Case Name: STATE of Louisiana in the Interest of Wade JOSEPH, Sr.
Court: Louisiana Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1997-12-23
Citations: 705 So. 2d 776
Docket Number: No. 97-CA-0780
Parties: STATE of Louisiana in the Interest of Wade JOSEPH, Sr.
Judges: Before PLOTKIN, JONES and CIACCIO, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 705
Pages: 776–782

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana in the Interest of Wade JOSEPH, Sr.
No. 97-CA-0780.
Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.
Dec. 23, 1997.
Harry F. Connick, District Attorney of Orleans Parish, Elizabeth P. Duffy, Asst. District Attorney of Orleans Parish, New Orleans, for Plaintiff.
Melvin N. Cade, New Orleans, for Defendant.
Before PLOTKIN, JONES and CIACCIO, JJ.

Opinion:
I! JONES, Judge.
The State of Louisiana appeals a trial court judgment dismissing its Rule to Increase Support filed against the Defendant, Wade Joseph. The State of Louisiana initiated the action for an increase in child support on July 19, 1996. On March 11, 1997, the Rule to Increase came on for trial, and was denied.
FACTS
Complainant Terri Joseph is the former spouse of the Defendant, Wade Joseph. They are the parents- of three children whose ages were three (3), eight (8), and thirteen (13) at the time of the hearing which forms the basis of this appeal. On March 10, 1994, the trial court initially issued a temporary child support order of $288.00 per month against Mr. Joseph. On that date the case was reset to verify the cost of health insurance and set a permanent order. On May 23, 1994, the court issued a permanent child support order requiring Mr. Joseph to pay $425.00 per month in child support.
On July 30, 1996, the State filed a Rule to Increase Support based on a change in circumstances. First, the State claimed that as the children grew older their expenses increased. Next, the State alleged that Mr. Joseph's income was ^substantially higher than originally determined. The hearing officer who initially heard the rule to increase ordered that Mr. Joseph's child support obligation be increased to $351.00 semi-monthly. Mr. Joseph appealed the order to the trial court.
On March 11,1997, the appeal came before the trial court. Before any testimony was taken the court verified who would be called as witnesses and the order in which they would be called: The court instructed the State to question the complainant, Ms. Joseph and cross examine the Defendant, Mr. Joseph. Additionally, the court instructed the defense counsel that his witness would be his client, Mr. Joseph, and he would be entitled to cross examine Ms. Joseph.
The only evidence submitted by the State was the testimony of Ms. Joseph with supporting documentation showing her salary. The record indicates that from the initial order until the appeal to the trial court Ms. Joseph's salary increased from $18,800.80 to $21,538.00. The record also indicates that the amount Ms. Joseph pays for health insurance covering herself and the three children increased from $88.66 bi-monthly to $115.44 bi-monthly. The only other facts established by the State to show a change in the circumstances of Ms. Joseph and the children was evidence that the child care costs for the three (3) year old decreased from $65.00 per month to $55.00 per month.
Terri Joseph was cross examined by the defense and subjected to further questioning by the State. After completing its questioning of Ms. Joseph the State rested. Contrary to the order of testimony earlier established by the trial court the Defendant moved for a directed verdict claiming that the State had failed to establish a material change in circumstances entitling Terri Joseph to an increase in child support. In response to questions raised by the State, the trial court noted that Mr. Joseph should have been called as a witness by the State. The directed verdict was granted and the State's case was dismissed.
DISCUSSION
In its appeal the State argues several issues, all of which maintain that the trial court abused its discretion in granting the directed verdict, dismissing the State's Rule to Increase. We agree.
LSA-R.S. 9:315 et seq. is the statute which governs' basic child support obligations. The statutory guidelines are to be used to establish and modify child support payments. See LSA-R.S. 9:315.1(A). In calculating the basic child support obligation, both parties are required to provide the court with verified income statements showing both gross and adjusted gross income. Both parties are to provide documentation of current and past earnings and a copy of their most recent federal income tax return. LSA-R.S. 9:315.2(A).
