Jane E. Dunham v. David M. Dunham--Appeal from 249th District Court of Johnson County

IN THE

TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

 

No. 10-94-272-CV

 

JANE E. DUNHAM,

Appellant

v.

 

DAVID M. DUNHAM,

 

Appellee

 

From the 249th District Court

Johnson County, Texas

Trial Court # 5063-93

 

O P I N I O N

 

Jane Dunham appeals the property division in a divorce decree. The court, granting the divorce on the grounds of insupportability, denied Jane's claim of constructive fraud, divided the community property, and awarded her a $15,000 judgment against her husband, David Dunham. Jane brings five points of error.

The first three points relate to her claim of constructive fraud. Jane generally claims that a number of David's expenditures during their marriage created a presumption of constructive fraud. In point one Jane complains that the court did not require David to overcome the presumption of constructive fraud and demonstrate that the expenditures were fair to her. In points two and three, she alleges that there was no evidence, or insufficient evidence, that the transactions were fair to her.

The fourth point asserts that the court erred in failing to reimburse the community estate for payments David made on his separate-property debts and to his sons and mother. Her fifth point alleges that the court erred in failing to award her at least 50% of the community estate.

BACKGROUND

Jane, a teacher, and David, an orthodontist, married on August 12, 1988, and divorced on May 9, 1994. At the time of the marriage, David was the sole owner of his orthodontist practice in Cleburne. He brought a substantial amount of separate property into the marriage, and he continued to make payments on various premarital debts during the marriage. Issues relating to David's separate property and payment of the premarital debts are the primary source of Jane's complaints.

David paid on two notes that existed prior to his marriage to Jane and were payable to Irene Dunham (David's ex-wife). One note was a court-ordered, unsecured note executed incident to his divorce from Irene. David paid a total of $33,800 on that note during his marriage to Jane. The second note payable to Irene was for David's purchase of real property that he used for his orthodontist practice. The principal amount of the second note decreased during the marriage by $89,526, thereby increasing David's equity interest in the property by that amount. The court also found that David paid another $140,188 in expenses on the property during his marriage to Jane.

Jane also complains of monies David spent on a number of automobiles during their marriage. Two were Hondas (1985 and 1987 models), which were the subject of one premarital promissory note (the "Honda" note). David allowed his mother and one of his sons to drive these cars. David bought a third car, a 1988 Honda, during the marriage and renewed the prior Honda note to include the new car. Finally, Jane complains of one or more gifts to another of David's sons for the purchase of two cars // during their marriage.

CONSTRUCTIVE FRAUD

Jane claims that the above expenditures, which were made by David from community funds during the marriage, were unfair to her, thus giving rise to a claim for constructive fraud. // Constructive fraud is the breach of a legal or equitable duty, which the law declares fraudulent because it violates a fiduciary relationship. Fanning v. Fanning, 828 S.W.2d 135, 148 (Tex. App. Waco 1992), rev'd on other grounds, 847 S.W.2d 225 (Tex. 1993). A presumption of constructive fraud arises when a spouse unfairly disposes of the other spouse's interest in community property without the other's knowledge or consent, and the disposing spouse has the burden to prove the fairness of the disposition. Matter of Marriage of Devine, 869 S.W.2d 415, 422 (Tex. App. Amarillo 1993, writ denied) (citing Mazique v. Mazique, 742 S.W.2d 805, 808 (Tex. App. Houston [1st Dist.] 1987, no writ)) (emphasis added). Only gifts that are excessive and capricious, made with intent to defraud the other spouse, may be set aside as a constructive fraud. Fanning, 828 S.W.2d at 148.

