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TWILLEY v. TWILLEY

Supreme Court of Georgia1943-01-13No. No. 14410
195 Ga. 297

Summary

Holding. The trial court properly exercised its discretion in refusing to modify the temporary alimony order, because temporary alimony remains appropriate while a divorce case is pending before the Supreme Court on appeal, as the wife requires financial support both for her subsistence and to enable her to litigate her claims. The judgment was affirmed.

Mrs. Laverne Twilley filed for divorce on grounds of cruel treatment in February 1942 and was awarded temporary alimony and attorney's fees in March 1942. At trial in May 1942, the jury rejected her petition for divorce but granted her husband's cross-petition for divorce based on his claim of cruel treatment. The husband subsequently requested the trial court to reduce or eliminate the temporary alimony, arguing that the jury verdict showed he was blameless and therefore the wife was not entitled to support. The trial court denied his request and maintained the original alimony award.

The central legal question concerned whether temporary alimony should remain in effect after a jury verdict in the divorce case, given that the wife's appeal rights meant the case remained pending before the Supreme Court. The court held that temporary alimony serves the dual purpose of providing the wife with financial support and enabling her to litigate her claims, and these needs continue throughout the pendency of the case, including during appellate review. The trial judge had proper discretion to maintain the alimony order despite the jury's verdict favoring the husband.

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

Key issues

  • Whether temporary alimony must cease after an adverse jury verdict in a divorce case
  • Whether a divorce case remains 'pending' for purposes of temporary alimony while appeal rights exist
  • Trial court's discretion to modify or maintain temporary alimony orders

Procedural posture

The wife appealed the trial court's order denying her husband's petition to modify the temporary alimony award previously granted in March 1942, after the jury returned a verdict granting the husband a divorce on his cross-bill.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

majority opinion

Atkinson, Justice.

On February 10, 1942, Mrs. Laverne Twilley filed a suit for divorce and for temporary and permanent alimony, against her husband J. H. Twilley, alleging cruel treatment. The husband duly filed a cross-bill, denying cruel treatment, and praying that he be granted a divorce on the ground of cruel treatment. On March 31, 1942, before the trial at which the first verdict was returned, the wife was awarded temporary alimony and attorney’s fees “until the final hearing of said case.’’ It is stated in the bill of exceptions that during the trial on May 13, 1942, when the first verdict was rendered, “the jury retired and returned a verdict denying the plaintiff a divorce on her petition, and granting to the defendant a divorce on his cross-bill.’’ The wife filed a motion for new trial, which was overruled, and she filed a bill of exceptions which was certified to the Supreme Court on October 5, 1942.

On September 29, 1942, the husband filed in the trial court a petition praying for a modification of the order of March 31, 1942, awarding temporary alimony and attorney’s fees to the wife, on the grounds, that his financial ability to pay alimony had been diminished, and that the first verdict of the jury “established that the defendant [husband] was blameless, and that the plaintiff’s [wife’s] separation from the defendant is due entirely to her wilful and voluntary choice, and that she is not entitled to alimony.” On the hearing the court passed an order denying .the petition, leaving in force the original order of March 31, 1942. To this order the husband excepted.

At the time the court passed the order refusing to modify the previous order granting temporary alimony, there were issues in the divorce case still pending. A judgment can not be treated as final so long as either of the parties thereto had the right to have the same reviewed by the Supreme Court; and if it is so reviewed, it is not final until their judgment is made the judgment of the trial court. Cohen v. Southern Express Co., 53 Ga. 128; Peoples Bank v. Merchants & Mechanics Bank, 116 Ga. 279 (42 S. E. 490).

The Code provides: “Whenever . . a suit by the wife . . shall be pending, the wife may . . apply to the presiding judge . . for an order granting . . temporary alimony pending the cause.” Code, § 30-202. “In arriving at the proper provision, the judge shall consider the peculiar necessities of the wife, growing out of the pending litigation.” § 30-203.

In Holleman v. Holleman, 69 Ga. 676, it was said: “The cause is pending just as long as it is litigated, whether in the superior court or in this court. . . The wife needs money to litigate in this court as well as in the superior court. She needs food and raiment as much pending the litigation here as there; and the reason on which the law bases her temporary alimony is the need she has of these necessaries, as well that she may live as that she may litigate.” In Legg v. Legg, 150 Ga. 133 (102 S. E. 829), it was said: “Temporary alimony is awarded to the wife, among other things, for the purpose of enabling her to contest all of the issues between herself and her husband in a proceeding for divorce and alimony.” See Black v. Black, 150 Ga. 672 (104 S. E. 775); Lee v. Lee, 154 Ga. 820 (115 S. E. 493); Chapman v. Chapman, 162 Ga. 358 (133 S. E. 875).

Accordingly, it was within the discretion- of the trial judge to continue in force, or modify, his previous order pertaining to temporary alimony and attorney’s fees.

Judgment affirmed.

All the Justices concur.