Court Opinion

ID: 987667
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-07-02 22:18:51.869288+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:08:06.464559
License: Public Domain

FED
                                                                                  COURT   OF A PEALS
                                                                                       DIVISIOP, II

                                                                                2013 APR 15 AM 9:08

                                         W
    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE " WASH                                         Vl\

                                          DIVISION II

In re the Marriage of                                            No. 42334-
                                                                     11-  1

VALERIE DAWN TOLLEFSEN,

       Respondent and Cross Appellant,

       and

GARY A.TOLLEFSEN,                                            UNPUBLISHED OPINION

                    and Cross Re

            BRINTNALL J. — Gary Tollefsen appeals the trial court's order requiring him to
       QUINN-

continue paying postmajority child-
                                  support for- daughter as well as -part of her postsecondary
                                             his                     -

educational expenses. His former wife, Valerie Tollefsen, cross appeals and argues that the trial

court erred in requiring Gary to pay only half of their daughter's postsecondary educational
expenses at   a   public school. Because the trial court did not apply the proper standard in

modifying the original child support order, and because it issued inherently contradictory
conclusions of law, we reverse the modification order and remand for further proceedings

consistent with this opinion.

1 We refer to the parties by their first names for clarity
No. 42334 1 II
          - -

                                               FACTS

         Gary and Valerie were divorced on February 5, 2003, and an order of child support

2003 order ")    was entered on the same date. Their two children, Nathaniel and Lila, were then

20 and 11 years old.       The 2003 order specified as follows with regard to Gary's support

obligations for Lila:

         The obligor parent shall pay $
                                      00
                                      1, per month in child support for Lila until
                                           000.
         she [r] age 18 or graduates from high school, whichever comes last. If Lila
                  eaches
         elects to pursue a post-secondary education, child support for her will continue
         until she turns 23 years old.

Clerk's Papers (CP)at 3. Paragraph 3.4 provided for additional support:
                                    1

         In the event that the children pursue a post-secondary education then, in addition
         to support provided for in paragraph 3. , Obligor parent shall pay the tuition,
                                                  5
         book expenses and student fees, if any, for both children. If a child opts to take a
         break," not continue his/ er post secondary education for a reason other than
                  and                   h
         illness then the father is not responsible to resume his payments for tuition, book
         expenses and student fees.

CP at 5. In addition, paragraph 3.8 required Gary to provide the children with health insurance
                                 1

if such coverage became available through his employment or union membership and did not

exceed 25 percent of his basic childsupport obligation.

         Gary paid support pursuant to the 2003 order without dispute until he filed a motion to

suspend Lila's child support in April 2010. He explained that Lila would turn 19 in August
2010, and that she had been attending Grays Harbor College and working toward both her

general education development (GED)certificate and college credits. Gary had learned recently,

however, that Lila was no longer attending either high school, GED classes, or community

2
    Gary's obligation to pay Nathaniel's support is not at issue.
                                                   2
No. 42334 1 II
          - -

college. He sought to have his " egular and post-
                               r                secondary" child support obligation suspended

until Lila reenrolled in school full time. CP at 14.

       At the May 10 hearing on his motion.,
                                           Gary argued that while the 2003 order provided for

continuing support if Lila took a break during college for health reasons, it did not so provide if

she took a break from high school. Valerie explained that Lila had transferred to Grays Harbor

College in 2007 to try to earn her GED, that she had been out of school since November 2009,
           .

and that she had been trying to reenroll every quarter. The court ordered a subsequent hearing

with medical evidence and also ordered all current support to remain in effect until then. On

May 11, Valerie filed a petition/ otion for child support to continue. She asserted that Lila had
                                m

not been able to complete high school or earn her GED because of significant health issues, and

she sought an order keeping Gary's child support and postsecondary educational support

obligations in place through Lila's 23rd birthday.

        On August 12, 2010, the court held an evidentiary hearing on Gary's motion to suspend

child support and Valerie's motion to continue child support. During the hearing, Gary asserted
that his motion to -
                   suspend nonmajority child support was moot because he had learned two days

earlier that Lila had recently   completed   her GED.     Gary added that his obligation to pay

postsecondary child and educational support would begin when he had proof of Lila's full time
                                                                                          -

enrollment in college. Agreeing that any dispute about nonmajority support was moot, Valerie

explained that Lila was enrolled full time for the summer and would apply for full time
                                                                                    -
enrollment in the fall. The trial court addressed Gary's motion in its oral ruling:

        ve
        Y] u'withdrawn your motion, so I' not going to let you revisit it on the high
         o                              m
        school.... already said it was moot..It' moot. Candidly, I don't consider
                     You                              s
        for purposes of dissolution decree is a GED equal to a high school education.

