Source: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1888974.html
Timestamp: 2018-06-24 09:24:48
Document Index: 427802164

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 3901', '§ 4909', '§ 1', '§ 5700', '§ 78', '§ 5700', '§ 78', '§ 5700', '§ 1738', '§ 904', '§ 3554', '§ 1738']

IN RE: the Marriage of DIANE and JOSEPH CONNOLLY. | FindLaw
IN RE: the Marriage of DIANE and JOSEPH CONNOLLY.
IN RE: the Marriage of DIANE and JOSEPH CONNOLLY. DIANE CONNOLLY, Respondent, v. JOSEPH CONNOLLY, Appellant; EL DORADO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES, Intervener and Respondent.
C080256
Law Office of Linda J. Conrad and Linda J. Conrad; Joseph Connolly, in pro. per., for Appellant. Diane M. Connolly, in pro. per., for Respondent. Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, Julie Weng-Gutierrez, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Linda M. Gonzalez, Supervising Deputy Attorney General and Jennevee H. De Guzman, for Intervener and Respondent.
Joseph Connolly appeals from various orders entered during his long-running dispute with his ex-wife Diane Connolly over spousal and child support arrearages.1 Joseph challenges a 2015 order that denied his motion to terminate the jurisdiction of California courts over his support obligations and imposed interest, under California law, on a judgment of consolidated arrearages obtained in Utah. He also challenges a 2016 order that denied his motion to stay enforcement of the 2015 order. His basic contentions are that (1) California lacked jurisdiction to enter the orders because the Utah judgment on arrearages was the “controlling order” under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA), and (2) by adding interest to the arrearages, California failed to grant full faith and credit to the Utah judgment, which did not include interest.
In 2009, the parties stipulated to modify the support orders effective June 1. The California Court reduced Joseph's child support obligation to $1,023 a month, reflecting that the older son had reached age 18 and presumably finished high school (Fam. Code, § 3901, subd. (a)), and also reduced Joseph's spousal support obligation to $372 a month.
In December 2012, the Utah ORS issued an order and decision finding that as of November 30, 2012, Joseph owed $30,580.66 in child support arrears and $19, 911.07 in spousal support arrears, for a total of $50,491.73. The order did not include interest on arrearages. Utah's policy was not to collect interest on an out-of-state support order unless the amount had been reduced to a lump sum by judicial order or judgment or the initiating state (here California) had calculated the interest and provided the Utah ORS with the specific interest amount. Diane did not request a hearing to contest the validity of the order.
In May 2013, Diane filed an order to show cause in Utah for a judgment against Joseph for $69,537.70 for child and spousal support arrearages as of April 5, 2013. In June, the Utah court found Diane had not appealed the administrative order on arrearages so the $50,491.73 order stood. After a hearing on Diane's objection in August, the Utah court found no abuse of discretion in the June determination that the administrative order should stand. The court entered judgment on that order in the amount of $50,491.73 (the Utah judgment).
In 2014, the Utah ORS terminated its child support services and the Department reopened its child support case. In June 2014, the California court issued an income withholding order of $535 a month against Joseph's Coast Guard pension.3 In August, this order was amended to increase the withholding to $1,007 a month.
Diane applied to determine spousal support arrearages and asked that interest be “reattached” to the Utah judgment. In February 2015, Joseph moved to terminate California's jurisdiction over his support obligations. He argued “Utah has the most appropriate responsibility for what is left, which is to enforce that state's 2013 judgment of support arrearages [the Utah judgment].”
The California court held a hearing on June 10, 2015. Because the parties had filed multiple motions raising the same issues multiple times, the court asked the parties why they were in court and addressed only the issues they identified then even if those issues were not the same as those in the written motions. The court determined the hearing was to address whether to (1) continue the withholding order, (2) add interest to the Utah judgment, and (3) terminate California's jurisdiction. The court noted that the Utah judgment could not be modified by a California court, but found the “more troubling question” was whether Utah allowed interest to accrue. It concluded the answer was irrelevant because the California Constitution allowed for 10 percent interest on judgments of support arrearages. The court reasoned the Utah judgment was based on a California judgment (the original support order) and the Utah court had no power to set aside the California Constitution. The court determined the Utah judgment was not an out-of-state judgment, but instead was a California judgment merely “clarified” by the Utah court.
