In re the Marriage of Tiley

Wife appeals from a modification judgment that reduced the amount and duration of her spousal support award.1 Husband cross-appeals the trial court’s award of attorney fees to wife for her successful motion to hold husband in contempt for failure to pay support. We reverse and remand on the appeal and affirm on the cross-appeal.

The parties were married for 14 years and had one child. At the time of their marital dissolution in 1992, husband was self-employed as an orthopedic surgeon. His gross income was $18,000 per month, based on a 50-hour work week. Wife was unemployed as a result of…