Court Opinion

ID: 9364007
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-18 01:05:36.250172+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:15:35.342590
License: Public Domain

01/17/2023

            IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA                                 Case Number: DA 22-0675

                                         DA 22-0675
                                                                           FILED
 IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF:
                                                                           JAN 1 7 2023
                                                                          Bowen C.3 t. -Inwood
 JENNIFER BAILEY, n/k/a JENNIFER BANZET,                               ci,,   L.f     Hrne Court
                                                                            State of Montana

              Petitioner and Appellee,
                                                                    ORDER
       v.

 BRIAN BAILEY,

              Respondent and Appellant.

       Through counsel, Jennifer Banzet (Jennifer) moves this Court for dismissal of this
appeal because it is premature. Self-represented Appellee Brian Bailey (Brian) responds
in opposition.
       Jennifer explains that Brian appeals the Flathead County District Court's
October 21, 2022 Order regarding his motions. She puts forth that the District Court denied
his motion for a contested hearing; granted his ex parte motion in part to recalculate child
support and to modify the Child and Medical Support Agreement; and denied the remainder
of the Ex Parte Motion. Jennifer provides that she sought attorney's fees, as outlined in a
2019 Settlement Agreement, because she prevailed on the issue regarding ownership of an
insurance company. She further provides that the court has granted her Motion for
Attorney's Fees and set a deadline for her counsel to file the accompanying affidavit. She
states that, pursuant to M. R. App. P. 4(1), his appeal is premature and cannot "undercut
the District Court's consideration of Jennifer's Motion for Attorney's Fees by filing a
Notice of Appeal the same day as her motion."
       Brian contends that he timely filed a notice of appeal with this Court. He states that
he cannot afford any further delay with this appeal.
       This Court understands Brian's arguments; however, there is not a final judgment
from the District Court for this Court to review. This Court recently revised the rules about
when to appeal a final judgment where attorney's fees must be considered. M. R. App. P.
4(1)(a) states:
       A final judgment conclusively deterrnines the rights of the parties and settles
       all claims in controversy in an action or proceeding, including any necessary
       determination of the amount of costs and attorney fees awarded or sanction
       imposed.

We conclude that Brian's appeal is premature. Brian, however, may seek an appeal again
after the District Court has issued a final judgment assessing attorney's fees and costs.
Therefore,
       IT IS ORDERED that Jennifer's Motion to Dismiss Appeal is GRANTED and this
appeal is DISMISSED without prejudice.
       The Clerk is directed to provide this Order to: the Honorable Amy Eddy, District
Court Judge; Peg L. Allison, Clerk of District Court, Flathead County, under Cause No.
DR-15-136(A); counsel of record; and Brian Bailey personally.
       DATED this i"lay        of January, 2023.

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