Huston v. Huston

[Cite as Huston v. Huston, 2014-Ohio-5654.]

COURT OF APPEALS
COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DOUGLAS C. HUSTON JUDGES:
Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P. J.
Petitioner-Appellant Hon. John W. Wise, J.
Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
-vs-
Case No. 2013CA0030
MARILYN J. HUSTON

Petitioner-Appellee OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Civil Appeal from the Court of Common
Pleas, 10 DV 686

JUDGMENT: Reversed and Remanded

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: December 22, 2014

APPEARANCES:

For Petitioner-Appellant For Petitioner-Appellee

EUGENE B. LEWIS ROBERT E. WEIR
CELIA M. KILGARD FRASE, WEIR, BAKER and
TAFT, STETTINIUS & HOLLISTER McCULLOUGH CO.
65 East State Street, Suite 1000 305 Main Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215 Coshocton, Ohio 43812
Coshocton County, Case No. 2013CA0030 2

Wise, J.

{¶1}. Appellant Douglas C. Huston appeals from a post-decree decision by the

Court of Common Pleas, Coshocton County, denying his motion to terminate his

spousal support obligation. Appellee Marilyn J. Huston is appellant's former spouse.

The relevant facts and procedural history leading to this appeal are as follows.

{¶2}. Appellant Douglas and Appellee Marilyn were married in August 1988.

One child was born of the marriage in 1993. On October 1, 2010, appellant filed a

complaint for divorce against appellee in the Coshocton County Court of Common

Pleas. On December 20, 2010, following a joint request, the trial court converted the

action to a dissolution proceeding.

{¶3}. The parties' marriage was legally terminated by a decree of dissolution

and an incorporated separation agreement which were finalized on January 20, 2011.

Pursuant to the terms of said separation agreement, appellant was required to pay

spousal support to appellee in the amount of $500.00 per month, commencing in

January 2011. According to the parties' separation agreement, the order to pay spousal

support will terminate upon any of several conditions, including appellee's "cohabitation

with an unrelated person of the opposite sex."

{¶4}. On November 28, 2012, appellant filed a motion to terminate his spousal

support obligation. At that time, appellant also filed interrogatories and document

requests.

{¶5}. The matter initially came on for a hearing before a magistrate on January

11, 2013. Appellee did not appear for said hearing, and had not responded to the

interrogatories and document requests prior thereto.
Coshocton County, Case No. 2013CA0030 3

{¶6}. On March 5, 2013, the magistrate filed a decision denying appellant's

motion to terminate spousal support. The magistrate held, inter alia, that appellant did

not establish the address where appellee was residing was the same as her alleged

cohabiter.

{¶7}. On March 19, 2013, appellant filed objections to the magistrate's decision.

{¶8}. On May 10, 2013, the trial court issued a judgment entry permitting the

submission of additional evidence on the issue of termination of spousal support and set

an evidentiary hearing for July 22, 2013.

{¶9}. On June 14, 2013, appellant served requests for admissions upon

appellee. On June 26, 2013, appellee's responses to the requests for admissions were

received by appellant's counsel. The requests for admissions were thereafter admitted

to the record.

{¶10}. On July 16, 2013, appellant filed a motion for an order to compel appellee

to respond to the remaining discovery requests and production of documents that were

filed with the trial court on November 28, 2012.

{¶11}. On July 16, 2013, the trial court issued a judgment entry ordering appellee

to respond to appellant's discovery requests within three days. On July 19, 2013, after

newly retained counsel for appellee contacted counsel for appellant, the parties agreed

to a brief continuance of the hearing scheduled for July 22, 2013 to allow appellee to

provide appellant with discovery. Said counsel, who had been previously retained by

appellee for the dissolution proceedings, re-entered an appearance in the action

following the filing of a consent judgment entry on July 22, 2013.
Coshocton County, Case No. 2013CA0030 4

{¶12}. On July 29, 2013, pursuant to the consent entry, the hearing on the

objections was continued until August 7, 2013. On August 6, 2013, appellant moved for

sanctions pursuant to Civ.R. 37(B) based on appellee's failure to respond to discovery.

