Christopher I. v. Veronica I.

Summary

The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia affirmed the Intermediate Court of Appeals’ decision upholding a family court’s separate valuation of marital real property and timber for equitable-distribution purposes. The court concluded that the family court did not abuse its discretion in valuing the property and timber separately based on the parties’ intent to harvest and sell the timber. The decision was issued as a memorandum decision without oral argument.

Holdings

1. The family court did not abuse its discretion by separately valuing the Barbour County real property and the timber because the evidence supported that the parties intended to utilize the timber and the real-estate appraisal did not include the value of the timber if cut and sold.
2. The Intermediate Court of Appeals did not err in affirming the family court's order denying the petitioner's motion for reconsideration.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the family court abused its discretion by separately valuing the Barbour County real property and the timber located on it for equitable-distribution purposes.
2. Whether the Intermediate Court of Appeals erred by affirming the family court's denial of the petitioner's motion for reconsideration.

Disposition

affirmed