In re the Marriage of Allison

GREENE, Chief Justice.

This appeal evolves from three separate legal actions spawned by an ongoing war between two former spouses. In the parties’ dissolution decree, entered December 18,1980, Myrtle Allison was awarded $300 a month as maintenance, and John was awarded a coin collection that was under Myrtle’s control.

On November 17, 1981, Myrtle moved to have John cited for contempt of court for failure to make the maintenance payments. John retaliated by moving to cite Myrtle for contempt for refusing to give him the coin collection. He also moved to modify the dissolution decree, by…