Court Opinion

ID: 1034038
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-16 22:45:31.605116+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:15.122094
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                        COURT OF APPIALS

                                                                                       2013 JUL (, :
                                                                                                6           45
        IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF W.                                                  SHING

                                                                                       BY
                                                    DIVISION II                                  21M

In the Matter of the Marriage of:                                     No. 42996 9 II
                                                                                - -

SCOTT E. CRUMP,

                                     Appellant,

          and

MARIA R. CRUMP,                                                   UNPUBLISHED OPINION

          WoRSWICK, C. . —
                     J    Scott          Crump appeals a parenting plan accompanying an order

dissolving his marriage to Maria Crump.' Scott argues that the trial court erred by ( )
                                                                                    1 imposing
mandatory parenting plan restrictions on him, 2)
                                              ( failing to impose mandatory parenting plan

restrictions on Maria, and ( )
                           3 determining it would not be healthy for Scott to raise their child.

We reverse in part and remand because the trial court erroneously imposed mandatory parenting

plan restrictions on Scott, but otherwise we affirm.
                                                         FACTS

          Scott and Maria married in 2004. When they divorced in 2011, Scott and Maria had a 6-

yearold son, RC.
    -

          During the marriage, Scott tracked Maria's activities and attempted to exert control so

that she did not have an independent life outside his presence. Almost every weekday, Scott

 Because Scott Crump and Maria Crump share the same last name, we refer to them by their
first   names   for   clarity. We   intend   no   disrespect.
No. 42996 9 II
          - -

went to Maria's workplace to take her to lunch so that he could know how she spent her free

time away from him. Scott also obsessively called Maria's workplace. Four months into her

job,Maria's employer banned Scott from the premises.

       Maria had an anger management problem and at times acted with physical aggression

toward Scott. In one incident, Maria engaged in a display of rage"because Scott refused to
                                                "

give her RC's passport; she then grabbed Scott's shirt and used a meat tenderizer to destroy a

camera. Clerk's Papers (CP)at 54.

       After this incident, Scott obtained a temporary domestic violence protection order against

Maria. Scott also petitioned for dissolution.

       During a four day bench trial, Scott testified that Maria committed various acts that he
                     -

characterized as domestic violence. Maria denied committing these acts, except that she

admitted to grabbing Scott's shirt and destroying the camera with a meat tenderizer.

       In its written ruling,the trial court found that Scott " isplays characteristics of a
                                                              d

perpetrator who is in need of domestic violence treatment."CP at 54. On the basis of that

finding, the trial court ruled that RCW 26. 9.
                                        191(
                                           2 required Scott's residential time with
                                           0 )

2
 The order was based on a finding of probable cause to believe that Maria had been " harged
                                                                                   c
with,arrested for,or convicted of a domestic violence offense."Ex. 6;see RCW 10. 9.
                                                                                040(   3
                                                                                       9 ).

                                                  2
No. 42996 9 II
          - -

RC to be restricted. The trial court also ordered Scott to complete a domestic violence and

anger management program and determined that it would not be healthy for Scott to raise RC.
       The trial court ruled that Maria's violent actions were not acts of domestic violence that
                                           "

involved coercion and control but were [instead]unreasonable acts of anger."CP at 5. 57.
                                                                                   6-

Accordingly, the parenting plan required Maria to participate in counseling and complete an

anger management treatment program, but the parenting plan did not impose mandatory

restrictions on Maria or limit her residential time with RC.

       The parenting plan ordered RC to reside with Maria for the majority of time during the

school year and with Scott for the majority of the time during breaks from school. Scott appeals.
                                             ANALYSIS

       Scott claims the trial court erred by ( )
                                             1 imposing mandatory parenting plan restrictions on

Scott, 2)
       ( failing to impose mandatory parenting plan restrictions on Maria, and (3)determining

that it would not be healthy for Scott to raise RC.We agree with Scott's first claim but disagree

with the others.

3
 The trial court's conclusion of law 6 refers to " CW 26. 9. at 57. This reference
                                                 R    190(
                                                         1)."
                                                         0  CP
appears to be a typographical error.

4 It is not clear to us precisely how the parenting plan restricts Scott's residential time with RC.
The section on restrictions states in its entirety:

        Scott]'
             s residential time with [ RC] shall be limited because [ mandatory
        restrictions   are   warranted]. The following -restrictions shall apply when [RC]
        spend(s) with this parent:
               time
        Scott] must continue active participation in           a   domestic   violence anger
                                                                                       /
        management program until successful completion.
        Maria] shall continue in counseling as well as anger management treatment and
        do both until successful completion.