On August 7, 2013, appellee filed a memorandum contra regarding the request for

sanctions.

{¶13}. On August 7, 2013, the trial court heard evidence and testimony related to

the objections and the motion for termination of spousal support. The testifying

witnesses were appellee, appellant, Nicole Huston (daughter), and Karrie Huston

(former daughter-in-law). Appellee testified, inter alia, that she had signed the

separation agreement and understood that she was bound by its terms, including the

conditions for termination of spousal support. See Tr. at 21-22.

{¶14}. On November 27, 2013, the trial court issued a judgment entry denying

appellant's motion to terminate. The court decided the issue on the merits, although it

also made a finding that appellee had not been properly served with the motion.

{¶15}. On December 26, 2013, appellant filed a notice of appeal. He herein

raises the following nine Assignments of Error:

{¶16}. “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED, AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION, IN

DETERMINING THAT THERE WAS NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ESTABLISH

COHABITATION.

{¶17}. “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED, AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION, IN

DENYING APPELLANT'S MOTION TO TERMINATE SPOUSAL SUPPORT BY

FINDING THAT APPELLEE WAS NOT COHABITATING WITH RANDY THOMAS AS
Coshocton County, Case No. 2013CA0030 5

THE TRIAL COURT'S DECISION WAS UNREASONABLE AND AGAINST THE

MANIFEST WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE.

{¶18}. “III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED, AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION, BY

RELYING UPON EVIDENCE THAT WAS NOT INTRODUCED IN THE EVIDENTIARY

HEARING AND NOT IN THE RECORD.

{¶19}. “IV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED, AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION, IN

FINDING THAT IT DID NOT HAVE JURISDICTION TO PROCEED OVER

APPELLANT'S MOTION TO TERMINATE SPOUSAL SUPPORT.

{¶20}. “V. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED, AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION, IN

FINDING THAT APPELLANT FAILED TO SERVE OBJECTIONS ON APPELLEE

PURSUANT TO CIV.R. 5(A).

{¶21}. “VI. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED, AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION, IN

FINDING THAT APPELLANT COULD NOT INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE AT

THE EVIDENTIARY HEARING BEFORE THE JUDGE.

{¶22}. “VII. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY RELYING ON

FACTS THAT WERE NOT IN THE RECORD TO SUPPORT ITS HOLDING.

{¶23}. “VIII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO ORDER APPELLEE

TO REPAY APPELLANT FOR THE SPOUSAL SUPPORT PAID TO HER DURING

HER COHABITATION.

{¶24}. “IX. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO ORDER SANCTIONS

AGAINST APPELLEE FOR FAILURE TO RESPOND TO THE DISCOVERY

REQUESTS TIMELY AS ORDERED BY THE TRIAL COURT.”
Coshocton County, Case No. 2013CA0030 6

I., II.

{¶25}. In his First and Second Assignments of Error, appellant contends the trial

court erred and/or abused its discretion in finding he had failed to establish the

existence of cohabitation by appellee, particularly regarding the court’s consideration of

the factor of shared financial assistance. We agree.

{¶26}. A trial court's decision concerning spousal support may only be altered if it

constitutes an abuse of discretion. See Kunkle v. Kunkle (1990), 51 Ohio St.3d 64, 67,

554 N.E.2d 83. An appellate court likewise reviews a trial court's decision regarding the

termination of spousal support under an abuse of discretion standard of review.

Hartman v. Hartman, 9th Dist. Summit No. 22303, 2005–Ohio–4663, ¶ 13. An abuse of

discretion connotes more than an error of law or judgment; it implies that the court's

attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore (1983), 5

Ohio St.3d 217, 219, 450 N.E.2d 1140.

