Title: Wilson v. King

State: idaho

Issuer: Idaho Supreme Court (civil)

Document:

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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO 
 
Docket No. 43086 
 
LORI ANN WILSON, f/k/a LORI ANN 
KING, 
 
Petitioner-Appellant, 
 
v. 
 
DAVID WAYNE KING, 
 
Respondent. 
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Boise, May 2016 Term 
 
2016 Opinion No. 62 
 
Filed: June 1, 2016 
 
Stephen W. Kenyon, Clerk 
 
Appeal from the District Court of the Second Judicial District of the State of 
Idaho, Nez Perce County.  Hon. Jay P. Gaskill, District Judge. 
 
The order of the district court is affirmed. 
 
Edwin L. Litteneker, Lewiston, for appellant. 
 
Clark and Feeney, LLP, Lewiston, for respondent. 
_____________________ 
 
 
 
 
J. JONES, Chief Justice 
Appellant Lori Ann Wilson was divorced from respondent David Wayne King in 
Colorado in 2003. The divorce decree specified that Wilson was entitled to part of King’s 
military pension. King began receiving military pension payments in 2013 but has not paid 
Wilson her decreed share of those payments. Wilson sued King in Idaho, seeking an order 
establishing the sum certain owed to her from King’s military pension. King, who does not live 
in Idaho, opposed Wilson’s motion by asserting that Idaho courts lack personal jurisdiction over 
him. The magistrate court held that it had personal jurisdiction over King and entered an order 
establishing the sum certain owed. King appealed, and the district court reversed. Wilson 
appealed to this Court. 
 
 
 
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I. 
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 
Wilson was divorced from King in Colorado in May 2003. The decree provided that 
Wilson was entitled to half of the marital portion of King’s military pension. It also provided for 
joint custody of the parties’ minor children, with Wilson serving as the primary caregiver.  
Wilson relocated with the children to Idaho. In November 2005, King registered the 
Colorado divorce decree with the Idaho courts as a “child custody determination issued by a 
court of another state” under Idaho Code section 32-11-305. On the same day, King filed a 
motion seeking to modify the divorce decree with respect to child custody and child support. In 
December 2005, King sought a Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”) prohibiting Wilson from 
relocating with the children outside of Idaho. He also asked the court to appoint a custody 
evaluator. The parties filed a Stipulation for TRO, after which the magistrate entered a TRO. 
In May 2006, the parties filed a stipulation to modify the Colorado divorce decree with 
respect to visitation. The magistrate entered an order modifying visitation in May 2006. 
In January 2008, King moved for a contempt charge against Wilson based on her alleged 
failure to comply with the modified visitation schedule. The magistrate ordered Wilson to appear 
to answer contempt charges, but the record does not disclose whether Wilson appeared or what 
disposition may have been made of the contempt charge. 
In February 2008, the parties filed a stipulation to modify the divorce decree with respect 
to custody and visitation. The magistrate entered an order modifying the divorce decree. The 
magistrate again modified the divorce decree in May 2008, based on the parties’ stipulation. 
 In July 2013, King moved to modify child support. The record does not disclose the 
disposition of this motion. An affidavit King filed in support of the motion indicated that King 
would retire from the military on October 1, 2013. Wilson now alleges that King retired in 
December 2013. King does not dispute his retirement date. 
Wilson filed a “Motion For Entry Of Partial Judgmen [sic] For Sum Certain” and 
supporting affidavit on June 9, 2014. King filed an “Objection To Motion For Entry Of Partial 
Judgment For Sum Certain” on July 25, 2014. King argued that he was not subject to personal 
jurisdiction in Idaho. After two hearings on that issue, the magistrate concluded that King was 
subject to personal jurisdiction. In September 2014, the magistrate entered an order granting 
Wilson’s motion for entry of partial judgment for a sum certain. 
 
