Court Opinion

ID: 9614134
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 04:22:49.967551+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:03:33.997161
License: Public Domain

CARDINE, Justice,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in the above opinion insofar as the trial court held that accrued child support was due and owing and refused to modify retroactively. Beyond this, I dissent and would reverse and remand for further proceedings as outlined below.
The court in its opinion states:
“We adopt the rule that the receipt of payments from Social Security by the children of one obligated to pay child support may constitute a change of circumstances giving rise to justification for a petition for modification of the decree.” Maj. op. at 911.
I agree with the rule adopted by the court. Having adopted this rule and having recognized the facts of this case as a basis for modification, the court approves the denial of discovery because it is said the motion for discovery was in the conservatorship case rather than the petition for modification ease. The petition to modify and the application for conservatorship were consolidated. It seems that judicial economy and simple fairness would mandate that appellant have a right to discover all of the facts and circumstances that might bear upon his petition for modification and have a decision on that petition on the merits. Accordingly, I would affirm the judgment to the extent indicated, reverse the order denying discovery, and remand for further proceedings.