Billion v. Billion

[¶ 59] 1. Property Division

[¶ 60] The trial court, in its allocation of the $1,307,998 of assets of the parties, awarded $972,246 or 74% of the assets to Patricia and $335,734 or 26% of the assets to Michael. While this appellate court has traditionally given trial judges considerable latitude in the disposition of assets, I find this allocation to be an abuse of discretion. Voelker v. Voelker, 520 N.W.2d 903, 907 (S.D.1994). The major factor which results in this lop-sided award is the trial court’s treatment of various trust assets of approximately $562,232,10 of which Patricia is a…