Yanjun Zuo v. Yuanyuan Wang, 20180403

• Decision Date: 06 August 2019
• Docket Number: No. 20180403,20180403
• Citation: 932 N.W.2d 360
• Parties: YANJUN ZUO, Plaintiff and Appellant v. YUANYUAN WANG, Defendant and Appellee
• Court: North Dakota Supreme Court

932 N.W.2d 360

YANJUN ZUO, Plaintiff and Appellant

v.YUANYUAN WANG, Defendant and Appellee

No. 20180403

Supreme Court of North Dakota.

Filed August 6, 2019

Rehearing Denied September 20, 2019

Kelsey L. Hankey, Grand Forks, ND, for plaintiff and appellant.

Kristi P. Venhuizen, Grand Forks, ND, for defendant and appellee.

McEvers, Justice.

[¶1] Yanjun Zuo appeals a district court judgment and post-judgment orders awarding Yuanyuan Wang marital property, spousal support, and primary residential responsibility of the parties' minor child. Zuo argues the court erred in its evidentiary decisions at trial, and erred in awarding spousal support and primary residential responsibility to Wang. He also argues the court erred in backdating child support. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

I

[¶2] Zuo and Wang were married in Beijing, China in 1994 and have one child. Zuo is a professor and researcher at the University of North Dakota earning approximately $143,400 annually. Wang had a well-paying job in Hong Kong where she earned approximately $10,000 per month. However, while living in Grand Forks from 2008 to 2013, and from 2014 to the present, she worked at various positions, earning between $13.50 and $18 per hour.

[¶3] Zuo sued for divorce in December 2016. The district court entered an interim order in March 2017. The interim order was based on the parties' stipulation and provided that in lieu of child support, Zuo would pay all of the child’s daycare expenses. The issue of child support was reserved until trial.

[¶4] The district court held a four-day bench trial in April and May of 2018. At trial, the court admitted audio recordings of communications between Zuo and Wang. Zuo recorded the communications without Wang’s knowledge. Zuo attempted to introduce English translations of the recordings. Wang objected and the court excluded the English translations of the recordings.

[¶5] In its findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order for judgment issued after trial, the district court found Zuo committed domestic violence against Wang and awarded Wang primary residential responsibility of the child. The court ordered Zuo to pay $1,335 per month in child support effective as of February 1, 2017. The court distributed the parties' marital property and awarded Wang $1,750 in monthly spousal support for ten years.

II

[¶6] Zuo argues the district court erred when it did not allow for an English translation of the audio recordings he submitted at trial. Zuo contends the recordings show Wang was abusive toward him.

[¶7] A district court has wide discretion in evidentiary matters, and we will not overturn a court’s decision to admit or exclude evidence unless the court abused its discretion. Vandal v. Leno , 2014 ND 45, ¶ 26, 843 N.W.2d 313. A court abuses its discretion when it acts in an arbitrary, unreasonable, or capricious manner, it misinterprets or misapplies the law, or its decision is not the product of a rational mental process leading to a reasoned determination. Zundel v. Zundel , 2017 ND 217, ¶ 27, 901 N.W.2d 731.

[¶8] The district court found Zuo recorded the interactions between himself and Wang "in an effort to create prejudicial evidence to introduce at trial." The court explained its decision to disallow the translations of the recordings:

The Court has considered [Wang’s] objection and will sustain it, for several reasons.

First, the translator’s certificate of accuracy indicates that the translator translated an original document and the witness [Zuo] is unable to describe how the recordings were reduced to a document.

Second, the Court shares the same concerns as Defense counsel regarding the parentheticals.

And, finally, it will be sustained due to timeliness. It looks like, at least from the exhibit list, these recordings ... were made in 2015 and 2016; so this should have been taken care of quite some time ago.

[¶9] The translations were provided to Wang after the deadline under the scheduling order relating to the exchange of exhibits before trial. Zuo was unable to answer questions about the translation process. Zuo admitted that some recordings had not been saved. The district court adequately explained its decision to exclude the translations, and its decision was not arbitrary or capricious. We conclude the court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the translations.

III

[¶10] Zuo argues the district court clearly erred in awarding primary residential responsibility of the child to Wang.

