Wrenn v. Lewis

After losing his $63,000 textile job, Lewis (plaintiff) chose to train as an airline pilot (requiring only nine hours a week) rather than pursue several available out-of-state management positions paying $40,000-$50,000, and sought to reduce his child-support obligation and eliminate spousal support and life-insurance obligations owed to his ex-wife Wrenn (defendant). The trial court found his job loss involuntary but his extended unemployment voluntary, since he made no meaningful effort to find comparable work; it imputed $50,000 in income based on the available out-of-state jobs and denied his request to eliminate spousal and insurance obligations.

Whether a parent's good-faith decision to voluntarily give up full-time employment to pursue education must be balanced with the interests of the children and spouse whom the parent has an obligation to financially support, pursuant to a child and spousal-support order.