Court Opinion

ID: 1063711
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 19:14:42.090591+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:39:48.438333
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judge Elder, Senior Judge Annunziata and Retired Judge Hodges ∗

SAMUEL H. BROWN, JR.
                                                                MEMORANDUM OPINION ∗∗
v.     Record No. 1835-08-4                                          PER CURIAM
                                                                   JANUARY 27, 2009
KRISTEN KETCHUM

                     FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF STAFFORD COUNTY
                             John R. Alderman, Judge Designate

                 (Samuel H. Brown, Jr., pro se, on brief).

                 (Chad Rinard, on brief), for appellee.

       Samuel H. Brown, Jr. appeals the circuit court’s order dismissing two of his motions.

Brown argues that the court erred by (1) denying him his due process rights to have the matter heard

by a particular judge, denying his motion for attorney fees, and denying him the right to present a

full argument; (2) denying him a continuance to obtain counsel; and (3) not allowing him to seek

attorney fees for Kristen Ketchum’s alleged conduct. The record on appeal does not contain a

timely filed transcript or written statement of facts. See Rule 5A:8(a) and (c). Because a

transcript or written statement of facts is indispensable to the determination of the issues on

appeal, we summarily affirm the decision of the trial court. See Rule 5A:27.

                                           BACKGROUND

       Brown and Ketchum have one child together. Over the years, courts have entered several

orders regarding custody, visitation, and child support.

       ∗
        Retired Judge Hodges took part in the consideration of this case by designation pursuant
to Code § 17.1-400(D).
       ∗∗
            Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
       On November 1, 2007, Brown filed several motions, including a “Motion to Reopen,

Amend Custody and Visitation” and a “Motion for Attorney’s Fees, Promissory Note Expenses,

Complaint for Fraud and Motion to Modify Custody.” On April 23, 2008, Brown also filed a

“Motion to Admend [sic] Motion for Attorney’s Fees, Promissory Note Expenses and Complaint

for Fraud filed November 1, 2007 [sic] Admend [sic] to Malicious Prosecution, Fraud, Intention

to False Imprisonment [sic].” On April 30, 2008, a substitute judge heard the matter and

dismissed the latter two motions and granted a continuance for Brown to amend his “Motion to

Reopen, Amend Custody and Visitation.” 1 On May 30, 2008, the court entered an order from

the April 30, 2008 hearing, but Brown did not sign the order.

                                            ANALYSIS

       An appellant has the responsibility to provide a complete record to the appellate court.

Twardy v. Twardy, 14 Va. App. 651, 658, 419 S.E.2d 848, 852 (1992) (en banc). A court

reporter was present at the April 30, 2008 hearing; however, Brown failed to file the transcript in

a timely manner. There is no written statement of facts. In his appeal, Brown argues that the

trial court did not give him an opportunity to present his case or grant him a continuance to retain

counsel. We conclude that a transcript or written statement of facts is indispensable to a

determination of the questions presented on appeal. See Anderson v. Commonwealth, 13
Va. App. 506, 508-09, 413 S.E.2d 75, 76-77 (1992); Turner v. Commonwealth, 2 Va. App. 96,

99-100, 341 S.E.2d 400, 402 (1986). We therefore affirm the decision of the circuit court. See

Rule 5A:27.

                                                                                         Affirmed.

       1
           Brown also filed a motion for a name change, which is not a subject of this appeal.
                                               -2-