Opinion ID: 1481320
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Motion to Modify the Temporary Support Order

Text: The defendant next argues that the trial justice erred by failing to hold a hearing on his motion to modify the temporary support order and by thereafter holding defendant in contempt for violating the same. The plaintiff counters that defendant did not present any evidence in support of his motion to modify and did not pursue the motion at trial. After reviewing the record that has been provided to us, we are satisfied that there was no abuse of discretion on the part of the trial justice. The record reflects that defendant filed a motion to modify the temporary support order on February 3, 2000. On March 29, 2000, a hearing was held on the motion to modify, but it was expressly limited to the issue of supervised visitation. On August 2, 2000, a hearing justice adjudged Harry in contempt of the temporary support order, after making findings of fact about Harry's finances. An order, date stamped August 15, 2000 and entered on August 23, 2000, continued the hearing on defendant's motion to modify and ordered defendant to file a DR-6 prior to a September 11, 2000 hearing date. Harry filed a DR-6 on August 15, 2000. The September 11, 2000 hearing was subsequently continued by stipulation. Almost two years passed; the divorce trial commenced, and, on December 4, 2002, plaintiff called the motion to modify, among other motions, to the trial justice's attention. The defendant agreed that the motion was pending, and plaintiff offered to identify the several motions that were still pending at the next hearing date. The next hearing was held on January 9, 2003, but neither party pressed the pending motions. Nothing in the record indicates that defendant further pursued his first motion to modify. [7] Assuming a hearing on the defendant's motion to modify was never held, exploration of the record reveals that Harry failed to press the motion and failed to provide evidence suggesting changed circumstances. [8] See Healey v. Healey, 591 A.2d 1216, 1218 (R.I.1991) (noting that it was the movant's responsibility to press his motion to modify the temporary support order and further noting that any prejudice resulting from the passage of time was due to the movant's lack of diligence). Therefore, this Court is satisfied there was no abuse of discretion.