COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA
Present: Judges Alston, McCullough and Senior Judge Annunziata
PUBLISHED
Argued at Alexandria, Virginia
KAREN A. WROBLEWSKI, F/KA
KAREN A. RUSSELL
v. Record No. 1308-13-4
STEVEN T. RUSSELL OPINION BY
JUDGE STEPHEN R. McCULLOUGH
STEVEN T. RUSSELL JUNE 17, 2014
v. Record No. 1313-13-4
KAREN A. RUSSELL
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF FAUQUIER COUNTY
Jeffrey W. Parker, Judge
Susan Leslie-Fraser (Law Office of S. Leslie-Fraser, on briefs), for
Karen A. Wroblewski, f/k/a Karen A. Russell.
James A. Watson, II (Colleen M. Haddow; Colten Cummins Watson &
Vincent, P.C., on briefs), for Steven T. Russell.
Karen A. Wroblewski, formerly Karen A. Russell (wife) and Steven T. Russell (husband)
appeal a final order of divorce. Wife argues the trial court erred by (1) awarding her spousal
support for a limited period of time when she clearly established her ongoing need for, and the
ability of husband to pay, spousal support; (2) awarding her spousal support in tapering amounts
without evidence that, in the future, her need for support would diminish or that husband’s
ability to pay would “reasonably likely . . . be impaired”; (3) entering the final order of divorce
and denying her motion for reconsideration in violation of the United States Bankruptcy Court’s
Order of Stay; (4) awarding spousal support when factor 8 of Code § 20-107.1(E) could not be
determined pending resolution of her Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition; (5) refusing to grant her
motion for continuance when her counsel withdrew and in light of her inability to retain new
counsel absent the continuance; (6) considering her marital history in determining the equitable
distribution and spousal support awards since her prior marriages were not relevant to a
determination of her financial assets or ability to support herself; (7) ordering her, in violation of
her right to file taxes as “married filing separately,” to pay $30,000 of the nearly $300,000
income tax debt that husband incurred by failing to timely file his income tax returns; and
(8) awarding husband all the retirement funds earned during the course of the marriage.
Husband argues the trial court erred by (1) awarding spousal support to wife after granting his
motion to strike wife’s complaint for divorce because the trial court did not have jurisdiction to
make such an award in the absence of a valid pleading before the trial court; and (2) ordering
him to pay wife’s health insurance premiums in the absence of either a statutory or jurisdictional
basis for the entry of such award. We reverse on the issue of spousal support and otherwise affirm
the trial court.
BACKGROUND
Husband and wife married on April 29, 2000 and separated on January 2, 2010. On May
2, 2011, wife filed a complaint for divorce and requested, in part, “support and maintenance,
pendente lite, as well as permanent periodic support and maintenance, lump-sum support, and/or
a reservation to petition for same in futuro, pursuant to Section 20-107.1 of the Code.” Husband
filed an answer and counterclaim, to which wife responded. Wife’s answer to husband’s
counterclaim did not include a request for spousal support.
On September 12, 2011, the trial court awarded wife pendente lite spousal support of
$20,625 per month.1 In January 2012, wife filed for bankruptcy protection, necessitating a
continuance of the case. Husband filed a motion for relief from the automatic bankruptcy stay.
1
About one year later, this amount was reduced to $10,000 per month.
-2-
On May 17, 2012, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
entered an order holding that:
The divorce proceeding is stayed to the extent that the divorce
proceeding seeks to determine the division of property that is
property of the bankruptcy estate. This does not prevent an
equitable distribution hearing (including all state court matters
leading up to such hearing) or order considering or taking into
account property that is property of the estate in a monetary award.
However, property of the bankruptcy estate may not be ordered to
be transferred, conveyed, encumbered or otherwise affected.
Wife sought a continuance on June 25, 2012, which the court denied on July 25, 2012.
On the eve of trial, on July 30, 2012, wife filed an emergency motion for a continuance. She
alleged she had checked herself into the psychiatric unit of a hospital and that she was not
presently mentally competent to participate in a judicial proceeding. The court continued the
case, although it later learned that wife had checked herself out on July 31, the day after the
continuance was granted. The court later granted wife another continuance due to the illness of
her attorney. That same counsel withdrew on November 20, 2012 as a result of the illness. At
that point, trial was scheduled to begin on February 1 and 4, 2013. On January 7, 2013, acting
pro se, wife sought another continuance to find substitute counsel. After it was denied, she
renewed it again at trial. In denying the motion, the court observed that
The subject proceeding had fully matured for adjudication by July
of 2012. The nature of the second continuance Motion and the
questionable credibility of the Plaintiff through later disclosed facts
gave this Court great cause for concern. It appeared at that time
that the Wife was using any mechanism possible to stay the
proceedings. The Husband claimed the Wife was motivated to
delay trial adjudication due to the substantial pendente lite support
she was receiving. Hence, when she made additional continuance
motions thereafter, the Court considered delay to be an ulterior
motive of the Wife.
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Wife represented that “if given more time,” she would obtain counsel. “In light of her
previous delays,” the court concluded, “her representations had doubtful credibility. After nearly
two years, the Husband was entitled to have his case adjudicated.”
At the conclusion of wife’s evidence at trial, husband made a motion to strike wife’s
complaint for divorce because she failed to corroborate her grounds for divorce. Husband
further argued that, if the trial court were to grant his motion to strike wife’s complaint, then it
should likewise strike wife’s request for spousal support. The trial court granted husband’s
motion to strike wife’s bill of complaint but declined to strike wife’s request for spousal support,
stating, “As to whether or not the claim for spousal support could remain alive after granting the
motion to strike, I’m just going to take that portion of the case under advisement.”