CP at 61 62.
         -

                                                      3
No. 42996 9 I1
          - -

       A trial court has broad discretion when crafting a parenting plan, and we review its

decision for an abuse of discretion. In re Marriage of Caven, 136 Wn. d 800, 806, 966 P. d
                                                                    2                  2

1247 (1998).A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision is manifestly unreasonable or

made on untenable grounds or for untenable reasons. Mayer v. Sto Indus.,Inc., Wn. d 677,
                                                                            156 2

684, 132 P. d 115 (2006).This standard is also violated when a trial court bases its decision on
          3

an erroneous view of the law. Mayer, 156 Wn. d at 684.
                                           2

       When the trial court has weighed the evidence, we review the trial court'. challenged
                                                                                s

findings of fact for substantial evidence. In re Marriage ofRockwell, 141 Wn. App. 235, 242,

170 P. d 572 (2007).Substantial evidence is a sufficient quantity of evidence to persuade a fair -
     3

minded, rational person that the finding is true. Rockwell, 141 Wn. App. at 242. We defer to the

fact finder on witness credibility and the persuasiveness of the evidence. In re Marriage of

Akon, 160 Wn.App. 48, 57, 248 P. d 94 (2011).Unchallenged findings of fact are verities on
                               3

appeal. Akon, 160 Wn. App. at 57.

       When substantial evidence supports the findings of fact, we then determine whether the

findings of fact support the trial court's conclusions of law. Rockwell, 141 Wn:App. at 242. We

review conclusions of law de novo. In re Marriage ofHerridge, 169 Wn. App. 290, 297, 279

P. d 956 (2012).
 3
A.     Mandatory Restrictions on Scott

       Scott first claims that the trial court erred as a matter of law by imposing mandatory

parenting plan restrictions on Scott. We agree.

5
 Citing Caven, 136 Wn. d at 806, Scott argues that the interpretation of RCW 26. 9.and
                     2                                                       191
                                                                               0
RCW 26. 0.is a question of law reviewed de novo. But Scott has not challenged the trial
      010 5
court's interpretation of those statutes.

                                                  M
No. 42996 9 II
          - -

        RCW 26. 9.lists several circumstances under which the trial court must impose
            191
              0

mandatory parenting plan restrictions. RCW 26. 9.
                                           a)(
                                           191(
                                              iii)
                                              2)(trial court to limit a
                                              0  requires a

parent's residential time if it finds, inter alia,that the parent has "a history of acts of domestic
violence as defined in RCW 26. 0.RCW 26. 0.
                           010(
                              1
                              5 )." 5 )' domestic violence as the
                                     010(
                                        1 defines

following conduct committed against a family or household member: a) physical assault, b)
                                                                  ( a                  ( a

sexual assault, or ( )
                   c stalking as defined in RCW 9A. 6.
                                                110.
                                                  4

        Here,the trial court imposed a mandatory restriction on Scott's residential time but failed

to find that Scott had a history of acts of domestic violence. Instead, the trial court based the
                                                                                  .

mandatory restriction on its finding that Scott " isplays characteristics of a domestic violence
                                                d

perpetrator."CP at 57. Although that finding may imply that Scott is at risk of committing acts
of domestic violence in the future,that finding does not support a conclusion that Scott has a

history of domestic violence.

        Arguing to the contrary, Maria contends that the record contains substantial evidence to

support a finding that Scott has a history of domestic violence. But the trial court made no such

finding. This court's review is limited to determining whether substantial evidence supports the

trial court's findings of fact and, if so, whether those findings support the trial court's legal

conclusions. Rockwell, 141 Wn. App. at 242. Therefore Maria's contention fails.

B.      Mandatory Restrictions on Maria

        Next, Scott claims that the trial court erred by failing to impose mandatory parenting plan

restrictions on Maria. Scott challenges both ( ) trial court's legal conclusion that Maria did
                                             1 the

not have a history of acts of domestic violence, given the trial court's findings of fact, and ( )
                                                                                               2 the

trial court's factual   findings, given the   evidence in the record. We find   no error.
No. 42996 9 II
          - -

       1. Support for Conclusions ofLaw

       Scott contends that the trial court's findings of fact established, as a matter of law,that

Maria had a history of acts of domestic violence as defined in RCW 26. 0.We disagree.
                                                                   010(
                                                                      1
                                                                      5 ).

       RCW 26. 0.
           010(
              1 defines domestic violence to include "[
              5 )                                    p] harm, bodily injury,
                                                        hysical

assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault, between

family or household members."RCW 26. 0.Here,the trial court found:
                                 a).
                                 010(
                                    1)(
                                    5

       10. [Maria] was physically aggressive toward [Scott] and engaged in incidents of
       unruly behavior and threw objects when she became angry with [Scott],    actually
       breaking property.

        11.At the time of separation in 2009, Maria] engaged in acts of uncontrolled
                                                [
       anger and a display of rage that resulted in a domestic violence protection order
       being issued.

