BEILFUSS, J.
In oral argument the appellant-wife's main thrust was her claim of the insufficiency of the alimony and support money awards. No complaint is made as to the division of estate. She also contends that the proof was insufficient to grant a legal separation upon grounds of cruel and inhuman treatment; that any
The definition of the phrase "cruel and inhuman treatment" has often been reiterated by this court. Most recently, in Mecha v. Mecha (1967), 36 Wis.2d 29, 33, 152 N.W.2d 923, the court quotes with approval from Heffernan v. Heffernan (1965), 27 Wis.2d 307, 310-313, 134 N.W.2d 439:
"This court, in the case of Heffernan v. Heffernan (1965), 27 Wis.2d 307, 310-313, 134 N.W.2d 439, reviewed a number of cases wherein `cruel and inhuman treatment' had been considered and after reviewing these cases concluded (p. 312):
"`From these cases we conclude that no precisely described or enumerated acts of one spouse toward another can be defined as cruel and inhuman treatment. In order to constitute cruel and inhuman treatment, such as to warrant the granting of a divorce or a legal separation, the court must consider the totality of conduct and the detrimental effect it has upon necessary marital relationships and its grave effect upon the health of the other spouse. The conduct of the offending spouse must be unreasonable and unwarranted, it must render the parties incapable of performing their marital duties, and it must have a detrimental effect upon the physical or mental health of the offended spouse. In applying these tests the court should be cognizant of the desirable public policy in maintenance of marriage and family. The court may properly consider the age of the parties, the duration of the marriage, and presence and age of the children and the probability of delinquency, and the public dependency of the parties or the children.'"
Most of the testimony concerning the cruel and inhuman treatment of Mrs. Jackowick comes from the plaintiff himself. The portrait of their marriage as described by him is one of tense discord and disharmony. He testified that he and Mrs. Jackowick constantly quarreled
One of the items the trial court felt significant was that defendant continuously harassed the plaintiff with telephone calls while he was at work. For several years, the plaintiff testified, the defendant would call from as many as one to 10 times a day, every day. The matters she would want to discuss would be trivial matters and the calls would come when he had people in his office. If he hung up she would call back. Many times he had to leave the phone off the hook even though it was a business phone. This harassment continued right up to the time of the trial.
Mrs. Jackowick's version of the couple's marriage was somewhat different. She stated she did not want a divorce or a separation, and that she wants her husband
The only other testimony concerning the conduct of the parties was from two witnesses who testified on the plaintiff's behalf. The first, Mrs. Patricia Affolter, who had been a neighbor and tenant of the Jackowicks, testified that she heard Mrs. Jackowick swear at Mr. Jackowick and she was aware that Mr. Jackowick complained about the ironing not being done. She further testified that she heard Mrs. Jackowick yell and scream at the children and at Mr. Jackowick. Once Mrs. Jackowick told her she was pregnant, that Mr. Jackowick was not the father of the child, and that she was able to "pick up men" in taverns. These statements were not offered for the truth of the statement but as examples of Mrs. Jackowick's attempts to humiliate Mr. Jackowick.
The other witness presented, Mr. Frank Grosser, also testified to an incident where Mrs. Jackowick began screaming at Mr. Jackowick and humiliated him by complaining about her ragged clothes.
"`The weight of the evidence and the credibility thereof were matters entirely within the province of the court as the trier of the facts.' Gordon v. Gordon, supra (p. 340)." Mecha v. Mecha, supra, page 35.
"Clearly this record presents a classic example of where the credibility of the witnesses and the weight of the testimony must be left to the judicious determination of the trial court. The testimony offered by either side was not inherently incredible, but as stated by the able trial judge, `One almost cannot believe one without converting the other into being a prevaricator.' The trial court had as guides, imperfect as they may be, the appearance and demeanor of the witnesses in response to questions, the nature, reasonableness and probability of the testimony, their attitude and demeanor toward the court, officers of the court, the other party and witnesses, and other incidents and observations that tend to lend or detract credibility and weight in determining the truth of the matter." Heffernan v. Heffernan, supra, page 314.
The trial court chose to place more weight on the testimony offered by the husband. It is our firm conclusion that the finding of the trial court that Mrs. Jackowick was guilty of cruel and inhuman treatment toward her husband is not against the great weight and clear preponderance of the evidence.
