In re the Marriage of Jacobs

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

No. 18-0510
Filed January 9, 2019

IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF CATHERINE M. JACOBS
AND CARL LEE JACOBS

Upon the Petition of
CATHERINE M. JACOBS,
Petitioner-Appellant,

And Concerning
CARL LEE JACOBS,
Respondent-Appellee.
________________________________________________________________

Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, Jeffrey A. Neary,

Judge.

Catherine Jacobs appeals the economic provisions of the decree dissolving

her marriage to Carl Jacobs. AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED.

John S. Moeller of John S. Moeller, P.C., Sioux City, for appellant.

Jeffrey T. Myers of Goosmann Law Firm, PLC, Sioux City, for appellee.

Considered by Potterfield, P.J., Doyle, J., and Carr, S.J.*

*Senior judge assigned by order pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.9206 (2019).
2

DOYLE, Judge.

Catherine Jacobs appeals the economic provisions of the decree dissolving

her 2013 marriage to Carl Jacobs. She also requests an award of her trial attorney

fees.

We review dissolution proceedings de novo. See In re Marriage of

McDermott, 827 N.W.2d 671, 676 (Iowa 2013). We examine the entire record and

adjudicate the issues anew. See id. Although we are not bound by the district

court’s factual findings, we give them weight, especially if they concern witness

credibility. See id.

I. Property Division.

Catherine first challenges the provisions of the decree concerning the

division of the parties’ property. Specifically, she argues the district court erred in

determining Carl was entitled to reimbursement for sums he alleges he paid toward

the down payment of homes she purchased in 2007 and 2016. She also argues

the court should consider Carl’s gambling losses in determining an equitable

property division

The court dissolving a marriage must divide the parties’ property equitably.

See Iowa Code § 598.21(1) (2017). “The partners in the marriage are entitled to

a just and equitable share of the property accumulated through their joint efforts.”

In re Marriage of Hazen, 778 N.W.2d 55, 59 (Iowa Ct. App. 2009). However,

equitable does not necessarily mean equal, and what it is equitable must be

determined on the circumstances of each case. See id. The factors set forth in

Iowa Code section 598.21(5) guide the court in making an equitable division.

Because the trial court has considerable latitude in determining what is equitable,
3

we will reverse only if “there has been a failure to do equity.” See In re Marriage

of Schriner, 695 N.W.2d 493, 496 (Iowa 2005).

A. Florida Property.

The first dispute concerns the Florida property, which Catherine purchased

in 2007 when the parties were dating. The district court determined that the Florida

home was not marital property and awarded it to Catherine. However, it found that

Carl was entitled to reimbursement for $20,000 he contributed to the down

payment and granted Carl an interest in the property in that amount. Catherine

argues the evidence does not support the finding that Carl contributed any money

toward the $42,000 down payment on the property.

Although it is undisputed that only Catherine’s name appears on the deed

and mortgage, the parties presented differing views on the details of the property’s

purchase. Carl testified that he and Catherine purchased the home “as a joint

venture,” but that because Catherine’s credit score is better than his and they

“saved a point” on the mortgage by putting it in Catherine’s name alone. He

claimed that he put $20,000 he made from the sale of a 1964 Chevy toward the

down payment on the property. Carl conceded he has no proof or receipts

concerning the $20,000. He testified:

Q. Tell the Court how you made that deposit. A. I gave it to
Catherine. On the Florida home?
Q. Yes. A. Yeah. I just—I gave her the money.

Carl further testified that when he and Catherine separated in 2009, there was an

agreement that he would get the $20,000 back if the home was sold.