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King timely appealed to the district court. At the district court, King renewed his 
argument that he was not subject to personal jurisdiction in Idaho. King also argued that Idaho 
courts lack subject matter jurisdiction to divide his military retirement without his consent 
because he is not a resident of Idaho. The district court reversed the magistrate’s order granting 
partial judgment for a sum certain. The district court held that King’s participation in child 
custody and child support proceedings in Idaho did not subject him to the personal jurisdiction of 
Idaho courts for issues related to the parties’ division of property as a result of their divorce. The 
district court did not address King’s argument on subject matter jurisdiction. Wilson timely 
appealed to this Court. 
King presently lives in Wisconsin. He has never lived in Idaho. It is undisputed that his 
only contacts with Idaho have been related to the present litigation, including the child custody 
and child support proceedings described above, which were all conducted under the same caption 
and case number. 
II. 
ISSUES PRESENTED ON APPEAL 
1. Whether the district court erred in concluding King was not subject to personal jurisdiction. 
 
2. Whether either party is entitled to attorney fees on appeal. 
III. 
STANDARD OF REVIEW 
“The question of the existence of personal jurisdiction over an out-of-state defendant is 
one of law, which this Court reviews freely.” Gailey v. Whiting, 157 Idaho 727, 729, 339 P.3d 
1131, 1133 (2014) (quoting McAnally v. Bonjac, Inc., 137 Idaho 488, 491, 50 P.3d 983, 986 
(2002)). 
IV. 
ANALYSIS 
 
A. The district court did not err in holding that King has not subjected himself to personal 
jurisdiction in Idaho courts beyond matters of child custody and child support. 
“There are two requirements for an Idaho court to properly exercise jurisdiction over an 
out-of-state defendant: (1) the act giving rise to the cause of action must fall within the scope of 
Idaho’s long-arm statute, Idaho Code section 5–514; and (2) jurisdiction must not violate the out-
of-state defendant’s due process rights.” Gailey, 157 Idaho at 730, 339 P.3d at 1134. Broadly, 
Section 5-514 provides that statutory personal jurisdiction exists where a person’s actions within 
 
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Idaho involve transacting business; committing a tortious act; owning, using, or possessing real 
property; maintaining a matrimonial domicile; or engaging in an act of sexual intercourse giving 
rise to a cause of action for paternity. 
Wilson asserts that the exercise of personal jurisdiction over King is consistent with the 
application of the Idaho Long Arm Statute. However, Wilson fails to articulate which alleged 
conduct by King satisfies any particular subsection of Section 5-514. Regardless, whether the 
Long Arm Statute is satisfied is irrelevant because even if Wilson had established that King’s 
actions within Idaho satisfied Section 5-514, statutory exemptions preclude a finding of personal 
jurisdiction. Idaho Code section 32-11-109(a), within the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction 
Enforcement Act (“UCCJEA”), provides in relevant part: 
A party to a child custody proceeding, including a modification proceeding, or a 
petitioner or respondent in a proceeding to enforce or register a child custody 
determination, is not subject to personal jurisdiction in this state for another 
proceeding or purpose solely by reason of having participated, or of having been 
physically present for the purpose of participating, in the proceeding. 
A similar exemption is provided within the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (“UIFSA”), 
chapter 10, title 7, Idaho Code. Section 7-1053 allows Idaho to modify another state’s child 
support order under certain circumstances. Section 7-1029(1) provides in relevant part that 
Participation by a petitioner in a proceeding under this chapter before a 
responding tribunal, whether in person, by private attorney, or through services 
provided by the support enforcement agency, does not confer personal jurisdiction 
over the petitioner in another proceeding. 
There is no dispute that Idaho had jurisdiction to modify and enforce King’s support order. 
 
