[7] During the course of the marriage, Husband had been employed but had, on a
number of occasions, lost his employment. Also during the marriage, Husband
used marital assets to invest in private businesses. During the pendency of the
martial dissolution proceedings, Husband was unemployed, but continued to
manage his investment portfolio. Also during the pendency of the proceedings,
the trial court ordered Husband to pay child support of $166.17 per week.
[8] A final hearing was conducted on January 7, 2015. Testimony was offered
concerning the couple’s finances, each parent’s plans for education and care of
the children, and numerous other issues. After taking the evidence under
advisement, on February 27, 2015, the trial court entered its final order in the
form of written findings and conclusions.
[9] In its final order, the trial court found that Husband had accumulated a child
support arrearage of $21,241.22. The court found that Husband was
purposefully unemployed, and imputed weekly income to Husband of
$1,525.50, and determined child support based upon Husband’s imputed
income and Wife’s actual income of $2,222.00 per week.
[10] The court found that the value of the marital estate, net liabilities, was
$1,847,973; of this, $1,083,151 was contributed by Husband, and $764,822 was
contributed by Wife. Among the assets included in this total was an interest
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Husband held in a business that Wife valued at $200,000, but which Husband
insisted was bankrupt. Husband also claimed that his interests in two other
businesses were also nearly valueless because those businesses, too, were near
bankruptcy. Husband testified that he had used funds from investment
accounts to purchase his interests in these businesses. However, the trial court
found that Husband’s “failure to acknowledge” the existence and value of an
investment account valued at $423,000 “greatly undermine[d] his credibility as
it pertaine[d] to testimony regarding the marital estate, and his testimony
concerning his ability to support his children.” The trial court also found that,
by failing to earn income during the litigation, Husband had dissipated assets.
[11] The trial court ordered that the marital estate be divided equally between the
parties, in compliance with the statutory presumption. The trial court
concluded that Husband was not entitled to a $150,000 offset for the value of
the Pennsylvania residence, the proceeds from the sale of which had been used
as a down payment for the Carmel residence. In light of this decision and
Husband’s child-support arrearage, the trial court ordered Husband to pay Wife
$180,405.72, which consisted of an equalization payment of $159,164.50 and
the child support arrearage of $21,241.22. As part of the property division, the
court ordered that Wife would retain possession of the Carmel residence subject
to indebtedness on the home, ordered Wife to hold Husband harmless as to that
indebtedness, and ordered Wife to refinance the residence within two years of
the date of the final order.
[12] Husband now appeals.
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Discussion and Decision
Standard of Review
[13] On appeal, Husband challenges specific aspects of the final order. In entering
its final order, the trial court entered findings and conclusions without a written
request from either party. We review a trial court’s findings to determine if they
are clearly erroneous, but review its conclusions de novo, even where the trial
court labels them as findings. Fobar v. Vonderahe, 771 N.E.2d 57, 59 (Ind.
2002). Where a party challenges a division of marital assets as not being just
and reasonable, we review the trial court’s order for an abuse of discretion. Id.
[14] In determining the value of an asset, there is no abuse of discretion if there is
sufficient evidence and reasonable inferences that support the trial court’s result.
Quillen v. Quillen, 671 N.E.2d 98, 102 (Ind. 1996). We consider the evidence in
a light most favorable to the judgment and do not reweigh evidence Id. Nor
will we reassess the credibility of witnesses. Hendricks v. Hendricks, 784 N.E.2d
1024, 1027 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003).
Post-Nuptial Agreement
[15] We turn first to Husband’s argument on appeal that the trial court erred when it
did not enforce the agreement between Husband and Wife concerning the
disposition of the $150,000 used as a down payment on the Carmel residence.
On appeal, Husband contends that the trial court should have honored the
agreement as a valid post-nuptial agreement, and that the trial court erred when
it did not award him a refund of the money.
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[16] The agreement at issue provided, in relevant part:
This letter is being written, and to be recognized as mutually
signed and agreed upon official document to the State of Indiana,
and/or the Hamilton County Judicial process regarding the
down payment and new home purchase [for the Carmel
residence] as referenced below.
In the unlikely event that the undersigned husband and wife,
[Husband], and [Wife] should separate and/or divorce, that the
initial home purchase down payment of $150,000.00 (one
hundred and fifty thousand USD) made solely by [Husband] will
be refunded and or reallocated to him as a result of the final sale
of the home…
Ex. 13. Husband contends that this was a valid post-nuptial agreement and that
the court was required to enforce it. Having failed to do so, Husband argues,
the trial court erred.
[17] Indiana’s statutes presume that, in a dissolution of marriage, each spouse will
receive exactly half of the assets of the marital estate. Ind. Code § 31-15-7-5.
That presumption may be rebutted. Id. Where a trial court deviates from the
presumed 50/50 split, it must articulate its reasons for doing so. Thompson v.