Jane cites four occurrences in support of her argument of constructive fraud: (1) the payments relating to David's business property; (2) payments on David's unsecured debt to his ex-wife; (3) payments on the Honda note; and (4) the expenditure of approximately $8,000 on used automobiles for David's middle son. //

There is no evidence that any of the complained-of actions were taken without Jane's knowledge and consent. See Marriage of DeVine, 869 S.W.2d at 422; Tabassi v. NBC Bank San Antonio, 737 S.W.2d 612, 617 (Tex. App. Austin 1987, writ ref'd n.r.e.). In fact, Jane's own testimony establishes the contrary. She testified that she was aware of the payments to Irene Dunham, and of the payments on the two Hondas used by David's mother and son. She testified that she was "just more than glad whatever [David] did for [his kids], to put them through school, to pay for their cars." Further, Jane testified that she helped David's son pick out one car, the purchase of which she now claims is fraudulent. Jane knew that David was spending money on cars for his sons, and, from her testimony, she not only consented but approved. Further, we recognize that a portion of the Honda note is for the purchase of David's 1988 Honda that was made during the marriage. It is, therefore, community property and would properly be paid for with community assets. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. 5.01(b) (Vernon 1993).

These facts do not give rise to a presumption of constructive fraud. The evidence established that Jane knew of, approved of, or consented to each of the transactions of which she now complains, and there is no evidence that the transactions were otherwise unfair to her. See Fanning, 828 S.W.2d at 148; Marriage of DeVine, 869 S.W.2d at 422; and Tabassi, 737 S.W.2d at 617.

Jane also complains that, once the parties were separated, David paid approximately $16,000 to discharge the Honda note rather than applying that money to the community tax debt that, as of January 1, 1993, totalled $59,000. She claims that his actions were unfair to her. However, David's actions cannot give rise to a claim for constructive fraud, as it is undisputed that at least $14,500 of the $16,000 used to pay off the automobile note was David's separate property, traceable to the sale of land he inherited from his father. See Fanning, 828 S.W.2d at 148 (misuse of community funds gives rise to constructive fraud). The remaining $1,500 paid does not give rise to a presumption of constructive fraud because some portion of the note was for the community-property 1988 Honda.

The record does not support Jane's claim that the court erred in denying her claim for constructive fraud. Points one through three are overruled.

RIGHT OF REIMBURSEMENT

Jane next argues that the court erred when it failed to reimburse her one-half of certain community expenditures on David's separate property during the marriage. She complains of the same actions that are the subject of her constructive-fraud claims: payment of the various premarital debts and the money he gave to his son for the purchase of the two automobiles. She additionally claims that it was not fair to the community that David used his separate property to pay off his separate debts, rather than community debts, when he saw the inevitable end of their marriage.

The Texas Supreme Court has noted that a claim for reimbursement is an equitable one that requires the court to look at all the facts and circumstances, including offsetting benefits, to determine what is fair, just, and equitable. Penick v. Penick, 783 S.W.2d 194, 197 (Tex. 1988). The court, drawing an analogy between a claim for reimbursement and a claim for quantum meruit, outlined a situation wherein the application of reimbursement principles is appropriate: (1) one estate has contributed to another estate; (2) the contributing estate has not received a quid pro quo, and (3) the benefitted estate has thereby been unjustly enriched. Id. at 197-98.

A claim for reimbursement arises when funds or assets from one marital estate are used to benefit another marital estate without the contributing estate receiving some benefit. Vallone v. Vallone, 644 S.W.2d 455, 459 (Tex. 1982). The party claiming a right of reimbursement has the burden of pleading and proving that expenditures from the community were made and that they are reimbursable. Id. Reimbursement is not available as a matter of law, but lies within the discretion of the court. Id. Great latitude is given to the court in applying equitable principles to value a claim for reimbursement. Penick, 783 S.W.2d at 198.

Figure 1 reflects the findings and conclusions relevant to Jane's reimbursement claims, and any offsetting benefits, each of which is supported by the evidence. //

 

Figure 1

 

Trial Court's

Findings

and Conclusions

Benefit to

David's

Separate Estate

Benefit to

Community Estate

Potential

Community Claim for

Reimbursement

David made Payments to Irene Dunham on unsecured note during marriage to Jane

 

$33,800

 

no finding

$33,800

David was purchasing building for his

practice at 301 North Ridgeway from Irene Dunham

expenses $140,188

 

decrease in

principal $89,526 $229,714

tax benefit $42,056

saved

rental // $159,390 $201,446

 

$28,268

David was purchasing rental property at

303 North Ridgeway

decrease in

principal $22,971

rental

income $22,883

enjoyed

 

$88

TOTAL POTENTIAL

CLAIM FOR

REIMBURSEMENT

 

$62,156

The court made no specific findings either denying or allowing a community right of reimbursement, but we will assume, without deciding, that where the evidence established a potential claim for reimbursement, the court allowed such a claim. We further assume that the court considered and divided the community claim for reimbursement when it divided the community estate.

