In Re Marriage of Hafferkamp

I. Introduction

This is an appeal from an order purporting to grant a new trial in a family law matter. The appellant is the wife who was the respondent below; the respondent on the appeal is the husband. For purposes of simplicity only, we shall refer to the parties as Husband and Wife. Husband has moved to dismiss the appeal, and we herewith grant the motion.

II. Factual and Procedural Background

The petition for dissolution was filed May 11, 1995, by Husband and responded to by Wife in October 1995. The parties had been married for 12 years and had 2 children. On December 21, 1995, a stipulated interim spousal and child support order issued which was amended, also by stipulation, in February 1996. The parties apparently settled their community property issues, but were unable to do the same as regards the issues of spousal or child support or attorneys’ fees. Those matters came on for trial on May 20, 1996. The trial court took testimony for several hours that afternoon and also on the afternoon of May 29. The trial consumed less than eight hours of court time. (See Code Civ. Proc., § 632.) Apparently, neither at the trial nor subsequent to submission of the case…