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Singleton v. Singleton3/4/1997
MEMORANDUM OPINION *
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH
John K. Moore, Judge
Bill Rae Singleton (husband) appeals the decision of the circuit court denying his motion to reduce or eliminate the monthly spousal support paid to Joyce Singleton (wife). Husband argues that the trial court erred when it found that (1) husband failed to prove he could not work additional hours, and (2) wife's increased income was not a material change in circumstances warranting a reduction in support. Upon reviewing the record and briefs of the parties, we conclude that this appeal is without merit. Accordingly, we summarily affirm the decision of the trial court. Rule 5A:27.
"The moving party in a petition for modification of support is required to prove both a material change in circumstances and that this change warrants a modification of support." Schoenwetter v. Schoenwetter, 8 Va. App. 601, 605, 383 S.E.2d 28, 30 (1989). See Code ยง 20-109. This "material change" must have occurred subsequent to the most recent judicial review of the award. See Hiner v. Hadeed, 15 Va. App. 575, 577, 425 S.E.2d 811, 812 (1993). On appeal, we construe the evidence in the light most favorable to wife as the prevailing party, granting her all inferences fairly deducible therefrom. See McGuire v. McGuire, 10 Va. App. 248, 250, 391 S.E.2d 344, 346 (1990). "We will not disturb the trial court's decision where it is based on an ore tenus hearing, unless it is 'plainly wrong or without evidence in the record to support it.'" Furr v. Furr, 13 Va. App. 479, 481, 413 S.E.2d 72, 73 (1992) (citation omitted).
I.
The trial court found that husband had not carried his burden to prove that he was unable to work because of a back injury. While husband was competent to testify as to his condition, the court found that his testimony lacked credibility. "The weight which should be given to evidence and whether the testimony of a witness is credible are questions which the fact finder must decide." Bridgeman v. Commonwealth, 3 Va. App. 523, 528, 351 S.E.2d 598, 601 (1986).
he finding of the Judge, upon the credibility of the witnesses and the weight to be given their evidence, stands on the same footing as the verdict of a jury, and unless that finding is plainly wrong, or without evidence to support it, it cannot be disturbed. Lane v. Commonwealth, 184 Va. 603, 611, 35 S.E.2d 749, 752 (1945).
At the time of the trial court hearings, husband's sole source of income was his Navy retirement. He alleged that a back injury prevented him from working. Husband could not remember exactly when his injury occurred. Although he testified that he had been treated by several different doctors, he did not call any doctor to testify to the extent of his injury and presented no medical evidence to document the severity of his injury or his inability to work. The trial court found husband's uncorroborated testimony unpersuasive, and husband has not pointed to anything in the record demonstrating that the court's decision was plainly wrong.
II.
The evidence indicated that the only change in circumstances since the last spousal support hearing was an increase in wife's income. The trial Judge noted that wife "over the years has been . . . diligent, hard-working, has progressed up the ladder and her income has increased." In contrast, noting that husband introduced no credible evidence that he was unable to work, the trial Judge stated that "I think [husband] can work; he just doesn't want to work." The Judge also noted that husband introduced no evidence of his recent income:
here's been no evidence presented today in
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