Christopher K. Wolff v. Elizabeth B. Wolff

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

07-332

CHRISTOPHER K. WOLFF

VERSUS

ELIZABETH B. WOLFF

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APPEAL FROM THE
TWELFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF AVOYELLES, DOCKET NO. 2006-8850-A
HONORABLE MARK A. JEANSONNE, DISTRICT JUDGE

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JAMES T. GENOVESE
JUDGE

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Court composed of John D. Saunders, Elizabeth A. Pickett, and James T. Genovese,
Judges.

AFFIRMED.

Rodney M. Rabalais
Post Office Box 447
Marksville, Louisiana 71351
(318) 253-4622
COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT:
Elizabeth B. Wolff

James T. Lee
Post Office Box 1021
Bunkie, Louisiana 71322
(318) 346-6616
COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE:
Christopher K. Wolff

GENOVESE, Judge.

In this domestic case, Defendant, Elizabeth B. Wolff, seeks reversal of the trial

court’s judgment finding that she was not free from fault in the dissolution of her

marriage to Plaintiff, Christopher K. Wolff, and thus precluded from final periodic

spousal support. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the judgment of the trial

court.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Christopher K. Wolff (Mr. Wolff) and Elizabeth B. Wolff (Ms. Wolff) were

married on May 19, 1990. Two children were born of the marriage. According to the

record, Mr. Wolff moved out of the family residence on January 4, 2006, and on

January 13, 2006, he filed a petition for divorce pursuant to La.Civ.Code art. 102. On

February 17, 2006, Ms. Wolff filed an answer and reconventional demand, alleging

that she was in need of interim periodic spousal support and also that she was free

from fault in the break-up of the marriage for the purpose of pursuing final periodic

spousal support. The parties were divorced on July 24, 2006.

On July 21, 2006, Ms. Wolff filed a motion to extend interim periodic spousal

support and for final periodic spousal support. Following a trial on October 23, 2006,

solely on the issue of fault, the trial court took the matter under advisement. On

November 22, 2006, written reasons for ruling were issued by the trial court denying

Ms. Wolff’s request for final periodic spousal support. The trial court ruled that Ms.

Wolff did not satisfy her burden of proving that she was free from fault in the

dissolution of the marriage, based on its finding that Ms. Wolff’s accusatory behavior

towards Mr. Wolff rendered the marriage unsupportable. In its reasons for ruling, the

trial court stated:

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[T]his court is of the opinion that Ms. Wolff subjected Mr. Wolff to a
pattern of mental harassment, nagging and griping which rendered the
marriage insupportable. The nagging was accusatory in this case, and
without merit. In this case, there was no conduct by Mr. Wolff which
necessitated such accusations, thus the conduct by Ms. Wolff was not a
legitimate “reaction” or “response” to anything. To reiterate there was
nothing to indicate that Mr. Wolff’s visits to “Gentlemens’ [sic] Clubs
was a predicate to marital strife; rather, that seemed to be his “reaction”
to a failing marriage. (The dissolution of the marriage at issue is
obviously via mutual fault).

Judgment in accordance with the trial court’s ruling was signed on December 12,

2006. Ms. Wolff appeals.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

In her sole assignment of error, Ms. Wolff argues that the trial court incorrectly

denied her request for final periodic spousal support.

LAW AND DISCUSSION

Ms. Wolff contends that the trial court erred in its acceptance of Mr. Wolff’s

testimony that she was unjustifiably jealous, accusatory, and cruel towards Mr. Wolff

as a basis for finding that she was not free from fault in the break-up of the marriage.

We disagree.

The statutes applicable to the award or denial of final periodic spousal support

are La.Civ.Code arts. 111 and 112. Louisiana Civil Code Article 111 states:

In a proceeding for divorce or thereafter, the court may award
interim periodic support to a party or may award final periodic support
to a party who is in need of support and who is free from fault prior to
the filing of a proceeding to terminate the marriage in accordance with
the following Articles.

Louisiana Civil Code Article 112 lists various factors for the trial court’s

consideration in determining whether an award of final periodic spousal support is

merited. Louisiana Civil Code Article 112 provides, in pertinent part, “When a

spouse has not been at fault and is in need of support, based on the needs of that party

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and the ability of the other party to pay, that spouse may be awarded final periodic

support . . . .”

