Opinion ID: 2403181
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: the award of fees to the guardian ad litem and conservator of assets

Text: The wife argues that there was no need to appoint either a guardian ad litem or a conservator of assets. An examination of the record in the case (including numerous motions to adjudge both parties in contempt) shows that the trial justice was justified by the actions of the parties in appointing both a guardian ad litem and a conservator. It was next to impossible to rely upon the parties to this action to take even the most rudimentary steps to inform the court concerning their assets or to take the necessary steps to avoid tax sales, to refrain from disposition of personal property in defiance of an order of the court, or to produce any result save contribution to turbulence and chaos. The record is replete with examples of disobedience of orders of the court and contumacious conduct. In order to inform himself of the conditions of custody and to make some contribution toward an orderly cataloguing of properties and encumbrances, as well as to take steps to avoid tax sales, lack of insurance, and the like, it was essential that the court appoint an officer to safeguard the properties and to see that the court's orders were carried out. The stubbornness and unwillingness either to compromise or to cooperate on the part of the parties to this domestic proceeding have indeed been expensive, not only in fees paid to counsel, but also in additional fees to the guardian ad litem and the conservator as well. For this expense the parties have no one to blame but themselves. Certainly, the trial justice responded properly to the exigencies of the case by making the appointments as he did. For the reasons stated, the appeals of both parties are denied and dismissed. The interlocutory judgment of the Family Court is affirmed, provided, however, that the judgment will be modified to eliminate the payment of counsel fee by the husband to the former attorney for the wife in accordance with the wife's waiver before this court. The papers in the case may be remanded to the Family Court for entry of a modified judgment in accordance with this opinion.