Court Opinion

ID: 886095
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-05 03:52:23.798389+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:11:18.201541
License: Public Domain

No. 01-358

                IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

                                        2002 MT 168

IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF

MARSHA L. KUMMER,

               Petitioner and Respondent,

         and

SAMUEL M. HEINERT,

               Respondent and Appellant.

APPEAL FROM:          District Court of the Eighth Judicial District,
                      In and for the County of Cascade,
                      The Honorable Kenneth R. Neill, Judge presiding.

COUNSEL OF RECORD:

               For Appellant:

                      Steven T. Potts, Thompson & Potts, Great Falls, Montana

               For Respondent:

                      Marcia Birkenbuel, Great Falls, Montana

                                                         Submitted on Briefs: November 29, 2001

                                                                   Decided: July 26, 2002
Filed:

                      __________________________________________
                                        Clerk
Justice Patricia O. Cotter delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶1     On May 31, 2000, Marsha Kummer (Marsha) moved the Eighth Judicial District

Court for an increase in child support. Following a hearing, the District Court granted the

motion, increasing Samuel Heinert's (Samuel's) monthly child support obligation from $400

to $742. Samuel appeals the District Court's Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and

Order. We affirm.

¶2     The dispositive issue on appeal is whether the District Court abused its discretion in

modifying the father's child support obligation.

                 FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶3     Marsha and Samuel were married in 1991 and have two children together, a son born

in 1993, and a daughter born in 1994. On August 26, 1998, the District Court entered a

Decree of Dissolution (Decree), dissolving the marriage. The Decree incorporated a Property

Settlement Agreement (Agreement) that Marsha and Samuel executed on August 25, 1998.

¶4     Pursuant to the Agreement, the parents had joint legal custody, with Marsha having

primary physical custody and Samuel having the children every other weekend and Tuesday

and Friday nights. The Agreement provided that Samuel would pay $400 in monthly child

support to Marsha in accordance with the Montana Uniform Child Support Guidelines

(Guidelines). The parties later changed the weekly parenting schedule, agreeing that the

children would continue to live primarily with Marsha, but would stay with Samuel on

alternating weekends and on Monday and Tuesday nights in alternating weeks.

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¶5      On May 31, 2000, Marsha filed a Motion and Brief to Modify Child Support asking

the court to review and increase Samuel's support obligation to comply with the Guidelines.

In the accompanying affidavit, Marsha alleged that since the Decree in 1998, there had been

a substantial increase of costs for caring for the children, particularly their daycare costs.

¶6     On June 20, 2000, Samuel filed a Motion to Change Custody, which Marsha opposed.

The parties entered into mediation where they settled all outstanding matters, other than the

issue of Marsha's motion to increase Samuel's child support obligation. Marsha later filed a

Child Support Financial Affidavit, which indicated the gross annual daycare cost for the two

children was $5434 (an average of $453 per month).

¶7     The District Court held a hearing on the motion on April 5, 2001. At the hearing

Marsha explained that the cost of daycare increased because the children were previously

cared for by a family member at a reduced rate of $360 per month, or $4320 gross annual

cost. However, when the children got older, they had to go to a different daycare which

according to Marsha costs $5434 per year ($8 per child, per day, for school days, and $16

per child, per day, for summers and holidays). Marsha testified that she calculated the $5434

figure by going through the school calendar and figuring which days would be full childcare

days ($16/child), and which days would be part days ($8/child). At the time, both children

attended school all day (son in first grade and daughter in all-day kindergarten). Samuel did

not offer any testimony or evidence concerning the cost of the children's daycare.

¶8     In both parties' most recent Child Support Guidelines Worksheets (Worksheets),

which were attached to their Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Orders,

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each party listed the "child daycare costs less dependent care tax credit," figure as $4330 (i.e.,

$5434, less the tax credit). The parties' "net annual obligation" figures were also quite

similar. Marsha figured her net annual obligation was $187 and Samuel's was $8,906; while

Samuel figured Marsha's obligation was $267 and his was $8,674. 1 However, the parties

differed considerably as to the amount of Samuel's monthly obligation because they

disagreed as to how many days per year the children spend with each parent, which

accordingly affected any adjustments to Samuel's support obligation. 2

¶9     The disparate calculations stemmed from uncertainty as to which parent received

"credit" for days that he or she dropped the children at school/daycare after an overnight

visit. Marsha indicated the children spend 255 days per year with her, and 110 days per year

with Samuel, while Samuel indicated the children spend 209 days per year with Marsha, and

156 days with him. Accordingly, although the Worksheets' "net annual obligations" were

similar, the parties disagreed significantly on the amount of Samuel's monthly support

obligation, with Marsha alleging Samuel owed $742 per month and Samuel contending he

       1
         As custodial parent, Marsha's net annual obligation is her gross annual obligation
(approximately $4600), less the total annual childcare and healthcare expenses that she pays
(i.e., $4330 in daycare costs, and $75 in children's health insurance premiums).
       2
       Under the Guidelines, adjustments to support obligations are allowed if any child
spends more than 110 days with both parents. See § 37.62.138, ARM.

