Marriage of Hrudka
Arizona Court of Appeals
919 P.2d 179 (1995)
- Written by Tammy Boggs, JD
Facts
In 1978, Joe Hrudka (defendant) and Denise Hrudka (plaintiff) married. The couple lived a lavish lifestyle. During their marriage, the Hrudkas used over $1 million in community funds to purchase at least 45 items of jewelry. Joe also purchased a 1987 Rolls Royce, paid for partially by trading in an older Rolls Royce. In 1991, Denise filed for divorce. At trial, Denise testified that most of the jewelry and the car were gifts to her from Joe, while Joe testified that most of the items had been purchased as an “investment” for the couple’s later years. Other witnesses testified that Joe had traded in an old Rolls Royce around the time of purchasing the new one and that it had been the salesman’s idea to deliver the new car with a red bow wrapped around it. The court determined that 20 jewelry items were Denise’s separate property, nine items were Joe’s separate property, and the remaining items, including the Rolls Royce, were community property. Denise appealed, challenging the court’s characterization of items as community property.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Ehrlich, J.)
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