Opinion ID: 2630193
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Did the district court err in denying Simek's motion for an additional live evidentiary hearing, and holding a telephonic hearing instead?

Text: [¶ 12] A district court enjoys considerable latitude in determining the procedural scheme it will follow in reaching its determinations, and we will not reverse such procedural decisions absent an abuse of discretion. Meyer v. Hatto, 2008 WY 153, ¶ 11, 198 P.3d 552, 555 (Wyo.2008). We have said that [a] court abuses its discretion when it acts in a manner which exceeds the bounds of reason under the circumstances .... and the ultimate issue is whether the court could reasonably conclude as it did. Three Way, Inc. v. Burton Enters., Inc., 2008 WY 18, ¶ 16, 177 P.3d 219, 225 (Wyo.2008) (quoting Doenz v. Sheridan County Bd. of County Comm'rs, 949 P.2d 464, 465 (Wyo.1997)) (internal citations omitted). [¶ 13] In the instant case, the trial judge held an evidentiary hearing on January 6, 2006, on the Estate's motion to enforce the 2005 Agreement. The 122-page transcript of that hearing, containing the testimony of two witnesses and arguments of counsel, is in the record. Because counsel needed time to present additional testimony, the matter was continued for further hearing on January 27, 2006. The 263-page transcript of that day's hearing, containing the testimony of five witnesses and arguments of counsel, is also in the record. The matter was again continued, and a third hearing occurred on February 21, 2006. The 218-page transcript of that hearing, containing the testimony of three witnesses and arguments of counsel is, likewise, in the record. The final installment of the trial, as characterized by the trial judge, was scheduled for July 21, 2006, but was continued at the request of Simek's counsel. During that aborted hearing, the assigned judge advised counsel that he had just announced his retirement. [¶ 14] The case was assigned to a different district judge on October 18, 2006. Court-ordered status reports were filed in December 2006, but no further activity is revealed in the court file until the Estate filed a setting request on April 25, 2008. Simek soon filed his own request for an evidentiary hearing. Simek requested a day and a half for the hearing, in order to complete the evidence and present updated evidence, and to allow the district court to assess the credibility of the evidence rather than attempting to do the same from previous stale and incomplete transcripts. [¶ 15] On September 5, 2008, the district court issued a scheduling order setting a supplemental evidentiary hearing for September 30, 2008. The hearing was held as scheduled, with Tate and the Estate's counsel and a witness appearing in person in the courtroom in Torrington, Wyoming, and with Simek and his counsel and a witness appearing telephonically from Jackson, Wyoming. At the outset of the hearing, the following colloquy occurred between the district court and Simek's counsel: THE COURT: And, [Simek's counsel], are you ready to go? [SIMEK'S COUNSEL]: Yes, we are, your Honor. And for the record, we have in Jackson in the conference room in our law firm, Mr. Ron Simek and his wife, Mrs. Simek, Ms. Ky Simek, and myself; and we will be joined later by another witness by telephone; and we are ready to proceed. THE COURT: Very well. Well, first of all, let me say, counsel, thank you for your cooperation with me on a schedule here; and for both of the clients, you know, you have a right to have your case in Cody, in Park County. That's the way the system works in Wyoming. And by consent your attorneys have agreed to get this case expedited and going and finished, they have agreed to do it in this matter with [the Estate's counsel] here, and by telephone for Mr. Simek. .... THE COURT: Very good. If there is a problem, we might have a plan B that we can come up with also. All right. So folks, I have reviewed several times the four transcripts in this case from the four hearings. The first three of those had evidentiary presentation, and the fourth, really, was just a discussion between counsel and the judge. And where we left things kind of seems to be in flux. There at least was a point in time when I think some of the parties were willing to be satisfied with what evidence they had if they could complete the case then; and then perhaps if there is more that needs to be presented, maybe one or both sides want to present some more. So, [Simek's counsel], I will ask you to call any additional witnesses you have. Simek then called two witnesses, and the Estate called one witness. The record contains the 102-page transcript of the hearing. [¶ 16] We will summarily affirm the district court on this issue for the following reasons: (1) the numerous hearings provided the parties with ample opportunity to present evidence; (2) the record reveals no reason Simek and his attorney and his witness could not have appeared in person at the hearing; (3) the parties consented to the procedure; (4) Simek has shown no prejudice from the procedure; (5) the newly assigned district judge reviewed all of the evidence that had been presented at all the hearings; and (6) the single case cited by Simek on this issue in his appellate brief, Yaekle v. Andrews, 169 P.3d 196, 200 (Colo.Ct.App.2007), stands for the proposition that a hearing is required if the terms or existence of a settlement agreement are in dispute, not for the proposition that a telephonic hearing is insufficient under such circumstances.