Legal Question in Family Law in Arizona

Re: Where can I find this case?

Our firm belongs to a website that allows for the review of case law online. "www.versuslaw.com"; I am sure there are other sites, but I do not know them.

Otherwise, you can research case law at most libraries. Specifically, the Maricopa County Superior Court Law Library, located at 201 West Jefferson, downtown Phoenix, has all of the "Arizona Reports", where the cases are found.

For your use, I have sent by separate e'mail the one case you inquired about.

If you need further assistance, please call me directly to discuss the specifics of your case, or contact my assistant Cathy to schedule a free 1/2 hour consultation. I look forward to talking with you.

/s/ Rich J. Peters, Attorney

JON C. DAKE & ASSOC., P.C.

1422 N. 2nd Street, Suite 100

Phoenix, Arizona 85004

602.254.7251

602.254-1229 (facsimile)

see our web page at www.familylawaz.com

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Re: Where can I find this case?

Johnson v. Johnson, 523 P.2d 515, 22 Ariz. App. 69 (Ariz.App.Div.1 06/20/1974)

[1] Arizona Court of Appeals

[2] No. 1 CA-CIV 2143

[3] 523 P.2d 515, 22 Ariz. App. 69, 1974.AZ.40214

[4] June 20, 1974

[5] CAROL ANN JOHNSON, APPELLANT,

v.

DON F. JOHNSON, APPELLEE

[6] Renaud, Cook, Miller & Cordova, P. A., by Bradley J. Walsh, Phoenix, for appellant.

[7] Udall, Shumway & Blackhurst, by Dennis P. Blackhurst, Mesa, for appellee.

[8] Stevens, Judge. Donofrio, P. J., and Ogg, J., concur.

[9] Stevens

[22 ArizApp Page 69]

Re: Where can I find this case?

part 2

[10] OPINION

[11] Carol Ann Johnson, the appellant, herein referred to as the wife, was the defendant in the Superior Court in a divorce action filed by Don F. Johnson, the appellee, herein referred to as the husband. On 23 November 1970 the husband was granted a decree of divorce. In the decree certain business properties were awarded to the wife. The decree further provided:

[12] "IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that in lieu of a further division of community property and in settlement of the community property rights and equities of the parties, the plaintiff, DON F. JOHNSON, shall pay to the defendant-counterclaimant the sum of $5,000.00, payable in installments of not less than $100.00 per month, said payments to commence November 1st, 1970.

[13] "IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the plaintiff-counterdefendant pay to the defendant-counterclaimant's attorney direct the sum of $500.00 as a reasonable attorney's fee."

[14] It is asserted in the Court of Appeals that the husband received a net of $17,144.07 in compensation for personal injuries sustained by him during the marriage. This recovery was community property. All of the money was disbursed by him prior to the entry of the decree of divorce. A portion thereof was used to pay community debts and the major portion thereof was used to pay his separate obligations. The trial court resolved the wife's entitlement in the recovery to be $5,000.00 and no appeal was taken from this trial court decision.

[22 ArizApp Page 70]

Some months later, no portion of either sum having been paid, the wife caused the husband to be cited for contempt. The position of the wife can be stated by quoting from her trial court memorandum as follows:

[15] "This matter was a contested divorce suit wherein the issues involved were extremely narrow. There were no children born as issue of the marriage, and the issue of permanent support or alimony was not involved in the case.

[16] The only contested matter which was resolved at the trial was the equitable division of the community property rights and obligations of the parties. The major item of community property of the parties was the sum of $17,144.07, which sum represented the net recovery to the plaintiff for personal injuries suffered as a result of an automobile accident during the marriage of the parties."

Re: Where can I find this case?

PART 3

[16] The only contested matter which was resolved at the trial was the equitable division of the community property rights and obligations of the parties. The major item of community property of the parties was the sum of $17,144.07, which sum represented the net recovery to the plaintiff for personal injuries suffered as a result of an automobile accident during the marriage of the parties."

