Court Opinion

ID: 4296861
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-07-23 20:31:42.449181+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:25:26.866106
License: Public Domain

CJ'OF APPEALS,DI I
                                                         srATE OF WASHINGTON

                                                          2018JUL 23 AM 8:37

  IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                      DIVISION ONE

In the Matter of the Marriage of          )      No. 76373-3-1
                                          )
KSENIIA GOLUBEVA,                         )
                                          )
                     Respondent,          )
                                          )
       and                                )
                                          )      UNPUBLISHED OPINION
EVGENY PISTRAK,                           )
                                          )      FILED: July 23, 2018
                     Appellant.           )
                                          )

       VERELLEN, J. —When the court dissolved Kseniia Golubeva and Evgeny

Pistrak's marriage, it awarded Golubeva $8,000 for unpaid temporary

maintenance. In challenging this judgment, Pistrak does not point to any specific

factors or material evidence the court improperly disregarded. Pistrak fails to

show the trial court abused its discretion when it entered judgment for the unpaid

maintenance. And substantial evidence supports the court's finding of Pistrak's

ability to pay because the court had evidence of Pistrak's income and debt

obligations.

       The court also awarded Golubeva $20,000 in attorney fees and costs. The

court did not enter specific findings supporting the time incurred or the hourly rate
No. 76373-3-1/2

charged. Because the court did not enter adequate findings to explain the award

of attorney fees and costs, we remand for additional findings.

       When the court held a hearing to issue its oral ruling, Pistrak indicated he

could not understand the proceeding without an interpreter. In the findings, the

court did not find it credible that Pistrak was unable to understand even the basic

preliminary comments by the court. Pistrak fails to provide any basis for relief

given the fact the court ended the hearing after he objected and entered the

decree and findings in writing.

       Therefore, we affirm the judgment for unpaid temporary maintenance. As

to the attorney fees award, we remand for further proceedings on the existing

record consistent with this opinion.

                                       FACTS

       Pistrak and Golubeva were married on September 19, 2014. They

separated on May 20, 2015.

       On November 16, 2015, the court ordered Pistrak to pay Golubeva $2,000

per month in temporary maintenance. Between November 2015 and 2016, Pistrak

brought numerous motions to revoke or modify the temporary maintenance. Also

during that time, the court held Pistrak in contempt multiple times for failing to pay.

       Trial occurred between November 7, 2016 and November 10, 2016. On

November 18, 2016, the court held a hearing to issue its findings and conclusions.

When Pistrak indicated he could not understand the proceeding without an

interpreter, the court ended the hearing and later entered its written order.

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No. 76373-3-1/3

         In the dissolution decree and findings of fact and conclusions of law, the

court awarded Golubeva $8,000 for unpaid temporary maintenance and $20,000

in attorney fees and costs.

         Pistrak appeals.

                                      ANALYSIS

I. Temporary Maintenance

         Pistrak challenges the trial court's $8,000 judgment to Golubeva for unpaid

temporary maintenance.

         As a threshold matter, Golubeva argues Pistrak failed to preserve this

issue.

         In November 2015, Pistrak challenged Golubeva's original request for

temporary maintenance. Between November 2015 and 2016, Pistrak brought

numerous motions to revoke or modify the temporary maintenance. Also during

that time, the court held Pistrak in contempt multiple times for failing to pay.

         In July 2016, the commissioner reserved the issue of July maintenance for

the trial judge because, at the time, trial was scheduled for August. The trial was

ultimately continued until November 2016. In October 2016, the commissioner

entered an order finding Pistrak in contempt for failing to pay temporary

maintenance. The commissioner reaffirmed the reservation of the July

maintenance for the trial judge and entered a $6,000 judgment against Pistrak for

unpaid maintenance between August 2016 and October 2016. The commissioner

reserved review of the contempt order for the trial judge.

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No. 76373-3-1/4

      Trial started on November 7, 2016. At trial, Pistrak again challenged the

temporary maintenance.

