Court Error – Divorce – Asset Distribution

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WI Court of Appeals – District I

Case Name: Cindy Marie Lund v. Michael Matthew Hrdi

Case No.: 2019AP84

Officials: Neubauer, C.J., Reilly, P.J., and Gundrum, J.

Focus: Court Error – Divorce – Asset Distribution

Michael M. Hrdi appeals from the judgment of divorce from his former wife Cindy Lund, f/k/a Cindy Hrdi, who petitioned for divorce after a fourteen-year marriage. The circuit court ordered a fifty-five/forty-five-percent distribution of the marital estate in favor of Cindy and ordered Michael to pay Cindy $37,574.35 as an equalization payment plus $88,567.50, one half of the equity of the home.

Michael contends the court included assets and debt in the marital estate that should not have been divided. We agree to the extent the court included the value of the death benefit of one of his life insurance policies. As we will explain, the court also may have erred in including Cindy’s student loan debt. We disagree with Michael that the court erred in holding him in contempt and ordering him to pay Cindy’s associated attorney fees. We thus affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand with directions

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Derek A Hawkins is trademark corporate counsel for Harley-Davidson. Hawkins oversees the prosecution and maintenance of the Harley-Davidson’s international trademark portfolio in emerging markets.