                                                  3
No.42334 1 II
         - -

                    If this matter had [come] before me about high school support and
       dropping   out and   going on a GED, ... I would have terminated the support
       obligation because she was not in high school.... I guess you gave up on
                                                             So
       that, because I' not letting you bring it back. Your client has accepted the GED
                        m
       to move into the postsecondary matter.

CP at 25 27. The court warned Lila that she would need to be enrolled full time at an approved
         -

college, university, or vocational school to continue receiving support.

       In the written ruling that followed, the trial court stated that Lila had finished her GED

and that Gary had withdrawn his motion regarding "regular" child support as moot; that the

postsecondary provisions     of the   2003   order applied to future child support; that the

postsecondary education must be full time and continuous for support to continue; that if Lila did
not attend or stopped attending school, the support obligations would cease 30 days thereafter;

and that Gary was responsible for $ , of Valerie's attorney fees.
                                  2000

       Lila then enrolled at the University of Phoenix, an online school. When Gary learned of

that enrollment, he filed a "Motion and Affidavit Re: Post secondary Support"on September 9,

2010. He asserted that he believed Lila would continue attending Grays Harbor College and that

no one had consulted him about her enrollment the far expensive online school. The

court set the matter for trial and ordered Gary to continue paying support pursuant to the 2003

order pending a final determination of his support obligations.

        At the May 27, 2011 trial, Lila's physician testified that Lila has bipolar disorder and

anxiety issues for which he began treating her in 2006. Lila has seen several psychiatrists about

these conditions. Lila testified that she withdrew from local college classes because of anxiety

and depression and that she has done better at the University of Phoenix than at on-
                                                                                   campus

schools. She was not sure whether she quit high school in November 2009, but she thought she

waited a few months to start her GED.

                                                 E
No. 42334 1 II
          - -

       Valerie    testified    that   Lila   had     been   attending   Grays    Harbor     College,   albeit

unsuccessfully, before she enrolled at the University of Phoenix. Valerie explained that she had

not earned a paycheck since before her children were born and that her only income, independent

of the child support payments, is $ 0, 00 a year from her pension.
                                  1 8
       Gary testified that he had no input regarding Lila's decision to enroll at the University of
Phoenix.    He objected to her decision because of the university's poor reputation, for -
                                                                                         profit

status, and high cost. Gary acknowledged that Lila was doing well at the university, that she did

not do well at Grays Harbor College, and that she has medical problems. He said he would not

mind   paying postsecondary support          if he    approved   of Lila'
                                                                        s     college   choice.   Gary is a

longshoreman     with   an   annual income of $ 2, 00 and
                                              8 0                a   401K   plan. A Grays Harbor College

credentials evaluator testified that the University of Phoenix is an accredited school with a tuition

that is 46 percent higher than public school tuition.
                                       that his first motion from       April   2010    should control.   He
       In   closing, Gary argued

appeared to adopt the trial court's earlier reasoning in arguing that his support obligation should
have terminated at that time Noting that he had not paid any of Lila's expenses at the University

of Phoenix, Gary asked to be responsible only for the costs of a community college and

completely excused from paying •child support. Valerie responded that Gary's previous motion

regarding nonmajority support was moot, that Lila had applied to the University of Phoenix six

days after the parties agreed the motion was moot, and that Gary should be ordered to pay

postsecondary support as set forth in the 2003 order.

        In its oral ruling, the court said it had made a mistake in its August 2010 ruling and now

believed that Gary's support obligation stopped when Lila quit high school in November 2009, a
few months after she turned 18. The court added, however, that the parties had agreed the issue

                                                        5
    No. 42334 1 II
              - -

    was   moot.    The court also stated that it never had contemplated Lila's enrollment at the

    University of Phoenix and        never   would have authorized support for that choice.        The court

    ordered Gary to continue to pay Lila's child support because of its fear that Gary's insurer would

    drop her medical coverage without such support, and it also ordered Gary to pay half of Lila's

    expenses for tuition and books at any public school institution. The court ordered each party to

    pay its own fees.