On February 26, 2013, the trial court issued its letter opinion. Under the subsection titled
“Divorce,” the trial court stated that wife failed to offer any evidence to support entry of a final
decree of divorce in her favor and, “[a]s a result, her complaint was dismissed on a Motion to
Strike the Evidence.” Instead, husband was granted a no-fault divorce based on his
counterclaim. Under the letter’s subsection titled, “Support,” the trial court found, among other
things, that wife had requested spousal support in her complaint, that she had been receiving
pendente lite spousal support, and that it would consider wife’s request for spousal support
because it had been raised as an issue. Referencing the legal reasoning underlying its decision to
award wife spousal support, the trial judge specifically noted that “[n]either case law nor the
applicable statute require[s] the prevailing party to raise the issue in its pleadings, only that at
least one of the parties raise the support issue to allow the subject to be adjudicated.” (emphasis
in original). After considering the factors in Code § 20-107.1(E), the trial court awarded spousal
support to wife such that she received $5,000 per month for twelve months, $3,000 per month for
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the following twelve months, and $1,500 per month for twelve months thereafter. It further
ordered husband to pay wife’s health insurance premiums for a period of eighteen months.
In addition, the trial court considered the factors in Code § 20-107.3, and determined that
the former marital residence was in foreclosure, awarded wife the Florida condominium in which
her mother had a life estate, awarded husband his Morgan Stanley Brokerage account and stock
options, awarded wife her bank accounts, and divided the personal property and vehicles. The
trial court also held that husband was responsible for his Morgan Stanley loans and ordered wife
to reimburse husband $30,000 for the IRS tax debt he had incurred.
Wife filed objections to husband’s proposed final decree and filed an alternative final
decree. On June 17, 2013, the trial court issued a letter opinion stating that it had considered her
objections, but denied them. The trial court entered a final order of divorce on June 18, 2013.
Wife filed a motion for reconsideration, which the trial court denied. Each party filed objections
to the final order of divorce. These appeals followed.
ANALYSIS
I. Spousal support – Husband’s first assignment of error
Husband argues that a written demand for spousal support is a necessary precondition for
the award of such support. Once the trial court struck the only pleading that contained wife’s
demand for spousal support, he contends, the court could no longer proceed to award her any
spousal support. Consequently, it was error for the court to do so. Wife argues that the trial
court, acting with the powers of a court of equity, could still award wife support notwithstanding
the fact that the court struck the one pleading that contained her demand for spousal support. We
agree with husband.
We review this question of law de novo on appeal. Harrell v. Harrell, 272 Va. 652, 656,
636 S.E.2d 391, 393 (2006).
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“‘Fundamental rules of pleading provide that no court can base its judgment or decree
upon a right which has not been pleaded and claimed.’” Fadness v. Fadness, 52 Va. App. 833,
843, 667 S.E.2d 857, 862 (2008) (quoting Boyd v. Boyd, 2 Va. App. 16, 18, 340 S.E.2d 578, 580
(1986)). “‘Pleadings are as essential as proof, the one being unavailing without the other. A
decree can not be entered in the absence of pleadings upon which to found the same, and if so
entered it is void.’” Id. (quoting Potts v. Mathieson Alkali Works, 165 Va. 196, 207, 181 S.E.
521, 525 (1935)).2
Here, wife initially made a written demand for spousal support. The trial court, however,
granted husband’s motion to strike that pleading. Striking a pleading has the effect of
withdrawing any claims rooted in that pleading from consideration by the court – just as striking
testimony removes that testimony from consideration by the factfinder, or striking a member of
the venire removes that individual from the jury pool. Rule 1:11, which governs motions to
strike the evidence in jury trials, is consistent with this understanding. It provides that once a
trial court has granted a motion to strike the evidence, “then the court shall enter summary
judgment or partial summary judgment in conformity with its ruling on the motion to strike.”
See also Costner v. Lackey, 223 Va. 377, 381, 290 S.E.2d 818, 820 (1982) (“A motion to strike
is in effect a motion for summary judgment . . . .”). A claim that is grounded upon a stricken
pleading does not linger on in spectral form before the court – it is interred and removed from
consideration.
Harrell is controlling. In that case, wife alleged as her ground of divorce the fact that she
had lived separate and apart from her husband for more than one year. Her complaint included a
2
Under our modern jurisprudence, it would be more accurate to state that such a
judgment would be “voidable” rather than “void ab initio.” See, e.g., Singh v. Mooney, 261 Va.
48, 51-52, 541 S.E.2d 549, 551 (2001); see also Morrison v. Bestler, 239 Va. 166, 387 S.E.2d
753 (1990). The court here had subject matter jurisdiction as well as jurisdiction over the parties.
Therefore, the court’s award of spousal support may be voidable, but it was not void ab initio.
