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Case No. 17-1104

For summaries from opinions prior to August, 2018, view PDF versions here

In re the Marriage of Grask

Anne Elizabeth Grask, Petitioner-Appellee

Williams Thomas Grask, Respondent-Appellant

Attorney for Appellant

Jaclyn M. Zimmerman

Attorney for Appellee

Mark R. Hinshaw

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
17-1104
Date Published:
Nov 21, 2018
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Mary Pat Gunderson, Judge.  AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED.  Heard by Danilson, C.J., and Potterfield and Doyle, JJ.  Opinion by Doyle, J.  (18 pages)

            William (Bill) Grask appeals from the economic provisions of the decree dissolving his marriage to Anne Grask.  OPINION HOLDS: I. With respect to the property distribution, we affirm the transfer of the children’s college savings accounts into Anne’s name.  We also affirm the award of interest on the cash payment Bill is required to pay Anne to compensate her for her one-half interest in Bill’s dental practice.  Because the record supports the finding that Bill dissipated $106,250 in marital assets, we affirm the award $53,125 to compensate Anne for the dissipation.  However, we modify the decree to require each party to pay one-half of their 2015 state and federal tax liability and to reimburse Bill the principal on any mortgage payments he makes in advance of the marital home’s sale.  Although the overall property distribution provides Anne with approximately $20,000 more in assets, it is equitable.  II. Taking into consideration Anne’s needs and Bill’s ability to pay, we agree that an award of $3000 per month in traditional alimony is appropriate under the facts of this case.  III. We remand to the district court to determine the amount of child support specified by the present day child support guidelines.  IV. We modify the award of trial attorney fees, reducing it from $40,000 to $30,000.  V. We decline to award Anne appellate attorney fees.

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