Robison v. Robison, 97-CA-00889-SCT.

• Decision Date: 22 October 1998
• Docket Number: No. 97-CA-00889-SCT.,97-CA-00889-SCT.
• Citation: 722 So.2d 601
• Parties: Jackie Ray ROBISON v. Nancy Faye ROBISON.
• Court: Mississippi Supreme Court

722 So.2d 601

Jackie Ray ROBISON v. Nancy Faye ROBISON.

No. 97-CA-00889-SCT.

Supreme Court of Mississippi.

October 22, 1998.

M. Channing Powell, Gulfport, Attorney for Appellant.

Carol L. Henderson, Gulfport, Attorney for Appellee.

Before SULLIVAN, P.J., and MILLS and WALLER, JJ.

SULLIVAN, Presiding Justice, for the Court:

¶ 1. Jackie and Nancy Robison were married on January 30, 1976. During the course of their twenty-one-year marriage they had one daughter together, Ashley, who was thirteen at the time of the hearing. On April 5, 1996, Jackie moved out of the marital home. He testified that he began living with his girlfriend, Debbie Catania in early July, 1996, and admits to having a sexual relationship with Debbie beginning at that time. Jackie filed for divorce on July 18, 1996, in the Harrison County Chancery Court, and Nancy filed her counterclaim for divorce in her answer.

¶ 2. Based in part upon Jackie's adultery, Chancellor Thomas Wright Teel awarded Nancy a divorce upon grounds of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment and custody of Ashley. Jackie appeals to this Court from the chancellor's decree, assigning as error his finding of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment, amendment of the pleadings, award of lump sum and periodic alimony, award of attorney's fees, restriction of overnight visitation, and failure to attach the standard visitation schedule to the divorce decree.

STATEMENT OF THE LAW

Standard of Review

¶ 3. "The chancellor's decree of divorce will not be reversed unless it is manifestly wrong as to law or fact." Benson v. Benson, 608 So.2d 709, 710-11 (Miss.1992). We find no manifest error in the divorce judgment and therefore affirm the chancellor's decision in this case. However, because the trial court inadvertently failed to attach the standard visitation schedule to the divorce decree, we remand this case to the Harrison County Chancery Court for the limited purpose of incorporating the visitation schedule.

I.

THE CHANCERY COURT ERRED IN AWARDING NANCY FAYE ROBISON A DIVORCE ON THE GROUNDS OF HABITUAL CRUEL AND INHUMAN TREATMENT.

¶ 4. Jackie complains that the evidence at trial did not support a finding of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment, because Nancy testified that she was not afraid of Jackie and that Jackie never hit her. He also asserts that no causal connection was established between his treatment of Nancy and the couple's separation. However, this Court has held that conduct both before and after the separation may be considered in determining whether sufficient evidence was presented to support the chancellor's award of divorce upon grounds of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment. Bias v. Bias, 493 So.2d 342, 345 (Miss.1986).

¶ 5. "[H]abitual cruel and inhuman treatment could be established only by a continuing course of conduct on the part of the offending spouse which was so unkind, unfeeling or brutal as to endanger, or put one in reasonable apprehension of danger to life, limb or health, and further, that such course of conduct must be habitual, that is, done so often, or continued so long that it may reasonably be said a permanent condition." Wilson v. Wilson, 547 So.2d 803, 805 (Miss. 1989). "Our cases require more than mere unkindness, rudeness, or incompatibility to support the granting of a divorce on the ground of `cruel and inhuman treatment.'" Brooks v. Brooks, 652 So.2d 1113, 1124 (Miss. 1995). "On the other hand, habitual illfounded accusations, threats and malicious sarcasm, insults and verbal abuse may cause such mental suffering as to destroy health and endanger the life of an innocent spouse." Chamblee v. Chamblee, 637 So.2d 850, 859 (Miss.1994) (quoting Kergosien v. Kergosien, 471 So.2d 1206, 1210 (Miss.1985)

). "This Court has held that impact of the conduct on the plaintiff is crucial, thus we employ a subjective standard." Faries v. Faries, 607 So.2d 1204, 1209 (Miss.1992).