            At the subsequent hearing on the written findings and conclusions, Valerie argued that
                    2010 motion to         suspend   child support         not still before the court.   Gary
    Gary's April                                                     was

    responded that it was still "n some fashion"before the court and that even though the argument
                                i

    regarding suspension of nonmajority support was moot, the facts regarding that support showed

    that his overall support obligation should have terminated when Lila dropped out of high school.

    Report of Proceedings ( June 3, 2011) at 6. The court stated that it had made a mistake
i

    concerning    the   nonmajority support    but that   Gary had paid it. The court added that Lila had

    obtained an equivalency degree and was entitled to postsecondary support, and it denied Gary's
    motion for reconsi eration.

            Gary appeals and argues that he is not required to pay support of any kind. Valerie cross

    appeals and challenges the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:

            2. Findings of Fact
             2

            4.          By her own testimony, Lila Tollefsen stopped attending high school in
                        November 2009.
            5.          By her own testimony, Lila Tollefsen believed she had completed her
                        GED by April 2010 and did not take GED classes thereafter.
            6.          Between November 2009 and September 2010, Lila Tollefsen was not
                        attending or enrolled in any post secondary educational institution on a
                        full time basis.

                                                           Ce
No. 42334 1 II
          - -

       8.        Valerie Tollefsen has presented evidence that Lila Tollefsen has suffered
                 from mental health issues which were not apparent at the time of entry of
                 the original child support order.

       10.       Gary Tollefsen was afforded no participation opportunity in this choice of
                 institutions. Gary Tollefsen objects to being required to pay for the
                 University of Phoenix for several       reasons   stated in his   testimony. The
                 court finds Mr. Tollefsen's reasons to be entirely appropriate, and the
                 court would not have ordered Mr. Tollefsen to pay full tuition for the
                 University of Phoenix.

       3. Conclusions of Law
        1

       1.        Gary Tollefsen's obligation to pay post majority, non post -secondary child
                 support should have properly terminated when the minor child stopped
                 attending high school in November 2009.
       2.        Valerie Tollefsen's sic] did not timely file a motion to extend post
                                       [
                 majority, non post-secondary child support, with the result that Gary
                 Tollefsen had no legal obligation to pay current child support of any kind
                 between November 2009 and at least September 2010.
       3.        The 2003 child support order did not properly create a post-
                                                                            secondary
                 child support obligation due to the age of Lila Tollefsen at the time of
                 entry of that order, 11 years of age.

       5.        The post-
                         secondary education requirements of the original child support
                 order are reaffirmed, but the father should not be required to pay any of
                 the cost of the University of Phoenix due to the various appropriate
                 considerations raised in his testimony.
       6.        The father should be required to pay one half of the tuition and fees an - -
                                                          -
                 book expenses for any public school which Lila Tollefsen might enroll in
                 and attend commencing September 2011.

CP at 179= 0. The court also concluded that it is in Lila's best interest to remain covered by
         8

Gary's medical insurance and to pursue her education. The conclusions of law did not refer to

the fact that the court also ordered Gary to continue paying regular child support.

                                            DISCUSSION

APPEALABILITY

       Gary's notice of appeal challenges the trial court's'orders of May 10, 2010; August 12,

2010; October 18, 2010; and June 3,2011. Valerie challenges Gary's ability to appeal the 2010
                                                   7
No. 42334 1 II
          - -

orders and argues that   we   lack   jurisdiction   to consider the issues these   orders   resolved.   See

Moore v. Wentz, 11 Wn. App. 796, 800, 525 P. d 290 (1974) where notice of appeal not filed
                                           2              (

within 30 days of entry of order or within 30 days of timely motion made subsequent to

judgment, Court of Appeals lacked jurisdiction to entertain appeal of order).We reject Valerie's

jurisdictional challenge because of the ongoing nature of this support obligation dispute. For the

reasons set forth below, however, we decline to reach the merits of most of the issues raised.
ORDER ON POSTMAJORITY CHILD SUPPORT AND POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES

         The order requiring Gary to pay half of Lila's expenses at a state institution modifies the

postsecondary support provisions in the 2003 support order, which contained no such limitation
on Lila's ability to receive postsecondary educational support. Valerie argues that the trial court

improperly modified the 2003 support order because Gary never filed the petition and financial

worksheets required for such modification under RCW 26. 9.
                                                    175.
                                                      0

         We review a modification of child support for abuse of discretion. The challenging party

must demonstrate that the trial court's decision is manifestly unreasonable, based on untenable

grounds, or granted for untenable reasons. In re Marriage of Schumacher, 100 Wn.App. 208,

211, 997 P. d 399 (2000).A trial court also violates the abuse of discretion standard if it bases
          2

its ruling on an erroneous view of the law. In re Marriage of Choate, 143 Wn. App. 235, 240,

3
  Valerie also argues that Gary improperly extended the appeal period by inserting old orders
into the new order. The findings and conclusions do not address previous orders, however, and
we reject this claim of error.
4
    These issues include whether Gary's entire support obligation ended because Lila dropped out
of high school or because Valerie did not seek postsecondary support in a timely manner, and
whether Gary's postsecondary support obligation was void ab initio because of Lila's age at the
time of the 2003 order.

