Mabel Smith Crouch v. Parsons Thomas Crouch

GEE, Circuit Judge:

This is a suit between former spouses for damages caused by the breach of a voluntary separation agreement. Following a trial to the court, the district judge ruled that the aggrieved ex-wife, Mabel Crouch, was entitled to receive from her former husband the sum of $45,000. Appealing this judgment, Mr. Crouch raises two issues for our consideration: whether the lower court should have refused to exercise diversity jurisdiction 1 because of the domestic relations overtones in the case and whether the district judge erred in fashioning its award of damages. We turn first to…