¶ 6. Jackie's emotional and mental abuse resulting in Nancy's depression were sufficient for an award of divorce on grounds of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment. Nancy testified that Jackie told her that he couldn't stand to be around her and that there was nothing she could do to make herself desirable to him. He kept late hours and talked about having to engage in sexual relations with women at work to advance his career. Jackie confirmed that the couple never had sex anymore. Nancy stated that the last three times they did have sex, Jackie threw her off of the bed. Nancy also said that Jackie continually criticized her appearance, never took her anywhere, and showed absolutely no affection towards Nancy. She also testified regarding his controlling nature, how Jackie would restrict her social life to the point of telling her who she could be friends with, what social functions she could attend, and where and under what circumstances she could go anywhere. After the separation, Jackie admittedly moved in with his girlfriend and began an adulterous relationship with her. He was neglectful of his family to the point that they could not afford groceries, and Nancy's co-workers had to hold a food drive for her and Ashley. Jackie did not deny any of Nancy's allegations, but did say that Nancy unjustly accused him of having an affair while they were still living together. At the time of trial, Nancy was being treated for depression and anxiety, taking both Paxil and Ativan. We find that Jackie's neglect and verbal and emotional abuse of Nancy, resulting in her needing treatment for depression, were sufficient to support a finding of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment.

II.

THE CHANCERY COURT ERRED IN ALLOWING NANCY FAYE ROBISON TO AMEND HER PLEADINGS AFTER SUSTAINING OBJECTIONS TO LEADING QUESTIONS AND AFTER THE TESTIMONY OF ONLY ONE WITNESS AND BEFORE THE CLOSING OF THE CASE-IN-CHIEF OF NANCY FAYE ROBISON.

¶ 7. Over Jackie's objection, Judge Teel allowed Nancy to amend her complaint to conform to the evidence already presented during her testimony at trial. Jackie alleges that the trial court's ruling on this matter was error and that the amendment unfairly prejudiced his case, because it added new theories of recovery for which he had no time to prepare a defense.

¶ 8. The procedure for amending pleadings to conform to the proof is governed by Rule 15(b) of the Mississippi Rules of Civil Practice, which allows the trial court "to be liberal in granting permission to amend when justice so requires" unless the objecting party shows "that the admission of such evidence would prejudice him in the maintaining of his action or defense upon the merits." Miss. R. Civ. P. 15(b). "The court may grant a continuance to enable the objecting party to meet such evidence." Id. Rule 2.09 of the Uniform Chancery Court Rules similarly allows a continuance if the opposing party "is not prepared to meet" any matter amended in the pleadings. U.C.C.R. 2.09.

¶ 9. Jackie cites McCarty v. Kellum, 667 So.2d 1277, 1284 (Miss.1995), in support of his position. The McCarty case is easily distinguishable from the issue here. In this case, Nancy was allowed to amend the pleadings in the middle of her own testimony before Jackie was called as a witness, whereas in McCarty the plaintiff attempted to amend the pleadings to add an additional theory of negligence after the close of the defendant's case. Id. at 1281-82. The only contested issues in the amended pleadings here were the increased requests in the amount of lump sum and periodic alimony. Jackie had to put on the same evidence to defend the request for alimony, regardless of the amount in the pleadings. He had the opportunity to sufficiently present his side of the monetary issues once he took the stand after the amendment, and could have requested a continuance if he felt that he needed additional time to prepare. We hold that the amendment to the pleadings allowed in this case did not prejudice Jackie so as to require reversal.

III.

THE CHANCERY COURT'S AWARD OF LUMP SUM ALIMONY, PERIODIC ALIMONY AND OTHER SUPPORT IN THE AGGREGATE WAS SO EXCESSIVE AS TO CONSTITUTE AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION.

¶ 10. Jackie contends that the chancellor abused his discretion in awarding Nancy lump sum alimony and Cobra insurance payments. He maintains that the court-ordered payments result in his monthly expenses exceeding his income. Jackie also alleges that the trial court used the award of alimony as punishment, contrary to Mississippi law.

¶ 11. In reviewing the propriety of a chancellor's award of lump sum and/or periodic alimony, this Court has set out the following factors for consideration:

(1) the existence of substantial contributions to the accumulation of wealth of the payor either by quitting a job to become a housewife or by assisting in the payor's business, (2) the length of the marriage, (3) the lack of separate income or the existence of comparatively meager income for the recipient, and, (4) lack of financial security in the absence of an award.

Crowe v. Crowe, 641 So.2d 1100, 1103 (Miss. 1994). "Disparity of the separate estates has continued to be the most compelling factor." Sarver v. Sarver, 687 So.2d 749, 757 (Miss. 1997). Costs associated with starting a new life after the divorce may be considered in an award of lump sum alimony. Id. "[T]he equitable division of property, awards of alimony, whether lump-sum or periodic, and all other obligations imposed upon a payor spouse should all be considered together by the chancellor." Brooks v. Brooks, 652 So.2d 1113, 1121 (Miss.1995).

¶ 12. Jackie's take home pay after expenses was $759 before the divorce decree when he was making $470 temporary support payments to Nancy. Chancellor Teel ordered Jackie to pay Nancy $350 per month in child support, $250 per month for lump sum alimony for forty months, $250 per month in periodic...