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In re the Marriage of Bell
Elena Mae Bell, Petitioner-Appellee/Cross-Appellant,
Barrett Andrew Bell, Respondent-Appellant/Cross-Appellee.
Attorney for Appellant/Cross-Appellee
Jamie A. Splinter
Attorney for Appellee/Cross-Appellant
Andrew B. Howie and Jonathon P. Tarpey
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Dubuque County, Monica Zrinyi Ackley, Judge. AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED ON APPEAL; AFFIRMED ON CROSS-APPEAL. Considered by Schumacher, P.J., Langholz, J., and Bower, S.J. Opinion by Langholz, J. (13 pages)
Barrett Bell appeals from the decree dissolving his marriage to Elena Bell, alleging district court misconduct and arguing the district court failed to make an equitable property distribution. Elena Bell cross-appeals, also challenging the property division. Both parties request an award of appellate attorney fees. OPINION HOLDS: We hold that Barrett Bell did not preserve error on the question of judicial misconduct and that the district court’s distribution of property was equitable. But we modify the decree to clarify that Barrett’s ordered payment to Elena is the full extent of his responsibility for her debts and any remaining balance on the Discover credit card remains assigned to Elena. And we deny both parties’ requests for appellate attorney fees.
