Opinion ID: 1940953
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Interim Relief

Text: The plaintiff next contends the trial justice exceeded the scope of her authority by granting interim relief ( i.e., allowing defendant to relocate the minor children during the pendency of this appeal) in derogation of the automatic stay provision in Family Court Rule 62. The defendant counters that Rule 7 of the Supreme Court Rules empowers the Family Court trial justice to hear and grant such a request for interim relief. Questions of law are reviewed de novo by this Court. Carnevale v. Dupré, 783 A.2d 404, 408 (R.I.2001). Like questions of statutory construction, the interpretation of court rules of procedure is a legal question for the court. See Crowe Countryside Realty Associates, Co., LLC v. Novare Engineers, Inc., 891 A.2d 838, 840-41 (R.I.2006) (applying de novo review to the interpretation of Rule 26 of the Superior Court Rules of Civil Procedure); In re James C., 871 A.2d 940, 942 n. 6 (R.I.2005) (applying de novo review to the interpretation of the Rhode Island Rules of Evidence). It is true that when an appeal is taken from a Family Court judgment the proceedings are generally stayed pending the outcome of the appeal, pursuant to Rule 62 of the Family Court Rules. `However, there are various exceptions to this general rule.' Koziol v. Koziol, 720 A.2d 230, 232 (R.I.1998); see, e.g., Centazzo v. Centazzo, 556 A.2d 560, 563 (R.I.1989) (citing Hurvitz v. Hurvitz, 44 R.I. 243, 246, 116 A. 661, 662 (1922) (one exception to the automatic stay is that counsel fees may be awarded during the pending appeal)). In Centazzo, 556 A.2d at 563, we explained that one of those exceptions emerges from Rule 7 of the Supreme Court Rules, which expressly authorizes a Family Court justice to make such orders as are necessary for the protection of the rights of the parties pending the appeal. Id. For instance, we have held that, under Rule 7, a Family Court justice may issue a final decree of divorce pending an appeal on other matters, such as equitable distribution or alimony. Cardinale v. Cardinale, 889 A.2d 210, 227 (R.I.2006) (citing Koziol, 720 A.2d at 232). We reasoned that to hold otherwise would be problematic because when one party is appealing an issue other than the decree of divorce itself, delaying the final decree of divorce may be detrimental to either party. Koziol, 720 A.2d at 232. As we noted in Centazzo, 556 A.2d at 563, Rule 7 is couched in general language and serves to prevent exploitation of the appellate process. We are of the opinion that the trial justice did not exceed her authority in her order of interim relief granting defendant's request to relocate with her children while plaintiff's appeal was pending. In contested cases concerning the custody or placement of a child, a trial justice will necessarily have determined what outcome, in his or her judgment, is in the best interests of that child. From a practical perspective, allowing the automatic stay to prevent the relocation of the children pending appeal would mean that the decision made by the trial justice may not serve its purpose for an extended period. A stay might simply preserve a status quo that the trial justice has ruled not to be in the child's best interests. As an unfortunate but inescapable corollary of the careful and intensive judicial appellate process, including the preparation of parties' briefs, docketing and scheduling, and consideration by the Court, much time passes between a trial court decision and an appellate opinion. In the interim, before an appellate decision is reached, a stay might unreasonably defer realization of the best interests of the child. In this case, for instance, the Family Court justice issued her written relocation decision on July 30, 2007, and this Court was able to begin reviewing that decision in October 2008, meaning more than a full academic school year had passed. Arguably, the purpose of Rule 7, protecting the rights of parties during the appellate process, is no more applicable than in the context of child relocation requests. To hold otherwise would fly in the face of the best interests of the child; it would serve to undermine the paramount concern of the court in child custody and relocation cases. Our Family Court rule providing automatic stay upon appeal is not absolute. Rule 7 is one of its various exceptions, and it provides our courts with the discretionary authority to issue orders necessary to protect the rights of the parties in a case pending appeal, including a suspension of the automatic stay in child-relocation cases.