The Defendant argues that LSA-R.S. 9:311 governs the reduction or increase of a child support obligation. The article provides that a child support obligation shall not be reduced unless the party seeking modification shows that one of the parties circumstances has changed since the order was issued. LSA-R.S. 9:311(A). Contrary to Defendant's argument, LSA-R.S. 9:311 is not the paramount article governing the modification of child support obligations because it fails to specifically outline the required procedural steps necessary to establish a child support order.
It is a well established principle that both the mother and father are obligated to support the children of the marriage. Furthermore, in all cases, child support is to be granted according to the needs of the party to which it is due and the circumstances of the party obligated to pay. Marcus v. Burnett, 282 So.2d 122 (La.1973); Rosenbloom v. Rosenbloom, 94-1762 (La.App. 4 Cir. 4/26/95), 654 So.2d 877, 879 writ denied 95-1320 (La.9/1/95), 658 So.2d 1266. Therefore, it follows that the trial court must adhere to the guidelines for child support outlined |4in LSA-R.S. 9:315 et seq., when establishing, increasing, or decreasing a child support order.
LSA-R.S. 9:315.2(A) mandates that the " [trial] court shall determine the basic child support obligation." LSA-R.S. 9:315.2(A). Child support, like child custody, will be established according to the best interest of the child. LSA-R.S. 9:315.1(B). The award must also be established in a manner equitable to the parties. LSA-R.S. 9:315.1(B). The trial court erred by not requiring that both the State and the Defendant submit the necessary income statements and other docu mentation as mandated by LSA-R.S. 9:315.2(A).
Clearly, the language of the governing statutes indicates that the legislature did not intend for child support obligations to be arbitrarily established or modified by the parties. Instead it is the trial court's responsibility to calculate the basic child support obligation. LSA-R.S. 9:315.2(D). In establishing or modifying a basic child support obligation it is incumbent upon the trial court to examine the income and financial status of both parties. In order to do so the trial court must examine the income statements of both parties.
The trial court in this matter failed to do so. The Defendant argues that the State failed to prove a change in circumstances as required by LSA-R.S. 9:311(A). The Defendant's argument suggests that LSA-R.S. 9:311(A) can be unilaterally applied by a party seeking an increase in child support to show a change in circumstances. This argument is without merit. In many instances the party seeking an increase maintains that an increase in the defendant's income constitutes the necessary change in circumstances. This can only be proven by examining the income and financial status of the defendant as required by LSA-R.S. 9:315.2(A).
At the start of the trial the court correctly set out the order in which the witnesses would be heard, instructing counsel for the defense that the Defendant would be cross examined by the State. Given the quasi adversarial nature of child ^support hearings the trial court has discretion to establish the order of testimony. However, the order of testimony must be established in a manner affording the trial court an opportunity to examine the income and financial status of both parties. It appears that initially this was the intent of the trial court.
Despite the court's effort to establish the order of testimony, counsel for the defense managed to shield the Defendant's income and financial status from the court's scrutiny. This was achieved when the defense moved for a directed verdict and the court granted the Defendant's motion. The Louisiana Civil Code of Procedure provides that a party may move for a directed verdict at close of the evidence offered by the opposing party. LSA-C.C.P. Art. 1810. This Court has held that the propriety of a directed verdict must be evaluated in light of the substantive law applicable to the matter being adjudicated. Cross v. Cutter Biological, Div. of Miles Inc., 94-1477 (La.App. 4 Cir. 5/29/96), 676 So.2d 131.
The substantive law applicable to proceedings to establish or modify a child support obligation requires the trial court to scrutinize the income of both parties. LSA-R.S. 9:311(A) requires the party seeking an increase in a child support obligation to show a change in circumstances. LSA-R.S. 9:315.2 outlines the formula which determines the amount of the increase. Inherent in the process of calculating child support is the principle of equity which requires the court to examine the financial status of both parties. Therefore, the statutes must be applied in pari materia.
The trial court erred when it granted a directed verdict in favor of the Defendant, thereby failing to examine the income and financial status of the Defendant.
For the foregoing reasons the trial court's judgment granting the Defendant's motion for directed verdict is reversed and the case is remanded to the trial court |6for further proceedings on the Rule to Increase consistent with this opinion.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
PLOTKIN, J., dissents with written reasons.