CP at 54.

       Together, these findings establish that Maria committed a single act of domestic violence.

Specifically, finding of fact 11 establishes that Maria assaulted Scott at the time of their

separation in 2009, when Maria admittedly grabbed Scott's shirt. In contrast, finding,of fact 10

does not mention any other act involving physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of

imminent physical harm, bodily injury, or assault. Therefore finding of fact 10 does not establish

that Maria committed an act of domestic violence as defined in RCW 26. 0.
                                                                   010(
                                                                      1
                                                                      5 ).

        Arguing to the contrary, Scott asserts that Maria's conduct—
                                                                   physical aggression, unruly

behavior, throwing objects, and breaking property could support a conclusion that [Scott] was
                                                  —     "

placed in reasonable fear of imminent physical harm." of Appellant at 26. But the trial court
                                                    Br.

did not make a finding that Scott had a reasonable fear of imminent physical harm. We presume

from the absence of such a finding that Scott failed to carry his burden of proof on this issue.

                                                  on
No. 42996 9 II
          - -

Smith v. King, 106 Wn. d 443, 451, 722 P. d 796 (1986).Accordingly, the trial court's findings
                     2                  2
do not establish that Maria committed additional acts of domestic violence as defined in RCW

010(
26. 0.
   1
   5 ).

       Standing alone, Maria's act of grabbing Scott's shirt does not amount to "a history ofacts
of domestic violence."RCW 26. 9.
                          a)(
                          191(
                             iii)
                             2)( added); In re Marriage of
                             0  emphasis
                                      (  see

C.,
C. .87 Wn. App. 84, 88, 940 P. d 669 (1997)examining legislative history and stating that
 M                           2              (

the term ` istory of domestic violence' was intended to exclude `isolated, de minimus incidents
         h

which could    technically   be defined   as   domestic violence "').   Therefore, on the facts found by the

trial court, RCW 26. 9.
                 191(
                    2 does
                    0 ) not require the imposition of mandatory parenting plan

restrictions against Maria. Scott's argument fails.
       2. Findings ofFact

       In the alternative, Scott argues that insufficient evidence supports the trial court's

findings of fact because the trial court failed to find facts showing that Maria has a history of

domestic violence. Scott appears to be arguing that insufficient evidence supports the findings of

fact as a whole because the trial court did not make the finding he promoted. This argument

lacks merit.

        We do not retry the facts on appeal, weigh conflicting evidence, or judge the credibility

of witnesses. In re Marriage ofRich, 80 Wn. App. 252, 259, 907 P. d 1234 (1996); re
                                                                2              In

6
  Scott further argues that, in declining to rule that Maria had a history of acts of domestic
violence,the trial court drew an untenable distinction between " nreasonable acts of anger"and
                                                                  u
acts of domestic violence that involved coercion and control."CP at 56 57. Because we review
                                                                       -
the trial court's conclusions of law de novo and are not bound by the trial court's reasoning, we
do not address this argument. See Texaco Ref. & Mktg.,    Inc. v. Dep't ofRevenue, 131 Wn. App.
385, 400, 127 P. d 771 (2006).
                   3

                                                         7
No. 42996 9 II
          - -

Marriage of Thomas, 63 Wn. App. 658, 660, 821 P. d 1227 (1991).Instead, we accept the trial
                                               2

court's factual findings when substantial evidence supports them. Thomas, 63 Wn. App. at 660.

       Citing his own testimony, Scott asserts that "[ he trial evidence regarding Maria's
                                                    t]

conduct established a history of acts of domestic violence."Br.of Appellant at 27 28. But,with
                                                                                  -

the exception of grabbing Scott's shirt and destroying the camera, Maria denied committing the

acts that Scott alleged. Maria's testimony is substantial evidence that the events Scott described

did not occur.

        Substantial evidence supports each of the trial court's findings of fact. The trial court had
                                                        .

the discretion to disbelieve Scott and was under no obligation to find that Maria had a history of

domestic violence. Therefore, Scott's argument fails.
C.      Whether Living with Scott Would Be Healthy for RC

        Scott next argues that the trial court erred when it determined that living with Scott would

be unhealthy for RC, for two reasons: 1) trial court failed to make a factual finding that it is
                                      ( the

unhealthy for a child to be raised by a domestic violence perpetrator and (2)
                                                                            substantial evidence

in this record would not support such a factual finding. We disagree:

        In conclusion of law 7,the trial court determined:

        Because [Scott] displays characteristics of a domestic violence perpetrator, [ C]
                                                                                     R
        should live primarily with [Maria].It would not be healthy for [RC]to be raised
        by his dad because of the domestic violence traits [ Scott] demonstrated with
        respect to [Maria] during the parties' relationship.