      [W]hen there was a hearing in July,[the commissioner]... ordered
      that all the maintenance money could be—or should be relitigated or
      reconsidered at trial. So my request to the court is to reconsider the
      maintenance issue in such a way that I do not owe her any
      maintenance starting from the time of that hearing in July. The
      reason for that being that Golubeva is a healthy person. She has a
      work authorization. And . . . as she told us.. . her new job is in the
      same profession as before. And she, in fact, even has been
      promoted. ... And also the fact is that I already had paid enough, a
      lot, under the temporary maintenance order. I already paid $18,000.
      That should be perfectly sufficient.

             Also, I would like to draw the court's attention to the fact that
      the reason she was awarded maintenance in the first place was her
      immigration status. So, that's why I'm asking that the court not
      award any future maintenance from now on, neither retroactively.[1]

      On November 18, 2017, when the court entered the decree and findings,

the court awarded Golubeva $8,000 for unpaid maintenance between July 2016

and October 2016.

      The wife was unable to work because of visa limitations until just
      before trial. She became eligible, and immediately employed.
      During the time she was ineligible, from the date of separation until
      trial, the wife had extreme need for maintenance, and the husband
      had the ability to pay.. . . The wife no longer has the need for
      maintenance, but the temporary maintenance is confirmed, and will
      be made a judgment to the extent the husband has not paid (he has
      not paid any maintenance for the past four months, in violation of the
      court's orders).[21

      Golubeva offers two preservation arguments, but they are not persuasive.

First, Golubeva claims Pistrak's arguments before this court rely on documents

      I Report of Proceedings(RP)(Nov. 10, 2016) at 509-10.
      2   Clerk's Papers(CP)at 3271.

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No. 76373-3-1/5

that were filed in the case but not admitted at trial. But the trial court was aware of

the filings related to the temporary maintenance order when it ruled on Pistrak's

multiple motions to revoke and modify the commissioner's orders. And during the

trial, the court indicated that documents filed in the case did not need to be

admitted as exhibits.3

       Second, Golubeva contends,"Having failed to challenge the Temporary

Order at trial or to appeal it, Pistrak cannot challenge his duty to pay temporary

maintenance." But under RAP 2.4,"an appeal from the final judgment brings up

for review most orders and rulings made pretrial and during trial."5 And on

November 4, 2016, when the trial court denied Pistrak's last motion for revision of

the temporary maintenance order, the court stated the denial "does not preclude

Mr. Pistrak from arguing at trial the appropriate amount or duration of

maintenance."6 And as previously discussed, Pistrak did challenge the temporary

maintenance order at trial.

       We conclude Pistrak has preserved his arguments concerning temporary

maintenance.

        3 See RP (Nov. 7, 2016) at 108 ("[T]he financial declaration is already filed
in the court file. [T]here's no need to admit it as an exhibit. So,!won't admit it, but
you could certainly refer to it and utilize it."); see also RAP 9.1 ("The 'record on
review' may consistent of...'clerk's papers'. ... The clerk's papers include the
pleadings, orders, and other papers filed with the clerk of the trial court.").
      4   Respl's Br. at 14.
      5   Wlasiuk v. Whirlpool Corp., 76 Wash. App. 250, 259, 884 P.2d 13(1994).
      6   CP at 1964.

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No. 76373-3-1/6

       As to the merits of the temporary maintenance, Pistrak claims the trial court

abused its discretion because it did not consider all the statutory factors under

RCW 26.09.090 when entering judgment for the previously unpaid temporary

maintenance.