The limited statutory immunities to personal jurisdiction provided in UCCJEA and 
UIFSA exist to protect out-of-state parents from waiving personal jurisdiction objections by 
appearing in proceedings related to the custody or support of their children. The comments to 
UCCJEA note that “a party should not be placed in the dilemma of choosing between seeking 
custody or protecting a right not to be subject to a monetary judgment by a court with no other 
relationship to the party.” UCCJEA § 109 cmt. ¶ 1 (1997). The comments to UIFSA include a 
similar statement. “In sum, proceedings under UIFSA are not suitable vehicles for the relitigation 
of all of the issues arising out of a foreign divorce or custody case. Only enforcement or 
modification of the support portion of such decrees or orders are relevant.” UIFSA § 314 cmt. ¶ 
1 (2008). 
 
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These comments to the uniform laws show that defendants like King, who originally 
brought suit in Idaho only to address child custody and support issues, are precisely who the 
immunities were created to protect. Indeed, because of the “continuing, exclusive jurisdiction” 
provisions within UCCJEA and UIFSA, Idaho appears to be the only forum where King could 
sue to enforce or modify custody or support. See I.C. §§ 32-11-201, -202, -203; I.C. §§ 7-1009, 
7-1010. 
 
Wilson offers a host of arguments asserting that the statutory exemptions in UCCJEA and 
UIFSA do not apply. First, Wilson asserts that UCCJEA distinguishes between enforcement and 
modification of a foreign judgment, apparently intending to suggest that the personal jurisdiction 
exemption applies only to enforcement actions. This argument fails because by its plain language 
Idaho Code section 32-11-109 applies to any “child custody proceeding, including a 
modification proceeding.” Wilson makes an identical argument with respect to child support. 
This argument likewise fails under the plain language of the governing statute. Idaho Code 
section 7-1029 provides that a petitioner is not subject to personal jurisdiction in other 
proceedings based on “[p]articipation” in a proceeding under UIFSA. The statute makes no 
distinction between enforcement and modification proceedings, and its plain language is broad 
enough to encompass both. 
 
Wilson additionally argues that King has asked Idaho courts to address issues beyond 
child custody or child support. Specifically, Wilson argues that King used the Idaho courts in 
seeking enforcement of monetary obligations unrelated to the custody of the parties’ children. 
These include requiring the children to be evaluated by a particular Idaho psychologist and 
dividing transportation expenses for the children’s travel. The district court found that these 
matters of counseling, transportation, and other monetary obligations are all part of the ongoing 
child custody and support case. 
 
A child custody proceeding is a proceeding “in which legal custody, physical custody or 
visitation with respect to a child is an issue.” I.C. § 32-11-102(d). “’Physical custody’ means the 
physical care and supervision of a child.” I.C. § 32-11-102(o). A common sense interpretation of 
this definition suggests that travel and counseling are related to physical care and supervision. 
Wilson’s argument lacks reasoning or authority supporting her position that such matters are 
unrelated to child custody. We agree with the district court’s determination that these issues were 
related to the child custody proceedings. 
 
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Wilson also expressly refers to a term of King’s 2012 stipulation requiring each parent to 
refrain from disparaging the other. Wilson frames this as a “personal conduct consideration” that 
is unrelated to custody or support. The complete language in the relevant part of the order 
provided that “[n]either parent will disparage the other parent or discuss the living arrangements 
with the children.” On its face this appears to relate to “the physical care and supervision” of the 
children because it impacts how each parent may interact with the children. This means that the 
limitation deals with custody and, therefore, the UCCJEA exemption on personal jurisdiction 
applies. Additionally, even if the non-disparagement clause were deemed not to deal with 
custody, it was still litigated in a proceeding “in which legal custody, physical custody or 
visitation with respect to a child is an issue.” I.C. § 32-11-102(d); It was, therefore, a child 
custody proceeding and the UCCJEA exemption applies for that additional reason. 
 