{¶27}. Where an obligor's motion to terminate spousal support is based on the

occurrence of a condition subsequent, expressly identified in the decree, a trial court

has jurisdiction to terminate the spousal support obligation if it determines that the

obligee was cohabiting with another person in a relationship that was comparable to

marriage. See Guggenbiller v. Guggenbiller, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 10CA009871, 2011–

Ohio–3622, ¶ 6. “Whether or not a particular living arrangement rises to the level of

lifestyle known as ‘cohabitation’ is a factual question to be initially determined by the

trial court.” Moell v. Moell (1994), 98 Ohio App.3d 748, 752, 649 N.E.2d 880, citing

Dickerson v. Dickerson (1993), 87 Ohio App.3d 848, 851, 623 N.E.2d 237, 239.

“ ‘[C]ohabitation’ describes an issue of lifestyle, not a housing arrangement.” Id., citing
Coshocton County, Case No. 2013CA0030 7

Dickerson, supra, at 850, 623 N.E.2d at 239. When considering this issue, a trial court

should look to three principal factors: “(1) [A]n actual living together; (2) of a sustained

duration; and (3) with shared expenses with respect to financing and day-to-day

incidental expenses.” Moell, supra (additional citations and internal quotations omitted).

See, also, Yarnell v. Yarnell, 5th Dist. Delaware No. 05 CAF 0064, 2006–Ohio–3929, ¶

43.

{¶28}. In the case sub judice, the trial court found that appellee had been living

with her boyfriend, Randy Thomas, since July 2010, but determined " *** they did not

share expenses with respect to financing and day-to-day incidental expenses."

Judgment Entry, November 27, 2013, at 7. At the evidentiary hearing upon appellant's

objections in this matter, appellee testified that she has had a sexual relationship with

Randy that has been ongoing since July 2010, and that as of the date of the hearing of

August 7th 2013, she had been living with Randy in Warsaw, Ohio, for more than two

years.1 Tr. at 19, 23-24. Randy owns the Warsaw residence and is responsible for the

real estate taxes and the mortgage payments, if any. Tr. at 27. Appellee did not pay

Randy for rent (although she had tried earlier to do so) and she did not have a lease

agreement with him. Tr. at 36, 127. Appellee testified that she has never received any

financial support from Randy. Tr. at 114. Appellee testified that she generally does not

pay Randy expenses and utilities, and she does not reimburse Randy for any payments

that he makes. Tr. at 36. However, she conceded that she pays one-half of the electric

bill "most of the time probably." Tr. at 36. She has also paid for television via Dish TV

and/or Direct TV. Tr. at 37. Appellee and Randy shared a bed and used the same

1
Appellee’s future plans are not completely clear in the record; she stated at one point
that she was “in the process” of moving into another residence. See Tr. at 132.
Coshocton County, Case No. 2013CA0030 8

bedroom. Tr. at 30. While living there, appellee kept all of her clothing at the house. Id.

Appellee also testified that Randy pays her cash as reimbursement for his cell phone

expenses, even though he was not always consistent in that arrangement. Tr. at 71.

{¶29}. The evidence also demonstrated that appellee at times has driven

Randy's Chevrolet truck, and he has driven her Honda automobile. Tr. at 35-36.

Appellant also made reference to a four-wheeler at the residence that she and Randy

would share. Tr. at 46. Appellee admitted to sending mail to appellant with a return

address of Randy's Warsaw house number and street. Tr. at 40. Furthermore, appellee

got some of her mail at the Warsaw residence and some via a PO Box. Tr. at 30-31. In

terms of household work, evidence was adduced that appellee generally did most of the

cooking, dishwashing and laundry, while Randy did yard work and other outside

maintenance, although housecleaning was shared. See Tr. at 36, 97.

{¶30}. At one point, appellee and Randy announced they were engaged, and

appellee began wearing an engagement ring. The engagement was on for about two

months. Tr. at 33-34. Appellee and Randy had portrait photographs taken of the two of

them and their children, one of which was described as a "family photograph." Tr. at 31,

33. Appellee also spent holidays with Randy, including hosting holiday events at the

residence. Tr. at 46. Appellee and Randy also went to social events together such as

activities at the members-only Eagles Club. Tr. at 47-48. In June 2013, the couple

attended appellee's father's funeral together. Tr. at 48.

