Opinion ID: 2332716
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Branwen's Second Motion For Reconsideration.

Text: Branwen filed a second motion for reconsideration almost two weeks later. It argued the court should have given her a hearing on her motion to modify and that the court erred by assessing fees against her. The superior court denied this motion as well, ruling [a] voluntary decision by one parent to change [her] schedule is not grounds to modify custody for the other parent. The court further ruled that Branwen's concerns about Will not following court orders would be better addressed in a motion to enforce or an order to show cause, which might be warranted if the [c]ourt found [Will's] response unpersuasive. The court then wrote: [g]iven the fairly extensive shared physical custody arrangement set by the [c]ourt, and the lack of any allegation those visits are not being complied with, even taking [Branwen's] affidavits as true would not warrant a change of custody. The order did not specify whether the court was referring to legal or physical custody; the parties understood the order to refer to both. We agree with the parties' interpretation. As to attorney's fees, the superior court found Branwen's motions simply a continuation of a dissatisfaction with shared custody, which was still the arrangement in the best interests of the child. The court ordered Branwen to pay Will partial attorney's fees, but explained that the parties' relative financial resources was not the reason for the award. Rather, Branwen's use of motion practice to attempt to control and abuse [Will] was what led the court to assess fees. The court found that [a]bsent some accountability for repeated motions raising the same issues that have been previously heard, this [abuse would] likely continue. The court ruled that Branwen's actions were neither in the best interests of the child nor in good faith. Branwen appeals the court's denial of her motion to modify custody and subsequent motions for reconsideration, and the court's award of attorney's fees to Will.