Court Opinion

ID: 9779753
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-30 00:42:32.378424+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:33:39.680143
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE POPE, concurring in part and dissenting in part: I concur with the majority opinion regarding the custody issue. However, I respectfully dissent from the majority’s decision concerning the contempt issue. As noted by the majority, the trial court is required to make factual findings when determining whether a person is guilty of contempt. These factual findings are entitled to deference by the appellate court and should not be disturbed unless against the manifest weight of the evidence. Certainly, in determining whether the alleged contemnor’s disobedience of a court order is willful, the trial court is called upon to make credibility determinations. Here, the evidence is undisputed on the following issues. James was required to pay one-half of the uncovered medical expenses, he received explanation-of-benefits statements showing any unpaid balance, and he had the ability to pay and failed to pay his share. The only disputed issue was willfulness. James’s contention Christina agreed to this arrangement is not supported by the record. The agreement of the parties provided for both parents to carry insurance through their employment. Christina later became unemployed and did not have an employer through whom she could carry insurance. This did not relieve James of his obligation to maintain insurance or to cover one-half of the unpaid medical bills. James never sought modification of the agreement in court nor could he produce any written documentation showing Christina’s agreement to any modification. He failed to pay any out-of-pocket expenses from 2005 on, despite demands for payment by Christina when she had a known address for him and a written demand by Christina’s attorney in August 2009. Following the filing of the contempt petition, James sent an e-mail to Christina stating he would pay 50% of the uncovered medical expenses. According to counsel during oral argument before this court, these expenses still have not been paid. The trial court found, after hearing extensive testimony, James failed to pay his obligations, he had the ability to pay, and he failed to prove any agreement between the parties that would mitigate his conduct. I believe the trial court’s findings are not against the manifest weight of the evidence, and therefore I would have affirmed the trial court in toto.