Appellant contends that her constant telephoning to her husband at work was provoked by the husband because he would not speak with her at home. The telephone calls were simply one item of proof the trial court felt significant. The trial court, in its opinion from the bench, mentions the testimony regarding the husband's alleged refusal to talk with the defendant and characterizes the evidence as "hard to evaluate." The trial court noted that it is almost impossible to trace back to the beginning the reasons for the telephone calls or
The appellant-wife also raises the issue of recrimination.
In Gauer v. Gauer (1967), 34 Wis.2d 451, 457, 149 N.W.2d 533, we stated:
"This court subscribes to the doctrine of recrimination, holding:
"`... if the conduct of both parties has been such as to furnish grounds for divorce, neither of the parties is entitled to relief.' Bahr v. Bahr (1956), 272 Wis. 323, 325, 75 N.W.2d 301; Mentzel v. Mentzel (1958), 4 Wis.2d 584, 588, 91 N.W.2d 101."
The respondent-husband argues that the issue cannot be raised for the first time on appeal. However, in Gauer v. Gauer, supra, page 458, we held:
"Recrimination is an equitable doctrine and, as a consequence, is subject to invocation by the court even though not raised by the parties, and we do not foreclose ourselves from considering the defense of recrimination even though raised for the first time on appeal if the facts are apparent from the record and if to do so would not result in any unfairness to the other spouse.
In the exercise of our discretion we have determined that the doctrine of recrimination should not be considered as a defense to this action at this stage of the litigation.
A review of the record reveals that by design the appellant-wife did not offer proof in support of her counterclaim. She was the only witness in her defense to the husband's action (except as to property values) and her testimony, in the main, consisted only of denials or explanations of the husband's proof. It is apparent that the trial judge resolved the factual issues in favor of the husband and that the wife did not offer proof that would entitle her to a judgment based on cruel and inhuman treatment so as to give rise to the doctrine of recrimination. The appellant also contends that the comparative rectitude statute
After the April hearing on the cause for the separation the matter was, by stipulation of the parties, referred to the family court commissioner to take testimony and make recommendations on the questions of division of estate, alimony and support money. The record on appeal does not contain a transcript of the testimony before the family court commissioner. The commissioner did make recommendations which were accepted by the husband but not approved by the wife, primarily because of allowance of her attorney's fees. The court, at the August hearing took additional testimony dealing mostly with property values.
The trial court ordered alimony of $200, and child support of $250 per month. A duplex residence was awarded to the wife as part of the division of the estate. She lives in one flat and receives $85 per month rent from the other. The property was given to her subject to a mortgage which requires payments of $149 per month. As part of the property settlement the husband is required to pay an additional $100 per month for seventeen months. He was also required to pay all outstanding bills with the exception of one in the amount of $220.
In 1966, the husband earned approximately $25,000 from his partnership business. (The record does not reveal what his prior earnings were.) The income tax was calculated to be about $6,500. The oldest son had graduated from high school and intended to go to college. The father had deposited $1,000 for his first year's college education and he intended to assist the other children if they wished to attend college.
The record is almost barren of testimony or other proof as to the financial needs of the wife and children to support them in their customary manner.
"... The amount of alimony and support money to be paid by a husband to his divorced wife is also a matter peculiarly within the discretion of the trial court." Horel v. Horel (1952), 260 Wis. 336, 340, 341, 50 N.W.2d 673.
"`Ordinarily, the amount to be allowed for the support and maintenance of a divorced wife will not be disturbed unless manifestly unjust.'" Bradley v. Bradley (1960), 9 Wis.2d 523, 530, 101 N.W.2d 628.
"As in custody, awarding child support payments is a discretionary matter. Hansen v. Hansen (1951), 259 Wis. 485, 49 N.W.2d 434.
"Again, the court's decision will not be disturbed unless against the great weight and clear preponderance of the evidence. Bliffert v. Bliffert (1961), 14 Wis.2d 316, 111 N.W.2d 188." Farwell v. Farwell (1967), 33 Wis.2d 324, 330, 147 N.W.2d 289.
While the child support and alimony awards do not appear to be generous, upon the record before us we cannot conclude they are manifestly unjust nor are they a result of an abuse of judicial discretion.
By the Court.—Judgment affirmed.
ROBERT W. HANSEN, J., took no part.
FootNotes
The appellant contends that comparative rectitude is not available in an action for legal separation by virtue of its omission from the statute. This notation is made for the purpose of calling this omission to the attention of the legislature for its consideration.
Comment
User Comments