Laughman

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Richard Keith Laughman and Eileen K. Laughman married in 1973, separated sometime between August and December 2008, and separately filed for divorce in December 2008.1 A stipulated judgment was entered in November 2011, awarding Eileen monthly spousal support of $11,500. As part of the spousal support award, the judgment said that Eileen was “admonished of the policy of the state of California to become self sufficient and further ordered to use full time efforts in seeking full time employment. Pursuant to Family Code, section 4320 and In re Marriage of Gavron (1988) 203 Cal.App.3d 705, [she] has been notified of her obligation to become self- supporting.” Richard and Eileen first lived in Minnesota, where Eileen was a licensed psychologist and taught children with learning disabilities. She and Keith later moved to California, which did not have licensing reciprocity with Minnesota. In April 2013 Keith brought a motion to reduce Eileen’s spousal support payments based on her alleged lack of diligence in looking for work, particularly her failure to accumulate the 1500 hours of clinical supervision she needed to become a licensed psychologist in…