Kraft v. Kraft, 10749

• Decision Date: 17 April 1985
• Docket Number: No. 10749,10749
• Citation: 366 N.W.2d 450
• Parties: Lucille KRAFT, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. William J. KRAFT, Defendant and Appellee. Civ.
• Court: North Dakota Supreme Court

Page 450

366 N.W.2d 450

Lucille KRAFT, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. William J. KRAFT, Defendant and Appellee.

Civ. No. 10749.

Supreme Court of North Dakota.

April 17, 1985.

Mark F. Purdy, of Pringle & Herigstad, P.C., Minot, for plaintiff and appellant.

R. James Maxson, of Farhart, Rasmuson, Lian & Maxson, P.C., Minot, for defendant and appellee.

VANDE WALLE, Justice.

Lucille Kraft appealed from a judgment of divorce issued by the district court of Ward County and from the subsequent order denying Lucille's motion for a new trial pursuant to Rule 59, N.D.R.Civ.P., or, in the alternative, for relief from the judgment under Rule 60, N.D.R.Civ.P. We affirm in part and reverse in part and remand for further proceedings.

Lucille and William J. Kraft were married on November 17, 1952. Two children were born to the couple during their marriage, namely, Debra, born August 8, 1953, and Timothy, born June 9, 1958. After 25 years of marriage Lucille and William experienced marital difficulties. During the period from 1978 until 1983 William and Lucille initiated divorce actions on five separate occasions. Lucille commenced the divorce action leading to this appeal on February 2, 1983.

During the marriage, Lucille worked as a legal secretary, assisted William in the operation of their Tastee-Freeze Drive-Inn, and assisted William in both his construction and farming businesses. Lucille did not receive compensation for her work with the Tastee-Freeze Drive-Inn, but she received nominal compensation for assisting in William's construction and farming businesses. At the time of trial, Lucille was working as a legal secretary with a gross income of $1,538 per month. Lucille's education includes one year of business college.

William has worked as a battalion chief for the City of Minot fire department. At the time of trial he was earning a gross salary of $2,180 per month. Additionally, William had operated a construction business but at the time of trial that business was inactive. William's farming business had resulted in both losses and gains, neither being substantial.

William testified at trial that he has a retirement plan through the City of Minot that will allow him to receive retirement benefits at age 60. Lucille testified that she also has a profit-sharing retirement plan through her employer. At trial William testified that his fireman's pension would be equal to approximately $900 per month upon retirement. Lucille testified that her retirement benefits from the profit-sharing plan amounted to a total sum of approximately $1,600. The trial court stated that because no specific evidence was presented as to the values of the retirement plans, the court would treat the plans as offsetting in value.

The trial court found that Lucille and William had accumulated property worth $278,395 during their marriage. Evidence indicated that encumbrances against the property totaled $109,154. In dividing the marital property, the trial court awarded Lucille property with a net value of approximately $91,500 and property having a net value of $77,000 to William. ¹ The trial court did not award alimony to either party and both parties were made responsible for their own attorney fees.

Approximately eight days after the notice of entry of the divorce judgment, Lucille, through new counsel, moved the trial court for a new trial under Rule 59, N.D.R.Civ.P., and, alternatively, for relief from the divorce judgment under Rule 60, N.D.R.Civ.P. The central point of Lucille's argument was that the trial court's judgment, which gave her a net distribution of approximately $91,500 and $77,000 to William, was not an equitable distribution of the real and personal property of the parties.

Lucille first asserted that her motion under Rules 59 and 60, N.D.R.Civ.P., should be granted because she was ill during the trial and thus unable to adequately present her case to the trial court and effectively assist her counsel.

In its consideration of Lucille's first argument, the trial court stated that it had not observed any impairment in Lucille's ability to participate in the proceedings. The court held that Lucille had the obligation to notify the court of her illness and the resulting disability and that, not having done so, she could not claim after trial that she was entitled to a new trial.

Lucille additionally argued that she should be granted a new trial or, alternatively, relief from the divorce judgment, because she was unable to adequately present her case to the court. Lucille claimed that a warehouse in William's business was erroneously valued by the court and that the court should allow her to present additional evidence as to the extent of William's retirement benefits and the value of growing crops on William's land.

The trial court, in addressing Lucille's arguments concerning additional evidence, stated that none of the facts referred to in Lucille's motion papers would qualify as "newly discovered evidence." The court was of the opinion that both parties had adequate opportunity to prepare for trial and to complete necessary discovery.

In denying Lucille's motion made pursuant to Rules 59 and 60, N.D.R.Civ.P., the trial court stated that it was fully cognizant of the Ruff-Fischer ² guidelines and that the court had given consideration to Lucille's state of health, the duration of the marriage, the conduct of William, and the relative earning capacities of the parties.

The trial court reaffirmed its decision that Lucille was not entitled to alimony considering the property distribution, indebtedness, and earning capacity of each party. The court indicated that William would not have the ability to pay alimony.

Lucille argues on appeal that the trial court erred in denying her motion for a new trial made pursuant to Rule 59, N.D.R.Civ.P. and, alternatively, for relief from the divorce judgment under Rule 60, N.D.R.Civ.P.

It is a well-recognized principle of law in our State that a motion for a new trial is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court. Fischer v. Knapp, 332 N.W.2d 76 (N.D.1983); Okken v. Okken, 325 N.W.2d 264 (N.D.1982). Additionally, a trial court also has discretion in ruling on a motion made pursuant to Rule 60, N.D.R.Civ.P., for relief from a judgment. Fleck v. Fleck, 337 N.W.2d 786 (N.D.1983); Dvorak v. Dvorak, 329 N.W.2d 868 (N.D.1983); Suburban Sales & Service, Inc. v. White, 326 N.W.2d 873 (N.D.1982). In either case, we will not disturb the trial court's ruling unless there is an affirmative showing of a manifest abuse of discretion. An abuse of discretion has been defined as an unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable attitude by the trial court. Kerzmann v. Rohweder, 321 N.W.2d 84 (N.D.1982); Wilson v. General Motors Corp., 311 N.W.2d 10 (N.D.1981).

The facts considered by the trial court in making a determination with regard to matters of property division, alimony, and child support are...