The California court modified the income withholding order from $1,007 to $600 a month. It denied Joseph's motion for termination of child and spousal support jurisdiction. It found “that child and spousal support arrears were adjudicated by Utah on December 27, 2012, and entered as a judgment against [Joseph] by the Utah District Court on August 30, 2013 in the amount of $50,491.73,” and “that Utah's judgment is subject to California's statutory interest rate on arrears.”
In response, Diane requested the matter be dismissed with prejudice, arguing the court had already ruled upon all contested issues. The motion was eventually heard May 26, 2016. The California court denied Joseph's motion contesting enforcement of the support arrearages with prejudice. On August 17, 2106, the court found no issues for trial and denied a stay of enforcement.
IJurisdiction under UIFSA
UIFSA “governs, inter alia, the procedures for establishing, enforcing and modifying child support orders in cases in which more than one state is involved.” (In re Marriage of Crosby & Grooms (2004) 116 Cal.App.4th 201, 206 (Crosby).) The goal of UIFSA is to ensure that “ ‘only one valid support order may be effective at any one time’ [citation], even though the parties and their children may move from state to state.” (In re Marriage of Amezquita & Archuleta (2002) 101 Cal.App.4th 1415, 1420.) “ ‘[T]he central jurisdictional feature of UIFSA is the concept of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction. Under UIFSA, a court that makes a valid child support order retains exclusive jurisdiction to modify the order as long as the requirements for continuing, exclusive jurisdiction remain fulfilled. The court of another state may enforce a child support order registered in that state, but may not modify it unless the decree state has lost its continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.’ [Citations.]” (Knabe v. Brister (2007) 154 Cal.App.4th 1316, 1319 (Knabe).)
As to a child support order, the issuing state has continuing exclusive jurisdiction over the child support order so long as the issuing state remains the residence of the obligor, the individual obligee, or the child, or the parties consent to jurisdiction. (Former Fam. Code, § 4909, subd. (a); Stats. 1997, ch. 194, § 1, p. 881 [see Fam. Code, § 5700.205, subd. (a)].) Joseph asserts that when all the parties moved to Utah, California lost jurisdiction. He further contends the Utah judgment on arrearages then became the controlling support order. His reasoning is based on the definitions in UIFSA. A child support order is “a support order for a child.” (Utah Code Ann., § 78B-14-102, subd. (2); [see Fam. Code, § 5700.102, subd. (2)].) A support order is a “judgment” “issued in a state ․ for the benefit of a child” “which provides for monetary support, health care, arrearages, retroactive support, or reimbursement for financial assistance provided to an individual obligee in place of child support.” (Utah Code Ann., § 78B-14-102, subd. (28); [see Fam. Code, § 5700.102, subd. (28) ], italics added.)
We disagree with Joseph's reasoning and reject his argument that California lacked jurisdiction to issue the 2015 order because we find the Utah judgment was not a “child support order” for purposes of UIFSA and thus was not a controlling order. While viewing the definition section of UIFSA in isolation could lead to the conclusion a judgment for arrears is a support order, “[w]e do not examine that language in isolation, but in the context of the statutory framework as a whole in order to determine its scope and purpose and to harmonize the various parts of the enactment.” (Coalition of Concerned Communities, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (2004) 34 Cal.4th 733, 737.) We also consider “the object to be achieved and the evil to be prevented by the legislation.” (Harris v. Capital Growth Investors XIV (1991) 52 Cal.3d 1142, 1159.) “ ‘UIFSA aims to cure the problem of conflicting support orders entered by multiple courts ․’ ” (Lundahl v. Telford (2004) 116 Cal.App.4th 305, 315.)