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request for spousal support. 272 Va. at 656, 636 S.E.2d at 394. In fact, she had not lived
separate and apart from her husband for the required period, and the trial court dismissed her
complaint accordingly. The Supreme Court held that, because separation for one year must be
proved to have occurred before the suit was filed, wife failed to state a claim upon which relief
could be granted. Id. The Supreme Court reasoned that “[t]he trial court had subject matter
jurisdiction over the divorce; however, inadequate grounds were alleged in the bill.” Id. at
656-57, 636 S.E.2d at 394 (emphasis added). The Court concluded that “the request for spousal
support contained in the bill of complaint abated with its dismissal.” Id. at 657, 636 S.E.2d at
394. Wife in Harrell also attempted to file an amended complaint, which included a request for
spousal support, but she did not obtain leave of court. The trial court dismissed the amended
complaint for that reason. Again, the Court held, “[h]er request for spousal support therein
abated with the dismissal of the amended bill.” Id. Ultimately, there was no valid pleading
before the court asking for spousal support. “Without such a pleading, it was error for the trial
court to grant [wife] a reservation of spousal support.” Id. at 658, 636 S.E.2d at 395. Likewise
here, wife’s request for spousal support abated with the dismissal of her complaint and it was
error for the trial court to award spousal support without any pleading at all before the court
making the request.3
Although, by statute, upon decreeing a divorce “the court may make such further decree
as it shall deem expedient concerning the maintenance and support of the spouses,” Code
3
From the standpoint of the court’s “active” (as opposed to subject matter) jurisdiction,
see Whitt v. Commonwealth, 61 Va. App. 637, 649-53, 739 S.E.2d 254, 260-62 (2013)
(discussing the concept of active jurisdiction), there is no difference in the posture of this case
and the posture of the case in Harrell. The Court in Harrell did not claim a lack of active
jurisdiction or even mention the concept. Both the trial court and the Supreme Court accepted
the trial court’s authority to adjudicate the parties’ divorce. Instead, as in this case, the outcome
in Harrell was driven by the absence of a valid request for spousal support in the pleadings.
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§ 20-107.1(A), we have long held that “the exercise of such power remains dependent upon the
pleadings having raised the issue.” Boyd, 2 Va. App. at 19, 340 S.E.2d at 580.
Finally, precedent does not support the notion of an extra-statutory reservoir of authority
for courts to draw from in divorce cases that would enable a court to grant relief based on a
stricken pleading. As the Supreme Court noted in Reid v. Reid, 245 Va. 409, 413, 429 S.E.2d
208, 210 (1993) (citations and quotation marks omitted):
A suit for divorce . . . does not involve an appeal to the general
jurisdiction of the equity forum. The many limitations, both in
respect to jurisdiction and procedure, placed upon divorce suits by
the statute, differentiate the divorce case from ordinary suits in
equity and render it a chancery case sui generis.
In Reid, the Court found that the trial court lacked the authority to order repayment – a power
ordinarily available to a court in equity – because the jurisdiction of a court of equity is “‘entirely
statutory and limited’” in divorce matters. Id. at 415, 429 S.E.2d at 211 (citation omitted); see
also Sprouse v. Griffin, 250 Va. 46, 50, 458 S.E.2d 770, 772 (1995) (“[J]urisdiction in divorce
suits is purely statutory.”). Even in a court of equity, “any relief granted must be supported by
allegations of material facts in the pleadings that will sustain such relief.” Jenkins v. Bay House
Assocs., 266 Va. 39, 45, 581 S.E.2d 510, 513 (2003) (citations omitted).4
4
Nothing in White v. White, 181 Va. 162, 169, 24 S.E.2d 448, 451 (1943), or
Erickson-Dickson v. Erickson-Dickson, 12 Va. App. 381, 388, 404 S.E.2d 388, 392 (1991),
allows a trial court to suspend the basic requirement that a litigant have a valid pleading before
the court in order to obtain relief. “‘[W]hen a court of equity acquires jurisdiction of a cause, for
any purpose, it will retain it, and do complete justice between the parties, enforcing, if necessary,
legal rights, and applying legal remedies to accomplish that end.’” White, 181 Va. at 169, 24
S.E.2d at 451 (quoting Buchanan v. Buchanan, 174 Va. 255, 279, 6 S.E.2d 612, 622 (1940)). It
is also true that “[g]enerally, when a court acquires jurisdiction over the subject matter and over
the person, the court retains jurisdiction until the matter before it has been fully adjudicated.”
Erickson-Dickson, 12 Va. App. at 388, 404 S.E.2d at 392. Neither proposition obviates the need
for the litigant in an equity court to state his grounds for relief in a pleading.
-8-
The principal case wife relies upon for her assertion of a broad, common law based
equity power, Gloth v. Gloth, 154 Va. 511, 153 S.E. 879 (1930), does not support her position.
In that case, the Supreme Court resolved the following question:
When alimony is awarded to a wife in a decree granting to her a
divorce a mensa et thoro from her husband, may the amount
thereof be thereafter changed or modified by the court to meet
changed conditions of the parties subsequently arising, or the
decree, in so far as it provides for future payments of alimony, be
revoked because of the adultery or other misconduct of the wife
committed after entry of the said decree?
Id. at 532, 153 S.E. at 885. The Court answered that question in the affirmative. The Court
examined the history of the law of divorce in England and in Virginia, as well as the distinction
that predated statutory enactments between the recognized common law power of a court to
order changes to alimony in cases of divorce a mensa et thoro following entry of the decree, and
the absence of a common law power to order changes to the decree with respect to alimony in
cases of divorce a vinculo matrimonii. Gloth says nothing about the power of a court to award
spousal support in the absence of a pleading requesting the same. To the extent Gloth is relevant
at all, it undermines wife’s assertion of a vast common law power in cases of divorce a vinculo
matrimonii by making clear that no such broad power existed. Id. at 533, 153 S.E. at 886. The
other cases wife cites do not shed any light on the issue before us. Neither Upchurch v.
Upchurch, 194 Va. 990, 76 S.E.2d 170 (1953), nor Hughes v. Hughes, 173 Va. 293, 4 S.E.2d 402
(1939), address the question of whether a valid pleading is required as a prerequisite for the
award of spousal support.
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With no pleading requesting spousal support before the court at the time of the award, the
trial court could not award such relief.5 Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the trial court
awarding wife spousal support.
This holding renders moot wife’s first, second, fourth, and part of her sixth assignments
of error, which turn on the court’s handling of the issue of spousal support.