      "We review a trial court's award of maintenance for abuse of discretion."7

"Trial court decisions in a dissolution action will seldom be changed upon appeal—

the spouse who challenges such decisions bears the heavy burden of showing a

manifest abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court."8 The trial court abuses

its discretion when its decision is manifestly unreasonable or based on untenable

grounds or reasons.9

             A court's decision is manifestly unreasonable if it is outside
      the range of acceptable choices, given the facts and the applicable
      legal standard; it is based on untenable grounds if the factual
      findings are unsupported by the record; it is based on untenable
      reasons if it is based on an incorrect standard or the facts do not
      meet the requirements of the correct standard.E191

       An award of temporary maintenance is governed by RCW 26.09.060, which

provides,"The court may issue... an order for temporary maintenance or support

in such amounts and on such terms as are just and proper in the circumstances."11

       7In re Marriage of Valente, 179 Wash. App. 817, 822, 320 P.3d 115(2014)
(quoting In re Marriage of Mueller, 140 Wash. App. 498, 510, 167 P.3d 568 (2007)).
      8 In re Marriage of Bowen, 168 Wash. App. 581, 586, 279 P.3d 885(2012)
(quoting In re Marriage of Landry, 103 Wash. 2d 807, 809-10, 699 P.2d 214 (1985)).
      9     Id.
       10   In re Marriage of Littlefield, 133 Wash. 2d 39, 47, 940 P.2d 1362(1997).
       11   RCW 26.09.060(6).

                                           6
No. 76373-3-1/7

      RCW 26.09.090 addresses an award of maintenance after the court

dissolves the marriage.

             (1)... The maintenance order shall be in such amounts and
      for such periods of time as the court deems just, without regard to
      misconduct, after considering all relevant factors including but not
      limited to:

             (a)The financial resources of the party seeking maintenance

             (b) The time necessary to acquire sufficient education or
      training to enable the party seeking maintenance to find employment
      appropriate to his or her skills, interests, style of life, and other
      attendant circumstances;

            (c) The standard of living established during the marriage or
      domestic partnership;

             (d) The duration of the marriage or domestic partnership;

            (e) The age, physical and emotion condition, and financial
      obligations of the spouse or domestic partner seeking maintenance;
      and

              (f) The ability of the spouse or domestic partner from whom
     • maintenance is sought to meet his or her needs and financial
       obligations while meeting those of the spouse or domestic partner
       seeking maintenance.

      Pistrak provides no authority that a temporary maintenance award requires

findings as to each of the statutory factors governing post-decree maintenance.

Golubeva contends the court properly applied the temporary maintenance statute.

"While temporary maintenance is certainly not based upon the question of whether

maintenance will be continued past the entry of the decree, temporary

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No. 76373-3-1/8

maintenance cannot be adjudged in a vacuum without reference to post-decree

maintenance factors."12

       Although Pistrak is correct that the trial court should look to the factors

under RCW 26.09.090, he fails to point to any specific factors or material evidence

the court improperly disregarded.

       Pistrak claims the trial court improperly considered Golubeva's visa work

limitations. But Golubeva's visa limitations relate to the "financial resources of the

party seeking maintenance" under RCW 26.09.090(1)(a). As presented to the trial

court, Golubeva's visa limitations inhibited her ability to work, which in turn

affected her financial resources. This is reflected in the trial court's finding that

Golubeva "no longer has the need for maintenance,"13 because the visa limitations

ended and she found employment.

       Pistrak also argues substantial evidence did not support the trial court's

finding of his ability to pay.

       When reviewing findings of fact made by a trial judge, we apply the

substantial evidence standard.14 "Substantial evidence exists if the record

contains evidence of a sufficient quantity to persuade a fair-minded, rational

person of the truth of the declared premise.'"15

          SCOTT J. HORENSTEIN, WASHINGTON PRACTICE: FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
       12 19

PROPERTY LAW § 26.2 at 656(2nd ed. 2017).
       13   CF at 3271.
       14   In re Marriage of Rockwell, 141 Wash. App. 235, 242, 170 P.3d 572(2007).
      15 Id. (quoting In re Marriage of Griswold, 112 Wash. App. 333, 339, 48 P.3d
1018 (2002)).

                                           8
No. 76373-3-1/9

        In the findings of fact and conclusions of law, the trial court found Pistrak

had the ability to pay.16 Pistrak argues the trial court "focus[ed] on the husband's

gross yearly income without a fair consideration of the money actually available to

him."17 But the record before this court indicates that the trial court was well aware

of the parties' financial situation. The trial court had Pistrak's pay stubs for May

2016 through September 2016, which indicated he was earning $135,000 per

year.

