Opinion ID: 2624876
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Evidentiary Support of Decision

Text: [¶ 15] Father objects to the following: the district court's decision to exclude some evidence; the district court's statement that the child expressed a preference for his mother; and its decision that it is in the child's best interests to be in Mother's primary care. Our careful review of the record in the light of the written and oral arguments of the parties discloses that these arguments do not warrant extensive discussion in this opinion. [¶ 16] Decisions concerning the admissibility of evidence are within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed absent a clear abuse of discretion. Clark v. Alexander, 953 P.2d 145, 150 (Wyo. 1998). Father contends that the trial court had no basis for excluding evidence by Father's psychologist that would have established the number of visits with Father and son, and that son's feelings toward Father had not changed; and for disallowing questioning of Mother's psychologist as to her knowledge of when the child started masturbating and how often he was masturbating before entry of the original custody order. Father argues that because the trial court believed Mother's expert instead of his and found an increase in sexual activity, it was prejudicial to exclude this evidence. The amount of time at trial devoted to experts' analyses of this child and analysis of this child's sexual activity was extensive. Our review of the record indicates that the evidence presented on the subject was so much more than adequate that had the trial court excluded far more than it did, we would not find any prejudice to Father. Custody, visitation, child support, and alimony are all committed to the sound discretion of the district court. It has been our consistent principle that in custody matters, the welfare and needs of the children are to be given paramount consideration. The determination of the best interests of the child is a question for the trier of fact. We do not overturn the decision of the trial court unless we are persuaded of an abuse of discretion or the presence of a violation of some legal principle. Reavis v. Reavis, 955 P.2d 428, 431 (Wyo. 1998) (citations omitted). Judicial discretion is defined as being a composite of many things, among which are conclusions drawn from objective criteria; it means a sound judgment exercised with regard to what is right under the circumstances and without doing so arbitrarily or capriciously. Watt v. Watt, 971 P.2d 608, 613 (Wyo.1999). [¶ 17] Our review entails evaluation of the sufficiency of the evidence to support the district court's decision, and we afford to the prevailing party every favorable inference while omitting any consideration of evidence presented by the unsuccessful party. Findings of fact not supported by the evidence, contrary to the evidence, or against the great weight of the evidence cannot be sustained. Similarly, an abuse of discretion is present when a material factor deserving significant weight is ignored. Reavis, 955 P.2d at 431. [¶ 18] Although Father points to testimony contradicting evidence of factual issues, we cannot retry this case on appeal. Deference must be given to the opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility of the witnesses, and a reviewing court will not set aside the court's findings merely because it might have reached a different result. The trial judge is in the best position to assess the credibility of witnesses and weigh their testimony, and, thus, this Court accords considerable deference to the trial judge's findings. Clark v. Clark, 980 P.2d 821, 823 (Wyo.1999). [¶ 19] We have previously stated that a district court can acknowledge a young child's preference as a relevant factor although it may not be the sole factor for determination of custody. In Re MS, 9 P.3d 984, 986 (Wyo.2000). A district court is not required to place consideration of relevant factors on the record; however, every case requires careful weighing of relevant factors, looking to the unique and individual family relationships, in order to reach a resolution in the best interests of the children in that family. Stability in a child's environment is of utmost importance to the child's well-being. Id. [¶ 20] The parents invite us to look at the massive amount of information each side collected concerning the impact of either the shared custody arrangement or parental alienation attempts on this little boy. Each parent grievously used their son to prove their point against the other in disturbing ways. That said, we see that although much of this child's behavior is consistent with a healthy little boy who has reacted to being caught up in the war between his parents, various experts reached the different conclusion that the child's unstable home life was causing him to act out in seriously inappropriate ways. Some experts were inclined to believe that the child's behavioral changes indicated emotional or sexual abuse. Presented with this contradictory evidence regarding the implications of changes in him, the record does establish that the child's behavior had changed. In its order, the district court stated the changes in behavior that it believed had occurred; our review of the record indicates that the trial court did not place undue weight on any one expert's testimony in this case, and we find that the record supports the district court's findings of how the child's behavior had changed. [¶ 21] In Dr. Schilling's evaluation of the