Arnold v. Arnold
| Decision Date | 06 April 1982 |
| Docket Number | No. 75-81,75-81 |
| Parties | Barbara M. ARNOLD v. William E. ARNOLD. |
| Court | Vermont Supreme Court |
Louis Lisman, Burlington, for plaintiff.
Matthew I. Katz of Latham, Eastman, Schweyer & Tetzlaff, Burlington, for defendant.
Before BARNEY, C. J., and BILLINGS, HILL, UNDERWOOD and PECK, JJ.
At their 1968 divorce the parties entered into a stipulation, later incorporated into the judgment. It provided in relevant part that defendant was to pay $32.50 weekly for the support of the parties' two minor children, David and Kimberley. This obligation was to terminate "upon the emancipation, death, marriage or attaining of majority of either minor child." In April 1977, upon the eighteenth birthday of the youngest child Kimberley, defendant ceased making support payments for her. Plaintiff sought enforcement of the original judgment pursuant to V.R.C.P. 80(j), and the superior court ordered, inter alia, defendant to pay the arrearages in child support. Defendant appeals, claiming that reversal is required because the trial court failed to render proper findings on the issue of whether or not Kimberley was emancipated at the time he discontinued support payments. 1
Although the emancipation question was not raised in the clearest possible fashion, it was certainly brought to the attention of the trial court. Defendant testified, over objection, as to his belief that the child in question was indeed emancipated. Moreover, defendant filed proposed findings on the issue. Finally, he moved pursuant to V.R.C.P. 52(b) for additional findings on the issue of emancipation. The point was thus urged below and will therefore be considered on appeal. See University of Vermont v. Town of Mendon, 136 Vt. 400, 402, 392 A.2d 415, 416 (1978).
At the outset, we express our disapproval of the court's lengthy delay in making and releasing its finding on the question of emancipation. Nearly one year passed from defendant's request until the court amended its original findings to include the cursory statement: "At all times material, the child Kimberly [sic], was not emancipated." Absent good cause such a delay is inexcusable. Rice v. Martin, 139 Vt. 104, 105, 423 A.2d 849, 850 (1980); Anderson-Friberg Co. v. S. G. Phillips Corp., 137 Vt. 565, 566, 409 A.2d 560, 561 (1979). We need not, however, determine at this point whether the delay resulted in prejudice to defendant because we hold that the above-quoted finding does not comply with the requirements of V.R.C.P. 52.
"It is the duty of the court, in making findings of facts, to sift the evidence and state the facts ...." Lynda Lee Fashions, Inc. v. Sharp Offset Printing, Inc., 134 Vt. 167, 170, 352 A.2d 676, 677 (1976). The purpose of V.R.C.P. 52 findings is to make a clear statement to the parties, and to this Court if appeal is taken, of what was decided and how the decision was reached. Valsangiacomo v. Paige & Campbell, Inc., ...
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