{¶31}. The testimony of the parties' daughter, Nicole Huston, who had resided

with appellee and Randy for about one year, buttressed some of the aforesaid

information. See Tr. at 92-101.
Coshocton County, Case No. 2013CA0030 9

{¶32}. Appellee also made various improvements to the residence in question.

She testified that she paid to renovate a bathroom at the residence including replacing

the bathtub, toilet, walls, and vanity. Tr. at 41, 117. Appellee also recalled that she paid

about $2,900.00 to install an air conditioning system at the residence. Tr. at 41-42, 117.

She calculated that she contributed a total of over $4,000.00 in improvements within the

first four to five months after her dissolution. Tr. at 128-129. Appellee also purchased

about $3,000.00 of furniture for use at Randy's house and brought in a dishwasher that

was part of the property division in her dissolution from appellant. Tr. at 44-45. Appellee

testified that the air-conditioning unit would remain part of the residence. Tr. at 42, 128.

{¶33}. Appellee responds in her brief, inter alia, that she and Randy did not

commingle assets and did not jointly hold or own credit cards, bank accounts,

investments, or real estate. Appellee's Brief at 7; Tr. at 115. Furthermore, Nicole Huston

recalled that she never observed either Randy or appellee exchanging money with each

other, splitting bills while eating out, or reimbursing each other for groceries. Tr. at 93-

96. However, we find the evidence clearly supports the existence of a rent-free "living

together" arrangement between appellee and Randy that, financially speaking, at least

included the sharing of automobile and four-wheeler usage, appellee's monetary

contribution toward certain furniture and upgrades to the residence, and periodic

sharing of cell phone and electricity costs. Recently, in Sage v. Gallagher, 5th Dist.

Richland No. 13 CA 64, 2014-Ohio-1598, ¶ 15, we cautioned against strict application of

the Moell test, which includes consideration of the factor of a couple's sharing of

financing and day-to-day incidental expenses. We expressed our determination that

" *** the overarching principle in such cases is that '[c]ohabitation contemplates a
Coshocton County, Case No. 2013CA0030 10

relationship that approximates, or is the functional equivalent of, a marriage.' ” Id., citing

Keeley v. Keeley, 12th Dist. Clermont Nos. CA99–07–075, CA99–080–080, 2000 WL

431362, citing Piscione v. Piscione, 85 Ohio App.3d 273, 275, 619 N.E.2d 1030 (9th

Dist.1992). Upon review of the record in the case sub judice, we hold the trial court's

focus on the shared daily expenses aspect of Moell, as grounds for finding no

cohabitation between appellee and Randy, was overemphasized and unreasonable

given the substantial evidence of their relationship approximating the status of marriage.

{¶34}. Accordingly, we conclude the trial court abused its discretion in failing to

terminate appellant's spousal support obligation to appellee under the facts and

circumstances of this case.

{¶35}. Appellant's First and Second Assignments of Error are sustained.

IV., V.

{¶36}. In his Fourth and Fifth Assignments of Error, appellant contends the trial

court erred and/or abused its discretion in finding it did not have jurisdiction to proceed

for want of service of appellant's motion to terminate spousal support and Civ.R. 53

objections.

{¶37}. Civ.R. 75 is applicable to post-decree matters. Szerlip v. Szerlip, 5th Dist.

Knox No. 01CA09, 2002-Ohio-2541. Civ.R. 75(J) states in pertinent part as follows:

"The continuing jurisdiction of the court shall be invoked by motion filed in the original

action, notice of which shall be served in the manner provided for the service of process

under Civ.R. 4 to 4.6. ***." Nonetheless, when a party appears in court, fails to object to

improper service pursuant to Civ.R. 75(J), and defends on the merits of the case, that

party will be deemed to have waived the issue of service. Hetlin v. Hetlin, 3rd Dist.
Coshocton County, Case No. 2013CA0030 11

Seneca No. 13–14–08, 2014-Ohio-4997, ¶ 26, citing Laver v. Laver, 3d Dist. Henry No.