[¶11] We exercise a limited review of primary residential responsibility decisions. Grasser v. Grasser , 2018 ND 85, ¶ 17, 909 N.W.2d 99. A district court’s decision on primary residential responsibility is a finding of fact and will not be overturned on appeal unless clearly erroneous. Id. A finding of fact is clearly erroneous if it is induced by an erroneous view of the law, if no evidence supports it, or if this Court, on the entire record, is left with a definite and firm conviction a mistake has been made. Id. Under the clearly erroneous standard, we do not reweigh the evidence or reassess the credibility of witnesses. Id. A court must award primary residential responsibility in light of the child’s best interests, considering all the relevant best interest factors under N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2(1).

[¶12] Zuo argues the district court erred in finding he committed domestic violence under N.D.C.C. § 14-09-06.2(1)(j). He argues the court considered hearsay evidence and there were inconsistencies in the witnesses' testimony.

[¶13] The district court found Zuo committed domestic violence against Wang on three occasions, in August 2015, November 2015, and January 2017. In response to Wang’s 911 call after the August 2015 incident, a UND police officer testified he saw redness, swelling, and a faint bruise on Wang’s face. He testified that it appeared Wang had been slapped. The officer arrested Zuo for simple assault. Zuo plead guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct and received a deferred imposition of sentence.

[¶14] Wang testified Zuo struck her in the face again in November 2015. Two of Wang’s witnesses testified they did not observe the incident, but they noticed bruising on Wang’s face after the incident. The district court found another incident of domestic violence occurred in January 2017. Wang contacted the police, and Zuo was charged with interference with a 911 call and disorderly conduct. Zuo was placed on administrative leave following the January 2017 incident.

[¶15] Zuo claims the district court considered hearsay evidence in its domestic violence findings; however, Zuo did not object to any witnesses' testimony on the basis of hearsay. "[H]earsay evidence, if not objected to, may properly be used in a court proceeding." Sargent Cty. Bank v. Wentworth , 547 N.W.2d 753, 762 (N.D. 1996). On appeal, Zuo waived any objection based on hearsay by failing to object at trial. The court made specific findings on domestic violence, and the evidence supports the court’s findings. We conclude the court’s findings on domestic violence are not clearly erroneous.

[¶16] Zuo argues the district court erred in its analysis of the remaining best interest factors. He contends the court ignored significant evidence that was favorable to him and detrimental to Wang. Zuo’s arguments appear to be a request for this Court to reweigh the evidence and assess the credibility of witnesses. The court addressed each factor, finding seven factors favored Wang, zero factors favored Zuo, and five factors favored neither party.

[¶17] We conclude the district court’s award of primary residential responsibility to Wang was not clearly erroneous. The court’s findings have support in the record, and we are not left with a definite and firm conviction a mistake has been made.

IV

[¶18] Zuo argues the district court erred in its analysis of the Ruff - Fischer guidelines in awarding rehabilitative spousal support to Wang.

[¶19] A district court may award spousal support under N.D.C.C. § 14-05-24.1(1). A court must consider the Ruff – Fischer guidelines in deciding whether spousal support is appropriate, including:

[T]he respective ages of the parties, their earning ability, the duration of the marriage and conduct of the parties during the marriage, their station in life, the circumstances and necessities of each, their health and physical condition, their financial circumstances as shown by the property owned at the time, its value at the time, its income-producing capacity, if any, whether accumulated before or after the marriage, and such other matters as may be material.

Schmuck v. Schmuck , 2016 ND 87, ¶ 6, 882 N.W.2d 918 ; see also Fischer v. Fischer , 139 N.W.2d 845, 852 (N.D. 1966) ; Ruff v. Ruff , 78 N.D. 775, 784, 52 N.W.2d 107, 111 (1952). In addition, the court must consider the needs of the spouse seeking support and the ability of the other spouse to pay. Schmuck , at ¶ 6. A spousal support award is a finding of fact that will not be disturbed on appeal unless clearly erroneous. Id.

[¶20] The district court addressed the Ruff - Fischer guidelines in its findings of fact. The court found the parties had a long-term marriage, Wang was in need of spousal support, and Zuo had the ability to pay. The court awarded Wang $1,750 per month in spousal support for ten years. The court found that Wang will need to find employment in addition to spousal support to support herself. The court explained, "[t]his [spousal support award] will allow [Wang] sufficient time to pursue a career and/or additional schooling here to better her station in life and her ability to support herself. Even with the award of rehabilitative spousal support, [Wang] will need to find employment and tap her savings to support herself."

[¶21] The evidence in the record supports the district court’s findings, and we are not left with a definite and firm conviction a mistake has been made. The court did not clearly err in awarding Wang rehabilitative spousal...