II. Health insurance – Husband’s second assignment of error
Husband argues that the trial court erred by ordering him to pay wife’s health insurance
premiums for eighteen months after the entry of the final decree of divorce, in the absence of
statutory authority to do so. Our reading of the relevant statutes is to the contrary.6
This issue presents a question of statutory interpretation, a matter we review de novo.
Anthony v. Skolnick-Lozano, 63 Va. App. 76, 83, 754 S.E.2d 549, 552 (2014).
Although no statutory provision expressly confers on trial courts the power to order a
spouse to pay for the health insurance of the divorcing spouse, the Code evinces an unmistakable
legislative intent to permit trial courts to enter such an order. Code § 20-108.1(C) states that “In
any proceeding under this title [i.e., Title 20] on the issue of determining child support, the court
shall have the authority to order either party or both parties to provide . . . health care coverage
5
Wife could have moved to amend her answer to husband’s cross-bill to include a
demand for spousal support. We note that, ordinarily, leave to amend should be “liberally
granted.” Rule 1:8. Here, wife did not move to amend.
6
An order directing one spouse in a divorce to pay the health insurance premiums of the
other spouse is best conceptualized as a component part of the maintenance and support of the
spouse receiving the premiums. See Code § 20-107.1. Husband does not anywhere contend that
the voiding of the spousal support award necessarily drags down with it the health insurance
premiums. Instead, he argues that there is no statutory or jurisdictional basis for the award.
Accordingly, we treat these two issues as analytically distinct for purposes of this opinion.
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for a spouse or former spouse.”7 Furthermore, and consistently with the language in Code
§ 20-108.1(C), Code § 20-60.3(8), which addresses orders “directing the payment of spousal
support where there are minor children whom the parties have a mutual duty to support and all
orders directing the payment of child support,” requires among other things “a statement as to
whether there is an order for health care coverage for a spouse or former spouse.” This provision
further signals the General Assembly’s intent to grant authority to the trial court to make such an
award.8 The General Assembly thus recognized the power of the trial court to enter such orders.
Husband relies on this Court’s decisions in Lassen v. Lassen, 8 Va. App. 502, 506, 383
S.E.2d 471, 473 (1989), and Day v. Day, 8 Va. App. 346, 348-49, 381 S.E.2d 364, 366 (1989)
(citation omitted), to support his arguments. His reliance on these decisions is misplaced.
The issue wife raised in Lassen was whether the trial court was required to order husband
to pay her insurance premiums. The trial court had declined to order husband to pay his prior
wife’s health insurance coverage in addition to spousal support, and we affirmed, finding the
statute did not require such an award. Lassen, 8 Va. App. at 506, 383 S.E.2d at 473 (“There is
no statutory mandate that health care coverage be provided . . . .” (emphasis added)). Thus, the
decision not to order a party to maintain health insurance coverage for a former spouse was
within the discretionary power of the court, subject to an abuse of discretion standard of review.
7
Code § 20-108.1(C) provides:
In any proceeding under this title, Title 16.1, or Title 63.2 on the
issue of determining child support, the court shall have the
authority to order either party or both parties to provide health care
coverage or cash medical support, as defined in § 63.2-1900, or
both, for dependent children if reasonable under all the
circumstances and health care coverage for a spouse or former
spouse.
8
Code § 20-107.1(H)(3) includes a similar requirement for spousal support orders where
there are no minor children whom the parties have a mutual duty to support.
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In addition, the holding in Day is inapposite. In Day, the Court did not address whether
health insurance coverage was properly made part of the court’s spousal support award. Instead,
it reversed a trial court’s ruling that the husband should make payments on the marital debt
directly to the creditors, finding the trial court lacked authority to order such payments. Day, 8
Va. App. at 349, 381 S.E.2d at 366. The facts in Day do not correlate with the facts in this case.
We find the trial court committed no error of law in ordering husband to pay the monthly
premiums for wife’s health insurance.
III. Bankruptcy – Wife’s third and fourth assignments of error
Wife argues that the trial court violated the order of stay issued by the United States
Bankruptcy Court when it entered the final decree of divorce. She contends the trial court erred
in awarding husband his 401(k) and unvested bonuses. She also asserts that, since the trial court
erred by entering the equitable distribution award, it could not award spousal support because
Code § 20-107.1(E)(8) requires courts determining such support to consider the equitable
distribution award.
Wife filed for bankruptcy in January 2012. She subsequently requested the final hearing
be continued pending the bankruptcy proceeding. The trial court granted the continuance and
rescheduled the final hearing. Meanwhile, husband sought and received relief from the
automatic stay, pursuant to his motion in the bankruptcy court. On May 17, 2012, the
bankruptcy court entered an order lifting the automatic stay with the following conditions:
The divorce proceeding is stayed to the extent that the divorce
proceeding seeks to determine the division of property that is
property of the bankruptcy estate. This does not prevent an
equitable distribution hearing (including all state court matters
leading up to such hearing) or order considering or taking into
account property that is property of the estate in a monetary award.
However, property of the bankruptcy estate may not be ordered to
be transferred, conveyed, encumbered or otherwise affected.
Property heretofore or hereafter abandoned by the Chapter 7
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trustee is not property of the estate and is not subject to this
provision.
On May 13, 2013, the bankruptcy trustee prepared a Notice of Intent to Abandon
Property, which wife later filed with the trial court. The notice indicated that the trustee was
abandoning its interest in “the real and personal property listed on [wife’s] schedules A and B, as
amended,” except for the Florida condominium, her diamonds, the escrow held by her former
divorce attorney, and her contingent claims for one-half interest in husband’s 401(k) and his
unvested bonuses.
