### IN THE SUPREME COURT, STATE OF WYOMING

2013 WY 83

APRIL TERM, A.D. 2013

July 10, 2013

BRANDON LEE JENSEN,

Appellant (Plaintiff),

v

.

MARGARET E. MILATZO

- JENSEN,

Appellee (Defendant). No. S

- 12

- 0279

Appeal from the District Court of L aramie County The Honorable Thomas T.C. Campbell, Judge

Representing Appellant:

Brandon L. Jensen, pro se, of Budd

- Falen Law Offices, LLC, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Representing Appellee:

No appearance

.

Before KITE, C.J., and HILL, VOIGT, BURKE, and DAVIS, JJ.

N O T I C E : T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l r e v i s i o n b e f

o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n P a c i f

i c R e p o r t e r T h i r d

. R e a d e r

s

a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f

y t h e C l e r

k o f t h e S u p r

e m e C o u r

t

, S u p r e m e C o u r

t B u i l d i n g , C h e y e n n e , W y o m i n g
8 2 0 0 2

, o f a n y t y p o g r

a p h i c a l o r o t h e r f

o r m a l e r r

o r s s o t h a t c o r r

e c t i o n m a y b e m a d e b e f o r e f i n a l p u b l i c a t i o n i n

t h e p e r m a n e n t v o l u m e

.1

B U R K E

, J u s t i c e

.

[ ¶ 1 ] A p p e l l a n t

, B r a n d o n L e e J e n s e n ( F a t h e r )

, c h a l l e n g e s a n o r d e r from the district

c o u r t h o l d i n g

him in contempt for failing to comply with an order awar ding attorney ’s

fees to Appellee, Margaret E. Milatzo

- Jensen (Mother)

. W e r e c e n t l y r e v e r s e d t h e d i s t r i c t court’s order awarding attorney’s fees to Mother in Jensen v. Milatzo

- Jensen

, 2 0 1 3 W Y 27, 297 P.3d 768 (Wyo. 2013) ( Jensen I )

. As a consequence of ou r r e v e r s a l o f t h e underlying fee order, w e conclude that the contempt order must also be set aside, and w e

reverse

.

I S S U E

[ ¶ 2 ] T h e sole issue presented for our review is whether the district court ’ s c o n t e m p t

order must be set aside follo wing reversal of the u nderlying order awarding attorney ’s

fees

.

F A C T S

[ ¶ 3 ] W e r e c e n t l y d e c i d e d s e v e r a l i s s u e s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h i s l i t i g a t i o n i n J e n s e n I

. As discussed in that opinion , Father challenged the district court’s award of attorney ’s f e e s t o Mother, which were incurred a s a result of Father’s motions to com p e l a n s w e r s t o interrogatories. Id. , ¶ 34, 297 P.3d at 779. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t o r d e r e d F a t h e r t o r e i m

b u r s e Mother $2,796.50 within 90 days of entry of the order

. On appeal, t h i s C o u r t a g

r e e d w i t h

Father that Mother h a

d f a i l e d t o e s t a b l i s h t h e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f t h e a t t o r

n e y ’ s f e e s
, a n d concluded that the district court abused its discretion in awarding those fees. Id.

, ¶ 3 8

, 297 P.3d at 780.

[ ¶ 4 ] D u r i n g

the pendency of that appeal, however

, Father failed to pay Mother’s attorney’s fees in accordance with t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s o r d e r

. A s a r e s u l t

, o n J u l y 1 0

, 2 0 1 2

, Mother filed a m o t i o n f

o r a n o r d e r t o s h o w c a u s e a s t o w h y F a t h e r s h o u l d n o t b e h e l d i n contempt of court for failing to pay the attorney’s fees. After a heari ng on M o t h e r ’ s

m otion

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r

t h e l d t h a t F a t h e r w a s i n c o n t e m

p t f o r f a i l i n g t o p a y t h e a t

t o r n e y ’ s fees to Mother within 90 days of the court’s order. A written o r d e r h o l d i n g F a t h e r i n contempt of court was entered on September 26. As a sanctio n f o r c o n t e m

p t

, t h e c o u r t ordered Father to pay Mother an additional $600 .00 in attorney’s fees. Father f i l e d a timely appeal

.

S T A N D A R D O F R E V I E W

[ ¶ 5 ] Whether the district court’s contempt order must be set aside f o l l o w i n g r e v

e r s a l o f the underlying attorne y fee order is a question of law. We review questions of law d e

novo

. Plymale v. Donnelly , 2007 WY 77, ¶ 21, 157 P.3d 933, 938 (Wyo. 2007).2 D I S C U S S I O N

[ ¶ 6 ] Father’s brief, submitted p rior to the issuance of our decision in Jensen I

, challeng es the district c o u r t ’ s c o n t e m p t o r d e r o n t h e g

r o u n d s t h a t h e h a d a n “ e q u i t a b l e right of s e t o f

f ” f o r a m o u n t s h e c l a i m s w e r e o w e d t o h i m b y M o t h e r f o r c h i l d s u p p o r t

. Mother did not submit a brief or otherwise appear in this Court

. A l t h o u g h t h e p a r t i e s have not requested an opportunity to provide supplemental briefing or a r g u m e n t

f ollowing our decision in Jensen I , we will proceed to determine, sua sponte

, whether the

district court’s contempt order must be set aside as a result of our reversal of t h e d i s t r i c t

court’s awa rd of attorney’s fees.