                                                       E'?
No. 42334 1 II
          - -

177 P. d 175 (2008).In addition, substantial evidence must support the trial court's findings of
     3

fact. Schumacher, 100 Wn. App. at 211.

         RCW 26. 9.
             175(
                1 provides that "[ proceeding for the modification of an order of child
                0 )             a]

support shall commence with the filing of a petition and worksheets. The petition shall be in the
form prescribed by the administrator for the courts."A decree is modified when a party's rights
are extended beyond or reduced from those originally intended in the decree. In re Marriage of
Jarvis, 58 Wn. App. 342, 345, 792 P. d 1259 (1990).
                                   2

         Gary argued below that if his support obligation did not terminate, the court should
modify it based on the change of circumstances that included Lila's health issues as well as her
decision to attend the University of Phoenix. But Gary did not comply with RCW 26. 9.in
                                                                               175
                                                                                 0

seeking modification, and   we   reverse   the modification   on   this basis.   See In re Marriage of

Sagne 159 Wn. App. 741, 744 45,247 P. d 444 (affirming child support modification because
                            -       3
trial court had continuing jurisdiction to modify support and father complied with requirements

of RCW 26. 9.
       175),
         0 review denied, 171 Wn. d 1026 (2011).
                                2

         In addition to complying with RCW 26. 9. the party seeking modification of a
                                           175
                                             0        -
support obligation generally must.show a substantial change of circumstances since the decree's
entry that was not contemplated at the time of the decree.' RCW 26. 9. re Marriage of
                                                                170(
                                                                   1 In
                                                                   0 );
Arvey, 77 Wn. App. 817, 820, 894 P. d
                                  2           1346 (1995). The      trial court's findings refer to two

changes in circumstance: Lila's health and her decision to attend the University of Phoenix. The

 5
     Valerie challenges several of the findings of fact.      We do not address these challenges,
 however, because they are not supported by adequate argument and because they are irrelevant
 to both the relief granted and our resolution of this case. In re Marriage ofAngelo, 142 Wn.
 App. 622, 628 n. , 175 P. d 1096, review denied, 164 Wn. d 1017 (2008).
                  3        3                               2
     The exceptions to this requirement do not apply here. RCW 26. 9.
                                                               b).
                                                               170(
                                                                  1
                                                                  0 )(
                                                   9
No.42334 1 II
         - -

modification imposed, however, does not respond to any change in Lila's health..Rather, it

appears to rest solely on her college choice. No express limitations were placed on that choice in

either the 2003 order or in the trial court's order of August 2010. In August, the court instructed

Lila that continued support depended solely on her full time enrollment at an accredited school.
                                                         -

The University of Phoenix is an accredited school, and Lila's decision to attend the University of

Phoenix rather than the expected Grays Harbor College does not constitute a substantial change

of circumstance sufficient to justify the significant support modification the trial court imposed.

       The trial court concluded that it was in Lila's best interest to continue her education, but

the "best interests of the child" standard does not govern      a   support modification. We also

observe that the trial court's order requiring Gary to pay regular child support as well as half of

Lila's college expenses is inconsistent with its conclusion that Gary's support obligations
terminated in 2009 and with its conclusion that the 2003 order did 'not properly create a

postsecondary support obligation due to Lila's age. We cannot resolve.these inconsistencies, so
we reverse the order modifying Gary's child support obligations and remand for new

proceedings
p-       g    that with the requirements of RCW 26. 9.and .175. Any resulting.order
                  1
                 pY           q                 170
                                                  0

must rest on findings that support consistent conclusions regarding Gary's support obligations.
ATTORNEY FEES

        Valerie argues that the trial court erred in declining to award her attorney fees and that

she is entitled to such an award on appeal.