On June 17, 2013, following a hearing, the trial court issued a letter opinion after
receiving wife’s objections to the entry of the final decree. The trial court held that it was free to
distribute the property that was abandoned by the trustee. With respect to the property that was
not abandoned, the trial court noted that the Florida condominium was subject to a life estate and
that the bankruptcy trustee might make a “potential claim” against the property. Husband had
agreed to transfer the property to wife, and the trial court directed husband to “refrain from
conveying the real estate in Florida to the [w]ife until the Bankruptcy Court makes a
determination as to this real property.” Therefore, the trial court’s equitable distribution award
affected neither the Florida property nor wife’s bankruptcy. The trial court assigned no value to
wife’s diamonds (which it had determined were her separate property) as it lacked evidence of
their value. The trial court took “no position” on the escrow monies held by wife’s former
divorce attorney. Lastly, the trial court stated that it did not award wife any interest in husband’s
401(k) or bonuses because “the [w]ife had no interest in these accounts.”
Wife’s argument that the trial court exceeded its authority by issuing its ruling and
entering the final decree on June 18, 2013, before the bankruptcy proceedings were completed, is
thus without merit. The bankruptcy court has ruled previously that “[t]he state court may
proceed with an equitable distribution hearing as long as it does not involve distribution of
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property of the [bankruptcy] estate.” Secrest v. Secrest (In re Secrest), 453 B.R. 623, 632
(Bankr. E.D. Va. 2011). The trial court classified the 401(k) and the bonuses as husband’s
property. Wife does not challenge the trial court’s classification of these assets. The trial court’s
equitable distribution ruling therefore did not distribute any property of wife’s bankruptcy estate,
so it did not violate the stay.9
IV. Motion for continuance – Wife’s fifth assignment of error
Wife argues the trial court erred when it denied a continuance, to her prejudice, after her
attorney withdrew from the case for medical reasons. Wife claims that, because she had to
proceed without counsel as a result of the court’s ruling, her spousal support and equitable
distribution awards were adversely affected, as was her ability to present the proof required to
establish her fault grounds for divorce.
Originally, the final hearing was scheduled for April 18 and 19, 2012. On March 12,
2012, wife filed a “Motion to Stay the April Proceedings” because she had voluntarily filed for
bankruptcy in January 2012. The trial court rescheduled the final hearing for July 31 and August
1, 2012. On June 25, 2012, wife requested another continuance because the bankruptcy matter
was not yet resolved. The trial court denied the continuance because, as noted above, husband
had obtained an order from the bankruptcy court allowing the divorce proceeding to continue.
On July 30, 2012, wife requested another continuance because she had checked herself in to a
psychiatric hospital. The trial court granted the continuance and rescheduled the final hearing
for December 5, 2012. On October 26, 2012, wife sought another continuance, this one due to
medical problems her counsel was experiencing. The trial court granted the continuance and
9
In addition, the record reflects that wife received a discharge of her debts. The
bankruptcy code provides that a stay of any act against a Chapter 7 debtor continues until the
time a discharge is granted or denied. 11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(2)(C). Once her discharge was
granted on July 19, 2012, the stay was terminated, thus mooting any appeal of that issue.
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rescheduled the matter for February 1 and 4, 2013. Subsequently, wife’s attorney asked to
withdraw as counsel due to the ongoing medical issues. On November 20, 2012, the trial court
entered an order allowing wife’s counsel to withdraw. New counsel was not substituted. On
January 7, 2013, wife filed another motion for a continuance in order to retain counsel. The trial
court denied the motion, and the final hearing was conducted on February 1 and 4, 2013. Wife
again asked for a continuance at the outset of trial, and when the trial court denied her request,
she proceeded pro se.
“The circuit court’s ruling on a motion for a continuance will be rejected on appeal only
upon a showing of abuse of discretion and resulting prejudice to the movant.” Haugen v.
Shenandoah Valley Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 274 Va. 27, 34, 645 S.E.2d 261, 265 (2007) (emphasis
in original). We review the decision “in view of the circumstances unique to each case.” Id.
The trial court explained in its letter opinion that the matter had been continued on wife’s
motions three previous times. The trial court observed that wife’s counsel withdrew over two
months prior to the final hearing, but that wife did not retain new counsel during that time
period. Wife claimed that she needed more time to obtain counsel, but also stated that she did
not have sufficient funds to retain counsel – despite receiving $10,000 per month in pendente lite
support at that point. The trial court denied the request because “her representations had
doubtful credibility” and “[a]fter nearly two years, the [h]usband was entitled to have his case
adjudicated.”
Based on the numerous continuances already granted and husband’s right to have the
matter heard, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying wife’s request for yet another
continuance. She had adequate time to retain counsel prior to the February hearing, but did not
do so.
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Since we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying wife’s request for a
continuance, we need not address whether wife was prejudiced by the denial of her motion. See
Bolden v. Commonwealth, 49 Va. App. 285, 290, 640 S.E.2d 526, 529 (2007) (explaining that a
party needs to show abuse of discretion and resulting prejudice because “[t]he absence of one
renders inconsequential the presence of the other” (citing Lowery v. Commonwealth, 9 Va. App.
304, 307, 387 S.E.2d 508, 509-10 (1990))); see also Cooper v. Commonwealth, 54 Va. App. 558,
565, 680 S.E.2d 361, 365 (2009). Accordingly, the trial court did not err in denying wife’s
continuance request.
V. Mention of Wife’s prior marriages – Wife’s sixth assignment of error
Wife argues that the trial court improperly considered her prior marriages, both in
awarding spousal support and in fashioning the equitable distribution award. Our holding with
respect to the court’s award of spousal support makes this assignment of error partially moot.
