Court Opinion

ID: 4315138
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-09-25 17:39:24.993911+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:44:38.283048
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                          Washington State
                                                                                          Court of Appeals
                                                                                           Division Two

                                                                                         September 25, 2018

      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                         DIVISION II
    DONILO C. BURKE,                                                 No. 50141-4-II

                                Respondent,

         v.

    KRYSSONDRA R. BURKE,                                       UNPUBLISHED OPINION

                                Appellant.

        Lee, J. — Kryssondra R. Burke appeals the trial court’s final parenting plan, arguing that

the trial court erred by ordering joint decision-making and by failing to limit Donilo Burke’s

residential time with the children because the trial court found that Donilo1 had engaged in a history

of acts of domestic violence.2 We reverse the trial court’s ruling and remand to the trial court to

order sole decision-making and either to make the findings required by statute or to restrict

Donilo’s residential time.

1
 For clarity, we refer to the parties by their first names. We mean no disrespect. We refer to the
minor children by their initials to protect their privacy.
2
 Kryssondra also assigns error to the trial court not making a finding that Donilo’s abusive use of
conflict and withholding of children was a limiting factor under RCW 26.09.191(3) and to the trial
court’s denial of her motion for reconsideration. However, although Kryssondra assigns error, she
does not offer any argument or authority to support her contentions. We generally will not consider
assignments of error that are unsupported by argument or citation to authority. RAP 10.3(a)(6);
Cowiche Canyon Conservancy v. Bosley, 118 Wn.2d 801, 809, 828 P.2d 549 (1992). Therefore,
we decline to address whether the trial court should have made a finding that abusive use of conflict
and withholding of the children were limiting factors under RCW 26.09.191(3) or whether the trial
court erred in denying her motion for reconsideration.
No. 50141-4-II

                                              FACTS

       Kryssondra and Donilo were married in 2008. They have two children, D.B. and Z.B.

Kryssondra and Donilo separated in 2013. In October 2016, the trial court found that the

“[p]etition for divorce . . . should be [] approved.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 2. The trial court also

entered a final parenting plan for the children.

       In the final parenting plan, the trial court found that Donilo had engaged in a history of acts

of domestic violence under RCW 26.09.191(1), and entered the following findings of fact,

       The court is finding that the evidence supports a finding that DONILO C. BURKE
       has engaged in a history of acts of domestic violence as defined in RCW
       26.50.010(1). The guardian ad litem testified that DONILO C. BURKE had
       acknowledged at least one incident of physical violence that amounted to domestic
       violence against KRYSSONDRA R. BURKE, and further testified that
       KRYSSONDRA R. BURKE had stated there had been at least three ‘significant’
       incidents of domestic violence during the marriage. Additional testimony was
       provided at trial that DONILO C. BURKE engaged in both verbal abuse, mental
       abuse, and physical abuse (pushing, hitting, poking) towards KRYSSONDRA R.
       BURKE during the relationship, which occurred on occasion in front of the
       children.

CP at 5. Based on its finding, the trial court ordered Donilo to complete a domestic violence

evaluation and comply with any treatment recommendations.

       The trial court also ordered joint decision-making for all major decisions and noted that

there were no reasons to limit major decision-making. The trial court further ordered that, during

the school year, the children would reside with Donilo except for every other weekend when they

would reside with Kryssondra. During the summer, the children would reside with each parent,

alternating every two weeks.

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No. 50141-4-II

       Kryssondra filed a motion for reconsideration of the final parenting plan. The trial court

denied the motion for reconsideration. Kryssondra appeals.3

                                            ANALYSIS

       Kryssondra argues that the trial court erred by ordering joint decision-making and by

failing to limit Donilo’s residential time with the children because the trial court found that Donilo

engaged in acts of domestic violence. We agree.

A.     LEGAL PRINCIPLES

       We review a trial court’s decision regarding a parenting plan for an abuse of discretion.

