Title: FOSHEE v. FOSHEE
Citation: 2010 OK 85
Docket Number: 
State: Oklahoma
Issuer: Oklahoma Supreme Court
Date: December 7, 2010

FOSHEE v. FOSHEE Annotate this Case FOSHEE v. FOSHEE 2010 OK 85 Case Number: 106061 Decided: 12/07/2010 THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA NOTICE: THIS OPINION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE PERMANENT LAW REPORTS. UNTIL RELEASED, IT IS SUBJECT TO REVISION OR WITHDRAWAL. ANGELA LEE FOSHEE, Appellee/Petitioner, v. KENNETH MICHAEL FOSHEE, Appellant/Respondent. APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF CREEK COUNTY Honorable April Sellers White, Trial Judge ¶0 The petitioner, appellee mother, sought termination of a previously agreed joint custody plan. The respondent, appellant father, argued that because the children preferred the existing joint custody arrangement, no change in circumstances existed which would require modification or termination of joint custody. The trial court modified joint custody, and awarded the mother sole custody and attorney fees. The father appealed and we retained the cause. We hold that when parents are unable or unwilling to execute parental duties jointly, a material change in circumstances has occurred such that joint custody must be modified and one parent must be given primary custody. Under the facts presented, the trial court did not err when it terminated joint custody and awarded sole custody and attorney fees to the mother. TRIAL COURT AFFIRMED. Sean P. Downes, Sapulpa, Oklahoma, for Appellee/Petitioner. Stephen J. Modovsky, Sidney A. Martin, Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Appellant/Respondent. KAUGER, J: ¶1 This cause involves the termination of joint custody and whether: 1) a material change in circumstances occurs if parents are no longer able or willing to execute parenting duties jointly so that joint custody must be modified; 2) the trial court erred in awarding sole custody to the mother; and 3) the trial court erred in awarding attorney fees to the mother who sought to terminate joint custody. ¶2 We hold that when parents are unable or unwilling to execute parenting duties jointly, a material change in circumstances occurs requiring joint custody to be modified, and that one parent must be given primary responsibility for the child or children. Under the facts presented, the trial court neither erred when it terminated joint custody and awarded sole custody to the mother, nor in awarding the mother attorney fees. FACTS ¶3 On December 14, 2006, the appellee/petitioner, Angela Lee Foshee (mother), filed a petition for divorce from the appellant/respondent, Kenneth Michael Foshee (father). The couple had three boys: Z.M., T.M. and P.M, who were 14, 13, and 9, when the divorce was filed. On December 21, 2006, the parents filed a joint custody plan for the children agreeing to share rights, responsibilities, and decision-making authority. That same day, the trial court approved the proposed joint custody plan and granted the divorce. ¶4 Nine months later, on September 19, 2007, the mother filed a motion to terminate joint custody because it was no longer in the children's best interest. She also sought a modification of child support and an award of attorney fees and costs. ¶5 The trial court held a hearing on December 13, 2007. At the hearing, the mother testified that: 1) she and the father do not get along very well; 2) they cannot communicate on many issues; 3) the father uses profanity and speaks inappropriately to the children and to the mother and is verbally aggressive towards the mother; 4) in the presence of the children, the father told the mother he "had a bullet waiting for her" and he damaged several items in her house during an argument; 5) the father was uncooperative and non-participatory with the children's education or medical care; and 6) the father had argued and fought with the children, particularly the eldest. However, on cross-examination, it did appear at least some of the hostility towards the mother was related to an incident in which the father, just a week after the divorce, discovered that the mother was involved with one of his friends. ¶6 On January 29, 2008, the trial court issued an interim order which: 1) suspended the joint custody plan; 2) awarded custody of the children to the mother; 3) required that the father's visitation be professionally supervised with the exception of Christmas day when the grandparents were required to be present; and 4) modified child support. Another hearing continuing the matter was held on March 6, 2007. This hearing consisted of a re-examination of the events which were described in the previous hearing and further elaboration of how the parents were not able to get along joint-parenting. The father attempted to have a licensed professional counselor testify regarding his "anger management" issues, or lack thereof, but the trial court disallowed the testimony. ¶7 During the March hearing, the trial court proposed that the children be interviewed in camera regarding custody, on the record (with a court reporter), but outside the presence of counsel and the parents. It appears that the parties did not object to this procedure. On April 2, 2008, the trial court conducted an in camera interview of the three children. At the conclusion of the interview, the trial court closed and sealed the transcript. ¶8 On June 6, 2008, the trial court entered its decision and order which determined that joint custody was no longer in the children's best interest. The court also: 1) awarded sole custody to the mother; 2) ordered both parents to attend a "helping children cope with divorce or cooperative parenting course;" 3) ordered the father to complete an anger management course, and until its completion, required that visitation with the children in the presence of at least one of the father's parents or another adult approved by the mother; 4) determined visitation; and 5) modified child support. On June 9, 2008, the mother filed an application for attorney fees and costs which the trial court awarded on June 17, 2008. The father filed an appeal on July 3, 2008, seeking a review of the termination of joint custody, and the award of sole custody and attorney fees. ¶9 I. WHEN PARENTS ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO EXECUTE PARENTAL DUTIES JOINTLY, A MATERIAL CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES HAS OCCURRED SUCH THAT JOINT CUSTODY MUST BE MODIFIED AND ONE PARENT MUST BE GIVEN PRIMARY CUSTODY. UNDER THE FACTS PRESENTED, THE TRIAL COURT DID NOT ERR WHEN IT TERMINATED JOINT CUSTODY AND AWARDED SOLE CUSTODY TO THE MOTHER. ¶10 The father argues that: 