[17] The trial court ruled as follows:

[18] "This matter has been under advisement. The Court finds that the remedy of contempt of Court is not available to the defendant, either in respect to payments ordered in settlement of property rights or to payments and fees which are not required to be paid pendente lite. Accordingly,

[19] IT IS ORDERED dismissing the show cause proceedings."

[20] and this appeal was perfected from that ruling.

[21] The $5,000.00

[22] It is clear that the $5,000.00 is not a res, the possession of which can be enforced by a court order. Profitt v. Profitt, 105 Ariz. 222, 462 P.2d 391 (1969). It is not support or alimony, as the wife concedes in her trial court memorandum quoted above. It is merely a money judgment. As such the payment thereof cannot be enforced by contempt. Profitt, supra, and Stone v. Stidham, 96 Ariz. 235, 393 P.2d 923 (1964). This portion of the trial court's order is affirmed.

[23] ATTORNEYS' FEES

[24] Effective 8 August 1973, the statutory provisions with reference to domestic relations was extensively revised. We commented on one phase of the revision in Fox v. Superior Court, 21 Ariz. App. 284, 518 P.2d 1001 (1974).

[25] The matter here under consideration is covered by the Arizona law prior to 8 August 1973 and all references herein to the Arizona Revised Statutes will be to sections as they existed prior to that date, unless otherwise expressly stated.

[26] There were two code sections relating to attorney's fees. A.R.S. � 25-315*fn1 covered situations before the final decree, and A.R.S. � 25-371 which reads as follows:

[27] "� 25-371. Order to pay attorney's fees Whenever the court in any action for

[28] annulment, divorce, separate maintenance, or for the support, maintenance and education of children, orders one of the parties to pay attorney's fees for the benefit of the other for the prosecution or defense of the action, as the case may be, such fees, in the discretion of the court, may be made payable in whole or in part to the attorney entitled thereto. Any such order may be enforced by the court in the same manner as an order made on behalf of any party to the action."

[29] There are provisions in somewhat similar language in A.R.S. � 25-324 effective 8 August 1973.

Re: Where can I find this case?

PART 4

[30] The case of Bickel v. Bickel, 17 Ariz. App. 29, 495 P.2d 154 (1972), concerned itself with a decree of divorce

[22 ArizApp Page 71]

which included a provision for attorney's fees payable "directly to the plaintiff's attorney." The attorney enforced the payment by an execution sale, which was upheld. In Bickel, A.R.S. � 25-371 was cited. The Court stated:

[31] "We agree that attorney's fees are as much for the wife's support as payments made directly to her * * *." 17 Ariz. App. at 30, 495 P.2d at 155.

[32] Quoting from Henry v. Henry, 182 Cal.App.2d 707, 6 Cal.Rptr. 418 (1960), our Court stated:

[33] "'An award of an attorney fee to a plaintiff-wife is an adjudication of her need of such support in order to litigate with her husband upon an equal basis.'" 17 Ariz. App. at 31, 495 P.2d at 156.

[34] We recognize that in Bickel alimony had been granted to the wife, and in the instant case there was no alimony granted to the wife. We hold that attorney's fees awarded in a decree of divorce are enforceable by post judgment contempt in the same manner as alimony or child support could be enforced.

[35] This cause is reversed in relation to the trial court ruling in this respect and the cause is remanded for further proceedings as to the $500.00 attorneys' fee not inconsistent with this opinion.

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Opinion Footnotes

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[36] *fn1 � 25-315. Alimony and temporary orders prior to final judgment in divorce action

During pendency of an action for divorce, the court may in its discretion require the husband to pay as alimony money necessary for prosecution of the action, or for attorney's fees, or for support and maintenance of the wife or minor children of the parties. The court may make temporary orders respecting the property of the parties or the custody of the children of the parties, as may be necessary.

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