Thompson, 811 N.E.2d 888, 912-13 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004), trans. denied. In
addition, our statutes provide for the enforceability of post-nuptial agreements
that would lead to a different result:
(a) To promote the amicable settlements of disputes that have
arisen or may arise between the parties to a marriage attendant
upon the dissolution of their marriage, the parties may agree in
writing to provisions for:
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(1) the maintenance of either of the parties;
(2) the disposition of any property owned by either or both
of the parties; and
(3) the custody and support of the children of the parties.
(b) In an action for dissolution of marriage:
(1) the terms of the agreement, if approved by the court,
shall be incorporated and merged into the decree and the
parties shall be ordered to perform the terms; or
(2) the court may make provisions for:
(A) the disposition of property;
(B) child support;
(C) maintenance; and
(D) custody;
as provided in this title.
(c) The disposition of property settled by an agreement described
in subsection (a) and incorporated and merged into the decree is
not subject to subsequent modification by the court, except as the
agreement prescribes or the parties subsequently consent.
Ind. Code § 31-15-2-17.
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[18] As this Court has observed:
Other panels of this Court have recognized that “public policy
favors the amicable settlement by written agreement of the
property rights of citizens whose marriage is being dissolved.”
Gaskell v. Gaskell, 900 N.E.2d 13, 17 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009) (citing
Flansburg v. Flansburg, 581 N.E.2d 430, 433 (Ind. Ct. App. 1991),
trans. denied). It has long been held that antenuptial agreements
are valid and binding “so long as they are entered into freely and
without fraud, duress, or misrepresentation and are not, under
the particular circumstances of the case, unconscionable[,]” In re
Marriage of Boren, 475 N.E.2d 690, 693 (Ind. 1985), and we have
concluded that the same should apply to reconciliation
agreements made between parties in order to preserve the
marriage. Flansburg, 581 N.E.2d at 436.
Hall v. Hall, 27 N.E.3d 281, 284-85 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015), trans. denied.
[19] Here, Husband contends that the agreement concerning the down payment for
the Carmel residence is a valid post-nuptial or reconciliation agreement, and
that he is entitled to repayment of the $150,000. Wife argues that the
agreement is not a valid reconciliation agreement because by its own terms the
agreement was not entered into in order to preserve the marriage, and because a
necessary condition for its enforcement had not yet been met.
[20] The trial court’s order is largely silent as to the validity of the agreement. The
court appears to have accepted the agreement’s validity, but also seems to have
declined enforcement of the agreement on the basis of dissipation of marital
assets: “The Court further finds that Husband has dissipated marital assets
through failing to earn any income… The Court therefore finds that husband is
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not entitled to an offset of $150,000.” Despite these statements—in particular
the finding of dissipation—the trial court nevertheless divided the marital estate
evenly between the parties. Based upon a determination that the total value of
the marital estate was $1,847,973, and after deducting from the award to Wife
of $180,405.72 the $21,241.22 Husband owed in child support, the court’s
award to Wife represents exactly the amount required to equalize the marital
estate between Husband’s assets ($1,083,151) and those of Wife ($764,822):
$159,164.50. 2 Thus, the trial court’s order did not deviate from the statutory
presumption.
[21] To the extent that Husband contends he was entitled to an offset, then, he must
establish that the trial court erred in not deviating from the statutory
presumption of a 50/50 split of the marital estate. He argues that the trial court
erred in this regard when it did not grant him an offset against the division of
assets based upon the agreement for refund of the down payment on the Carmel
residence.
[22] The agreement, by its terms, entitles husband to refund of the down payment
monies “as a result of the final sale of the home,” Ex. 13, that is, final sale of
the Carmel residence. But there has been no final sale. The trial court’s order
requires only that Wife refinance the Carmel residence; refinancing the
2
The total value of the marital estate was $1,847,973. Equal division of this amount between the parties
yields $923,986.50 each for Husband and Wife. Assets Wife contributed to the marriage totaled $764,822; to
equalize the assets, Wife was entitled to an additional $159,164.50 in assets from Husband.
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mortgage on a residence is not, however, a final sale. By the plain language of
the agreement, then, Husband was thus not entitled to a $150,000 refund of the
money used as a down payment on the Carmel residence. We cannot agree
with Husband that the trial court erred when it did not order an offset or other
refund of the down payment.
[23] We disagree with Wife, however, as to the enforceability vel non of the
agreement. The language of the agreement is clear: Husband agreed to the use
of the $150,000 from the sale of the Pennsylvania residence, and Wife agreed
that, should the couple divorce, Husband would receive a refund of the down
payment upon final sale of the Carmel residence. 3 Whether this is a
reconciliation agreement or simply a post-nuptial agreement, neither party has
argued that there was fraud, duress, misrepresentation, or unconscionability
that would invalidate the agreement. See Hall, 27 N.E.3d at 284-85.
[24] Upon final sale of the residence at some future date, Husband may be entitled
to repayment of the $150,000 from Wife. But that time has not yet arrived. We
therefore find no error in the trial court’s decision not to grant Husband a
$150,000 offset against the 50/50 presumption.
3
The language of the agreement appears to presume that Wife would be the selling party, and the trial court
found that the Carmel residence was held in Wife’s name.