Next, Wilson appears to suggest that King’s motion to charge Wilson with contempt was 
outside the UCCJEA and UIFSA exemptions and sufficed to subject him to the personal 
jurisdiction of Idaho courts. King sought a contempt charge for Wilson’s alleged violations of 
various aspects of the child custody and visitation requirements, including failure to allow 
scheduled telephone calls between King and the children, failure to take the children to 
counseling, failure to provide King e-mail updates about the children, failure to notify King of 
medical and dental visits, and use of the children as intercessors in discussing or handling 
conflicts between the parties. It is self-evident that the contempt motion was a “child custody 
proceeding” under Idaho Code section 32-11-102(d) because it was “a proceeding in which legal 
custody, physical custody or visitation with respect to a child is an issue.” King’s apparent 
purpose in seeking the contempt charge was to compel Wilson to comply with a standing order 
addressing child custody. Accordingly, section 32-11-09(a) of the UCCJEA applies to exempt 
King from personal jurisdiction on the basis of having sought the contempt charge. 
Similarly, King’s December 2005 Motion for TRO requested that the court order Wilson 
not to remove the parties’ children from the state of Idaho for a time to exceed two weeks. The 
magistrate issued a TRO in January 2006 to that effect, based upon the parties’ stipulation. As 
with the contempt motion, the TRO motion was a “child custody proceeding” because it was “a 
proceeding in which legal custody, physical custody or visitation with respect to a child is an 
issue.” The TRO directly addressed Wilson’s custody rights by limiting her ability to move with 
 
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the children outside the state of Idaho. Again, section 32-11-09(a) of the UCCJEA exempts King 
from a finding of personal jurisdiction on the basis of having brought the TRO motion. 
 
Finally, Wilson appears to argue that King submitted to personal jurisdiction under 
I.R.C.P. 4(i)(1) by voluntarily appearing in various proceedings before Idaho courts. Wilson fails 
to cite from the record a specific instance in this proceeding or any other proceeding where 
King’s voluntary appearance could constitute a submission to the personal jurisdiction of Idaho 
courts. The Record of Actions appears to indicate that King filed a Notice of Special Appearance 
on April 29, 2014, but it does not indicate any other Notices of Appearance by King, voluntary 
or otherwise. A properly-filed special appearance under I.R.C.P. 4(i)(2) does not constitute a 
submission to the personal jurisdiction of the Idaho courts. 
Because a finding of personal jurisdiction is precluded by the exceptions within UCCJEA 
and UIFSA, an analysis of whether exercising personal jurisdiction over King would satisfy 
constitutional due process requirements is unnecessary. Wilson’s arguments on this point will, 
therefore, not be addressed. We affirm the district court’s order holding that King is not subject 
to personal jurisdiction with respect to Wilson’s motion. 
B. Neither party is entitled to attorney fees on appeal. 
Wilson seeks attorney fees on appeal under Idaho Code section 12-120(3) and section 12-
121. King seeks attorney fees on appeal under Idaho Code section 12-121. Section 12-120(3) 
allows a prevailing party in a civil action to recover attorney fees “on an open account, account 
stated, note, bill, negotiable instrument, guaranty, or contract relating to the purchase or sale of 
goods, wares, merchandise, or services and in any commercial transaction.” Section 12-121 
allows a prevailing party in a civil action to recover attorney fees if the claim was brought, 
pursued, or defended frivolously, unreasonably, or without foundation. Coalition for 
Agriculture’s Future v. Canyon Cnty., No. 42756, 2016 WL 1133369, at *6 (Idaho Mar. 23, 
2016). Wilson is not the prevailing party and therefore cannot recover fees on appeal under the 
sections cited. King is the prevailing party, but we decline to award him fees on appeal because 
Wilson’s arguments were not frivolous, unreasonable, or without foundation. 
V. 
CONCLUSION 
We affirm the district court’s order reversing the magistrate’s partial judgment 
establishing a sum certain. We award costs but not fees to King. 
 
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Justices EISMANN, BURDICK, and W. JONES, and Justice Pro Tem SCHROEDER 
CONCUR.