Michael v. Michael

• Decision Date: 11 July 1984
• Citation: 454 So.2d 1035
• Parties: Bobby MICHAEL v. Bettie MICHAEL. Civ. 4192.
• Court: Alabama Court of Civil Appeals

Page 1035

454 So.2d 1035

Bobby MICHAEL v. Bettie MICHAEL.

Civ. 4192.

Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama.

July 11, 1984.

Gary W. Alverson and James L. Hunt, Tuscumbia, for appellant.

Roger H. Bedford, Sr., Russellville, for appellee.

BRADLEY, Judge.

On January 4, 1983 the parties to this proceeding were divorced by a decree of the Circuit Court of Colbert County. By agreement wife was awarded custody of the parties' two minor children, child support of $400 per week, and the exclusive possession of the parties' homeplace until such time as she remarried or the youngest child reached age nineteen. In such event the house was to be sold and the proceeds divided equally between the parties. The husband was required to make the house payments and was required to pay the taxes on the house, which were due on October 1, 1982. Wife was directed to pay the taxes thereafter and to maintain insurance on the house. The court also retained jurisdiction over all property of the parties for twelve months to assure that wife received the child support payments.

Subsequently, wife filed a motion for garnishment alleging husband had fallen behind in the payment of child support, taxes, and house payments. Husband petitioned to modify the decree and to reduce his child support payments.

After an ore tenus hearing the trial court entered an order on March 29, 1983 reducing the amount of child support required to be paid by husband from $400 per week to $250 per month. The court also ordered the parties' home to be sold and the proceeds to be equally divided between them.

On April 7, 1983 wife filed a motion to revise the March 29 decree. She alleged that a clerical error had been made in that the court fixed the child support payments at $250 per month rather than $250 per week, as had been intended. Rule 60(a), Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure.

A hearing was held and on August 5, 1983 the court entered an order revising and modifying the March 29 judgment to read "$250 per week" child support instead of "$250 per month as child support." The court also rendered a judgment in favor of wife and against husband in the amount of $1,200 for back child support for one child. The other child had been living with the father.

On August 18, 1983 husband filed a motion for rehearing. Wife responded by filing a petition for ascertainment of judgment, contempt, and execution. The court heard the matter and on September 7, 1983 entered an order finding husband in contempt for failing to pay child support and finding that the arrearage amounted to $5,000. The court divested husband of all his interest in the marital homeplace, and held that he be incarcerated for his contempt. Husband could purge himself of the contempt by paying the $5,000 arrearage and the prior $1,200 judgment. The court also ordered husband to pay child support of $400 per month to wife for the child in her custody. After the denial of his posttrial motions, husband appealed to this court.

Husband says first that the trial court erred in revising the March 29, 1983 decree to read $250 per week rather than $250 per month as had been ordered, and in finding that he owed $5,000 in back child support due to the retroactive revision of the March 29, 1983 decree.

"It is clear that trial courts have the necessary power to correct clerical mistakes in judgments so that such judgments say what the record discloses was intended to be said. Rule 60(a), ARCP; Alabama Power Co. v. Cleckler, 295 Ala. 73, 323 So.2d 344. To the ends of justice, some discretion must be allowed the courts in this regard. Gorum v. Samuel, 274 Ala. 690, 151 So.2d 393."

Mickle v. Mickle, 334 So.2d 900 (Ala.1976). The rule contemplates the type of error associated with mistakes in transcription, alteration, or omission of any papers and documents--a mistake mechanical in nature which does not involve a legal decision or judgment; for example, errors by the clerk, jury foreman, counsel, a party, or the judge. Continental Oil Co. v. Williams, 370 So.2d 953 (Ala.1979); Busby v. Pierson, 272 Ala. 59, 128 So.2d 516 (1961).

It is important to note that the object of a judgment nunc pro tunc or motion under rule 60(a) is to make the judgment or record speak the truth. Ward v. Ullery, 442 So.2d 99 (Ala.Civ.App.1983). It cannot be used to modify or enlarge a judgment nor to make the judgment say something other than what was originally pronounced. Tombrello Coal Co. v. Fortenberry, 248 Ala. 640, 29 So.2d 125 (1947); 11 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2854 (1973). Thus, if the mistake involves an exercise of judicial discretion or judgment, any correction is beyond the purview of rule 60(a) and should be properly effected under rule 59(e) or rule 60(b). Continental Oil Co. v. Williams, supra.

Here, the court has stated in its order of August 5 that the March 29 decree should read "$250 per week" and not "$250 per month as child support." We are convinced that the trial court intended that the modification order of March 29, 1983 be $250 per week rather than $250 per month, because the January 4, 1983 decree ordered the husband to pay $400 per week for two children, whereas at the time of the modification order there was only one child living with the wife. But for the transcription error, the $250 per week order would have...