7–08–01, 2008–Ohio–6068, ¶ 9.

{¶38}. In the case sub judice, we first find the trial court had continuing

jurisdiction to proceed over issues of spousal support based on its reservation of

jurisdiction to modify future awards in the parties' separation agreement and decree of

dissolution. In her decision of March 5, 2013, the magistrate noted that appellee had not

appeared, nor was counsel present on her behalf. Magistrate's Decision at 1. However,

the magistrate had noted on the record that appellee had been personally served with

notice (Tr., January 10, 2013, at 3), and the magistrate proceeded to the merits, finding

appellant had failed to prove termination should be ordered. Decision at 1-2. Thereafter,

at the evidentiary hearing on August 7, 2013 on appellant's objections to said decision,

the trial court noted that both appellant and appellee were present with their respective

attorneys. The court further stated that " *** the parties had agreed to set the matter for

evidentiary hearing on today's date." Tr., August 7, 2013, at 5.

{¶39}. As an appellate court, we are not required to issue an advisory or merely

academic ruling. See, e.g., In re Merryman/Wilson Children, Stark App.Nos. 2004 CA

00056 and 2004 CA 00071, 2004-Ohio-3174, ¶ 59, citing State v. Bistricky (1990), 66

Ohio Aat3d 395, 584 N.E.2d 75. In the case sub judice, although both sides have duly

briefed the service issues for us, we find further analysis unnecessary where appellee

appeared for the evidentiary hearing before the judge and a decision was reached on

the merits, despite the court's seemingly contradictory written finding that it lacked

jurisdiction to proceed as to appellee.
Coshocton County, Case No. 2013CA0030 12

{¶40}. Appellant's Fourth and Fifth Assignments of Error are therefore found to

be moot.

III., VI., VII., IX.

{¶41}. In his Third, Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Assignments of Error, appellant

raises several issues pertaining to the trial court's rulings during the case regarding

evidence and discovery.

{¶42}. Based on our conclusions regarding appellant's First and Second

Assignments of Error, we find the Third, Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth Assignments of Error

to be moot.

VIII.

{¶43}. In his Eighth Assignment of Error, appellant contends the trial court erred

and/or abused its discretion in failing to require appellee to reimburse him for spousal

support she received post-cohabitation. In essence, appellant is arguing that the

termination of spousal support should have been made retroactive.

{¶44}. Generally, if a court determines that a support order should be modified, it

may make the order effective from the date the motion to modify was filed. Such

determination is a matter within the trial court's sound discretion. Sommers v. Sommers,

5th Dist. Stark No. 2009CA00188, 2010-Ohio-1831, ¶ 45 (citations omitted).

Specifically, a retroactive order terminating support upon cohabitation is permissible

when the separation agreement or divorce decree provides that support shall terminate

upon cohabitation. Jennings v. Jennings, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 68782, 1995 WL

628336 (citations omitted). Nonetheless, "courts must be careful in making

modifications retroactive because the retroactive reduction of spousal support which
Coshocton County, Case No. 2013CA0030 13

fails to consider the recipient's reliance upon or expectation of receiving constitutes

substantial injustice and is an abuse of discretion." Dawson v. Dawson, 5th Dist. Stark

No. 1999CA00063, 1999 WL 770795, citing McGuire v. McGuire (April 6, 1995),

Cuyahoga App. No. 67030, 1995 WL 168465.

{¶45}. Because the trial court did not reach the issue based on its decision to

deny appellant's motion to terminate, we hereby sustain appellant's Eighth Assignment

of Error to the extent that the matter will be remanded for a hearing to determine the

date of termination of spousal support.

{¶46}. For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the judgment of the Court

of Common Pleas, Coshocton County, Ohio, is hereby reversed and remanded for

further proceedings consistent herewith.

By: Wise, J.

Gwin, P. J., and

Baldwin, J., concur.

JWW/d 1209
Coshocton County, Case No. 2013CA0030 14