Under the “support” heading of its letter opinion, the trial court wrote that
Mrs. Russell is nearly 60 years old and has not earned any
significant income in many years. Thus she has a great need for
support. However, this is her fifth marriage and she has been in
situations before where she needed to support herself without a
husband’s financial assistance.
Code § 20-107.1(E)(9) requires the court to consider each spouse’s “earning capacity.” In
context, it is clear the trial court wrote this portion of its letter opinion as part of its assessment of
wife’s ability to support herself. Wife stated at trial that “I’ve been married five times. I’ve been
self-employed since high school. Along the way, I’ve held real jobs . . . . Despite my four
previous marriages, I have spent most of my productive life as a single woman and mother.”
There is no evidence, however, that wife’s prior marriages entered into the court’s equitable
distribution calculus. We conclude that wife’s argument of an improper consideration by the
court of her prior marriages is without foundation.
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VI. Debt – Wife’s seventh assignment of error
Wife argues that the trial court erred in ordering her to reimburse husband $30,000 for his
payment of the joint tax liability. She contends that the debt was the result of husband’s failure
to timely file his tax returns and that she had the right to file “married filing separately.” We find
no error.
The parties did not file income tax returns for 2005 through 2008. Wife refused to file
the tax returns jointly, and instead she filed the returns for those years separately in May 2009.
The deadline for filing the 2009 taxes occurred after the parties separated on January 2, 2010, so
wife would not agree to file jointly for 2009. She also refused to file jointly for 2010.
On appeal, “decisions concerning equitable distribution rest within the sound discretion
of the trial court and will not be reversed on appeal unless plainly wrong or unsupported by the
evidence.” McDavid v. McDavid, 19 Va. App. 406, 407-08, 451 S.E.2d 713, 715 (1994) (citing
Srinivasan v. Srinivasan, 10 Va. App. 728, 732, 396 S.E.2d 675, 678 (1990)).
Pursuant to Code § 20-107.3(A), the trial court “shall determine the nature of all debts of
the parties, or either of them, and shall consider which of such debts is separate debt and which is
marital debt.” The trial court found that there was a tax liability of approximately $300,000 for
the time period of 2006 through 2010. The tax liability was found to be a marital debt, which
has been defined as follows:
Marital debt is (i) all debt incurred in the joint names of the parties
before the date of the last separation of the parties, if at such time
or thereafter at least one of the parties intends that the separation
be permanent, whether incurred before or after the date of the
marriage, and (ii) all debt incurred in either party’s name after the
date of the marriage and before the date of the last separation of
the parties, if at such time or thereafter at least one of the parties
intends that the separation be permanent. However, to the extent
that a party can show by a preponderance of the evidence that the
debt, or a portion thereof, was incurred, or the proceeds secured by
incurring the debt were used, in whole or in part, for a nonmarital
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purpose, the court may designate the entire debt as separate or a
portion of the debt as marital and a portion of the debt as separate.
Code § 20-107.3(A)(5).
Contrary to wife’s argument, the tax debt was incurred during the marriage for a marital
purpose. Wife benefitted from husband’s income and assets during the marriage. She also
presented no evidence that the tax debt was incurred, or that the proceeds secured by incurring it
were used, for a non-marital purpose. Therefore, the trial court did not err in finding the tax
liability was a marital debt.
When wife chose to file her tax return separately, it resulted in an increase in the joint tax
liability. Husband presented evidence from a certified public accountant (CPA) who analyzed
husband’s tax returns from 2006 through 2009. She calculated the difference in husband’s tax
liability that resulted from filing the return separately rather than jointly. She testified that,
overall, the parties would have saved approximately $92,400 had they filed jointly.10
In deciding equitable distribution, the trial court must consider the factors in Code
§ 20-107.3(E), including factor 7 – “The debts and liabilities of each spouse, the basis for such
debts and liabilities, and the property which may serve as security for such debts and liabilities.”
Here, the trial court considered the debt and the basis for the debt. It also considered wife’s
ability to pay.
The fact that a spouse has the right under federal law to file separately does not in any
way foreclose a state court, in the context of adjudicating a divorce, from considering the
deleterious effect of this decision on the marriage. Wife has cited no authority to this effect, and
we are aware of none.
10
This amount did not include any penalties or interest incurred.
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Based on the record, we conclude the trial court did not err in holding that wife is
responsible for $30,000 of the tax liability.11
VII. Retirement funds – Wife’s eighth assignment of error
Wife listed as her eighth assignment of error that the trial court erred in awarding
husband “all of the retirement funds earned during the course of the marriage between the
parties.” Wife did not present any argument on this issue; therefore, it is waived and will not be
considered on appeal. See Rule 5A:20(e). “[W]hen a party’s ‘failure to strictly adhere to the
requirements of Rule 5A:20(e) is significant, ‘the Court of Appeals may . . . treat a question
presented as waived.’” Parks v. Parks, 52 Va. App. 663, 664, 666 S.E.2d 547, 548 (2008)
(citation omitted). See also Muhammad v. Commonwealth, 269 Va. 451, 478, 619 S.E.2d 16, 31
(2005) (“Failure to adequately brief an assignment of error is considered a waiver.” (citation
omitted)).
VIII. Attorney’s fees and costs
Both parties have requested an award of attorney’s fees and costs incurred on appeal. See
O’Loughlin v. O’Loughlin, 23 Va. App. 690, 695, 479 S.E.2d 98, 100 (1996). On consideration
of the record before us, we decline to award either party attorney’s fees or costs on appeal.12
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the trial court’s rulings are affirmed in part and reversed in
part.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and final judgment.
