Here is his response:
Any thoughts on these issues?
> I have read the marital settlement agreement, the
> dissolution judgment, your earlier emails and have
> spoken with an attorney.
>
> I think several things need to be looked at to make
> the situation "fair". Here are some points to think
> about:
>
> 1. I think it was unfair for me to have to pay you
> 50% of my income when you had inherited $350,000 even
> before we signed the agreement. That was a big
> mistake on my part.
>
> 2. Since the agreement went into effect I have paid
> you $111,000. Though a few payments have been
> delayed, I have not missed any.
>
> 3. Paying you $1,500 per month is making it
> difficult for me to make ends meet without using
> savings most of the time. Eventually I will not have
> enough money in reserve for my own needs and will not
> be able to replenish my savings.
>
> 4. If you get a job you can earn more than you are
> receiving from me:
>
> $1500 - 33% = $1,005. This is what you told me you
> are receiving after taxes from my alimony payment to
> you.
>
> $13.00 x 8 hours x 5 days = $520.00
> $520 x 52 weeks = $27,040
> $27,040 - 33% = $18,116
> $18,116 / 12 = $1,509.
>
> After you left with your inheritance, I suggested on
> many occasions that you put your money in the bank and
> get a job. You have chosen not to get a job for the
> past six years. I don't think I should have to pay
> for that.
>
> 5. I am familiar with the language of the Marital
> Settlement Agreement. But perhaps you missed the
> paragraph in the Judgment that says:
>
> "m. NOTICE: It is the goal of this state that each
> party shall make reasonable good faith efforts to
> become self-supporting as provided for in Family Code
> section 4320. The failure to make reasonable good
> faith efforts may be one of the factors considered by
> the court as a basis for modifying or terminating
> spousal support."
>
> 6. You said in a recent email that the attorney you
> spoke with said your inheritance would make you to be
> considered to be self-supporting in spite of the fact
> that you have not worked. If you're self-supporting,
> why do I have to continue to pay you?
>
> 7. California law is controlling of the agreement
> and the marriage dissolution. If we were to have to
> go to court, you would be required to appear in Santa
> Maria for hearings. An Oregon attorney cannot appear
> in a California court. It is in our best interests to
> come to an agreement on our own.
>
> 8. I would like to have use of the money that I earn
> and money that I receive from my dad, which is now
> considered to be pre-payment of my inheritance from
> him. By paying it to you, it will leave me at a
> deficit in the future, a deficit that you have not had
> to deal with regarding your inheritance. I think that
> is unfair to me also.
>
> I think my original suggestion of paying the full
> amount through the June 2005 payment and ending it
> there is fair. However, another possibility is
> reduction over time. Here is one scenario: full
> payment through June 2005; reducing the payment to
> $750 for the next 12 months (until June 2006); then
> ending it. That would give you a total from me of
> $15,000: four $1,500 payments ($6,000) and twelve $750
> payments ($9,000). You would certainly be able to
> find employment that would be able to supply the
> amount of money I am now paying to you.
>
> Let me know your thoughts.
>