Opinion
No. 4-86-0738.
October 14, 1987.
Appeal and cross appeal from the Circuit Court for Palm Beach County; Harold J. Cohen, Judge.
Michael L. Cohen of Michael L. Cohen, P.A., West Palm Beach, for appellant/cross appellee.
No brief filed by appellee/cross appellant.
AFFIRMED. We find no abuse of discretion in the final judgment entered in this dissolution proceeding. See Canakaris v. Canakaris, 382 So.2d 1197 (Fla. 1980). Also see Munger v. Munger, 249 So.2d 772 (Fla. 4th DCA 1971) and McClay v. McClay, 447 So.2d 1026 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984). We dismiss appellee's cross appeal for failure to file a brief.
DELL and WALDEN, JJ., concur.
ANSTEAD, J., dissents in part with opinion.
Although the husband has raised numerous issues on appeal, I agree with the majority that we should sustain the trial court's rulings in all respects except for the award of permanent alimony in the amount of $1.00 per year. This is not a marriage of long duration involving a spouse who cannot work. The record reflects that the wife is only 27 years of age and in good health. At the time of the final hearing the parties were in roughly similar financial circumstances, although there is proof that the husband has a greater earning capacity. By virtue of the child support awards to the wife, her income will actually exceed that of the husband. In my view this case belongs at the opposite end of the spectrum from those "classic" cases meriting permanent alimony. Those cases typically involve older spouses, substantial disparities in financial circumstances and long-term marriages. In my view, absent unusual circumstances, the law should be reluctant to burden young healthy adults with an obligation for permanent support of other young healthy adults outside of an existing marriage relationship.