Court Opinion

ID: 4569904
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-25 17:14:00.163365+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:25:02.732980
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                            SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
                                                         In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                        WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

         IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                            DIVISION THREE

In the Matter of the Marriage of:             )         No. 36972-2-III
                                              )
NICHOLAUS MILEY,                              )
                                              )
                 Appellant,                   )
                                              )         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
   and                                        )
                                              )
ANNA PYLYPETS,                                )
                                              )
                 Respondent.                  )

       PENNELL, C.J. — Nicholaus Miley has filed a pro se appeal of a trial court order

denying his motion to vacate a divorce decree and final judgment. We affirm the trial court’s

order and award Anna Pylypets reasonable attorney fees under RAP 18.9(a).
No. 36972-2-III
In re Marriage of Miley & Pylypets

                                          FACTS

       Anna Pylypets and Nicholaus Miley married in 2014. In 2017, Mr. Miley

petitioned to invalidate the marriage, alleging immigration fraud. Ms. Pylypets

counterclaimed for divorce. The morning of trial, Mr. Miley withdrew his petition after

the trial court denied his motion for continuance. Trial then proceeded on the

counterclaim, and the only evidence came from Ms. Pylypets’s uncross-examined

testimony. The trial court issued a divorce decree consistent with Ms. Pylypets’s

counterclaim. It also sanctioned Mr. Miley under CR 11 and RCW 4.84.185 for failing to

make a reasonable inquiry into the factual or legal basis of his petition, and granted Ms.

Pylypets reasonable attorney fees. Mr. Miley did not appeal from the divorce decree or

final judgment.

       Approximately one year after the final judgment, Mr. Miley filed a motion to

vacate under RCW 4.72.010 and CR 60. Mr. Miley’s motion centered on the substance

of the trial court’s decree. He did not submit any new evidence in support of his motion.

Mr. Miley instead argued that the trial court made improper discovery rulings, Ms.

Pylypets failed to satisfy her discovery obligations, and Ms. Pylypets provided false

testimony at trial. The court denied Mr. Miley’s motion to vacate.

       Mr. Miley appeals.

                                             2
No. 36972-2-III
In re Marriage of Miley & Pylypets

                                        ANALYSIS

       A motion for relief from judgment is reviewed for abuse of discretion. See Haley

v. Highland, 142 Wn.2d 135, 156, 12 P.3d 119 (2000). Review “is limited to the trial

court’s decision, not the underlying order the party seeks to vacate.” In re Marriage of

Persinger, 188 Wn. App. 606, 609, 355 P.3d 291 (2015).

       No abuse of discretion occurred here. Mr. Miley’s arguments are that the trial

court’s judgment was erroneous as a matter of law. Such complaints should have been

asserted in a direct appeal, not in a motion for relief from judgment. See In re Marriage of

Tang, 57 Wn. App. 648, 654-56, 789 P.2d 118 (1990). The time for appealing from entry

of the divorce decree and final judgment has long since expired. See RAP 5.2. It is

improper to resurrect an untimely appeal under the guise of a motion for relief from

judgment.

                                   ATTORNEY FEES

       Ms. Pylypets requests attorney fees and costs under RAP 18.1(a), RCW 26.09.140,

and RAP 18.9(a). We award Ms. Pylypets fees and expenses under RAP 18.9(a), which

allows sanctions for a frivolous appeal. Mr. Miley’s appeal does not raise any debatable

legal issues. It is frivolous and an award of fees and expenses is appropriate as a sanction.

Mahoney v. Shinpoch, 107 Wn.2d 679, 691, 732 P.2d 510 (1987).

                                              3
No. 36972-2-III
In re Marriage of Miley & Pylypets

                                     CONCLUSION

       The order denying relief from judgment is affirmed. Ms. Pylypets is awarded

reasonable attorney fees and expenses under RAP 18.9(a), subject to compliance with

RAP 18.1(d).

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

the Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to

RCW 2.06.040.

                                          _________________________________
                                          Pennell, C.J.

WE CONCUR:

______________________________
Siddoway, J.

______________________________
Lawrence-Berrey, J.

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