Bridwell v. Bridwell, 21913

Decision Date03 May 1983
Docket NumberNo. 21913,21913
Citation279 S.C. 111,302 S.E.2d 856
CourtSouth Carolina Supreme Court
PartiesRaymond E. BRIDWELL, Respondent, v. Debra Marie BRIDWELL, Appellant.

Eddie R. Harbin, Greenville, for appellant.

O.W. Bannister, Jr., of Hill, Wyatt & Bannister, Greenville, for respondent.

NESS, Justice:

This is a divorce action brought by respondent husband against appellant wife. The trial judge granted the husband a divorce on the grounds of adultery, barring the wife's claim for alimony. We affirm.

The wife asserts the trial court erred in granting the husband a divorce on the ground of adultery, and should have granted her a divorce on physical cruelty grounds.

The wife has remarried, mooting the alimony issue. Additionally, if we now reverse the granting of the divorce, the wife could be charged with bigamy. Nevertheless, she pursues her appeal, allegedly for the sake of her reputation.

Our broad scope of review in appeals from the family court does not require us to disregard the trial court's findings, nor does it relieve appellant of the burden of convincing us the trial court erred. Garris v. Cook, S.C., 300 S.E.2d 483 (1983). The record adequately substantiates the trial court's findings that the wife committed adultery and that she failed to prove physical cruelty. We find this exception without merit.

The wife also contends the trial court erred in denying her motion for continuance.

The hearing was begun April 10, 1980, and was continued by the family court to May 13, 1980. One of the wife's witnesses, who had been subpoenaed for the April 10th hearing, failed to appear on May 13th. The witness had not been resubpoenaed, but had been notified of the hearing date. At the close of her case, the wife moved for a continuance based on the witness's absence.

Motions for continuance are discretionary with the trial judge, and we will not disturb his ruling on appeal absent an abuse of that discretion. Purex Corporation v. Walker, S.C., 296 S.E.2d 868 (1982). We find no abuse. Family Court Rule 29 allows the court to grant continuances for good cause; however, when the motion is based on a witness's absence, we hold the moving party must submit an affidavit in compliance with Circuit Court Rule 27, incorporated by Family Court Rule 3. The record is clear the wife failed to submit such an affidavit.

Finally, the wife contends the trial court erred in allowing a tape recording to be played for impeachment purposes. We decline to address...

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17 cases
  • Gustilo v. Tang
    • United States
    • South Carolina Court of Appeals
    • April 4, 2008
    ... ... Co. , 363 S.C. 334, 339-40, 611 S.E.2d 485, 487-88 ... (2005); Bridwell v. Bridwell , 279 S.C. 111, 113, 302 ... S.E.2d 856, 858 (1983); State v. Carlson , 363 S.C ... ...
  • Moore v. Moore
    • United States
    • South Carolina Supreme Court
    • February 11, 2008
    ...decision to deny his motion for a continuance, we find the family court did not abuse its discretion. See Bridwell v. Bridwell, 279 S.C. 111, 112, 302 S.E.2d 856, 858 (1983) (stating the grant or denial of a continuance is within the sound discretion of the trial judge and is reviewable on ......
  • Roberts v. Roberts, Opinion No. 2009-UP-190 (S.C. App. 5/5/2009)
    • United States
    • South Carolina Court of Appeals
    • May 5, 2009
    ...with the family court, and we will not disturb its ruling on appeal absent an abuse of that discretion. Bridwell v. Bridwell, 279 S.C. 111, 112, 302 S.E.2d 856, 858 (1983). In requesting a continuance, Husband's counsel stated that Husband had forgotten about the hearing and his absence was......
  • Plyler v. Burns
    • United States
    • South Carolina Supreme Court
    • June 11, 2007
    ...of the trial judge and is reviewable on appeal only when an abuse of discretion appears from the record. Bridwell v. Bridwell, 279 S.C. 111, 112, 302 S.E.2d 856, 858 (1983). Moreover, the denial of a motion for a continuance on the ground that counsel has not had time to prepare is rarely d......
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