Dresser v. Dresser, Docket No. 64739

• Decision Date: 20 January 1984
• Docket Number: Docket No. 64739
• Citation: 130 Mich.App. 130,342 N.W.2d 545
• Parties: Joyce Elaine DRESSER, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Lawrence Alfred DRESSER, Defendant-Appellant. 130 Mich.App. 130, 342 N.W.2d 545
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 545

342 N.W.2d 545

Joyce Elaine DRESSER, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Lawrence Alfred DRESSER, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 64739.

130 Mich.App. 130, 342 N.W.2d 545

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Submitted March 24, 1983.

Decided Sept. 21, 1983.

Released for Publication Jan. 20, 1984.

[130 MICHAPP 131] William T. Fischer, Port Huron, for plaintiff-appellee.

Robert P. Ladd, Port Huron, for defendant-appellant.

Before MAHER, P.J., and MacKENZIE and BREIGHNER, ^* JJ.

PER CURIAM.

Defendant appeals as of right from a divorce modification order entered May 24, 1982.

The judgment of divorce was entered December 4, 1978. Plaintiff was given custody of the parties' younger son, Timothy, and defendant was awarded custody of the older son, David. Defendant was ordered to pay $45 per week in child support for [130 MICHAPP 132] Timothy and $25 per week to plaintiff as alimony, until she remarried or until further order of the court. A prior order assigning defendant's wages for payment of child support and alimony was continued as long as defendant was obligated to make such payments.

On March 31, 1980, David was made a temporary ward of the probate court because of delinquency and placed in Fairlawn Center in Pontiac, Michigan. He was dismissed as a temporary ward on September 28, 1981, and was returned to defendant's custody. David began living with plaintiff on or about November 19, 1981.

On February 25, 1982, plaintiff filed a petition for an increase in child support and medical cards for the two children. She alleged that the increased cost of living since the divorce had created a great hardship in providing for the children. Defendant has also failed to supply a yearly medical card for Timothy, as per the divorce judgment. Plaintiff sought a similar card for David, who was presently in her physical custody and in great need of medical attention.

On the same day, an ex parte temporary order was filed. Defendant was ordered to pay an additional $29 per week for David's support and to provide medical cards for both children. This raised defendant's total payments to $99 per week for child support and alimony.

On March 10, 1982, defendant filed a petition to reduce child support and dissolve the ex parte temporary order. He stated that he was laid off from his employment on February 5, 1982. Due to the economy and seasonal decline in his employer's activity, defendant had "no reasonable expectation of early resumption of employment on a [130 MICHAPP 133] meaningful scale". Defendant was currently receiving $197 per week in unemployment benefits. He maintained that he could not live on $98 per week, but agreed to provide the medical cards for the children when they were issued. He asked that the temporary order be vacated and all arrearages under the order cancelled.

A Friend of the Court report and recommendation was issued March 18, 1982. The Friend of the Court recommended that plaintiff be awarded permanent custody of David. Child support for both sons would be increased to $102 per week. In the event that one of the children should no longer be eligible for support, the amount would be reduced to $62 per week. It was also recommended that the increase in support be made retroactive to November 19, 1981, the date that David began living with plaintiff. Defendant would also be required to supply medical cards for the children, but the parties would equally divide payments for the Mental Health Clinic charges. After interviewing both parties, it was recommended that plaintiff's alimony be reduced to $21 per week, effective uponentry of the appropriate order.

Hearing for entry of the modification order was held April 19, 1982. Defense counsel stated that the Friend of the Court did not base its recommendation for support upon unemployment compensation, but on defendant's former income. The judge ruled that defendant's obligations should be based on his total yearly income rather than his weekly income during the periods he was working. The judge also suggested that the wage assignment be increased above the weekly amount to be recommended, so that defendant's account would be credited in anticipation of his lower payments during his unemployment. The matter was referred[130 MICHAPP 134] to the Friend of the Court for a new recommendation.

The amended Friend of the Court report was issued May 13, 1982. Defendant's 1981 federal income tax return, a wage report from his employer for January 1 to April 30, 1981, and a statement of his unemployment benefits revealed that defendant's average net income was $298 per week. Based on this amount, $98 per week in child support and $21 per week in alimony was recommended. The remaining facts and recommendations contained in the previous report were also adopted.

Defendant filed objections to the second report, which were substantially similar to his earlier objections. Defendant also alleged that plaintiff was skilled as an operating room technician and that she could safely leave the children at home while she was working because they were 12 and 16 years old. Defendant's income had also failed to keep up with inflation. Defendant asked for an evidentiary hearing on plaintiff's ability to support herself and the children, a limit of $74 per week in child support (the amount set in the ex parte temporary order), and no retroactive support increase since exigent circumstances had not been alleged or shown.

A hearing for entry of an order complying with the second Friend of the Court's recommendation was heard May 24, 1982. Defendant repeated his objections and asked for an evidentiary hearing to determine the parties' ability to work and the needs of the family. Defendant also objected to the retroactive child support increase. He noted that the ex parte order of $74 per week was based on defendant's weekly income of $308 and therefore the $98 recommendation was too high. The court [130 MICHAPP 135] noted the objections, was satisfied that the recommendation was proper, and approved the order.

On appeal, the defendant contends that the trial court erred in entering its order modifying child support and alimony without holding an evidentiary hearing.

Absent a change of circumstances and a hearing to establish that change,...