[ ¶ 7 ] T h e l a w i n W

y o m i n g i s w e l l

- settled that “ W h e t h e r t h e a d j u d i c a t i o n o f c o n

t e m p t

‘ s u r v i v e s t h e a v

o i d a n c e o f [ t h e ] u n d e r

l y i n g o r d e r d e p e

n d s o n t h e n a

t u r e o f t h e c o n

t e m p t

decree. If the contempt is criminal it stands; if it is civil it falls.’” See, e.g., I n I n t e r e s t o f

C. N. , 816 P.2d 1282, 1285 (Wyo. 1991) (quoting A g e r v

. J a n e C

. S t o r m o n t H

o s p i t a l a n d Training School for Nurses , 622 F.2d 496, 499 (10th Cir. 1980)). As explained in I n Interest of C.N.

,

T h e p u r p o s e o f a c i v i l c o n t e m

p t i s t o c o m

p e l a p a r t y t o

c o m p l y w i t h a l a w

f u l o r d e r

. H o r n v

. D i s t r i c t C o u r t

, N i n t h

J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t

, 6 4 7 P

. 2 d 1 3 6 8 ( W

y o

. 1 9 8 2 )

. T h e p u r

p o s e o f

a c r i m i n a l c o n

t e m p t i s t o p u n i s h

. I

d

. ; T r a c y

, G r e e n &

C o m p a n y v

. W a r n e r , 7 0 4 P

. 2 d 1 3 0 6 ( W y o

. 1 9 8 5 )

.

I d

. , 8 1 6 P

. 2 d a t 1 2 8 5 ( e m p h a s i s i n o r i g i n a l )

. I

n A g e r , t h e T e n

t h C i r c u i t e l a b o r a t e d m o r e
f u l l y o n t h e d i f

f e r e n c e b e t w e e n c i v i l a n d c r i m i n a l c o n t e m

p t :

T h e p r i m a r y p u r

p o s e o f a c r i m i n a l c o n

t e m p t i s t o p u n i s h

d e f i a n c e o f a c o u r t ’ s j u d i c i a l a u t h o r i t y

. A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e

n o r m a l b e n e f

i c i a r i e s o f s u c h a n o r d e r a r e t h e c o u r t s a n d t h e

p u b l i c i n t e r e s t

. N

o r m a n B r i d

g e D r u g C o

. v

. B a n n e r , 5 2 9 F

. 2 d

8 2 2 ( 5 t h C i r

. 1 9 7 6 )

. O n t

h e o t h e r h a n d

, c i v i l c o n t e m

p t i s chara cterized by the court’s desire “ t o c o m p e l o b e d i e n c e o f

the court order o r t o c o m p e n s a t e t h e l i t i g

a n t f o r i n j u r i e s

s ustained from the disobedience.” Id. a t p

. 8 2 7

. T h e r e m e d i a l

a s p e c t s o u t w e i g

h t h e p u n i t i v

e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s

. T h u s
, t h e

p r i m a r y b e n e f

i c i a r i e s o f s u c h a n o r d e r a r e t h e i n d i v i d u a l litigants. The judicial system bene f i t s t o a l e s s e r e x t e n t

. United States v. Wendy , 575 F.2d 1025 (2d Cir. 1978).

6 2 2 F

. 2 d a t 4 9 9

- 5 0 0

. A d d i t i o n a l l y , c r i m i n a l c o n t e m p t p r o c e e d i n g s a r e i n d e p e n d e n t

c r i m i n a l a c t i o n s a n d m

u s t b e c o n d u c t e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h W

. R

. C r

. P

. 4 2

. S w a i n v

. S t a t e , 2009 WY 142, ¶

¶ 15

- 16 , 220 P.3d 504, 508

- 09 (Wyo. 2009) (citing G a r b e r v

. U n i t e d3

M i n e W o r k e r s o f A m e r i c a , 5 2 4 P

. 2 d 5 7 8

, 5 7 9 ( W y o

. 1 9 7 4 ) )

. 1

1 W.R.Cr.P. 4 2 provides, in relevant part, as follows:

(b) Direct contempt proceedings

. – A criminal contempt may be punished summarily if the judge saw or heard the conduct constituting the contempt and the conduct occurred in the immediate view and presence of the c ourt. It may be dealt with immediately or, if done without unnecessary delay and to prevent further disruption or delay of ongoing proceedings, may be postponed to a more convenient time. The judgment of guilt of contempt shall include a recital of those f acts upon which the adjudication is based. Prior to the adjudication of guilt the judge shall inform the accused of the accusation and afford the accused an opportunity to show why the accused should not be adjudged guilty of contempt and sentenced therefo r. The accused shall be given the opportunity to present evidence of excusing or mitigating circumstances. The judgment shall be signed by the judge and entered of record. Sentence shall be pronounced in open court and reduced to writing, signed by the jud ge and entered of record. Rule 32 shall not apply to judgment and sentencing for direct contempt.

