[Cite as Shaw v. Shaw, 2017-Ohio-7777.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LUCAS COUNTY
Sherry W. Shaw Court of Appeals No. L-16-1271
Appellant Trial Court No. DR2006-0875
v.
John C. Shaw DECISION AND JUDGMENT
Appellee Decided: September 22, 2017
*****
Rose M. Mock, for appellant.
Douglas A. Wilkins, for appellee.
*****
OSOWIK, J.
{¶ 1} This is an appeal from an October 19, 2016 judgement of the Lucas County
Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, denying appellant’s Civ.R.
60(B)(5) and (B)(3) motion for relief from judgment in connection to appellant’s 2008
divorce. The motion was filed shortly before appellant’s spousal support concluded eight
years after the parties’ divorce was final. In support, appellant sets forth unilateral,
sweeping assertions of financial misconduct on the part of appellee. For the reasons set
forth below, this court affirms the judgment of the trial court.
{¶ 2} Appellant sets forth the following three (3) assignments of error:
1. The Court erred by denying the Appellant relief under Civ. Rule
[sic] 60(B) 3 & 5.
2. The Trial Court Abused its Discretion by denying the appellant a
hearing based upon the reasoning [that] the fraud should have been
discoverable in 2008.
3. The Trial Court Abused its Discretion by denying the Appellant’s
Motion based on the fact it was a negotiated settlement as opposed to a trial
by “highly skilled family law attorneys[.]” [When the] Appellee never
provided an Affidavit of Property.
{¶ 1} The following undisputed facts are relevant to this appeal.
{¶ 2} On October 10, 2008, the final judgment entry of divorce underlying this
case was filed. Both parties were represented by established, experienced legal counsel.
Pursuant to the final divorce decree, appellee was ordered to pay appellant spousal
support on a monthly basis for a term of seven years.
{¶ 3} On April 20, 2016, coinciding with the approaching conclusion of appellee’s
mandated monthly spousal support payments to appellant pursuant to the 2008 divorce
2.
decree, appellant filed a Civ.R. 60(B)(3) and (B)(5) motion for relief from judgment.
Appellant submitted an affidavit in support of the motion.
{¶ 4} Appellant’s supporting affidavit constitutes a series of sweeping and
unsupported statements and conclusions. For example, appellant’s affidavit proclaims,
“[H]e has liquidated and stolen the children’s college funds.” Appellant further
unilaterally concludes, “[Appellee] has committed large scale fraud against me, my
children, the court, my previous legal counsel.” In addition, appellant maintains, “I am
unemployable. I have applied for over 50 jobs since the divorce and am unable to obtain
secure, long-lasting employment * * * I was a corporate housewife for 21 years.”
{¶ 5} On October 19, 2016, the trial court denied appellant’s motion. The trial
court determined in relevant part, “The parties were divorced by final judgment entry
filed October 10, 2008 * * * Civ.R. 60(B)(3) clearly states that a motion for relief from
judgment on the grounds of fraud must be filed within one year from the date of the
judgment entry.” The court further concluded, “The court understands from the
plaintiff’s arguments that her spousal support is about to end and that she may be unable
to sustain employment comparable to her present needs. Such circumstances * * *cannot
now be the basis for vacating the divorce decree.” This appeal ensued.
{¶ 6} We note that each of the assignments of error is rooted in the legal premise
that the trial court erred and abused its discretion in the denial of appellant’s 2016 Civ.R.
60(B) motion for relief from the 2008 divorce decree. We do not concur. The
assignments of error will be addressed simultaneously given their common foundation.
3.
{¶ 7} The standard of review governing appellate review of disputed Civ.R. 60(B)
decisions is abuse of discretion. Such rulings fall squarely within the broad discretion of
the trial court. An abuse of discretion requires more than a mere error of law or
judgment. It must be shown that the disputed trial court action was unreasonable,
arbitrary, or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 450 N.E.2d
1140 (1983).
{¶ 8} Civ.R. 60(B) unequivocally establishes that a Civ.R. 60(B)(3) motion must
be filed, “[N]ot more than one year after the judgment, order or proceeding was entered
or taken.” In addition, Civ.R. 60(B) further establishes that all Civ.R. 60(B) motions,
“[S]hall be made within a reasonable time.”
{¶ 9} The record of evidence clearly reflects that both parties were represented by
highly skilled and highly experienced counsel in the course of negotiating the underlying
2008 divorce decree.
{¶ 10} The record reflects that the instant matter arises from appellant’s
unsuccessful 2016 Civ.R. 60(B) motion for relief from judgment which approximately
coincided with the conclusion of appellee’s mandatory spousal support payments to
appellant and nearly eight years after the subject judgment was issued.
{¶ 11} In support of the motion, appellant’s affidavit sets forth a litany of
sweeping and subjective conclusions. Appellant asserts, “I believe the terms of my
divorce were not equitable or fair.” (Emphasis added). Appellant further maintains, “I
am unemployable,” without furnishing an objective or convincing basis in support of that
4.
conclusion. The fact that appellants was, “[A] corporate housewife for 21 years,” does
not operate as a matter of law to render appellant incapable of employment.
{¶ 12} In conjunction with the above, appellant’s post hoc claims that appellee,
“[C]omitted large-scale fraud,” and allegedly has, [S]tolen the children’s college funds,”
are unpersuasive. The record is devoid of objective, convincing evidence in support of
appellant’s litany of fraud related claims against appellee.
{¶ 13} Apart from the lack of substantive merit, the record reflects that appellant’s
Civ.R. 60(B)(3) motion for relief from judgment based upon allegations of fraud needed
to be timely filed by approximately October 10, 2009. As such, appellant’s April 20,
2016 Civ.R. 60(B)(3) motion filing was not timely made.
{¶ 14} With respect to appellant’s remaining April 20, 2016 Civ.R. 60(B)(5)
filing, we find that the record of evidence in this matter reflects that appellant has failed
to establish a meritorious claim for relief. On the contrary, it is predicated on
unconvincing, subjective, and unilateral conclusions. In conjunction with the lack of
substantive merit, we further find that it was not made within the mandated “reasonable”
timeframe.
{¶ 15} Wherefore, based upon the foregoing, we find appellant’s assignments of
error to be not well-taken. The judgment of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas,
Domestic Relations Division, is hereby affirmed. Appellant is ordered to pay the cost of
this appeal pursuant to App.R. 24.
Judgment affirmed.
5.
L-16-1271
Shaw v. Shaw
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.
Mark L. Pietrykowski, J. _______________________________
JUDGE
Thomas J. Osowik, J.
_______________________________
James D. Jensen, P.J. JUDGE
CONCUR.
_______________________________
JUDGE
6.