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Valuation of Business Interest
[25] We turn now to Husband’s other issue on appeal, whether the trial court relied
upon appropriate evidence in determining the value of a business in which
Husband held an ownership interest.
[26] In a dissolution of marriage proceeding, the trial court “shall divide the
property of the parties.” I.C. § 31-15-7-4(a). “The court shall divide the
property in a just and reasonable manner,” and may order distribution of those
assets in any number of ways. I.C. § 31-15-7-4(b). In arriving at a value for the
marital estate, “a trial court has broad discretion in determining the date upon
which to value marital assets, and may select any date between the date of the
filing of the petition for dissolution and the date of the final hearing.” Nowels v.
Nowels, 836 N.E.2d 481, 485 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). It is the burden of the parties
to provide evidence of the values of marital assets. Campbell v. Campbell, 993
N.E.2d 205, 215 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied. “Even where the
circumstances would support a different award, we do not substitute our
judgment for that of the trial court.” Nowels, 836 N.E.2d at 485.
[27] Here, Husband asserts that the trial court abused its discretion in its valuation of
his interest in a business called JJ Pharma. 4 Husband and Wife agree that
Husband invested $200,000 in the business. They disagree, however, as to the
4
JJ Pharma appears to have successor entities, the relationship of which to JJ Pharma is not clear from the
record. We refer to the business as JJ Pharma throughout.
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trial court’s use of that figure in its valuation of the business for purposes of the
determination and distribution of the marital estate. Husband contends that the
trial court abused its discretion because he testified that JJ Pharma was
“basically bankrupt,” Tr. at 57, and thus the trial court’s assignment of a value
of $200,000 for purposes of distribution of the marital assets was an abuse of
discretion. Wife contends that setting a value of $200,000 was within the trial
court’s discretion.
[28] We agree with Wife. The only evidence presented by either party as to the
value of Husband’s interest in JJ Pharma was a statement from the company
indicating the total amount invested, a subsequent item of correspondence from
a successor entity in 2012 stating that “in prior years the Company may not
have met your expectations,” Ex. J, and Husband’s testimony that JJ Pharma
was “basically bankrupt.” Tr. at 57. However, the trial court made an express
finding that Husband’s testimony was not credible as to financial matters: “the
Court finds the Husband’s failure to acknowledge [a] Scottrade [brokerage
account] of $423,000 greatly undermines his credibility as it pertains to his
testimony regarding the marital estate, and his testimony concerning his ability
to support his children.”
[29] Thus, the trial court concluded that Husband’s testimony concerning JJ
Pharma’s financial state and the value of the investment was not credible. The
court accordingly was left to set the value of the investment with only one item
of evidence: the $200,000 amount invested in the business. While Husband
argues that we need not reweigh evidence to reverse the trial court’s decision,
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his argument boils down to just such a request. That the trial court could have
reached a different result does not mean that we must do so, Nowels, 836
N.E.2d at 485, and we cannot reassess the credibility of witnesses or reweigh
evidence. Quillen, 671 N.E.2d at 102; Hendricks, 784 N.E.2d at 1027. We
accordingly find no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s valuation of
Husband’s interest in JJ Pharma, and we leave undisturbed the trial court’s
decision regarding the distribution of marital assets.
Conclusion
[30] The trial court did not err when it did not grant Husband a $150,000 offset
related to the use of funds for a down payment on the marital residence. The
trial court did not abuse its discretion when it assessed the value of a business
interest at $200,000.
[31] Affirmed.
Mathias, J., concurs.
Baker, J., concurs in result in part with separate opinion.
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IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Greg Rink, Court of Appeals Case No.
29A02-1503-DR-189
Appellant-Petitioner,
v.
Emily Rink,
Appellee-Respondent.
Baker, Judge, concurring in result in part.
[32] While I fully agree with the result reached by the majority, I part ways with its
analysis with respect to the parties’ post-nuptial agreement. As the majority
concludes, the agreement between Husband and Wife is valid, binding, and
enforceable whether it “is a reconciliation agreement or simply a post-nuptial
agreement[.]” Slip op. p. 11. I disagree, however, with the majority’s
determination that the agreement does not come into effect until some future
date when Wife sells the residence. The time for division of the marital pot is at
the time of dissolution, and drawing this out into the future is not fair to the
parties or to their children.
[33] In my view, therefore, the trial court should have initially awarded $150,000 to
Husband pursuant to the post-nuptial agreement. That said, the trial court’s
findings regarding dissipation of marital assets, underemployment, and a child
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support arrearage would readily support a determination that the $150,000 is
offset by virtue of those findings. In other words, even if Husband was
originally awarded the $150,000, I believe that the final result reached by the
trial court, which amounts to a 50/50 division of the marital estate, is supported
by the trial court’s findings of fact and conclusions thereon. To reach a
different result would require us to reweigh evidence and assess witness
credibility, which we will not do. Consequently, I agree that the trial court’s
judgment should be affirmed and concur in the result reached by the majority
on this issue. In all other respects, I fully concur with the majority opinion.
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