Court Opinion

ID: 4397782
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-05-16 21:03:30.189497+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:52:09.338972
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF IDAHO

                                       Docket No. 45856

In the Matter of the Guardianship and           )
Conservatorship of: DORA V. COLE.               )
                                                )
DARRELL COLE and TONY COLE,                     )
Co-Guardians and Co-Conservators,               )   Filed: May 16, 2019
                                                )
       Petitioners-Respondents,                 )   Karel A. Lehrman, Clerk
                                                )
v.                                              )   THIS IS AN UNPUBLISHED
                                                )   OPINION AND SHALL NOT
KELLY COLE,                                     )   BE CITED AS AUTHORITY
                                                )
       Respondent-Appellant.                    )
                                                )

       Appeal from the District Court of the Third Judicial District, State of Idaho,
       Washington County. Hon. D. Duff McKee, District Judge. Hon. Gregory F.
       Frates, Magistrate.

       Order of the district court, on intermediate appeal from the magistrate, affirming
       judgment of guardianship and conservatorship and award of attorney fees and
       costs, affirmed.

       Kelly Cole, Council, pro se appellant.

       Millemann Pemberton & Holm LLP; Steven J. Millemann, McCall, for
       respondents.
                 ________________________________________________

LORELLO, Judge
       Kelly Cole appeals from the district court’s order, on intermediate appeal from the
magistrate, affirming a judgment of guardianship and conservatorship and award of attorney fees
and costs. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.

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                                                  I.
                     FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
        On July 14, 2016, Darrell Cole and Tony Cole filed a petition seeking an appointment
for guardianship and conservatorship of their mother, Dora V. Cole. The following day, a
magistrate entered a ninety-day order of temporary guardianship and conservatorship. Dora was
served with the notice of the petition, the petition, and a copy of the temporary order of
guardianship and conservatorship on July 22, 2016. A hearing for permanent appointment of a
guardian and conservator was scheduled and notice of that hearing was served on several
individuals, including Kelly Cole, one of Dora’s other sons. Kelly filed an objection, which
included a contention that the court lacked jurisdiction in the matter due to an alleged lack of
adequate notice to interested persons. The magistrate subsequently entered an order extending
the temporary guardianship and conservatorship pending a permanency hearing. The magistrate
also rejected Kelly’s jurisdictional challenge.
       Following the permanency hearing, the magistrate found that Dora was incapacitated and
appointed Darrell and Tony as co-guardians and co-conservators. Kelly appealed to the district
court. The district court characterized the sole issue on appeal as whether the magistrate erred in
not dismissing the petition for lack of jurisdiction due to the failure to serve Dora or Kelly with a
summons. The district court rejected Kelly’s argument, held that the magistrate had jurisdiction,
and affirmed the magistrate “in all respects.” The district court awarded costs and attorney fees
to Darrell and Tony. Kelly again appealed. 1
                                                  II.
                                   STANDARD OF REVIEW
       For an appeal from the district court, sitting in its appellate capacity over a case from the
magistrate division, this Court’s standard of review is the same as expressed by the Idaho
Supreme Court. The Supreme Court reviews the magistrate record to determine whether there is
substantial and competent evidence to support the magistrate’s findings of fact and whether the
magistrate’s conclusions of law follow from those findings. Pelayo v. Pelayo, 154 Idaho 855,
858-59, 303 P.3d 214, 217-18 (2013). If those findings are so supported and the conclusions

1
       Dora subsequently died on May 4, 2018.

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follow therefrom, and if the district court affirmed the magistrate’s decision, we affirm the
district court’s decision as a matter of procedure. Id. Thus, the appellate courts do not review
the decision of the magistrate. Bailey v. Bailey, 153 Idaho 526, 529, 284 P.3d 970, 973 (2012).
Rather, we are procedurally bound to affirm or reverse the decision of the district court. Id.
Jurisdictional issues are subject to free review. See Telford v. Smith Cty., Texas, 155 Idaho 497,
500, 314 P.3d 179, 182 (2013). A party disputing an attorney fee award has the burden of
showing the award was an abuse of discretion. Smith v. Mitton, 140 Idaho 893, 901, 104 P.3d
367, 375 (2004).
                                               III.
                                           ANALYSIS
A.     Jurisdiction
       Kelly continues to argue that the magistrate lacked jurisdiction in this case because no
summons was issued pursuant to I.R.C.P. 3 and 4. Darrell and Tony respond that the district
court correctly rejected this contention. We agree that no summons was required in order to
confer jurisdiction in the magistrate court to consider the petition for guardianship and
conservatorship.
       Idaho Code Section 15-5-303, et seq., govern petitions for guardianship of an
incapacitated person. While such proceedings are civil in nature, see I.R.C.P. 3(d), the summons
requirements set forth in I.R.C.P. 4 do not apply to guardianship proceedings. As explained by
the district court, the substance of various provisions of I.R.C.P. 4 illustrate why. For example,
I.R.C.P. 4(a)(1)(G) indicates that a summons be directed to the defendant, but there is no
defendant in a guardianship case.     While Kelly had an interest in the guardianship action
concerning his mother, he was not a defendant to the action. 2 Nor is there a possibility of a
default judgment as contemplated by I.R.C.P. 4(a)(1)(I) for failing to appear in a guardianship
action. Further, because there is no complaint or defendant in a guardianship action, dismissal is
not required if a summons is not served within six months after the complaint is filed. See
I.R.C.P. 4(b)(2). The only notice required in this case was that provided for in the statutes

2
       To the extent Kelly is arguing that other interested parties were also entitled to receive a
summons, he has no standing to advance a claim on behalf of others. See Emp’ Res. Mgmt. Co.
v. Ronk, 162 Idaho 774, 777, 405 P.3d 33, 36 (2017).

