The Supreme Court of Liberia has mandated that Nimba County District #5 Representative Samuel Kogar pay the original alimony amount of US$1,000.00 retroactively to the date of the last payment to his ex-wife, RomattaYoada Kogar. Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a court-ordered payment from one spouse to another following a divorce to help maintain a similar standard of living. Citing Civil Procedure Law, Rev. Code: 1.16.21, the court stated: “Certiorari is a special proceeding to review and correct the decision of officials, boards, or agencies acting in a judicial capacity, or to review an intermediate or interlocutory judgment of a court.” According to Section 9.3 of the Domestic Relations Law, “In any action brought during the lifetime of both parties to the marriage to declare the nullity of a void marriage, or to annul a voidable marriage, or for a divorce, the court may direct the husband pendente lite to provide suitably for the support of the wife as, in the court’s discretion, justice requires….” The high court ruled that the trial court erred when it proceeded without a hearing on the bill of information to suasponte reduce Mr. Kogar’s alimony. The judge based his ruling on the sheriff’s reports without conducting a hearing into the matter. Through his lawyers, Representative Kogar filed a petition to reduce the alimony pendente lite from US$1,000.00 to US$200.00 and to ascertain whether the chambers Justice’s ruling reversing the trial judge’s decision is legally sound. By: Melvin Jackson/spoontv
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