        Valerie first contends that she is entitled to fees under RCW 26. 8.which provides
                                                                      160
                                                                        1

that "[ n any action to enforce a support or maintenance order under this chapter, the prevailing
     i]

party is entitled to a recovery of costs, including an award for reasonable attorney fees."Without
citing the record, Valerie argues that her " otion and Declaration to Present Oral Testimony on
                                           M
                                                 10
No. 42334 1 II
          - -

Motion for Payment of Child Support and Postsecondary Support" was brought consistent with

RCW 26. 8. Br. of Resp't at 23. As Gary asserts, there is no such pleading in the record.
    160.
      1

Valerie did file 'a " etition/ otion for Child Support to Continue" in May 2010, and the court
                    P        M

awarded her fees in its August      ruling. The record does not contain any subsequent action or

pleading to enforce the support order that would warrant an additional award of fees under RCW
160.
26. 8.
  1

       Valerie also contends that the trial court should have awarded her fees under RCW

26. 9. and because of Gary's
140
  0                                    intransigence. RCW 26: 9.allows for such awards in
                                                          140
                                                            0

family law cases:

       The court .from time to time after considering the financial resources of both
       parties may order a party to pay a reasonable amount for the cost to the other
       party of maintaining or defending any proceeding under this chapter and for
       reasonable attorneys' fees or other professional fees in connection therewith,
       including sums for legal services rendered and costs incurred prior to the
       commencement of the proceeding or enforcement or modification proceedings
       after entry ofjudgment.

       The award of attorney fees under this statute is within the sound discretion of the court

and depends on the need of the recipient and the other party's ability to pay. In re Marriage of
Ochsner, 47 Wn. App. 520, 528, 736 P. d 292, review denied, 108 Wn. d 1027 (1987). The
                                    2                             2

court may, however, alternatively award fees if one spouse's intransigence caused the spouse

seeking   a   fee award to   require additional legal services. In re Marriage of Crosetto, 82 Wn.

App. 545, 563, 918 P. d 954 ( 1996). "Intransigence
                    2                                               is the quality or state of being

uncompromising." Schumacher,           100 Wn.   App.   at   216.   Intransigence is demonstrated by

litigious behavior, bringing excessive motions, or discovery abuses. In re Marriage of Wallace,
 111 Wn.                           3               review
                               45 P. d 1131 ( 2002),           denied, 148 Wn. d
                                                                             2      1011 ( 2003). If
              App. 697, 710,

                                                   11
                                                 M

No. 42334-
    11-  1

intransigence is established, the financial resources of the spouse seeking the fees are irrelevant.

Crosetto, 82 Wn. App. at 564.

       Gary's income is considerably greater than Valerie's income, but RCW 26. 9.does
                                                                            140
                                                                              0

not require an award of fees where one spouse's income exceeds the other's income. The trial

court was clearly troubled by Lila's unanticipated decision to attend the University of Phoenix.
The trial court declined to award either party fees, and this decision does not appear to be an

abuse of discretion under RCW 26. 9. Moreover, Lila's decision to attend the University of
                              140.
                                0

Phoenix, after she implied that she would attend a far less expensive community college, was the

impetus for Gary's continued support challenge and undermines Valerie's claim of intransigence.
       Valerie also contends that RCW 26. 9.entitles her to attorney fees on appeal, as the
                                      140
                                        0

statute adds that.u] any appeal, the appellate court may, in its discretion, order a party to
                  "[ pon

pay for the cost to the other party of maintaining the appeal and attorneys' fees in addition to

statutory costs."In considering such as request for fees under RCW 26. 9.we consider the
                                                                   140,
                                                                     0

arguable merit of the issues raised and the parties' financial resources. In re Marriage ofBooth,
114 Wn. d 772;791 P. d 519 (1990). Appellate courts have granted attorney fees under -
      2            2               -
RCW 26. 9.when one party provided an affidavit of need as RAP 18.1 requires and the
    140
      0

other party did not submit a contravening affidavit. See In re Marriage of Ambrose, 67 Wn.

App. 103, 110, 834 P. d 101 (1992).
                    2

        But Valerie did not file an affidavit showing both her need and Gary's ability to pay as

RAP 18.1 requires. In re Marriage of Hoseth, 115 Wn. App. 563, 575, 63 P. d 164, review
                                                                        3

denied, 150 Wn. d 1011 (2003).Consequently, we deny her request for attorney fees on appeal.
              2

                                                 12
No. 42334-
    11-  1

       Reversed and remanded.

       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

We concur:

fOAIANSON, A. .
           J.
            C

BJ ,         J.

                                              13