Catherine denies that Carl contributed any money toward the purchase of

the home, instead claiming that she provided the entire down payment. She
4

testified that the source of the funds was “a line of credit that I drew down on a

condo that I owed free and clear so it was like a second mortgage.”1 She further

explained that at the time, Carl was not in a position to be involved in the purchase

of the home:

[Carl] was going to get a job up there and the job didn’t work out.
And usually he sold a truck and that year he didn’t sell the truck so
he was actually pretty broke that year for the first time. He wasn’t
doing so well financially because the car didn’t sell. He did eventually
sell it in Lakeport, but he didn’t sell it that year. And he did not give
me any money whatsoever. And under oath, he did not give me any
money towards that.

In resolving the issue of the down payment, the district court concluded,

[R]econstructing what actually happened with regard to the purchase
of this property when the parties were not married and given the
difference in the parties’ testimony and lack of documentation that
directly addresses the down payment issue, the court concludes that
Carl has proven by a preponderance that he is entitled to be
reimbursed for his claimed contribution to the down payment, but he
will be required to share the risk that the property will not sell for an
amount that allows him to obtain a full return on his contribution.

The court decreed that if Catherine sold the property, Catherine would receive the

first $22,500 from the net proceeds.2 Then Carl would receive the next $20,000

from the remaining proceeds, with any remaining balance going to Catherine. The

court further provided that if Carl’s lien was not paid in full from the sale proceeds,

he did not retain a lien in the sale proceeds and was required to release his lien

against the property. Despite having concluded Carl should assume some of the

risk that the property would not sell in an amount that would allow full

1
Catherine provided documentation of a home equity line of credit she received in January
2007 for $60,000, but there is no indication that she used the line of credit in making a
down payment on the property in question.
2
We note that at the time of trial, the indebtedness and taxes against the property
exceeded its appraised value.
5

reimbursement of his $20,000, the court, nevertheless, “put in place protections to

provide for this reimbursement as matters may develop hereafter.” The court tied

Carl’s reimbursement to his refinancing of the Sioux City property that the court

ordered to take place within 180 days of entry of the decree. Specifically, the court

decreed that at the time of the refinancing of the Sioux City property, Carl was to

pay Catherine one-half of the equity after payment of loan costs and fees. From

Catherine’s one-half of the equity, Carl was to retain $20,000 for reimbursement

for his contribution to the Florida property. Under this scheme, Carl does not share

the risk the Florida property may not sell for enough to reimburse him the $20,000.

We do not believe it is fair to secure Carl’s lien on the Florida property

through the refinancing of the Sioux City property. Both parties should share the

risk that the property will not sell for an amount that allows them to obtain a full

return on their down-payment contributions. We therefore modify the language of

the decree under the provision for 1260 Red Barn Road, Moore Haven, Florida

to read:

This property is awarded to Catherine. Carl shall execute all
documents necessary to convey his interest in the property to her
pursuant to this decree. Carl retains a lien against this property for
his down payment or contribution at the time of purchase in the
amount of $20,000. If the Florida property is sold by Catherine, the
division of the proceeds shall take place as follows. From the first
$42,500 net proceeds of a sale (after deducting all mortgages (Ditech
and Florida Hardest Hit), liens (other than Carl’s), realtor
commissions, taxes, closing fees, costs, and other sale-related
expenses), Catherine shall receive 53% and Carl shall receive
47%.[3] Any remaining balance shall go to Catherine. In the event
that Carl’s lien is not paid in full, Carl does not retain a lien in the
proceeds of the sale but will nevertheless release his lien against the
real property and the proceeds without further recourse.

3
Of the $42,500 down payment, Carl’s contribution of $20,000 comprises 47% of the total,
and Catherine’s contribution of $22,500 comprises 53% of the total.
6

B. Sioux City Property.

The second dispute concerns a 2016 purchase of property in Sioux City.