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applicable to guardianships. Kelly has cited no authority to support his assertion that the lack of
a summons deprived the magistrate of jurisdiction over the guardianship petition. A party
waives an issue on appeal if either argument or authority is lacking. Powell v. Sellers, 130 Idaho
122, 128, 937 P.2d 434, 440 (Ct. App. 1997). Accordingly, we affirm the district court.
B.        Costs and Attorney Fees
          On intermediate appeal, the district court awarded costs to Darrell and Tony as the
prevailing parties under I.A.R. 40(a) and attorney fees pursuant to I.C. §§ 12-120 and 12-121.
On this appeal, Kelly asks this Court to reverse the district court’s attorney fee award. Darrell
and Tony respond that Kelly has failed to assert any factual or legal basis for vacating the district
court’s attorney fee award. Darrell and Tony also request costs and attorney fees on this
appeal.
          1.     Attorney fees award on intermediate appeal
          On intermediate appeal, Darrell and Tony requested attorney fees pursuant to
I.C. § 12-121, arguing that Kelly pursued the appeal frivolously, unreasonably, and without
foundation. In its memorandum decision, the district court concluded Darrell and Tony were
entitled to attorney fees under I.C. §§ 12-120 and 12-121 and subsequently awarded $7,874.25 in
attorney fees.
          Idaho Code Sections 12-120 and 12-121 both authorize an award of attorney fees in
certain types of actions. Idaho Code Section 12-120 governs the award of attorney fees in
certain types of actions and does not apply in this case. 3 Idaho Code Section 12-121 provides:
                  In any civil action, the judge may award reasonable attorney’s fees to the
          prevailing party or parties when the judge finds that the case was brought, pursued
          or defended frivolously, unreasonably or without foundation. This section shall
          not alter, repeal or amend any statute that otherwise provides for the award of
          attorney’s fees. The term “party” or “parties” is defined to include any person,
          partnership, corporation, association, private organization, the state of Idaho or
          political subdivision thereof.
          Applying the foregoing standards, the district court found that Kelly’s arguments on
appeal “demonstrate[d] a fundamental misunderstanding of the principles of due process, the

3
        Although the district court included a citation to I.C. § 12-120 in concluding an award of
attorney fees was appropriate, Darrell and Tony’s request was based on I.C. § 12-121, as was the
court’s analysis. Thus, the citation to, and any reliance on, I.C. § 12-120 was erroneous.

                                                  4
distinctions between the various types of action[s], and the manner and means of giving notice
when required.” The district court further concluded that Kelly’s arguments were “frivolous and
without foundation.”
       In his opening brief on this appeal, Kelly contends the district court’s attorney fee award
was erroneous because he believes the issue presented is not frivolous; however, Kelly cites no
authority in support of his claim. Although Kelly recites I.C. § 12-121 and two cases employing
the statute’s frivolousness standard in his reply brief, this Court will not consider arguments
raised for the first time in the appellant’s reply brief. See Suitts v. Nix, 141 Idaho 706, 708, 117
P.3d 120, 122 (2005). Kelly’s bare assertion in his opening brief that he does not believe the
issue presented is frivolous does not show an abuse of discretion by the district court. Therefore,
the award of attorney fees on intermediate appeal is affirmed.
       2.      Costs and attorney fees on appeal to this Court
       On appeal to this Court, Darrell and Tony again request costs and attorney fees. Because
Darrell and Tony are the prevailing party in this appeal, they are entitled to costs pursuant to
I.A.R. 40.
       Regarding attorney fees, Darrell and Tony do not designate attorney fees as a separate
additional issue on appeal as required by I.A.R. 41(a). See Crump v. Bromley, 148 Idaho 172,
176, 219 P.3d 1188, 1192 (2009). However, in the argument section of their brief, Darrell and
Tony have included a separate section titled “Attorney Fees” in which they argue they are
entitled to attorney fees pursuant to I.C. § 12-121 because Kelly’s appeal is frivolous. Attorney
fees on appeal are appropriate pursuant to I.A.R. 41(a) and I.C. § 12-121 if the appellate court is
left with an abiding belief that the appeal has been brought or defended frivolously,
unreasonably, or without foundation. U.S. Nat. Bank of Oregon v. Cox, 126 Idaho 733, 736, 889
P.2d 1123, 1126 (Ct. App. 1995). Because Kelly has failed to present a cogent argument
challenging the district court’s intermediate appellate decision, this appeal was pursued without
foundation. Darrell and Kelly are therefore entitled to an award of attorney fees on this appeal.
                                                IV.
                                         CONCLUSION
       Kelly has failed to show the district court erred in affirming the magistrate’s finding that
it had jurisdiction over the petition for guardianship and conservatorship. Kelly has also failed to

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show the district court abused its discretion in awarding attorney fees on intermediate appeal.
Therefore, the order of the district court, on appeal from the magistrate, is affirmed. As the
prevailing parties, costs are awarded to Darrell and Tony on appeal. Attorney fees are also
awarded to Darrell and Tony on this appeal because the appeal was pursued without foundation.
       Judge HUSKEY and Judge BRAILSFORD, CONCUR.

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