Marriage of Brand, In re
| Decision Date | 10 May 1984 |
| Docket Number | No. 4-83-0443,4-83-0443 |
| Citation | 79 Ill.Dec. 483,123 Ill.App.3d 1047,463 N.E.2d 1037 |
| Parties | , 79 Ill.Dec. 483 In re the MARRIAGE OF Lawrence BRAND, Petitioner-Counterrespondent-Appellant, and Sarah J. Brand, Respondent-Counterpetitioner-Appellee. |
| Court | United States Appellate Court of Illinois |
Bernard A. Puglisi, Champaign-Urbana Legal Clinic of Mary G. Gorski & Bernard A. Puglisi, Champaign, for appellant.
Kristen H. Fischer, Champaign, for appellee.
On February 25, 1980, a judgment of dissolution of the marriage of petitioner, Lawrence Brand, and respondent, Sarah J. Brand, was entered in the circuit court of Champaign County. On January 25, 1982, following a hearing in that court, the court entered an order awarding custody of the parties' minor son to respondent and ordering petitioner to pay a portion of respondent's attorney's fees, all guardian ad litem fees and child support. No custody award was made in regard to the couples' minor daughter who was married prior to the final custody hearing. The couple was living with respondent at the time of hearing.
On appeal, petitioner maintains the trial court (1) abused its discretion in awarding custody of the son to respondent, (2) erred in ordering petitioner to pay 44% of respondent's attorney's fees and all guardian ad litem fees, (3) erred in considering petitioner's worker's compensation benefits as a financial resource available for child support payments, (4) abused it discretion in awarding child support, and (5) erred in denying petitioner's second supplemental post-trial motion regarding modification of child support payments. We affirm.
Petitioner testified at the January 1982 hearing that he was 43 years old, had been employed by the State of Illinois and was injured on the job approximately six months prior to that hearing. At that time, he estimated that it might be 18 months before he could return to full-time employment. He was receiving $502.92 biweekly worker's compensation benefits and $152.93 per month as a State disability benefit.
Respondent testified she was 41 years old at the time of the January 1982 hearing, had been a registered nurse, and had been unemployed since 1977 due to a back injury. She stated she was unable to work in any capacity and was receiving public aid, food stamps, and rent subsidy totaling approximately $565 per month.
The court ordered permanent custody of the 14-year-old son to be with his mother despite his expressed preference to live with his father. The court considered each factor listed in section 602(a) of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA) prior to making its decision. Section 602(a) states the court should consider all relevant factors in determining the best interests of the child including:
"(1) the wishes of the child's parent or parents as to his custody;
(2) the wishes of the child as to his custodian;
(3) the interaction and interrelationship of the child with his parent or parents his siblings and any other person who may significantly affect the child's best interest;
(4) the child's adjustment to his home, school and community;
(5) the mental and physical health of all individuals involved; and
(6) the physical violence or threat of physical violence by the child's potential custodian, whether directed against the child or directed against another person but witnessed by the child."
(Ill.Rev.Stat.1981, ch. 40, par. 602(a).)
Section 602(b) states "[t]he court shall not consider conduct of a present or proposed custodian that does not affect his relationship to the child." Ill.Rev.Stat.1981, ch. 40, par. 602(b).
Petitioner maintains the custody order was not in the child's best interests, and the trial court based its order on improper considerations. Petitioner argues the court should have placed greater weight on the child's preference and should have more carefully evaluated the factors listed in section 602(a) of the IMDMA. He further contends the court was biased against him, and this was reflected in the custody award.
We conclude, however, that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining custody. Although the son expressed a strong desire to live with his father, that was only one factor to be considered. Disputed testimony was presented that the father had told the boy that the boy need not obey the law, and the father's attitude in court was such that the judge could have concluded the father had a disdain for the law. The trial court was in the best position to determine the weight to be given to these matters. This conduct of the father was such as could affect his relationship with the boy. A social worker testified that there was significance to keeping the boy with his sister even though she had become married. Although respondent was shown to be a former alcoholic, evidence was presented that she had not had any intoxicants to drink for two years. The trial court could have believed this evidence. The respondent appeared to otherwise be a reasonably capable parent. The trial court did not consider improper factors nor abuse its discretion in making the custody award.
In ordering petitioner to pay a portion of respondent's attorney's fees, the trial court considered that (1) respondent had little ability to pay the fees; (2) petitioner, with his larger income, had better ability to pay them; and (3) petitioner had caused delay by failing or refusing to make agreed appointments with a social worker and not informing the court of his need for a continuance because of a back injury until just before the time of hearing. These were proper considerations. (Albert v. Albert (1972), 10 Ill.App.3d 539, 294 N.E.2d 695.) The court was likewise within its discretion in requiring petitioner to pay guardian ad litem fees.
The parties stipulated that $4,500 constituted a fair and reasonable fee for services performed by respondent's counsel during this protracted litigation. No evidence was presented as to the exact hours spent by counsel or as to whether the fees were reasonable. Petitioner maintains that such evidence is always required when the amount of such fees are fixed, citing In re Marriage of Brophy (1981), 96 Ill.App.3d 1108, 52 Ill.Dec. 236, 421 N.E.2d 1308. However, there was no stipulation in Brophy. A stipulation which is a true agreement of the parties and properly signed by the attorneys for both parties, in absence of a showing of fraud, is binding on the parties. (Kazubowski v. Kazubowski (1968), 93 Ill.App.2d 126, 134, 235 N.E.2d 664, 668, cert. denied (1969), 393 U.S. 1117, 89 S.Ct. 993, 22 L.Ed.2d 122; Albert v. Albert (1972), 10 Ill.App.3d 539, 542, 294 N.E.2d 695, 698.) Here, there was no showing of fraud, and the parties are bound by their stipulated agreement.
The parties had also stipulated that petitioner would pay the guardian ad litem fees. The court fixed this in the sum of $1,722. We do not find that to be unreasonable for work that included four days of hearings.
Petitioner's contention that the court improperly considered his worker's compensation benefits in awarding support payments is based upon section 21 of the Workers' Compensation Act which states:
"No payment, claim, award, or decision under this Act shall be assignable or subject to any lien, attachment or garnishment, or be held liable in any way for any lien, debt, penalty or damages * * *." (Ill.Rev.Stat.1983, ch. 48, par. 138.21.)
Petitioner argues that to require him to pay support when some of that support would have to be paid from the proceeds of his worker's compensation benefits makes those benefits liable for a "lien" or "debt" within the meaning of section 21. We disagree.
The court order clearly did not create any charge in the nature of a lien as to his compensation benefits. As to whether the benefits were held liable for a "debt" is a closer question. A substantial argument might be made that the...
To continue reading
Request your trial