Payments to Irene Dunham

The court found that during his marriage to Jane, David paid $33,800 on a court-ordered note to his ex-wife. There is no evidence that David's separate funds were used in satisfaction of this debt, and David does not argue that the community received any benefit from payments on this note. Community funds were used on this separate debt, yet the community received no quid pro quo for its expenditure. The court could have found that the community had a claim for reimbursement for the $33,800 the community contributed to this debt.

Payments on David's Business Property

The community estate also made payments on David's separate property that he used for his business. The court found that the community paid $89,526 toward the principal of the note and paid another $140,188 on taxes, interest, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation. However, the court also found facts demonstrating a benefit to the community from the payments, including saved rental expenses for his business in the amount of $159,390, and tax benefits in the amount of $42,056.

Considering the offsetting benefits to the community, the court reasonably could have found a right of reimbursement, but could have also refused to reimburse an amount greater than the net loss to the community. Therefore, we will assume that the court awarded a $28,268 right of reimbursement to the community, representing the difference between the total community expenditures and the total community benefit. (See Figure 1).

Payments on the Rental Property

The only findings the court made relevant to a community claim for reimbursement for payments on the rental property located at 303 Ridgeway are that David enjoyed a $22,971 reduction in principal, and that the community received $22,883 in rental income during the marriage. Recognizing that the payments toward the principal are appropriately offset with the rental income enjoyed by the community, the court could have determined that there was an $88 deficit to the community and awarded the community a right of reimbursement in that amount.

Payments on the Honda Note

The court made no findings and conclusions relevant to Jane's claim for reimbursement for the community's expenditures on the Honda note. Jane could have requested specific findings of values paid by the community estate that may have given rise to a community claim for reimbursement, but she did not. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 298. Therefore, we imply that the court made all necessary findings in support of the judgment. See Holt Atherton Industries, Inc. v. Heine, 835 S.W.2d 80, 83 (Tex. 1992). As long as there is some evidence of a substantive and probative character to support the court's decision, no abuse of discretion occurs. // Holley v. Holley, 864 S.W.2d 703, 706 (Tex. App. Houston [1st Dist.] 1993, writ denied).

The relevant evidence established that David expended at least $14,500 of his separate property in satisfaction of the Honda note. The record establishes that the first two Hondas were purchased before marriage and the third after marriage. Therefore, the first two would be separate, and the third would be presumptively community property. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. 5.01(a), (b). Payment from community funds on the third car cannot give rise to a claim for reimbursement. See Vallone, 644 S.W.2d at 459.

There is no evidence of the amount of community funds that Jane contends was paid on the separate-property portion of the Honda note. We do not know, for example, the amount of the original note, the purchase price of any of the cars, or the number of payments David made on the note before marriage, but the evidence established that David paid at least $14,500 to reduce the Honda note. To support the court's judgment, and in absence of a finding, we will imply a finding that the $14,500 payment from David's separate property on the Honda note went solely toward the community car. See Holt Atherton, 835 S.W.2d at 83.

Considering all facts and circumstances, the court could have found that reducing the potential community claim for reimbursement by $14,500 was fair and equitable. See Penick, 783 S.W.2d at 197. Because there was evidence, both substantive and probative, to support that action, we find no abuse of discretion. See Holley, 864 S.W.2d at 706.

Jane's Other Claims

Jane's contention, that David unfairly paid his separate debt instead of the community's income-tax debt, cannot be properly characterized as a claim for reimbursement because he used separate property funds to benefit his separate estate. See Vallone, 644 S.W.2d at 459 (noting that a claim for reimbursement arises when one marital estate benefits another estate without itself receiving some benefit). David's gifts to his son from community funds, although potentially giving rise to a claim for constructive fraud, do not give rise to a claim for reimbursement. See id.; Fanning, 828 S.W.2d at 148.