        During trial, Pistrak testified that his credit card debt was around $35,000.

Pistrak's testimony is supported by his December 2016 credit card statement,

which shows his balance was $35,869.31. But the trial court also had Pistrak's

credit card statements for June 2016 through October 2016, and those statements

show that prior to December 2016, Pistrak's debt was much lower and he was

making significant payments on the card.18

        We conclude substantial evidence supports the trial court's finding of

Pistrak's ability to pay, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it

entered judgment for the unpaid temporary maintenance.

         CP at 3271 ("The husband makes $135,000 per year. He claims
        16

throughout the pretrial hearings on temporary maintenance, and during trial, that
he is unable to pay the modest $2,000 in maintenance were not supported by the
evidence.").
        17   Appellant's Br. at 14.
      18 In May 2016, Pistrak's credit card balance was $2,824.63 and he made a
payment of $3,500. In June 2016, Pistrak's balance was $1,396.56 and he made
a payment of $7,899.57. In July 2016, Pistrak's balance was $15,759.17 and he
made a payment of $15,506.82. In August 2016, Pistrak's balance was $9,247.58
and he made a payment of $14,151.11. And in September 2016, Pistrak's
balance was $21,389.96 and he made a payment of $2,949.99.

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No. 76373-3-1/10

II. Attorney Fees

       Pistrak contends the trial court failed to enter sufficient findings and

conclusions to support its award of fees to Golubeva.

       We review a trial court's determination of reasonableness of attorney fees

for abuse of discretion.19 To determine a reasonable attorney fee, the court

"begins with a calculation of the 'lodestar,' which is the number of hours

reasonably expended on the litigation multiplied by a reasonable hourly rate."29

The court must also segregate and "discount hours spent on unsuccessful claims,

duplicated effort, or otherwise unproductive time."21

       The party requesting the fee must provide reasonable documentation of the

work performed.22 But the court must conduct an independent "evaluation of the

reasonableness of the fees" and cannot simply rely on the billing records and

pleadings of the prevailing party.23 "[M]eaningful findings and conclusions must be

entered to explain an award of attorney fees."24 "The findings must show how the

court resolved disputed issues of fact and the conclusions must explain the court's

analysis."25

       19   Berryman v. Metcalf, 177 Wash. App. 644, 656-57, 312 P.3d 745(2013).
       29   Id. at 660.
     21 Bowers v. Transamerica Title Ins. Co., 100 Wash. 2d 581, 597, 675 P.2d

192(1983).
           Westlake, LLC v. Engstrom Props., LLC, 169 Wash. App. 700, 734, 281
       22 224

P.3d 693(2012).
       23   Berryman, 177 Wash. App. at 677-78.
       24   Id.
       25   Id. at 658.

                                          10
No. 76373-3-1/11

      The declaration provided by Golubeva's counsel provided an adequate

basis for a lodestar determination; notably, a description of counsel's

qualifications, experience, and background, a description of the services provided,

and the basis for the claimed hourly rate. The declaration also provided sufficient

context to analyze other factors, including the complexity of the matter, the

intransigence of Pistrak, and the history of previously awarded but unpaid fees.

       But the court did not enter adequate findings. It awarded $20,000, stating:

       Petitioner incurred fees and costs, and needs help to pay those fees
       and costs. The other spouse has the ability to help pay fees and
       costs and should be ordered to pay the amount as listed in the final
       order. The court finds that this amount of $20,000 ordered is
       reasonable. The petitioner requested in excess of $33,000 in
       attorney's fees. This should have been a very straight forward case.
       The parties were married for only eight months, there are no children
       of the marriage, and the only real asset was the house. Some, but
       not all, of the fees incurred by the petitioner were caused by the
       intransigence of the respondent. In addition, he has an ability to pay,
       and the petitioner has the need for fees.[26]

       There are no specific findings supporting the time incurred or the hourly rate

charged. We conclude the court's findings are insufficient to allow meaningful

review and the appropriate remedy is a remand on the existing record for entry of

findings and conclusions of law to support the attorney fee award.27

       26   CP at 3271.
       27 Berryman, 177 Wash. App. at 659 ("Normally, a fee award that is
unsupported by an adequate record will be remanded for entry of proper findings
of fact and conclusions of law that explain the basis for the award.").

