Opinion ID: 1786958
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the chancery court erred in ordering dhs to pay guardian ad litem fees after dhs had been removed from active participation in the case.

Text: ¶ 7. MDHS does not contest the chancellor's order that it pay the initial $7,075.75 in guardian ad litem fees. Rather, MDHS argues the chancellor erred in ordering it to pay the guardian ad litem fees incurred after April 16, 1998, when it was made a passive litigant in the case. The order making DHS a passive litigant states, in pertinent part, [T]he prior custody order vesting custody of Joshua Smith in the Department of Human Services is hereby terminated as of April 16, 1998, and that the Department of Human Services is no longer required to participate in this matter in an active role until further order. MDHS argues that it may be required to pay guardian ad litem fees incurred only during the period in which it was engaged in an active role in the case. ¶ 8. The guardian ad litem states that the chancellor is given discretion concerning attorney fees and should not be reversed absent abuse of that discretion. McKee v. McKee, 418 So.2d 764, 767 (Miss. 1982). Furthermore, he argues that while the court's order stated that MDHS need no longer take an active role in the case, the status of MDHS as a party to the action, active or passive, did not change. ¶ 9. Our rules of procedure treat guardian ad litem fees as court costs to be awarded against the non-prevailing party. Miss. R. Civ. P. 17(d); S.C.R. v. F.W.K., 748 So.2d 693 (Miss.1999) (not an abuse of discretion to tax non-prevailing party with costs including guardian ad litem fees); Lowrey v. Forrest County Bd. of Supervisors, 559 So.2d 1029 (Miss.1990); In re Newsom, 536 So.2d 1 (Miss.1988). There is no doubt that our civil rules prescribe that a guardian ad litem be compensated for his or her efforts, and that the monies so ordered be taxed as court costs. Miss. R. Civ. P. 17(d) provides, in relevant part, that In all cases in which a guardian ad litem is required, the court must ascertain a reasonable fee or compensation to be allowed and paid to such guardian ad litem for his service rendered in such cause, to be taxed as a part of the cost in such action. Newsom, 536 So.2d at 2. ¶ 10. Miss.Code Ann. § 93-5-23 also treats guardian ad litem fees as court costs. The statute reads, in pertinent part: Whenever in any proceeding in the chancery court concerning the custody of a child a party alleges that the child whose custody is at issue has been the victim of sexual or physical abuse by the other party, the court may, on its own motion, grant a continuance in the custody proceeding only until such allegation has been investigated by the Department of Human Services. At the time of ordering such continuance the court may direct the party, and his attorney, making such allegation of child abuse to report in writing and provide all evidence touching on the allegation of abuse to the Department of Human Services. The Department of Human Services shall investigate such allegation and take such action as it deems appropriate and as provided in such cases under the Youth Court Law (being Chapter 21 of Title 43, Mississippi Code of 1972) or under the laws establishing family courts (being Chapter 23 of Title 43, Mississippi Code of 1972). If after investigation by the Department of Human Services or final disposition by the youth court or family court allegations of child abuse are found to be without foundation, the chancery court shall order the alleging party to pay all court costs and reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the defending party in responding to such allegation. The court may investigate, hear and make a determination in a custody action when a charge of abuse and/or neglect arises in the course of a custody action as provided in Section 43-21-151, and in such cases the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the child as provided under Section 43-21-121, who shall be an attorney. Unless the chancery court's jurisdiction has been terminated, all disposition orders in such cases for placement with the Department of Human Services shall be reviewed by the court or designated authority at least annually to determine if continued placement with the department is in the best interest of the child or public. ¶ 11. Guardian ad litem fees, pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. § 43-21-121(1)(e), may also be allocated out of county funds. [1] That section allows for the appointment of a guardian ad litem in every case involving an abused or neglected child which results in a judicial proceeding. Subsection 6 permits payment of the guardian ad litem fee, not to exceed the hourly rate paid by the county to attorneys appointed to defend indigent criminal defendants, by the county out of the general fund [u]pon order of the youth court. ¶ 12. This Court has held that judges are obligated to appoint a guardian ad litem to represent every minor alleged to be abused or neglected even if a request for one is not made. In re R.D., 658 So.2d 1378 (Miss.1995). ¶ 13. In Mississippi Dep't of Human Servs. v. Cole, 618 So.2d 704 (Miss.1993), the mother filed a paternity action on behalf of her daughter. Because she had been receiving Medicaid, food stamps, and Aid For Dependent Children, the mother named MDHS as a defendant in addition to the father. The chancellor awarded attorneys fees and costs against MDHS. MDHS appealed, arguing that while it had been made a necessary party defendant because of the aid payments, it had nonetheless been excused from the litigation because no relief was being sought against MDHS. This Court reversed on the grounds that attorneys fees had never been sought against MDHS. Cole, 618 So.2d at 706. ¶ 14. Although MDHS was no longer required to actively participate in this matter, MDHS was properly found liable for partial reimbursement for guardian ad litem's fees. Despite becoming a passive participant in this case, MDHS previously became a litigant when it adopted the position of Smith and alleged child abuse. Taking a passive role in the litigation did not change MDHS's status as a party to the case. The court noted that Smith had accused Bouquet of abuse and sexual molestation and that MDHS had supported these allegations. The ultimate findings and conclusions of the court rejected the allegations of Smith and the supportive position of MDHS. ¶ 15. The chancellor did not abuse his discretion in assessing guardian ad litem fees to MDHS as it was a litigant to the case. As the losing party, MDHS and Smith are jointly and severally liable for the payment of the guardian ad litem fees pursuant to Miss. R. Civ. P. 17 and Miss. Code Ann. § 93-5-23.