As with the Florida property, the Sioux City home and mortgage are in Catherine’s

name alone. The district court awarded the property to Carl with instructions to

pay Catherine for one-half of the equity in the home. Catherine does not challenge

the award of the home to Carl but instead challenges the court’s finding concerning

the down payment on the property. The court found:

There was a down payment of $27,500 made by Carl. Carl testified
that he sold a pre-marital asset (‘66 Chevy Stepside) that provided
the source of these funds for the down payment. Catherine on the
other hand testified that she transferred these funds to him in order
to allow him to make this payment and that he did not provide his
own funds for this down payment. . . .
The court . . . finds credible Carl’s claim that he contributed to
the down payment from the sale proceeds of his ’66 Chevy Stepside
noted above in the amount of $27,500 and should receive credit in
the division of the net proceeds for this down payment amount.

Catherine claims that only $10,000 of that money came from Carl and

approximately $17,500 came from her.

Carl testified that he provided the full $27,500 down payment on the Sioux

City property. It is undisputed that Carl wrote a check for the $27,500 down

payment from his bank account on April 14. Carl testified that he obtained the

money for the down payment by selling a 1966 Chevy Stepside that he had

purchased before the marriage and restored.4

4
At one point in his testimony, Carl stated he sold the truck for $22,500. At another, he
testified he sold the truck for $26,000.
7

Catherine testified that although the check for the down payment came from

Carl’s bank account, each party contributed funds for it. She testified that Carl

wrote the check for the down payment to look like a gift to her, explaining:

When I was working to get the mortgage—because it was on auction,
it had to be quick. But underwriting would not approve the income I
received from the Florida property as my tenant deposited it in cash.
So when I talked with Roxanne at the bank, she said, well, there is
one way we could do that. Have your husband write a check like it’s
a gift to you, and then we can say that you got the down payment,
and underwriting would be okay with that.
So I then transferred the money from my account—I believe
we have an exhibit to show it, that I transferred the money into his
account so he could write the check to show it to underwriting, and
so the mortgage went through.

Bank statements show that Catherine transferred $27,500 from her Chase account

(0228) to Carl’s bank account on April 13, one day before he wrote the check for

the down payment. Additionally, on March 30, 2016, Catherine and Carl signed a

document stating:

I, Carl L. Jacobs, . . . husband of Catherine Gavin (Jacobs)
will give (or have given) a gift of $27,500.
This is a bona fide gift and there is no obligation, expressed
or implied, to repay this sum at any time. These funds are available
and will be given (or have been given) to: Catherine Gavin/Jacobs in
time to close the mortgage transaction on the purchase of his or her
name.

Carl did not dispute that Catherine transferred $27,500 into his bank

account one day before he provided the down payment. According to Carl, he

deposited the money from the sale of the 1966 Chevy Stepside into Catherine’s

Bank of America account in Florida. He explained:

I was going to put it in Chase, but Chase wouldn’t accept it. So I had
to go to Bank of America because I had an account at Bank of
America also back then. Back then we both had accounts. And I put
the money in Bank of America accounts. That’s the best of my
recollection. And it went to Bank of America to Chase—to her
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account Chase, and then to my account and then I wrote the check
out.

Catherine produced a deposit slip showing $9000 was deposited into Chase

account 90715 and testified, “[T]he 9000 is the one he talked about and that was

the deposit he made into my account in Florida.” She also produced a check Carl

wrote to her in the amount of $880 on April 11, which she testified was used for

the down payment along with the $9000 deposit.

A bank statement for Chase account 0228 for the period of March 24, 2016,

to April 25, 2016, shows the only transfer of money from a Bank of America account

was a $3500 wire transfer on April 13. The statement also shows a transfer of

$11,000 from Chase account 9071 into Chase account 0228 on April 11, which

supports Catherine’s testimony concerning the $9000 deposit and $880 check

provided by Carl. Catherine then transferred $27,500 from Chase account 0228

to Carl’s bank account on April 13, and Carl wrote a $27,500 check for the down

payment on April 14.

