Opinion ID: 1365567
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The merits of the custody order.

Text: [5] Appellant maintains the award of custody of Aimee to respondent was not in the child's best interest. He does not assign error to the trial court's finding of fact that such an award is in Aimee's best interest. This omission is of course fatal to his argument, because the court's finding has become an established fact of the case. Lakeside Pump & Equip., Inc. v. Austin Constr. Co., 89 Wn.2d 839, 576 P.2d 392 (1978). Even if appellant had properly preserved the question for review, however, we could only conclude that the court's finding is amply supported by the record. The testimony at trial established that Aimee is very close to her mother, feels happy and secure in her Washington home, and does not desire to leave. Expert witness testimony established that separating her from her mother now could be very damaging to her. Appellant, on the other hand, made little showing of his ability to fulfill Aimee's needs. He has been reluctant to provide any money for her support and maintenance. Furthermore, his dishonest conduct in misleading the courts of two states does little to commend him for the role of custodial parent. The trial court did not err in finding it was in Aimee's best interest to stay with respondent. Affirmed. UTTER, C.J., and ROSELLINI, STAFFORD, WRIGHT, BRACHTENBACH, DOLLIVER, HICKS, and WILLIAMS, JJ., concur. Reconsideration denied August 21, 1979.