Frain v. Frain

Sawyer, J. Plaintiff appeals from a judgment of the circuit court granting a divorce pursuant to a decision made under binding mediation. We affirm. During the pendency of this proceeding, the parties stipulated that the matter would be submitted to binding mediation and the trial court so ordered. Thereafter, plaintiff sought to have the trial court review the mediator’s decision, specifically objecting to the mediator’s decision (1) to award two of the tax exemptions for the four minor children to defendant, (2) to require plaintiff *511 to assume one-half of the income tax liability, and (3) regarding the method of calculating child support and the support arrearages and a failure to follow a temporary order related to support. The trial court determined it could review the mediator’s decision only for possible fraud or duress and, absent fraud or duress, that it was obligated to enter judgment according to the decision of the mediator. The trial court entered judgment accordingly. Plaintiffs sole argument on appeal is that the trial court erred in failing to recognize its authority to review and rule on appellant’s objections to the mediator’s opinion. We disagree. In her brief, plaintiff acknowledges that binding mediation differs from ordinary domestic relations mediation under MCR 3.216, under which mediation is not normally binding but is subject to acceptance or rejection by the parties. MCR 3.216(H). Plaintiff argues that the trial court’s authority to review decisions following binding mediation should include, in addition to the prerogative to review for fraud or duress under Marvin v Marvin, 203 Mich App 154; 511 NW2d 708 (1993), a determination whether the mediator exceeded his powers under MCR 3.602(J)(l)(c), a rule applicable to arbitration. We agree. If there is a distinction between an agreement to arbitrate and an agreement to submit a matter to binding mediation, we fail to discern it. We fail to see any reason why different rules should apply merely because of the label applied to the proceedings. Binding mediation is functionally the same as arbitration and, therefore, the same rule applies. Accordingly, we hold that, in addition to reviewability for fraud and duress as noted in Marvin, supra at 157, decisions made under binding mediation are also reviewable, just as an arbitration award is, to *512 determine whether the mediator exceeded his powers. We note, however, that the same caveat that is applied to arbitration should also be applied to binding mediation, namely, that reviewing a decision to determine if the mediator has exceeded his powers should not be used as a ruse to review the mediator’s decision to see if he merely made an error. Gordon Sel-Way, Inc v Spence Bros, Inc, 438 Mich 488, 497; 475 NW2d 704 (1991). Two of plaintiffs objections clearly fall within this category. Plaintiffs objection that she should not have to pay one-half of the income tax liability is an argument that the mediator erred and, therefore, is not subject to review. With respect to plaintiffs argument that the mediator ignored the temporary order in calculating child support, the mediator’s decision clearly acknowledged the existence of the order and the mediator’s decision was made in light of that order. Accordingly, plaintiffs argument in this respect is reduced to an allegation that a different result should have obtained in light of the order. That argument, however, is merely that the mediator made a mistake, an issue not reviewable by the court. This leaves plaintiffs remaining objection, that the mediator erred in awarding two of the tax exemptions for the minor children to defendant. Arguably the mediator would have exceeded his authority if state courts lack the power to award federal income tax exemptions as plaintiff argues. However, plaintiff is incorrect that state courts lack that power. Rather, as we observed in Fear v Rogers, 207 Mich App 642, 645; 526 NW2d 197 (1994), it is within the authority of state courts in domestic relations matters to award the federal income tax dependency exemptions for the minor children. Thus, it was within the mediator’s power *513 to award the income tax exemptions, and plaintiff’s argument is reduced to whether the mediator should have awarded two of those exemptions to defendant. But such issues are beyond the scope of judicial review of the mediator’s decision. For the above reasons, we conclude that the trial court did not err in declining to review the mediator’s decision. Affirmed. Defendant may tax costs.