Wells
Wells v. Melton
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Premo, J.
William Melton and Judith Anne Wells (formerly Melton) dissolved their marriage in 1983. They divided their community property and in March 1985, entered into a stipulation for entry of judgment and order, which settled the remaining issues. By this stipulation William agreed to make various payments to Judith. In paragraph F, under dispute here, the parties provided for division of William’s future retirement benefits under the Major League Baseball Players Benefit Plan (hereafter, the Benefit Plan or the Plan.) When William elected to take his retirement benefits in 1991, the Plan had been amended, and William received much more than the dollar amount reflected in the stipulated judgment. In March 1992, Judith brought a motion for an order interpreting and implementing the judgment and/or to set it aside for extrinsic fraud or mistake. The trial court found no extrinsic fraud but, relying on its inherent equitable powers, awarded Judith half of William’s pension benefits. William appeals from the order dividing his pension benefits. Judith appeals from the trial court’s finding of no *935 extrinsic fraud and from the order requiring her to pay some of William’s attorney…