Caven v. Caven, 136 Wn.2d 800, 806, 966 P.2d 1247 (1998). The trial court abuses its discretion

if its decision is manifestly unreasonable or based on untenable grounds or reasons. In re Marriage

of Kovacs, 121 Wn.2d 795, 801, 854 P.2d 629 (1993). The trial court’s decision is based on

untenable reasons “if it is based on an incorrect standard or the facts do not meet the requirements

of the correct standard.” In re Marriage of Littlefield, 133 Wn.2d 39, 47, 940 P.2d 1362 (1997).

       RCW 26.09.191 governs restrictions and limitations in parenting plans.                    RCW

26.09.191(1) dictates when the trial court may restrict decision-making in a parenting plan:

       The permanent parenting plan shall not require mutual decision-making or
       designation of a dispute resolution process other than court action if it is found that
       a parent has engaged in . . . a history of acts of domestic violence . . . .

And RCW 26.09.191(2)(a) governs limitations on a parent’s residential time:

3
  Donilo argues that the trial court erred in finding that he engaged in a history of acts of domestic
violence. However, Donilo did not file a cross-appeal in this case. RAP 2.4(a) (the appellate court
will only grant the respondent relief by modifying the decision on appeal if the respondent seeks
review by filing a timely notice of appeal or if demanded by the necessities of the case). Therefore,
we decline to review whether the trial court erred by finding that Donilo engaged in acts of
domestic violence.

                                                  3
No. 50141-4-II

       The parent’s residential time with the child shall be limited if it is found that the
       parent has engaged in . . . a history of acts of domestic violence . . . .

But RCW 26.09.191(2)(n) provides an exception to the limitation requirement in RCW

26.09.191(2)(a):

       If the court expressly finds based on the evidence that contact between the parent
       and the child will not cause physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or harm to the
       child and that the probability that the parent’s or other person’s harmful or abusive
       conduct will recur is so remote that it would not be in the child’s best interests to
       apply the limitations of [RCW 26.09.191(2)(a)] or if the court expressly finds that
       the parent’s conduct did not have an impact on the child, then the court need not
       apply the limitations of [RCW 26.09.191(2)(a)].

B.     JOINT DECISION-MAKING

       Here, the trial court made a finding that Donilo had engaged in acts of domestic violence

for the purposes of RCW 26.09.191, but ordered joint decision-making. RCW 26.09.191(1)

contains clear and unambiguous language that prohibits the trial court from ordering joint decision-

making if it makes a finding that a parent engaged in a history of acts of domestic violence. Caven,

136 Wn.2d 808-09.

       Because the trial court found that Donilo engaged in a history of acts of domestic violence,

the trial court could not order joint decision-making under RCW 26.09.191(1). Therefore, the trial

court abused its discretion in ordering joint decision-making.

C.     LIMITATIONS ON RESIDENTIAL TIME

       Like RCW 26.09.191(1), RCW 26.09.191(2)(a) requires the trial court to limit a parent’s

residential time if the trial court finds that the parent engaged in a history of acts of domestic

violence. However, RCW 26.09.191(2) contains an exception if the trial court expressly finds that

either (1) contact between the parent and the child will not cause physical, sexual, or emotional

                                                 4
No. 50141-4-II

abuse or harm to the child and that the probability that the parent’s or other person’s harmful or

abusive conduct will recur is so remote that it would not be in the child’s best interests to apply

the limitations, or (2) the parent’s conduct did not impact the child. RCW 26.09.191(2)(n).

However, the superior court must make an express finding to exercise its discretion and refuse to

impose limitations on the parent’s residential time. RCW 26.09.191(2)(n).

        Here, the trial court did not limit Donilo’s residential time with the children, and it did so

without making the express findings required by RCW 26.09.191(2)(n). Because the trial court

failed to follow the plain language of the statute, it abused its discretion.

        We reverse the trial court’s ruling and remand to the trial court to order sole decision-

making and either to make the findings required by RCW 26.09.191(2)(n) or to restrict Donilo’s

residential time.

        A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW 2.06.040,

it is so ordered.

                                                       Lee, J.
 We concur:

 Maxa, C.J.

 Bjorgen, J.

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