Based on the above testimony and evidence, the trial court concluded and

found credible Carl’s claim that he contributed to the down payment from the sale

proceeds of his ’66 Chevy Stepside in the amount of $27,500. The court then

decreed that upon Carl’s refinancing of the property that Carl shall pay to Catherine

one-half of the equity after payment of loan costs and fees or sales expenses if the

property is sold. From Catherine’s one-half of the equity, the court decreed Carl

shall retain $27,500 which is reimbursement for his down payment. The court also

5
Chase account 9071 is in the name of Alliance of Divine Love Chapel, a tax-exempt
charitable organization that Catherine set up. No date is visible on the deposit slip
contained in the electronic record.
9

provided that Carl was to retain $20,000 from Catherine’s one-half equity as

reimbursement for his contribution to the Florida property.

Upon our de novo review, we believe the evidence supports a finding that

Carl contributed $10,000 toward the down payment on the Sioux City property

rather than providing the full $27,500 down payment. We therefore modify the

language of the decree under the provision for 2216 Jackson Street, Sioux City,

Iowa (as modified by the court’s ruling on post decree motions) to read:

This property is awarded to Carl, and Catherine shall execute
all documents necessary to convey her interest in the property to him
pursuant to this decree. Within 180 days following the entry of this
decree, Carl shall seek and secure financing for this property that
allows him to have Catherine removed as an obligor on any note and
mortgage related to this property in exchange for her quitclaim deed
of her interest in the property, which shall be provided no later than
the closing on Carl’s refinancing for this property. Until refinancing
is completed as contemplated herein, Carl shall continue to pay the
current mortgage on this property, keep the property insured as
required by the lender, and pay any real estate or other taxes due on
the property as they come due. At the time of refinancing, or sale if
necessary, of the Sioux City property, using the value of the property
as $150,000 and the debt against the property as $93,201, Carl shall
pay over to Catherine one half of the equity after payment of loan
costs and fees or sales expenses if the property is sold. From
Catherine’s one-half of the equity, Carl shall retain $10,000, which is
reimbursement for his down payment on this property.

Any reference to reimbursement for Carl’s contribution to the Florida real estate is

removed.

C. Dissipation of Assets.

Catherine next argues that gambling losses Carl incurred during the

marriage wasted the marital assets. See In re Marriage Kimbro, 826 N.W.2d 696,

700 (Iowa 2007) (“A court may generally consider a spouse’s dissipation or waste

of marital assets prior to dissolution when making a property distribution.”).
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Although she admits the exact amount of the losses has not been determined, she

asks the court to consider it a factor in determining an equitable division of the

property.

“The dissipation doctrine applies when a spouse’s conduct during the period

of separation ‘results in the loss or disposal of property otherwise subject to

division at the time of divorce.’” Id. at 700-01 (emphasis added) (citation omitted).

Because Catherine’s claim concerns gambling losses she says occurred during

the marriage, we disagree that they amounted to a waste of marital assets and

decline to consider them in the property distribution.6

II. Trial Attorney Fees.

Finally, Catherine argues the trial court erred in failing to award her trial

attorney fees. We review the trial court’s decision regarding the award of trial

attorney fees for an abuse of discretion. See In re Marriage of Sullins, 715 N.W.2d

242, 255 (Iowa 2006). The decision to award attorney fees depends on the parties’

respective abilities of to pay. See id. Considering these factors, we find no abuse

of discretion in declining Catherine an award of her trial attorney fees.

AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED.

6 Although we have found a party liable for marital assets dissipated during the marriage,
the waste occurred without the other party’s knowledge or consent. See In re Mariage of
Leininger, No. 08-650, 2009 WL 2006233, at *1 (Iowa Ct. App. Mar. 11, 2009) (affirming
award of dissipated assets where husband withdrew entire amount of wife’s military salary
while wife was deployed despite his assurances that he would save her earnings for a
down payment on a home). Here, Catherine knew Carl gambled before they married and
was aware of his gambling during the marriage. Carl testified that although Catherine
knew he was gambling, she only complained about it at the end of the marriage.