Family — property division — personal injury settlements

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Wisconsin Court of Appeals

Civil

Family — property division — personal injury settlements

Charles Singerhouse appeals from a judgment of divorce. He contends the circuit court erroneously exercised its discretion by awarding his former wife, Barbara Singerhouse, forty percent of an annuity payment Charles is due to receive in October 2014 as part of a personal injury settlement. At divorce, there is a presumption against dividing personal injury awards, but that presumption may be rebutted based on the “special circumstances” of the personal injury claim and of the parties. We conclude the circuit court properly exercised its discretion by determining the special circumstances of this case warranted a division of the annuity payment. We therefore affirm. This opinion will not be published.

2013AP83 In re the marriage of: Singerhouse v. Singerhouse

Dist III, Polk County, Galewyrick, J., Per Curiam

Attorneys: For Appellant: Miller, Steven L., River Falls; For Respondent: Hunt, Kay N., Minneapolis, MN