James Allen Owens, Jr. v. Martha Sue Owens
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2007-CA-01808-COA
JAMES ALLEN OWENS, JR.
APPELLANT
v.
MARTHA SUE OWENS
DATE OF JUDGMENT:
TRIAL JUDGE:
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:
NATURE OF THE CASE:
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION:
DISPOSITION:
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
APPELLEE
08/30/2007
HON. KENNETH M. BURNS
CHICKASAW COUNTY CHANCERY
COURT
PHILLIP M. WHITEHEAD
ELIZABETH FOX AUSBERN
CIVIL - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
ON REMAND THE CHANCELLOR
DIVIDED ASSETS
AFFIRMED – 06/30/2009
BEFORE LEE, P.J., IRVING AND BARNES, JJ.
IRVING, J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1.
James Allen Owens Jr. appeals from an order of the Chickasaw County Chancery
Court awarding him one-fourth of his former wife’s Walmart retirement plan. James asserts
that the chancellor committed manifest error and abused his discretion in finding that he was
entitled to only one-fourth of her retirement plan.
¶2.
Finding no reversible error, we affirm.
FACTS
¶3.
This is the second time that this case has been before this Court. Our initial opinion
is reported at Owens v. Owens, 950 So. 2d 202 (Miss. Ct. App. 2006) (Owens I). In Owens
I, the chancellor equitably divided the parties’ marital assets, including Martha’s Walmart
retirement plan. Id. at 213 (¶43). James was awarded a little over one-sixth ($10,000) of the
retirement plan, which was valued at $59,398.27. Id. This Court reversed and remanded
after determining that the chancellor had applied an erroneous legal standard during his
division of the retirement plan. Id. at 215 (¶49).
¶4.
We specifically instructed the chancellor as follows: (1) to address all relevant
Ferguson factors,1 making sure to discuss the factor which relates to the parties’ respective
incomes and their ability to provide for themselves; (2) not to consider factors that bear no
relevance to the equitable distribution of the retirement plan, particularly Martha’s intent to
use the fund to educate her children and James’s inability to pay child support payments; and
(3) to determine the parties’ domestic/non-economic contributions. Id. at 213-15 (¶¶40-49).
¶5.
On remand, the chancellor addressed all applicable Ferguson factors in his
determination of the distribution of the retirement plan; however, he also mentioned Martha’s
contribution toward one of the children’s college expenses while addressing one of the
Ferguson factors. Ultimately, the chancellor awarded James one-fourth ($14,849.57) of the
retirement plan.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE
1
We list and address these factors later in our analysis and discussion of the issue.
2
¶6.
In reviewing property division and distribution in divorce cases, our standard of
review is limited. Owen v. Owen, 928 So. 2d 156, 160 (¶10) (Miss. 2006) (citing Reddell v.
Reddell, 696 So. 2d 287, 288 (Miss. 1997)). The chancellor’s decision in property division
will be upheld if it is supported by substantial credible evidence. Id. (citing Carrow v.
Carrow, 642 So. 2d 901, 904 (Miss. 1994)). An appellate court “will not hesitate to reverse
if it finds the chancellor’s decision is manifestly wrong, or that the court applied an erroneous
legal standard.” Id. at (¶11) (citing Sandlin v. Sandlin, 699 So. 2d 1198, 1203 (Miss. 1997)).
¶7.
“[A] chancellor may divide marital assets, real and personal, as well as award periodic
and/or lump[-]sum alimony, as equity demands.” Savelle v. Savelle, 650 So. 2d 476, 479
(Miss. 1995) (quoting Ferguson v. Ferguson, 639 So. 2d 921, 929 (Miss. 1994)). However,
this division does not require a fifty-fifty split. Id.
¶8.
In Ferguson, 639 So. 2d at 928, the Mississippi Supreme Court established a list of
factors that should be considered when determining the equitable distribution of marital
property:
1. Substantial contribution to the accumulation of the property. Factors to be
considered in determining contribution are as follows:
a. Direct or indirect economic contribution to the acquisition of the
property;
b. Contribution to the stability and harmony of the marital and family
relationships as measured by quality, quantity of time spent on family
duties and duration of the marriage; and
c. Contribution to the education, training or other accomplishment
bearing on the earning power of the spouse accumulating the assets.
3
2. The degree to which each spouse has expended, withdrawn or otherwise
disposed of marital assets and any prior distribution of such assets by
agreement, decree or otherwise;
3. The market value and the emotional value of the assets subject to
distribution;
4. The value of assets not ordinarily, absent equitable factors to the contrary,
subject to such distribution, such as property brought to the marriage by the
parties and property acquired by inheritance or inter vivos gift by or to an
individual spouse;
5. Tax and other economic consequences, and contractual or legal
consequences to third parties, of the proposed distribution;
6. The extent to which property division may, with equity to both parties, be
utilized to eliminate periodic payments and other potential sources of future
friction between the parties;
7. The needs of the parties for financial security with due regard to the
combination of assets, income and earning capacity; and,
8. Any other factor in which equity should be considered.
¶9.
James asserts that the chancellor’s decision to award him only one-fourth of the
retirement plan was in part, negatively influenced by a factor that this Court, in Owens I,
instructed the chancellor not to consider—Martha’s contribution toward the children’s
college expenses. James further asserts that the chancellor did not consider his domestic or
non-economic contributions toward the household and argues that he is entitled to one-half
of the retirement plan.