In seeking final periodic spousal support, Ms. Wolff bears the burden of

proving that she was free from fault in the dissolution of the marriage. Terry v. Terry,

06-1406 (La.App. 3 Cir. 3/28/07), 954 So.2d 790. “It is well settled that a trial

court’s factual findings regarding fault in the area of domestic relations are given

great deference on review. If the trial court’s findings are reasonable, i.e. not

manifestly erroneous or clearly wrong, then they will not be disturbed.” Id. at 793

(citing Coleman v. Coleman, 541 So.2d 1003 (La.App. 3 Cir. 1989)).

Mr. Wolff argues that Ms. Wolff was unjustifiably jealous, and years of her

accusations of infidelity showed a pattern of mental harassment and cruel treatment

towards him which rendered their marriage unsupportable. According to Mr. Wolff’s

testimony, Ms. Wolff harassed him about recurring dreams she had about him and a

former schoolmate, and she accused him of having affairs with at least two women.

Mr. Wolff denied ever committing adultery. Mr. Wolff contends that the evidence,

or lack thereof, supports the trial court’s finding that Ms. Wolff failed to prove her

freedom for fault. We agree.

Ms. Wolff asserts that the trial court erred by relying on Mr. Wolff’s testimony

that she nagged him incessantly in concluding that she was not free from fault in the

dissolution of the marriage. Ms. Wolff testified that she was a dutiful wife and

mother, and that she never initiated an argument with Mr. Wolff. She claimed that

not until the night before he left did Mr. Wolff ever tell her that he was unhappy with

her as a wife, or that she was too jealous. He never complained about her either being

a nag, being insecure, or being accusatory. In fact, Ms. Wolff denied being either

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unreasonably jealous or unjustly accusatory. Ms. Wolff admitted to having an on-

going argument with Mr. Wolff over his hiring of their mutual friend, Mrs. Charity

Naquin (Mrs. Naquin); however, Ms. Wolff denied being unreasonable.

According to Ms. Wolff, Mr. Wolff was overly flirtatious and would openly

flaunt his attraction to other women in front of her. Ms. Wolff admitted that on these

occasions she would voice her displeasure; however, she denied overreacting,

nagging, or bickering incessantly.

Mrs. Tina Ormsby (Mrs. Ormsby) testified on behalf of Ms. Wolff; however,

her testimony did not corroborate Ms. Wolff’s testimony. Mrs. Ormsby admitted to

witnessing Ms. Wolff’s jealousy and nagging. Further, she also witnessed Ms.

Wolff’s efforts to make Mr. Wolff angry and jealous.

Mrs. Naquin was called to testify on behalf of Mr. Wolff. Her testimony

corroborated Mr. Wolff’s assertion that Ms. Wolff was jealous. In fact, Mrs. Naquin

testified that Ms. Wolff told her that she was not happy with Mr. Wolff because he

had employed her against her (Ms. Wolff’s) wishes. According to Mrs. Naquin, Ms.

Wolff stated that until Mr. Wolff terminated Mrs. Naquin’s employment, she, Ms.

Wolff, was going to make his life “a living hell.” It is noteworthy that Ms. Wolff did

admit telling this to Mrs. Naquin; however, she denied actually making Mr. Wolff’s

life such.

“The jurisprudence attendant to Louisiana Civil Code Articles 111 and 112

emphasizes that for a claimant spouse to prove entitlement to final support, that

spouse must affirmatively prove freedom from fault.” Floyd v. Floyd, 03-1126, p. 5

(La.App. 3 Cir. 12/10/03), 861 So.2d 837, 840 (citing Harrington v. Montet, 93-984

(La.App. 3 Cir. 3/2/94), 634 So.2d 1302; Gibson v. Gibson, 592 So.2d 855 (La.App.

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3 Cir.1991)). Considering the evidence, law, and jurisprudence, we do not find that

the trial court clearly erred or was manifestly erroneous in finding that Ms. Wolff

failed to affirmatively prove her freedom from fault and that her continued pattern of

mental harassment rendered their marriage insupportable.

DECREE

For the foregoing reasons, the judgment denying Ms. Wolff final periodic

spousal support is affirmed. Costs of this appeal are assessed against

Defendant/Appellant, Elizabeth B. Wolff.

AFFIRMED.

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