(c) Indirect (constructive) contempt proceedings

. – A criminal contempt, except as provided in subdivision (b) concerning direct contempt, shall be prosecut ed in the following manner:

(1) Order to Show Cause.

– On the court’ s motion or upon affidavit of any person having knowledge of the facts, a judge may issue and sign an order directed to the accused, stating the essential facts constituting the criminal contempt charged and requiring the accused to appear before the court and show cause why the accused ought not be held in contempt of court. The order shall specify the time and place of the hearing, with a reasonable time allowed for preparation of a def ense.

(2) M otions; Answer.

– The accused, personally or by counsel, may move to dismiss the order to show cause, move for a statement of particulars or answer such order by way of explanation or defense. All motions and the answer shall be in writing unl ess specified oth erwise by the judge. An accused’ s omission to file motions or answer shall not be deemed as an admission of guilt of the contempt charged.

(3) Order of Arrest; Bail.

– If there is good reason to believe the accused will not appear in res ponse to the order to show cause the judge may issue an order of arrest of the accused. The accused shall be admitted to bail in the manner provided by these

rules.4

[ ¶ 8 ] In the present case, it is clear from the record that the district court held Father in

c i v i l c o n t e m p t

. I n imposing an a d d i t i o n a l $ 6 0 0

. 0 0 i n a t t o r n e y ’ s f

e e s
, w h i c h w e r e i n c u r r e d a s a r e s u l t o f M o t h e r ’ s a t t e m p t s t o c o l l e c t t h e o r i g i n a l a t t o r n e y f e e a w a r d

, t h e district court stated that “ I ’ m g o i n g t o d i r e c t t

h e o r i g i n a l s a n c t i o n

. T h e r e ’ s n o o t h e r n e e d

f or a sanction. The o n l y s a n c t i o n f o r v i o l a t i n g t h e c o u r t o r d e r a c c e p t i n g M r

. J e n s e n ’ s

r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f t h e f

a c t s w i l l b e t h a t t h e j u d g m e n t b e e n t e r e d f

o r t h o s e p r e v i o u s attorney’s fees and an additional $600. ” The additional $600.00 in attorney’s fees were intended to comp ensate Mother for costs incurred as a result of Father’s f a i l u r e t o c o m

p l y with t h e o r d e r a w a r d i n g a t t o r n e y ’ s f e e s t o M o t h e r

. F u r t h e r
, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t g i v

e

a n y i n d i c a t i o n t h a

t t h e $ 6 0 0

. 0 0 s a n c t i o n w a s i n t e n d e d a s a f i n e
, a n d t h e c o u r t d i d n o t

m ake any reference to

, or attempt to comply with

, W.R.Cr.P. 42. B e c a u s e t h e d i s t r i c t

( 4 ) Arraignment; Hearing.

– The accused shall be arraigned at the time of the hearing, or prior thereto upon the request of the accused. A hearing to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused may follow a plea of not guilty or may be set for trial at a later date or time. The judge may conduct a hearing without

assistance of counsel or ma y be assisted by the attorney for the state or by an attorney appointed by the court for that purpose. The accused is entitled to be represented by counsel, have compulsory process for the attendance of witnesses, and may testify in his own defense. Unless the charged contempt is tried to a jury as provided in subdivision (e), all issues of law and fact shall be heard and determined by the judge.

(5) Disqualification of Judge.

– If the contempt charged involves disrespect to or criticism of a judge, that judge is disqualified from presiding at the hearing and shall assign the matter to another judge.

(6) Verdict; Judgment.

– At the conclusion of the hearing the judge shall sign and enter of record a judgment of guilty or not guilty. In addition to the re quirements of Rule 32, a judgment of guilt for contempt of court shall include a recital of the facts constituting the contempt.

(7) Sentence.

– Unless an accused may be sentenced to the penitentiary, a presentence investigation is not required but may

b e ordered. In other respects, Rule 32 shall apply to sentencing for contempt.

(d) Punishment

. – Punishment for contempt may not exceed the criminal jurisdiction of the court. A sanction for contempt of court may be imposed by a justice of the supreme cou rt, a judge or commissioner of a district court, a circuit court judge or magistrate or a municipal judge.5

c o u r t ’s order held Father in civil contempt o f c o u r t

, t h a t o r d e r m

u s t b e s e t a s i d e f

o l l o w i n g

our rever sal of the underlying fee order in Jensen I

.

[ ¶ 9 ] R e v

e r s e d

.