Johnson v. Johnson

Decision Date21 September 1982
Citation638 S.W.2d 703
PartiesHelen Joyce JOHNSON, Movant, v. James Thomas JOHNSON, Respondent.
CourtUnited States State Supreme Court — District of Kentucky

J. Eric Tohtz, Western Ky. Legal Services, Inc., Paducah, for movant.

Charles Chaney, Paducah, for respondent.

OPINION OF THE COURT.

The principal question before us in this case is whether a lump-sum award of workers' compensation received by one of the spouses during the pendency of a divorce action between them is marital property within the meaning of KRS 403.190(2). We need not look beyond the plain language of the statute to find the answer. It defines marital property as all property acquired by either spouse subsequent to the marriage, with five listed exceptions. Though an award of workers' compensation may be intended to replace lost wages which otherwise would have been earned in the future, it nevertheless is money in hand and it is not within the exceptions to KRS 403.190, which is the controlling statute. The trial court erred in denying movant the right to prove the award.

We find no reason to disturb the award of child custody. It remains subject to modification upon a showing of changed conditions, if any, occurring since entry of the judgment.

The decision of the Court of Appeals is affirmed in part and reversed in part, and the cause is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

All concur.

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14 cases
  • Queen v. Queen
    • United States
    • Maryland Court of Appeals
    • September 1, 1986
    ...408 N.E.2d 429, 430-31 (1980); Lukas v. Lukas, 83 Ill.App.3d 606, 39 Ill.Dec. 161, 166, 404 N.E.2d 545, 550 (1980); Johnson v. Johnson, 638 S.W.2d 703, 704 (Ky.1982); Quiggins v. Quiggins, 637 S.W.2d 666, 668-69 (Ky.Ct.App.1982); Gonzalez v. Gonzalez, 689 S.W.2d 383, 385-86 (Mo.App.1985); H......
  • Weisfeld v. Weisfeld, 86-2038
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • September 8, 1987
    ...property. 1 Goode v. Goode, 286 Ark. 463, 692 S.W.2d 757 (1985); Lukas v. Lukas, 83 Ill.App.3d 606, 404 N.E.2d 545 (1980); Johnson v. Johnson, 638 S.W.2d 703 (Ky.1982); Queen v. Queen, 308 Md. 574, 521 A.2d 320 (1987); Smith v. Smith, 113 Mich.App. 148, 317 N.W.2d 324 (1982); Hafner v. Hafn......
  • Crocker v. Crocker
    • United States
    • Oklahoma Supreme Court
    • December 10, 1991
    ...Law Section Update 15 (1991).3 Orszula v. Orszula, see note 2, at p. 115 supra; Goode v. Goode, see note 2, supra; Johnson v. Johnson, 638 S.W.2d 703, 704 (Ky.1982); In re Marriage of Detore, 86 Ill.App.3d 540, 42 Ill.Dec. 51-52, 408 N.E.2d 429, 430 (1980). See also, Smith v. Smith, 113 Mic......
  • Drake v. Drake
    • United States
    • Pennsylvania Supreme Court
    • February 25, 1999
    ...underlying purpose of the award, is the determining factor in deciding whether the monies are marital property. See, e.g., Johnson v. Johnson, 638 S.W.2d 703 (Ky.1982); Blumberg, A careful examination of our statute reveals that it employs a hybrid of the "mechanistic" and case by case appr......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
1 books & journal articles
  • § 8.02 Workers' Compensation Benefits
    • United States
    • Full Court Press Divorce, Separation and the Distribution of Property Title CHAPTER 8 Miscellaneous Property Interests
    • Invalid date
    ...695 N.W.2d 493 (Iowa 2005); In re Marriage of Harder, 23 Fam. L. Rep. (BNA) 1519 (Iowa App. 1997). Kentucky: Johnson v. Johnson, 638 S.W.2d 703 (Ky. 1982). Cf., later cases cited in N. 10 infra. Michigan: Smith v. Smith, 113 Mich. App. 148, 317 N.W.2d 324 (1982). Pennsylvania: Drake v. Drak......

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