11
Wife also argues on brief that the trial court erred by allowing an offset against her
spousal support award to account for the $30,000 debt she will incur as a result of the court’s
decree. Our resolution of the spousal support question renders this issue moot.
12
Husband raises numerous default arguments in his brief. Unless specifically addressed
in this opinion, we find these arguments to be without merit.
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Annunziata, J., concurring, in part, and dissenting, in part.
I join in full parts II through VII of the majority’s opinion. I respectfully dissent,
however, with regard to part I. On appeal, husband argues the trial court lacked jurisdiction to
award wife spousal support. Relying on the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision in Harrell v.
Harrell, 272 Va. 652, 636 S.E.2d 391 (2006), husband contends that a valid pleading requesting
spousal support was not before the court for adjudication after the trial court dismissed wife’s
bill of complaint. I believe Harrell is distinguishable, both factually and legally, and I would
affirm.
In Harrell, the wife’s pleading for divorce and support was dismissed because it was not
legally effective, having failed to satisfy the statutory criteria required to invoke the court’s
jurisdiction under Code § 20-91(9)(a). Id. at 654-55, 636 S.E.2d at 393. Specifically, although
the wife in Harrell alleged she had been separated from her husband “without interruption for
one year,” she failed to prove that requisite jurisdictional fact. Id. at 656, 636 S.E.2d at 394. In
short, the wife in Harrell had failed to establish a cause of action for divorce. Id. (“‘[t]he act
relied upon for divorce must be alleged and proved to have occurred prior to the bringing of the
suit’” (quoting Beckner v. Beckner, 204 Va. 580, 583, 132 S.E.2d 715, 717-18 (1963))). Absent
compliance with the “mode of acquiring and exercising [the] jurisdiction . . . upon which it is
conferred . . . by statute, . . . the proceeding will be a nullity.” Coleman v. Virginia Stave &
Heading Co., 112 Va. 61, 75, 70 S.E. 545, 549 (1911) (citations omitted). See also Smith v.
Commonwealth, 281 Va. 464, 467, 706 S.E.2d 889, 892 (2011) (“The court acquires the ‘active’
jurisdiction to adjudicate a matter only when certain additional elements are present” beyond
subject matter jurisdiction. (emphasis added)); Ghameshlouy v. Commonwealth, 279 Va. 379,
388-89, 689 S.E.2d 698, 702-03 (2010) (“subject matter jurisdiction, perhaps best understood as
the ‘potential’ jurisdiction of a court, . . . becomes ‘active’ jurisdiction, the power to adjudicate a
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particular case upon the merits, only when various elements are present” (emphasis added)
(citation omitted)). Presented thus with a null proceeding, the Supreme Court of Virginia
dismissed Ms. Harrell’s bill of complaint for failure to satisfy the statute’s jurisdictional
requirements. Harrell, 272 Va. at 657, 636 S.E.2d at 394. Ms. Harrell’s additional pleadings,
filed in an effort to establish the trial court’s jurisdiction to adjudicate her divorce and support
petitions, were likewise found invalid.13
By contrast, wife’s bill of complaint for divorce in this matter was not dismissed on
jurisdictional grounds; rather, the motion to strike wife’s evidence and dismiss her bill of
complaint was granted because wife failed to prove her grounds for divorce. Moreover, the trial
court expressly exempted wife’s pleading for spousal support from its ruling, as demonstrated
by the court’s statements in the record and by its taking the support issue and the evidence
admitted on the issue under advisement for further deliberation and adjudication.
The statutory requirements for the court’s jurisdiction to adjudicate spousal support
having been met, I would find wife’s pleading, under these facts, continued unaffected by the
dismissal of her pleadings for divorce. See, e.g., Rochelle v. Rochelle, 225 Va. 387, 391, 302
S.E.2d 59, 62 (1983) (“The court’s jurisdiction, once properly invoked, is not lost because a part
of the claim on which it was based is later found to lack merit.”). See also Erickson-Dickson v.
Erickson-Dickson, 12 Va. App. 381, 388, 404 S.E.2d 388, 392 (1991) (“[w]hen a court acquires
jurisdiction over the subject matter and over the person, the court retains jurisdiction until the
13
Ms. Harrell’s amended bill of complaint was dismissed because she did not seek leave
of court to file an amended pleading, as required by Rule 1:8. Harrell, 272 Va. at 657, 636
S.E.2d at 394. She filed a motion for pendente lite relief, but that motion was insufficient for a
permanent spousal support award pursuant to Code § 20-107.1. Id. She also filed an “omnibus
motion” and requested that her amended bill of complaint be considered an answer to the
cross-bill and that all of her previous pleadings be considered for a permanent spousal support
award. Id. The trial court did not rule on the “omnibus motion,” and Ms. Harrell did not object
to the trial court’s failure to rule on the motion. Id.
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matter before it has been fully adjudicated” (citing Laing v. Commonwealth, 205 Va. 511, 514,
137 S.E.2d 896, 899 (1964))); 20 Am. Jur. 2d Courts § 100 (2014) (“The jurisdiction of a court is
continuing; once a court has acquired jurisdiction of a case, its jurisdiction continues until the
court has done all that it can do to exercise that jurisdiction to determine, subject to appellate
review, all the issues involved and to grant such complete relief as is within its jurisdictional
power to grant.”).
Thus, the trial court had before it a valid pleading for support that set forth facts
warranting the relief sought, provided husband due process notice “of the nature and character of
the claim,” Boyd v. Boyd, 2 Va. App. 16, 19, 340 S.E.2d 578, 580 (1986), and that was explicitly
retained under advisement by the trial court for disposition pursuant to Code § 20-107.1.14
Subsequently, upon awarding husband a divorce based on his cross-bill,15 the trial court awarded
wife spousal support on the ground that wife had raised it as an issue in her pleadings, she had a
need for spousal support, and husband had the ability to pay. I would find no error.