¶10.
The record reflects that the chancellor mentioned Martha’s contribution toward the
children’s college expenses while addressing one of the Ferguson factors. However, there
is no evidence that the chancellor was negatively influenced by her contribution in his
4
division of Martha’s retirement plan. We, therefore, affirm the chancellor’s decision to
award James only one-fourth of the retirement plan, as the chancellor made adequate findings
to support his decision in this regard during his analysis of the Ferguson factors. We now
turn to the chancellor’s discussion of those factors.
(a) Substantial contribution to the accumulation of the property: Direct or
indirect economic contribution to the acquisition of marital property.
¶11.
In the judgment of divorce, the chancellor only considered Martha’s economic
contributions under this factor and concluded that she contributed more than James. On
appeal, this Court instructed the chancellor to consider the parties’ non-economic
contributions as well. On remand, the chancellor found that Martha made greater economic
contributions, as well as greater domestic contributions to the acquisition of the Walmart
retirement plan. The judgment on remand reflects the following findings made by the
chancellor:
From the day of the marriage, Martha worked full time and performed virtually
all of the domestic duties. Until the separation, she prepared all the meals and
did 75 percent of the housework. Martha managed all of the money and paid
all of the family bills. After James became disabled, he tended to the laundry
and washing of the dishes. He became disabled when Magen was two and
Jamie was [nine]. He provided daycare for Magen until she went to school and
provided transportation for both children to school.
****
Apparently, according to the Mississippi
Commission, James is partially disabled.
Workers’
Compensation
James has only applied for employment two times since his disability. He
mows the lawn, works on automobiles and did some of the remodeling on the
home after his alleged total disability.
5
Therefore, Martha has made greater economic and domestic contributions to
the acquisition of the Wal-Mart Plan.
(b) Substantial contribution to the accumulation of the property: Contribution
to the education, training or other accomplishment bearing on the earning
power of the spouse accumulating the assets.
¶12.
The chancellor found that both parties have been supportive of each other in their
respective occupations during the marriage, except for James’s disruption at Martha’s place
of employment.
(c) The degree to which each spouse has expended, withdrawn or otherwise
disposed of marital assets and any property distribution of such assets.
¶13.
Here, the chancellor found that this factor was not applicable because neither party had
disposed of nor expended any marital assets.
(d) The market value and emotional value of the assets subject to distribution.
¶14.
In addressing this factor, the chancellor determined that Martha had more emotional
attachment to the Walmart retirement plan because she had worked there for more than twenty
years. However, the court recognized that James’s helping out with the children allowed
Martha to maintain her employment with Walmart and thereby acquire the retirement plan.
(e) Tax and other economic consequences.
¶15.
The chancellor found this factor inapplicable.
(f) The extent to which property division may, with equity to both parties, be
utilized to eliminate periodic payments and other potential sources of future
friction between the parties.
¶16.
Here, the chancellor found that the retirement plan could be divided in such a manner
6
to avoid future friction between the parties.
(g) The needs of the parties and their income and earning capacities.
¶17.
In addressing this factor, the chancellor acknowledged that he was “particularly
criticized by the Appeals Court for not making this consideration.” The chancellor found that
Martha’s expenses were outweighed by her income and that James’s income was more than
his expenses. As previously mentioned, despite this Court’s instruction to “take care to not
take into account factors that bear no relevance to an equitable division of the retirement
fund,” the chancellor went on to discuss Martha’s contribution to one of the children’s college
expenses.
¶18.
After applying the Ferguson analysis, the chancellor awarded James one-fourth
($14,849.57) of the retirement plan. Although the chancellor considered a factor that had no
bearing on the division of the retirement plan, we will not reverse the chancellor’s award. As
mentioned above, we defer to a chancellor’s factual findings when he applies the correct legal
standard and there is substantial evidence to support his findings. We also note that equitable
distribution does not demand that an asset be divided equally.
¶19.
The chancellor applied every applicable Ferguson factor. Although we find that the
chancellor should not have mentioned Martha’s contribution toward the children’s college
expenses while discussing the needs of the parties and their income and earning capacities,
we find no harm inured to James’s detriment. As stated, the chancellor made adequate
findings to support his division of Martha’s retirement account. The chancellor favored
Martha in every factor except those that are not applicable to the retirement plan. The
7
chancellor also found that James was responsible for one-fourth of the non-economic
contribution to the acquisition of the retirement plan—an amount proportionate to the amount
of the retirement plan awarded to him. Although none of the Ferguson factors favored James,
the chancellor, on remand, increased James’s share of the retirement plan from a little over
one-sixth ($10,000) to one-fourth ($14,849.57). Accordingly, this contention of error is
without merit.
¶20. THE JUDGMENT OF THE CHANCERY COURT OF CHICKASAW COUNTY
IS AFFIRMED. ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TO THE
APPELLANT.
KING, C.J., LEE AND MYERS, P.JJ., GRIFFIS, BARNES, ISHEE, ROBERTS,
AND MAXWELL, JJ., CONCUR. CARLTON, J., CONCURS IN RESULT ONLY.
8
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.