Opinion ID: 1865151
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: father denied reasonable visitation

Text: I likewise dissent to the failure, by the trial court, to consider the home study recommendations of Jean L. Thompson, M.A., which has, in effect, foreclosed Larry Abrams from reasonably visiting his daughter, Amber. Failing to structure any visitation to implement its Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law concerning the custody evaluation report, this case should be reversed and remanded so as to insure Larry Abrams' rights of reasonable visitation of Amber. As it now stands, Larry may visit Amber only at the mother's whim, fancy or mercy. During the entire pendency of these proceedings, Larry seldom saw his daughter. In an Order to Show Cause proceeding held prior to trial, testimony established this to be a fact. Further, the trial court realized there existed a problem in this regard. Recognizing the problem and then adopting Conclusion of Law # 4: The care, custody and visitation of the children should be placed in conformance with the home study recommendations on file herein, the trial court established no structured visitation. Such a judicial result is inconsistent with the findings of the home study evaluation. And it is inconsistent with Findings of Fact # 11 and # 12. Said study recommended to the trial court the following, inter alia: (1) No limit on telephone contacts between the children and either parent; (2) The children should spend Mother's Day with the mother and Father's Day with the father; (3) Structured visits [with Amber] are necessary; (4) Structured visits by mother with Larry will not work; (5) The major holidays of Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas should be alternated to continue the children's relationship with extended family members and develop new traditions and rituals with each parent; it is important for Larry, Don and Amber to be together on holidays; and (6) During the summer months, each parent should have up to three weeks of time with the children to allow for an out-of-town vacation. Thereby, father will have a meaningful part of Amber's life. Findings of Fact must support the Conclusions of Law and judgment. Hartpence v. Youth Forestry Camp, 325 N.W.2d 292 (S.D. 1982). This denial of reasonable visitation constitutes undeserved ill-treatment. It is an abuse of discretion. Shoop v. Shoop, 460 N.W.2d 721, 725-26 (S.D.1990).