We overrule point four as to Jane's claims concerning the payment of his separate debt rather than the tax debt and the gift to his son, but we will assume that the court recognized a $62,156 community claim for reimbursement. We further assume that the court made implied findings that David's separate property payment of $14,500 on the Honda note offset the $62,156 community claim for reimbursement, leaving a net community claim for reimbursement of $47,556.

DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE

Although the court granted, as part of its division of the community property, a judgment for Jane against David in the amount of $15,000, she complains of the court's division, or failure to divide, a number of community assets. She maintains that David's practice owned accounts receivable in the amount of $42,000 // and that the value of his interest in his separate-property pension plan, profit sharing, and IRA increased during the marriage by $44,866. She contends that the court did not award her at least one-half of those community assets, and that such failure was error. We disagree.

The court has broad discretion in dividing community property, and we presume that it exercised its discretion properly. See Murff v. Murff, 615 S.W.2d 696, 699 (Tex. 1981). The test for abuse of discretion is not whether, in the opinion of the reviewing court, the facts present an appropriate case for the trial court's action, but whether the court acted arbitrarily or unreasonably. Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241-42 (Tex. 1985), cert. denied, 476 U.S. 1159, 106 S. Ct. 2279, 90 L. Ed. 2d 721 (1986).

To complain on appeal of a court's division of the community estate, a party must have produced evidence of the value of community assets to provide the trial judge with a basis on which to make the division. One complaining of the court's division of the community property must be able to demonstrate from the evidence that the decision arrived at is so unjust and unfair as to constitute an abuse of discretion. LeBlanc v. LeBlanc, 761 S.W.2d 450, 453 (Tex. App. Corpus Christi 1988), writ denied per curium, 778 S.W.2d 865 (Tex. 1989).

Jane cannot show that the division was, in fact, disproportionate. Although David filed an inventory and appraisal of assets in his possession, Jane did not provide evidence of the value of a number of items to the trial court. She provided evidence of the value of David's various retirement plans and the value of his office's accounts receivable. But she failed to value a number of assets in her possession, including a 1989 Toyota Tercel, various home furnishings and appliances, her teacher retirement, interest on her separate accounts, as well as other items. // Because she failed to provide evidence of such values, she may not now complain of the court's lack of information. See id.

Assuming that the court did have values for the majority of the larger community assets and debts, and assuming the court made its division based solely on those values, we find no abuse of discretion in the court's division. The court found that David's Money Purchase Pension Plan, Profit Sharing Plan, and IRA increased by the following amounts during his marriage to Jane, and also found that David's business owned accounts receivable as listed below. Further, from the court's findings relevant to Jane's reimbursement claims, we will imply a finding that the community had a right of reimbursement in the amount listed below.

Increase in David's Money Purchase Pension Plan $32,185.16

Increase in David's Profit Sharing Plan $11,581.02

Increase in David's Individual Retirement Account $ 1,100.00

Business Accounts Receivable $15,355.00

Community Claim for Reimbursement $47,656.00

TOTAL KNOWN VALUE OF COMMUNITY ESTATE ASSETS: $92,522.18

Although there were no values for a number of the debts of the community, including Jane's Toyota and various credits cards, the evidence establishes that the community owed unpaid income taxes of at least $59,000. // Assuming that the tax obligation is the only community debt, after offsetting the assets and liabilities of the community, the court could have found, impliedly, that the value of the community at the time of divorce equalled approximately $33,522.18. //

The court awarded Jane a judgment for $15,000 against David, and did not order her to assume any portion of the tax debt. Thus, using this approach, Jane received $1,761.09 less than one-half of the community estate. // However, the court need not divide the property equally, but only in a just and right equitable manner. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. 3.63 (Vernon 1993); Murff, 615 S.W.2d at 698-99. We cannot say from the record before us that the court acted arbitrarily or unreasonably in its division of the community estate. See Downer, 701 S.W.2d at 241-42.

Point five is overruled, and the judgment is affirmed.

BOB L. THOMAS

Chief Justice

 

Before Chief Justice Thomas,

Justice Cummings, and

Justice Vance

Affirmed

Opinion delivered and filed July 26, 1995

Do not publish