7 Because Maria did not have a history of acts of domestic violence, we do not address Scott's
argument that the trial court erred by entering a parenting plan that did not impose mandatory
restrictions   on   Maria.
No. 42996 9 II
          - -

CP at 57. Scott does not challenge the trial court's finding that he displays the characteristics of

a domestic violence perpetrator, and thus it is a verity on appeal. Akon, 160 Wn. App. at 57.

       First, Scott argues that the trial court failed to make a factual finding that it is unhealthy

for a child to be raised by a domestic violence perpetrator. We disagree; conclusion of law 7

contains a factual finding that it would not be healthy for RC to live with Scott because Scott

displays characteristics of a domestic violence perpetrator. Regardless of whether the trial court
has labeled a statement as.a finding of fact or conclusion of law,we review the statement for

what it is. See Willener v. Sweeting, 107 Wn. d 388, 394, 730 P. d 45 (1986).Accordingly, the
                                            2                  2

trial court made a factual finding that it is unhealthy for a child to be raised by a domestic

violence perpetrator.

        Second, the factual finding is not erroneous. This court reviews a challenged factual

finding for substantial evidence. Rockwell, 141 Wn. App. at 242. Substantial evidence clearly

supports the factual finding embedded in conclusion of law 7. The trial court's unchallenged

finding that Scott displays characteristics of a domestic violence perpetrator is,by itself,

sufficient to persuade a fair -
                              minded, rational person that itwould be unhealthy for Scott to raise -

RC. Rockwell, 141 Wn.App. at 242. Scott's argument fails.

D.      Consideration ofRCW 26 09. 87(Factors on Remand
                               3)1

        Scott further claims that, because mandatory parenting plan restrictions on Scott were

unwarranted, this case must be remanded for the trial court to reweigh the factors listed in RCW

a).
187(
26. 9.
   3)(
   0  We agree.

        RCW 26. 9. seven factors for the court to consider in crafting a parenting
            a)
            187(
               3)(
               0 lists

plan,provided that "he limitations of RCW 26. 9.are not dispositive of the child's
                   t                      191
                                            0

                                                   0
No. 42996 9 II
          - -

                      8
residential schedule."    On remand the trial court should consider the factors in light of this

court's ruling on RCW 26. 9.
                      191.
                        0

                                           ATTORNEY FEES

       Maria requests attorney fees on appeal under Fed. R. Civ. P. 11 and RCW 26. 9. We
                                                                               140.
                                                                                 0

deny her request.

       A party may recover attorney fees or costs on appeal if applicable law authorizes the

award. RAP 18. ( the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are not applicable law in this
           a).
             1 But

court. FED. R.Civ.P. 1;RAP 1. (
                           a).
                            1

       Under RCW 26. 9. may award attorney fees to the prevailing party in an appeal
                 140,
                   0 we

from a dissolution order, upon a showing of financial need and the other party's ability to pay.

In re Marriage ofHoseth, 115 Wn. App. 563, 575, 63 P. d 164 (2003).When a showing of
                                                    3

financial need is required, it must be made in an affidavit filed no later than 10 days before this
a
    The RCW 26. 9.
            a)
            187(
               3)(
               0 factors are:

               i) relative strength, nature, and stability of the child's relationship
                The
       with each parent
               ii)The agreements of the parties, provided they were entered into
        knowingly and voluntarily;
                iii)Each parent's past and potential for future performance of parenting
        functions as defined in RCW 26. 9.
                                      004(  3 including whether a parent has taken
                                            0 ),
        greater responsibility for performing parenting functions relating to the daily
        needs of the child;
               iv)  The emotional needs and developmental level of the child;
               v) child's relationship with siblings and with other significant adults,
                   The
        as well as the child's involvement with his or her physical surroundings, school,
        or other significant activities;
              vi) wishes of the parents and the wishes of a child who is sufficiently
                  The
        mature to express reasoned and independent preferences as to his or her
        residential schedule; and
                vii)Each parent's employment schedule ....
                Factor (i) be given the greatest weight.
                         shall

                                                   10
No. 42996 9 II
          - -

court is scheduled to consider the appeal. RAP 18. (
                                               c). Maria failed to file an affidavit
                                                 1 Because

of need, she is not entitled to fees under RCW 26. 9.
                                               140.
                                                 0

       We affirm in part,but we reverse the imposition of mandatory parenting plan restrictions

on Scott. We remand for the trial court to reconsider the parenting plan in light of our decision

and the factors listed in RCW 26. 9.
                              187(
                                 3
                                 0 ).

       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

040,
2.6.it is so ordered.
  0

                                                                        c,

                                                             f
                                                                   Worswick, ClJ
We concur:

McCarthy, J. .
          T.
           P

                                                 11