1) the trial court erred in terminating joint custody because the children preferred that the existing joint custody arrangement continue; and 2) no change in circumstances sufficient to modify the existing joint custody had occurred. The mother counters that the agreed joint custody plan was not working between the parents and that it was absolutely necessary for the trial court to terminate joint custody. Having found it necessary and appropriate to terminate the joint custody plan, the mother contends that the trial court was required to make a custody determination, and it was in the children's best interest to award sole custody to her. ¶11 Without disclosing all of details the children's sealed testimony, we note that all three children testified regarding joint custody. Two children preferred to live with both parents equally, half and half. One child preferred to stay primarily with the father. The linchpin of the father's argument is that because the children generally preferred that the current custody plan remain unchanged, it must remain "as is." This is not the law in Oklahoma. ¶12 Title ¶13 However, the preference of the child is just that -- a preference. We have never held that child preference is "the" deciding factor when determining custody or modifying custody. Rather, it is merely one of many factors which the trial court is required to consider. . . .The preference of the child is only one of many factors to be considered when determining the child's best interest concerning custody. It should never be the only basis for determining custody. Nor should a child be directly asked where the child would rather live because specifically asking preference provides an opportunity for parental manipulation or intimidation of the child as well as an opportunity for the child to manipulate the parents. It also gives the child the impression that their preference is "the" deciding factor for custody. Rather, the trial court should conduct such an interview so as to discern the child's preference, while at the same time, being sensitive to how the child is coping with the divorce, the pressures put on the child by the divorce and stating a preference, as well as to ascertain the motive of the child in stating a preference. When the trial court determines the child's best interest will be served by considering the child's preference, whether to hold such an interview is generally within the trial court's discretion. (Citations omitted.) ¶14 Consequently, the issue in this cause is not whether the children were opposed to changing joint custody, but, whether the fact that parents are no longer able or willing to execute joint custody duties, constitutes a material change in circumstances such that joint custody must be terminated and sole custody awarded to one parent. ¶15 The most recent, seminal case for terminating joint custody in Oklahoma is Daniel v. Daniel, ¶16 We again reiterate that pursuant to our precedents of Daniel v. Daniel, ¶17 Here, the record contains ample evidence that the joint custody arrangement was not working and that the parties were unable to agree and cooperate with each other. Several instances of uncooperativeness between the parents were presented to the trial court. The trial court's determination that joint custody should be terminated is clearly supported by the evidence. ¶18 Again, as we stated in Daniel, supra at ¶21: When joint custody is terminated the trial court must proceed as if it is making an initial custody determination and award custody in accordance with the best interest of the child, as if no such joint custody decree had been made. In a divorce action, the trial court is vested with discretion in awarding custody and visitation. Nevertheless, the best interests of the child must be a paramount consideration of the trial court when determining custody and visitation. On appeal, this Court will not disturb the trial court's judgment regarding custody absent an abuse of discretion or a finding that the decision is clearly contrary to the weight of the evidence. The burden is upon the party appealing from the custody and visitation award to show that the trial court's decision is erroneous and contrary to the child's best interests. (Citations omitted.) ¶19 It is at this stage in the proceeding that the trial court should consider the preference of the children regarding custody. We have reviewed the transcripts and the record in this cause and cannot say that the trial court's determination was contrary to the children's best interest. It is clear from the children's testimony that their primary concern was getting to spend equal time with each parent. This issue can be dealt with the children's visitation schedules or by physical custody arrangements, but it has nothing to do with the question of whether the parents are capable of exercising cooperative joint custody. ¶20 The father insists that the trial court gave "overriding" significance to an event which occurred at the beginning of the parent's break-up and which led to its ordering that the father undergo anger management as a precondition for unsupervised visitation. ¶21 II. THE TRIAL COURT DID NOT ERR IN AWARDING ATTORNEY FEES TO THE MOTHER. ¶22 The father argues that the trial court erred in awarding the mother attorney fees.15 Title 43 O.S. Supp. 2003 §110 authorizes the award of attorney fees.16 In King v. King, 2005 OK 4, ¶30, 107 P.3d 570 , we recognized that in Oklahoma, neither the nonprevailing party in a matrimonial case nor the principal spouse provider is under a duty to pay counsel fees. Rather, counsel-fee allowances are granted only to the litigant who qualifies for the benefit through the process of a judicial balancing of the equities.17 A review of the record reflects that the imposition of attorney fees appears reasonable. Considering it was largely the father's hostility and unwillingness to cooperate in joint parenting, equity supports the award to the mother. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court's awarding of attorney fees to the mother. CONCLUSION ¶23 Because the parties are no longer able to work together, we hold that there has been a material change in circumstances warranting a modification of the joint custody arrangement, and the evidence shows that an award of custody to one of the parents, was required. We affirm the trial court's decision that the children's best interest would be served by awarding sole custody to the mother. The trial court's award of attorney fees is also affirmed. EDMONDSON, C.J., TAYLOR, V.C.J., HARGRAVE, KAUGER, WINCHESTER, REIF, JJ., concur. WATT, COLBERT, JJ., concur in part, dissent in part. FOOT