Court Opinion

ID: 9783932
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-30 20:29:07.029053+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:35:44.499549
License: Public Domain

CUNNINGHAM, J.,
Concurring in Part and Dissenting in Part:
While respectful of the well-crafted opinion of Justice Abramson, I concur in part and dissent in part. I concur with the reversal of the Court of Appeals which suggests that child support cannot be assessed against a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI). I dissent, however, in our holding that there was insufficient evidence for the trial court to hold Appellee in contempt.
The record — and even the majority opinion — strongly suggest that the family court struggled through much proof taking and deliberation in reaching its finding of contempt. It reduced the amount owed to accommodate the evidence which reflected that Appellee’s SSI income was not sufficient to take care of her own needs and pay the previously ordered child support. It is not a mystery to me, as it appears to be to the majority, why the family court set the reduced amount at $60 per month. It is not just coincidental that KRS 403.212(4) states in part that “[t]he minimum amount of child support shall be sixty dollars ($60) per month.” Neither — I would suggest to the majority — was the trial court in the dark that this mother of four children could make that amount *342without jeopardizing her monthly SSI amounts. This does not seem too much of a demand upon one who has four children, is “able-bodied,” and totally free of the custody and care of any.
The trial court, after many months of testimony and hearings wherein it closely observed Appellee, found her to “be an able-bodied person capable of providing financial support to her child.” I do not think that the trial court abused its very expansive discretion in either this finding or the ruling on contempt.
It is well known to the Court that for us to determine that the trial judge’s decision was an abuse of discretion, we must determine that it was “arbitrary, unreasonable, unfair, or unsupported by sound legal principles.” McKinney v. McKinney, 257 S.W.3d 130, 133 (Ky.App.2008). As long as there is a “reasonable basis” for a family court’s decision regarding child support, we cannot find that there is an abuse of discretion. Downing v. Downing, 45 S.W.3d 449, 457 (Ky.App.2001). Needless to say, the trial court is always the one in the best position to judge a person’s physical and mental capabilities. Here, we have a mother who is drawing SSI because of mental or emotional deficiencies. The majority concedes that the receipt of SSI benefits is not in and of itself conclusive as to the inability to pay.
There was sufficient evidence in the record, and from numerous hearings and observations by the trial court, for the trial court to find that the Appellee was physically able to pay the amount requested. I search in vain to find anywhere in the record where her condition changed during that period of time. The trial court was exposed to the shifting positions taken by Appellee, depending upon her objectives. In her attempt to retain custody, she portrayed herself as plenty capable of taking care of her children. Conveniently, when the Cabinet came looking for child support, she claims total disability of earning any income. As Appellant points out in its brief, in at least one hearing Appellee was capable of representing herself and testified that her mental condition was under control.
In essence, I believe that, in this case, both the Court of Appeals and this Court have indulged in second-guessing and micro-managing the trial court’s determination that this mother had the ability to earn at least $60 per month, plus $5 per month on the arrearage. This is especially true in this instance where the trial court was obviously not arbitrary but, in fact, labored patiently and thoughtfully through numerous hearings. For these reasons, I do not find that there was an abuse of discretion and must, therefore, dissent. Since we are remanding the case for further findings, I would at least allow the trial judge to also submit additional findings for our reconsideration on the contempt.
Therefore, I concur in part and dissent in part.
SCOTT, J., joins.