On rehearing, the Indiana Court of Appeals addressed the issue of an ex-husband’s ability to pay incapacity maintenance to his spouse, but affirmed its original opinion in all respects.

In Richard M. Clokey v. Penny M. Bosley Clokey, No. 84A01-1009-DR-450, Richard Clokey petitioned for rehearing following the appellate court’s Sept. 1 decision that the Vigo Superior Court hadn’t abused its discretion when it awarded his ex-wife, Penny Bosley Clokey, incapacity maintenance. The COA originally ruled that the trial court was within its discretion to determine that Richard had transferred and commingled funds from the marital pot to a trust that only he had access to. The appellate court also found the trial court didn’t abuse its discretion in ruling that Richard had dissipated funds when the court determined the appropriate distribution of the marital pot.

The COA granted the rehearing to clarify the issue of Richard’s ability to satisfy the maintenance obligation, which wasn’t directly addressed in the original opinion. The judges found the trial court clearly considered Richard’s earnings, and even though it did not state so explicitly, the trial court considered his sources of income and his ability to pay the maintenance award.