Considering this opinion, I would not find that wife’s first, second, fourth, and part of her
sixth assignments of error would be moot. However, I would affirm the trial court’s rulings.
The trial court awarded wife spousal support as follows: $5,000 per month for twelve
months, $3,000 per month for the following twelve months, and then $1,500 per month for
twelve months thereafter. Wife argues that the trial court erred by awarding her spousal support
14
Pursuant to Code § 20-107.1(A), “upon the entry of a decree providing . . . for a
divorce . . . [or] that neither party is entitled to a divorce, . . . the court may make such further
decree as it shall deem expedient concerning the maintenance and support of the spouses.” See
Rowand v. Rowand, 215 Va. 344, 210 S.E.2d 149 (1974) (finding that neither party is entitled to
a divorce and reversing the decree of divorce to wife, but allowing the award of alimony to wife
to remain).
15
In its final decree, which incorporated the court’s letter opinion, the court explained it
dismissed wife’s complaint on a motion to strike the evidence, because “she failed to offer any
evidence supporting the entry of a Final Decree of Divorce.”
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for a limited time and in tapering amounts. She contends her need for spousal support is not
going to decrease over time, and husband has the ability to pay. She also asserts the trial court
erred when it considered her marital history in fashioning a spousal support award.
“‘In reviewing a spousal support award, we are mindful that the trial court has broad
discretion in awarding and fixing the amount of spousal support. Accordingly, our review is
limited to determining whether the trial court clearly abused its discretion.’” West v. West, 53
Va. App. 125, 130-31, 669 S.E.2d 390, 393 (2008) (quoting Miller v. Cox, 44 Va. App. 674, 679,
607 S.E.2d 126, 128 (2005)).
In order to establish a foundation for a spousal support award, a trial court must consider
the factors in Code § 20-107.1(E). However, it is not “required to quantify or elaborate exactly
what weight or consideration it has given to each of the statutory factors.” Woolley v. Woolley,
3 Va. App. 337, 345, 349 S.E.2d 422, 426 (1986).
To determine the wife’s need in this case, the trial court reviewed the statutory factors
and found that the parties “established a very high, if not wasteful, standard of living during their
marriage.” However, the court considered the standard one that “could not continue to be
maintained.” Some of wife’s expenses were found to be “unrealistic or inflated.” The court
further noted that wife had “few remaining legally enforceable obligations, compared to the
husband,” as a result of her bankruptcy filing.
By inference, the court concluded wife would be able to earn income and support herself
in the future. Wife had asserted in testimony she “had business skills and the ability to support
herself,”16 and the court considered testimony from husband’s vocational expert that wife was
capable of working, whether for an employer or self-employed, and that she could earn between
16
Although the trial judge viewed this assertion as “perhaps” unrealistic, it was not
treated without some weight.
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$25,000 and $40,000, depending on her experience. The court further noted that wife “had been
in situations before where she needed to support herself without a husband’s financial
assistance,” this marriage being her fifth.17 However, the trial court also weighed evidence to the
contrary and found that wife had not earned “any significant income” in several years, had health
complaints, and was nearly sixty years of age. Accordingly, the court concluded that wife had
established a “great” need for support, but that she would be able to support herself in time.
Husband’s ability to pay was established by the evidence of the high income he earned, but the
court concluded “it would be unreasonable to require a lengthy period of significant spousal
support,” in light of husband’s burden, imposed by the court, to pay the marital debt and in light
of the significant spousal support husband had paid pendente lite. I cannot conclude that the
premises upon which the court made its spousal support award of limited duration “are
sufficiently uncertain to render the defined duration award speculative” and improper. Torian v.
Torian, 38 Va. App. 167, 185, 562 S.E.2d 355, 364 (2002).
Lastly, wife argues on appeal that the evidence failed to establish her need for spousal
support or that husband’s ability to pay would decrease in the future. As we pointed out in
Torian, such “possibilities [are] inherent in many spousal support situations,” and they were
contemplated by the Virginia legislature. Id. at 184-85, 562 S.E.2d at 364. Nonetheless, “the
legislature decided that defined duration awards are appropriate in at least some of these
circumstances.” Id. at 185, 562 S.E.2d at 364; see also Bruemmer v. Bruemmer, 46 Va. App.
17
The trial court’s reference to the wife’s earlier marriages related to the court’s
determination of the extent to which the wife had evidenced any ability to support herself, an
issue raised by wife’s request for spousal support. As such, the reference was relevant, contrary
to wife’s contention on appeal. See Evans-Smith v. Commonwealth, 5 Va. App. 188, 196, 361
S.E.2d 436, 441 (1987) (“‘Evidence is relevant if it tends to establish the proposition for which it
is offered. Evidence is material if it relates to a matter properly at issue.’” (quoting C. Friend,
The Law of Evidence, § 134 (2d ed. 1983))).
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205, 616 S.E.2d 740 (2005) (the Court upheld a trial court’s tapering, defined duration spousal
support award).
Based on the foregoing, I would conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion
in awarding a defined duration spousal support award that decreased in the amount over time.
Furthermore, since I agree with the majority that the trial court did not violate the
bankruptcy order when the trial court issued its equitable distribution ruling, I would find that the
trial court did not err in determining spousal support. It considered all the factors in Code
§ 20-107.1(E), including factor 8 regarding equitable distribution, when it determined the
amount and duration of spousal support.
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