DURDEN v. DURDEN

Supreme Court of Georgia1940-12-03No. No. 13401

191 Ga. 404

Summary · law.co

Holding. The court reversed the judgment. Although a judgment for permanent alimony rendered without subject-matter jurisdiction is void and subject to collateral attack, the court retained jurisdiction in this case because the reinstatement order related back to the original alimony suit filed before the marital relationship was terminated by the Alabama divorce; therefore, the alimony judgment was valid, and the defendant's plea in bar was improperly sustained.

This case concerns whether a Georgia court properly exercised jurisdiction over an alimony judgment when the defendant obtained a divorce in Alabama during the pendency of the alimony suit. The original alimony action was filed before the defendant secured the Alabama divorce, but the case was dismissed for lack of prosecution in 1935. In 1936, the plaintiff filed what was characterized as a renewal suit, and the court later set aside the dismissal order and reinstated the original case. A jury then awarded alimony, and the court entered judgment in 1938 confirming both the alimony award and the validity of the Alabama divorce.

When the defendant later faced contempt charges for failing to pay alimony, he pleaded that the alimony judgment was void because the court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction—arguing that the marital relationship had been dissolved by the Alabama divorce before the second alimony action was instituted. The trial court sustained this plea and found him not in contempt. The appellate court reversed, holding that the reinstatement of the original action related back to when the first suit was filed, before the divorce occurred, thereby preserving the court's jurisdiction over the subject matter of alimony.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

Whether a court retains subject-matter jurisdiction to award alimony when the defendant obtains a divorce in another state during the pendency of the alimony action
Whether reinstatement of a dismissed alimony suit relates back to the original filing date for jurisdictional purposes
Whether an alimony judgment is void for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction when the marital relation is dissolved before a renewed alimony suit is instituted

Procedural posture

The defendant was charged with contempt of court for failure to pay alimony, pleaded that the alimony judgment was void for lack of jurisdiction, the trial court sustained the plea and found him not in contempt, and the plaintiff appealed.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion · public domain

majority opinion

Atkinson, Presiding Justice.

A judgment for permanent alimony, rendered without jurisdiction of the subject-matter, is a. mere nullity, and may be so held in any court when it becomes; material to the interest of the parties to consider it. Code, § 110-709; Allen v. Baker, 188 Ga. 696 (4 S. E. 2d, 642).

Jurisdiction of the subject-matter of a suit for permanent-alimony depends on existence of the marital relation at the time-the action is instituted. Allen v. Baker, supra. If after the court-had acquired jurisdiction in a suit for permanent alimony, as in the-instant case, the defendant moved to another State, where pending-the action for alimony he sued for and obtained a final decree of divorce (Durden v. Durden, 184 Ga. 421, 191 S. E. 455), and after such divorce the suit for alimony in this State was dismissed,, and more than six months thereafter another suit for alimony was-, instituted in the same court in which a judgment for permanent-alimony was granted, such judgment under principles stated above-is subject to collateral attack by a plea in bar interposed to a peti tion for attachment as for a contempt of court for failure to pay alimony as required by the judgment. Where the plea in bar alleged facts substantially as stated above, and that the judgment granting alimony was a mere nullity and void on the ground that the court was without jurisdiction of the subject-matter, it was not erroneous to refuse to strike the plea on general demurrer.

On the further trial in the action for contempt of court, there was no error in admitting evidence of divorce granted in the State of Alabama, over the objection that it was irrelevant.

In addition to all that is stated above as to the substance of the pleadings and the evidence in relation to alimony in this State, and divorce in the State of Alabama, it further appeared without contradiction, on the trial for contempt of court, substantially as follows: The decree of divorce was obtained in Alabama in 1933. The suit for alimony in Fulton superior court (ease numbered 91582) was dismissed for want of prosecution, March 29, 1935. On April 21, 1936, the same plaintiff instituted in the same court an alleged renewal” suit for alimony, (case numbered 111507). To this suit the defendant pleaded dissolution of the marital relation by the Alabama decree of divorce. During the progress of case 111507, at suggestion of the judge to avoid embarrassment to defendant and his second wife, who had married after the divorce in Alabama, the parties consented in writing, and the judge so ordered on February 8, 1938, that the judgment of March 29, 1935, dismissing suit 91582 be set aside and vacated, and that the case be reinstated. The order provided that evidence already introduced be considered as introduced in the case so reinstated, and that the jury render a verdict as though they were considering ease 111507. It was further agreed that the matter of allowance and amount of alimony should be submitted to the jury, and that after the verdict the judge should direct a separate verdict finding that the divorce rendered in Alabama is lawful and valid.” In pursuance of this agreement and order the question of allowance and amount of alimony was submitted to the jury. A verdict was returned, awarding to the plaintiff alimony in a stated sum "until she should die or remarry.” The judge directed a verdict sustaining the lawfulness and validity of the Alabama decree of divorce. A judgment was entered on each verdict, on February 8, 1938. It appeared in the contempt case that the respondent was $440 in arrears in the payment of alimony, no payment haying been made since May, 1939. After introduction of uncontradicted evidence as indicated above, the judge, trying the case without a jury, sustained the plea in bar, and adjudged the defendant not in contempt of court. Held:

(a) Irrespective of whether or not it was in the discretion of the judge to set aside the judgment of dismissal and to reinstate the first action after the term (Vanzant v. Arnold, 31 Ga. 210; Brooks v. Brooks, 175 Ga. 313, 165 S. E. 106), such order, to which there was no exception, was within the jurisdiction of the court. The order of reinstatement relates to the institution of the first suit for alimony, which was filed before interruption of the marital relation by the divorce obtained in Alabama. Accordingly the grant of alimony, to which there was no exception, was not void for want of jurisdiction as to the subject-matter.

(b) The above ruling does not conflict with the decisions in the following eases. Miraglia v. Bryson, 152 Ga. 828 (111 S. E. 655) ; Alley v. Halcombe, 96 Ga. 810 (22 S. E. 901) ; Watkins v. Brizendine, 111 Ga. 458 (36 S. E. 807); Austin v. Markham, 44 Ga. 161; Waller Inc. v. Clarke, 132 Ga. 830 (64 S. E. 1096) ; Arnold v. Kendrick, 50 Ga. 293; Lott v. Waycross, 152 Ga. 237 (110 S. E. 217); Raney v. McRae, 14 Ga. 589 (60 Am. D. 660); Dix v. Dix, 132 Ga. 630 (64 S. E. 790).

(c) Under all the evidence showing more than as alleged in the plea in bar, it was erroneous to sustain the plea and adjudge the defendant not in contempt.

Judgment reversed.

All the Justices concur.