Joseph contends the California court erred in adding interest to the Utah judgment. He contends res judicata and the full faith and credit clause of the United States Constitution bar modifying the Utah judgment to add interest to it.4
Article IV, section 1 of the United States Constitution, in its pertinent part, provides that “[f]ull faith and credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State.” “Regarding judgments, ․ the full faith and credit obligation is exacting. A final judgment in one State, if rendered by a court with adjudicatory authority over the subject matter and persons governed by the judgment, qualifies for recognition throughout the land.” (Baker v. General Motors Corp. (1998) 522 U.S. 222, 233 [139 L.Ed.2d 580].)
Under the Federal Judicial Code, “Such Acts, records and judicial proceedings or copies thereof ․ shall have the same full faith and credit in every court within the United States and its Territories and Possessions as they have by law or usage in the courts of such State, Territory or Possession from which they are taken.” (28 U.S.C. § 1738.) “It has long been the law that ‘the judgment of a state court should have the same credit, validity, and effect in every other court in the United States, which it had in the state where it was pronounced.’ ” (Thomas v. Washington Gas Light Co. (1980) 448 U.S. 261, 270 [65 L.Ed.2d 757].)
The Department contends Joseph's contention fails because it is premised on the assertion that the Utah judgment was a controlling order under UIFSA, and it was not. Although it is true that Joseph's argument is based on his incorrect assertion that the Utah judgment was a controlling order under UIFSA, his argument does not depend on that classification. The full faith and credit clause applies to any final judgment; it need not be a controlling order.
The Department next contends the California court was required to recognize only the amount of arrearages adjudicated by the Utah judgment. The Department contends the Utah judgment is not res judicata on the issue of interest because that issue was not adjudicated in Utah. This contention fails. The Utah judgment is entitled to “the same credit, validity, and effect” in California that it had in Utah. (Brinker v. Superior Court (1991) 235 Cal.App.3d 1296, 1299.) In Utah, res judicata “ ‘ “precludes the relitigation of all issues that could have been litigated as well as those that were, in fact, litigated in the prior action.” ’ ” (Buckner v. Kennard (Utah 2004) 99 P.3d 842, 846; accord Villacres v. ABM Industries Inc. (2010) 189 Cal.App.4th 562, 583-584.) As explained, Utah policy is to include interest on arrearages only where the interest has been reduced to a lump sum or the initiating state has calculated it. Thus, the Utah judgment could have included interest if the amount had been provided to the Utah ORS. Since the issue of interest could have been litigated and was not, the Utah judgment is res judicata on that issue.
In case No. C083238, Joseph challenges the 2016 order denying a stay of enforcement of the 2015 order. Many of the issues he raises are the same as those raised when challenging the 2015 order, involving the jurisdiction of California courts and the nature of the Utah judgment, and we have resolved them ante. The only different issue is Joseph's contention that the trial court erred in failing to issue a statement of decision.
Generally, “a statement of decision is not required upon decision of a motion.” (Maria P. v. Riles (1987) 43 Cal.3d 1281, 1294.) Although the matter was set for a trial setting conference, the court found no issues for trial. It ruled only on Joseph's motion to stay enforcement of the 2015 order and denied it. Joseph has not shown that the ruling on this motion comes within an exception to the general rule that such rulings do not require a statement of decision. Further, since he requests the matter not be remanded for a statement of decision, it is unclear what, if any, relief he seeks on this point.
1. Postjudgment orders relating to spousal and child support are appealable. (Code Civ. proc., § 904.1, subds. (a)(2) & (10); Fam. Code, § 3554.) Because the parties share a surname, we refer to them by their respective first names.
2. Appellant's request for judicial notice was ruled on by this court on June 28, 2017 (granted as to the record in the companion case and documents judicially noticed by the trial court, and otherwise denied).
3. Joseph was retired from the Coast Guard and his sole income was his pension. Most (if not all) of the support payments came from withholding orders on his pension.
4. Because we decide this issue under the full faith and credit clause of the United States Constitution, we need not address Joseph's argument about the full faith and credit for child support orders act. (28 U.S.C. § 1738B.)