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In re the Marriage of Rasmussen
Benjamin Michael Rasmussen, Petitioner-Appellant
Alexis Michelle Rasmussen, Respondent-Appellee
Attorney for Appellant
Jaclyn M. Zimmerman
Attorney for Appellee
Andrew B. Howie and James R. Hinchliff
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Scott D. Rosenberg, Judge. AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED. Considered by Schumacher, P.J., and Ahlers and Langholz, JJ. Opinion by Langholz, J. (7 pages)
Ben Rasmussen appeals the property division in the decree dissolving his marriage with Alexis Rasmussen. He argues that it is inequitable for the district court to order him to pay $20,000 to Alexis for her “lost equity” in a Mercedes Benz that she transferred to him during the marriage. OPINION HOLDS: Alexis’s “lost equity” is not an asset or debt subject to division. Nor could a $20,000 payment that makes the property division less equal be an equalization payment. And so, on our de novo review, we modify the property division to strike Ben’s $20,000 payment obligation to Alexis and otherwise affirm.