child for the first custody ruling, she noted that the child indirectly indicated that he preferred to live with his father. In her evaluation, Ms. Stubbs stated that the child expressed a desire to live with his mother. In its decision letter, the district court stated: He appears to get along somewhat better while in the custody of his mother and to have a preference for being with her.... Father contends that the district court improperly based its decision on the child's preference and that is reversible error. The district court, however, did not base its entire decision on the child's stated preference for his mother. Father does not challenge the first part of the court's statement that the child appears to get along somewhat better while in Mother's custody. The record supports the determination that the child gets along somewhat better while in the custody of Mother. Nearly all witnesses, whether presented by Mother or Father, testified that the child needed to be with one parent for a longer period of time than that provided by the five-day rotation arrangement. The evidence showed that the child's time with Mother was more structured and the child's problems tended to increase with Father and then subside after returning to Mother's care. Although the parties devote their discussion to arguing whether it is reversible error for a trial court to base its decision on a five-year-old's stated preference, and whether that preference was spontaneous or the result of coaching, the record shows that the trial court did not base its decision on the child's preference, but permissibly noted the child's perceptions of his living arrangement. [¶ 22] The initial custody ruling was based on a determination that the child's best interests required that the parents share in his care. The parents failed to do so, and their failure to care for their son in the way that was in his best interest required the court to determine which parent should be selected as the primary caretaker. In such a situation, where the record shows that Drake's and McCulloh's anger and bitterness towards each other interfere with their son's best interests, the district court properly focused on evidence of stability and the child's perception of stability. Its determination that granting primary custody to Mother with liberal visitation for Father would provide the child with the greatest stability, and would not be upsetting to the child, is supported by sufficient facts, and we affirm. [¶ 23] Finally, Father requests that we find that Mother committed abuse of the judicial process because of her efforts to disqualify a judge who did recuse himself, remove the GAL, and her refusal to cooperate with the GAL. After filing her petition for modification, Mother filed a motion stating that the modification was a new proceeding entitling her to a preemptory disqualification under W.R.C.P. 40(b)(1). Father objected on grounds that Mother was judge shopping. The trial judge filed a grievance against an attorney of record and did recuse himself. Mother also filed a motion for removal of the GAL contending that the GAL's recent employment with the Sheridan County Attorney's Office presented a conflict of interest. That motion also contended that the GAL had acted improperly. The GAL responded to the accusations as unfounded and, contending that Mother had made unfounded accusations and threats, requested removal. A new GAL was appointed, and Father contends that Mother did not cooperate with that investigation. Father did not raise the issue of abuse of process below with the trial court. Wyoming recognizes the tort of abuse of process, and its elements are (1) an ulterior purpose; and (2) a willful act in the use of the process which is not proper in the regular conduct of the legal proceeding. Cosner v. Ridinger, 882 P.2d 1243, 1249 (Wyo.1994). Assuming without deciding that abuse of process could result in reversal of this decision, we see that although we have many allegations, no record supports finding that abuse of process caused the judge to recuse himself or the GAL to remove himself. On this record, we decline to address the abuse of process issue. [¶ 24] Mother requests attorney fees and costs for this appeal. W.R.A.P. 10.05 provides: If the judgment or appealable order is affirmed in a civil case, appellee shall recover the cost for publication of the brief with the cost to be computed at the rate allowed by law for making the transcript of the evidence. If the court certifies there was no reasonable cause for the appeal, a reasonable amount for attorneys' fees and damages to the appellee shall be fixed by the appellate court and taxed as part of the costs in the case. The amount for attorneys' fees shall not be less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00). The amount for damages to the appellee shall not exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000.00). Imposing fees and costs under this rule is a sanction imposed for failure to have reasonable cause for the appeal. We are generally reluctant to impose sanctions and will do so only in those rare circumstances where an appeal lacks cogent argument, where there is an absence of pertinent authority to support the claims of error, and/or when there is a failure to adequately cite to the record. Stone v. Stone, 7 P.3d 887, 891 (Wyo.2000). [¶ 25] Mother provides us with no cogent argument or pertinent authority that Father did not have reasonable cause to appeal. Her request is denied, and the district court is affirmed.