We have reached an agreement. There are the judgments circulating, but it has not been signed yet. We're certainly prepared to present and have the court take the proofs and preserve them if your honor is so inclined.
Any objection, Mr Alhart? Not at all, your honor. Mr Thompson, can you raise your right hand, please?
Do you solemnly swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, that nothing but the truth? To help you, God? I do, sir.
Thank you. You can lower your hand. Mr Alhard, are you going to be taking any testimony from your client today?
Yes, your honor. Thank you. Miss Thompson, can you raise your right hand, please?
Do you solemnly swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, but nothing but the truth to help you God? Yes, I do. Thank you.
You can lower your hand. Mr Phelps, I'll have you go first. Uh, please proceed.
Thank you, your honor. Uh, John, would you state your full name for the record, please? John Dennis Thompson.
And are you the plaintiff in the Kasa County Divorce Action? Uh John Dennis Thompson v Renee Denise Thompson filed on or about February 2nd, 2026. Why is there okay?
Yes, I am. All right. I'm trying to read.
Yeah. And um at the time that you filed your complaint for divorce, were you a resident in the state of Michigan for more than 180 days? Yes, sir.
And a resident of Val Caps County for more than 10 days? Yes. Is it true that you and Mr.
Thompson were married on July 31st, 2023 by an officient legally authorized to perform marriages in the village of Kascan. Yes. Uh to the best of your knowledge, Miss Thompson is not currently pregnant.
Correct. No, she's not pregnant. All right.
And you folks had had no children during No. All right. Um, in your complaint you alleged that there had been a breakdown in the marriage relationship to the extent that the objects of matrimony have been destroyed and that there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved.
Right. Was that statement true when you filed your complaint? True.
Does it remain true today? True today, too, sir. All right.
Um, and the complaint also indicates that you folks have accumulated some personal property during your marriage. Is that an accurate statement? Yes.
Uh we've also exchanged with Mr Elhart various settlement proposals. Those settlement proposals have been reduced to writing in a proposed consent judgement of divorce, a copy of which is in front of you. Yes.
Have you seen the proposed judgment, read it, and you do you understand its terms? Does it fully and accurately reflect the property settlement between you and Liz Thompson? Yes.
Just a couple key points on that settlement. Um, in paragraph 3. 11, there's an indication that on entry of judgment, you will pay the sum of $20,000 to Bnee Thompson.
Is that correct? All right. In paragraph 32, 3.
1. 2 lists nine items of personal property, including a 2021 Hyundai Kona four-door vehicle, and things like a bed, a bicycle, a computer, and those sorts of things. Is is that reflective of your agreement with Thompson?
Yes. And you uh affirm that she will receive those things once judgment is entered, right? Yes.
All right. You own real property on 7607 Supply Road Southwest Boardman, Michigan. That property is titled in your name only, correct?
And the two of you have agreed that that will remain in your name, right? Yes. All right.
Judgement also awards vehicles, certain bank accounts, and has the statutory language regarding insurance and retirement benefits. Do you understand those terms as they are written? Do all of those terms reflect your settlement with Miss Thompson?
Yes. The judgment also indicates that neither of you will be awarded any spousal support whether periodic or ingross and that the same is forever barred as to each of you and that each of you to have waved the right to spousal support with knowledge and volunteer. Correct.
Correct. Have I left out anything in terms of your settlement with Miss Thompson? We have a phone together that I pay for everything.
I told her I give her two weeks and I'll cut the phone off. I'll give her two week to get it. Well, let me ask the question a little bit differently.
Does the judgment reflect the agreement you have with Miss Thompson about the vision of the personal property acquired during the marriage? I don't think so. I think everything that we wrote down and agreed on is what we both agreed.
Okay. So, you just said I don't think so. I think you meant to say that the judgment is accurate.
Okay. Judgment is accurate. I'm sorry.
I'm old school and I don't know the big names. We just want to make sure that everybody's clear here. So once you and I have signed, Mr Elhart and Miss Thompson have signed, the judgment will be presented to Judge Mertz.
Judge Mertz will sign it. It will be entered in the court file by the court clerk. At that point, your divorce is final and binding.
Okay? Okay. You understand that you can't come back here and ask the court to change the terms of the settlement?
Yes, I understand. There are a few limited exceptions in law but but very rare cases. All right.
Is it your is it your request to the judge that when presented with the judgment, he signs it and finalizes your divorce? Yes. Thank you, your honor.
Nothing further for Mr Thompson. Mr Alhart, do you have any questions for Mr Thompson? No, your honor.
Thank you. Okay. Please proceed if you have questions for your client.
Thank you, Miss Thompson. You've heard the uh settlement that's been placed in the record. Is that correct?
Yes, I' I've heard it. And we've gone back and forth on that and we've talked about numbers one way or the other. And eventually, you've decided to proceed ahead on this settlement.
Is that correct? [sighs] I'm I'm [clears throat] just not happy with the amount I'm getting. So, is are you saying that you're not happy to go ahead with the settlement?
That's right. So you prefer the So you don't have an agreement. Is that what you're saying today?
Well, I I guess I can settle. Well, you don't have to guess. This is a this is a termination of a marriage and you've got to make certain that this is what it is.
We've talked at length about the costbenefit analysis and going ahead and how much it might cost you for an additional $5,000. Is that correct? I think so.
Well, you wanted 25. He's offered 20 and that's the difference. Correct?
Yes. All right. And at the end of the day, there's a cost in going ahead with litigation, cost of attorney fees, that sort of thing.
And at this point, you you you told me that you'd agreed to the 20,000. Is that correct? Yes, that was correct.
All right. And is that something you agreed to today? Yes, it's it's fine.
And this is a final uh divorce settlement. You've heard Mr for Phelps indication of that on the record. Uh that's all you're going to that this is the end.
Is that correct? Yes, it is. And you're sad about that.
I get that. Is that right? [laughter] Right.
Thank you, honor. I Are you Have you been satisfied with my representation so far, ma'am? Yes, I have.
Craig, I'm sorry. That's all right. Thank you very much, your honor.
I have nothing further. Phelps, if you have any questions for Miss Thompson? No, your honor.
Thank you. All right. Uh, the court finds that the statutory grounds for divorce have been met by the testimony of the parties.
The court will grant the divorce. Uh, I will look for presentation of that judgment. Once that's presented to the court, I will sign it.
The court will not schedule any further hearings in this matter in light of the proofs today. Mr your thoughts. Anything further from the record on your side?
Nothing. Thank you for your time, your honor. Mr Alhart, nothing.
Thank you, your honor. Thank you.