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No. 76373-3-1/12

III. Interpreter

       Pistrak challenges the trial court's finding concerning his need for an

interpreter.

       At the end of trial, the court scheduled a final hearing on November 18,

2016 to issue its oral ruling. At the hearing, Pistrak appeared telephonically and

indicated he did not understand the proceeding because there was no translator

present. The court addressed two exhibits which were discussed during trial but

not admitted "because we were waiting for the official copies."28 At the hearing on

November 18, 2016, the court admitted the official records in place of the

photocopies that were referenced during trial. Pistrak again indicated that he did

not understand and that he was unable to participate. The court ended the

hearing because "Mr. Pistrak doesn't understand what's going on, so I'm going to

get off the bench and enter this in writing."29

       In the findings of fact and conclusions of law, the court stated:

       The court started to express these findings orally, in open court, this
       date, with the petitioner and her attorney present in court, and with
       Mr. Pistrak participating by telephone, as suggested by the court
       when Mr. Pistrak asked to be excused from the hearing. He
       demonstrated during many hearings, and during trial, that his English
       was excellent. Nonetheless, at his request the court provided
       Russian interpreters during the trial. As Mr. Pistrak's participation at
       today's hearing was uncertain, there was no Russian interpreters
       present. Mr. Pistrak claimed he did not understand even the basic
       preliminary comments by the court. The court did not find this
       credible, but determined it was appropriate to end the hearing and?to
       simply enter the findings and decree in writing.1301

       28   RP (Nov. 18, 2016) at 525.
       29   Id. at 526.
       3°   CP at 3273(emphasis added).

                                          12
No. 76373-3-1/13

       Pistrak now seeks to reverse this finding, arguing he had a right to an

interpreter.31 But he misinterprets the court's specific finding. The court did not

reach the underlying question of whether Pistrak needed an interpreter. Rather

the court's specific finding is that it did not find it credible that Pistrak was unable

to understand even the basic preliminary comments by the court.

       In his narrow assignment of error, Pistrak contends "the trial Court erred in

not providing an interpreter to husband during the ruling on the case on November

18, 2016." But Pistrak fails to provide any basis for relief on appeal given the fact

that after the ministerial act of substituting official records for photocopies, the

court ended the hearing. The lack of an interpreter at the November 18, 2016

hearing did not prejudice Pistrak when the court terminated that hearing on his

objection.

       We deny Pistrak's request to reverse the trial court's finding.

IV. Fees on Appeal

       Golubeva requests fees on appeal under RCW 26.09.140 and based on

Pistrak's intransigence.

       RCW 26.09.140 allows for an award of fees on appeal based on the

financial resources of the parties to a dissolution action. Golubeva's declaration

establishes her need and Pistrak's ability to pay. Because the statute supports an

       31 In his opening brief, Pistrak also seeks to strike the exhibits from the trial
record. In his reply brief, Pistrak claims it is not his goal "in appealing the absence
of interpreter[]to exclude certain exhibits." Reply Br. at 14.

                                            13
No. 76373-3-1/14

award of fees, we need not consider Golubeva's alternative theory of

intransigence on appeal.

       We grant Golubeva's request for fees on appeal upon her compliance with

RAP 18.1(d).

       Therefore, we affirm the award of $8,000 for unpaid temporary

maintenance. As to the award of attorney fees in the trial court, we remand for

further proceedings on the existing record consistent with this opinion.32

WE CONCUR:

       32 Consistent with the commissioner's April 16, 2018 ruling, we deny the
parties' reciprocal motions to strike, Pistrak's motion to take judicial notice, and
Golubeva's request for sanctions. As to Pistrak's July 2, 2018 motion to take
judicial notice, he failed to assign error to the findings he asks us to amend, and
these findings are not germane to this appeal.

                                          14