Court Opinion

ID: 9398502
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-05-31 15:09:36.057791+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:34.013474
License: Public Domain

ORIGINAL                                            05/30/2023

           IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA                                          Case Number: DA 23-0092

                                           DA 23-0092

 IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF:
                                                                                     MAY 3 0 2023
                                                                                  Bowen Grlenvv000
 CORRINA JOHNSON,                                                               Clerk of S. ', name Court
                                                                                   State of Montana

               Petitioner and Appellee,
                                                                           ORDER
        and

 TRENT RICHARD JOHNSON,

               Respondent and Appellant.

       By motion fi led May 3. 2023. Appellee Corrina Johnson moves for dismissal of this
appeal pursuant to M. R. App. P. 7(8) because Appellant Trent Richard Johnson failed to
participate in mediation. Corrina alleges, as does the Mediator's Report filed by appointed
mediator Daniel B. Bidegaray, that Trent did not provide a statement of position, a separate
confidential settlement letter, or respond in any manner until after the start of the mediation,
at which time his counsel e-mailed the mediator, stating, "I'm in trial."
       M. R. App. P. 7(8) provides that substantial noncompliance with mandatory
appellate alternative dispute resolution may result in sanctions including dismissal of the
appeal. In this case, in addition to failing to participate in mediation, Trent has failed to
timely file an opening brief or request an extension of time to do so, and he has not
responded to Corrina's motion to disrniss nor disputed her allegation that he failed to
comply with the mandatory appellate alternative dispute resolution process. Dismissal is
warranted under M. R. App. P. 7(8), 13(3), and 16(1).'
       IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this appeal is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
       The Clerk is directed to provide copies of this Order to all counsel of record.

I On May 26, 2023, Trent filed an untimely response to Corrina's motion to dismiss. In his
response, Trent asserts a financial inability to order a transcript of the proceedings and adequately
prepare an opening brief, but he completely fails to acknowledge, much less address, the primary
basis for Corinna's motion to dismiss: Trent's substantial noncompliance with M. R. App. P. 7.
Dated this S6 a-4 of May, 2023.

                                            Chief Justice

                                      94 de 44._
                                      611           /f Z

                                              Justic s

                                  2