Burris v. Burris

GARRISON, Presiding Judge.

This is an appeal by Ansel Ray Burris (Ansel)1 from an adverse judgment in an action brought by his former wife, Carlene Burris (Carlene), for fraud in the concealment of marital property at the time of their dissolution. The trial court found for Carlene and awarded her actual damages of $24,000, punitive damages of $5,000 and attorney fees of $10,000.

The parties, who owned and operated a dairy and stock cattle operation, separated on July 17, 1987 after thirty years of marriage. After Carlene filed an action for the dissolution of their marriage, she obtained an…