                                                4
owed $485 per month since by his calculations, he spends more than 110 days a year with the

children.

¶10    During the hearing, each parent testified concerning what he or she spent on the

children. Marsha testified that she pays for all of the daycare costs, the school lunch punch

tickets, the majority of the children's clothing, their shoes and coats, medical insurance, and

other miscellaneous items (i.e, haircuts, daughter's gymnastics fee and gear, son's wrestling

gear). Samuel testified that he paid for some of the children's school clothing (estimating he

spent $100 per child last fall; and had recently spent $114 on his son), half of the swimming

lessons the previous summer, and his son's wrestling program fee. Samuel also testified that

he agreed to pay half the children's medical expenses, and that he has paid some medical

costs in the past. However, on cross-examination, Samuel admitted that he still owed some

back medical expenses from the previous year. Marsha testified that she has paid for the

children's medical costs not covered by insurance, adding that although she has asked, she

has not received any payment from Samuel towards those costs. Neither parent testified as to

specific figures concerning medical expenses or insurance premiums at the hearing.

¶11    Marsha also explained that if the children need to come home sick from school, the

school contacts her, and if it is a day Samuel is scheduled to pick them up, she will call

Samuel to see if he can pick up the child. If Samuel cannot pick up the child, Marsha takes

the sick child home and Samuel later collects him or her from Marsha's house.

¶12    The parties disagreed as to how many times Samuel took the children to the doctor.

Marsha testified that since the divorce in 1998, she has taken the children to all their

                                              5
appointments except for two. Samuel, however, disputed Marsha's testimony, and explained

to the court that in just the past few days, both he and Marsha were present at two doctor

appointments.

¶13    Following the parties' testimony, and after hearing arguments concerning the

calculation of days, the District Court concluded that "the mother is the primary caregiver,

that she receives support and assumes the responsibility for providing most of the needs for

the children. And based on that, I'm going to give her credit for these daytime daycare

periods that are in issue and apply the [administrative] rule that we have here."

¶14    Upon the request of the court, Marsha filed Proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of

Law and Order, which the court adopted. The District Court found there had been a

substantial and continuing increase in daycare expenses. The court concluded that the

change in circumstances made the original child support terms unconscionable. The court

also concluded that Samuel spends 110 days per year with the children, thus preventing him

from receiving a reduction in his support obligation, and ordered Samuel's monthly

obligation be increased to $742, beginning June 8, 2000. Samuel appeals the District Court's

Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order.

                               STANDARD OF REVIEW

¶15    We review a district court's determinations regarding substantial and continuing

changed circumstances and unconscionability, pursuant to § 40-4-208(2)(b)(i), MCA, for

abuse of discretion. In re Marriage of Jarussi, 1998 MT 272, ¶ 7, 291 Mont. 371, ¶ 7, 968

P.2d 720, ¶ 7 (citing In re Marriage of Pearson, 1998 MT 236, ¶ 30, 291 Mont. 101, ¶ 30,

                                             6
965 P.2d 268, ¶ 30). We review a district court's overall decision on modification of child

support awards for abuse of discretion, keeping in mind the best interests of the children.

Marriage of Pearson, ¶ 29 (citation omitted).

                                       DISCUSSION

¶16        Did the District Court abuse its discretion in modifying the father's support

obligation?

¶17    Samuel argues that there was an insufficient showing of changed circumstances as to

warrant increasing his support obligation. Samuel contends that the costs of daycare did not

substantially change, arguing there was only a $10 difference between costs in 1998 ($360 x

12 = $4320/yr) and those Marsha reported in 2000 ($4330).3 Marsha counters that Samuel is

comparing dissimilar figures, since the $4330 figure was actually daycare costs less

dependent care tax credit, while the 1998 figure of $4320 was a gross total cost before any

tax credit.

       3
        In his reply brief, Samuel also argues that even if the daycare cost figures are
accepted as accurate, the total supplemental expenses for the children increased only $9.08
per month when other expenses, such as health insurance premiums, are considered.
However, this Court will not address an issue raised for the first time in a reply brief. Rule
23(c), M.R.App.P.; and Unified Industries, Inc. v. Easley, 1998 MT 145, ¶ 28, 289 Mont.
255, ¶ 28, 961 P.2d 100, ¶ 28 (citations omitted). Accordingly, we will not address this
particular argument raised by Samuel in his reply brief.

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¶18    A decree containing provisions for support may be modified "upon a showing of

changed circumstances so substantial and continuing as to make the terms unconscionable[.]"

Section 40-4-208(2)(b)(i), MCA. Determination of "unconscionability" is made on a case-

by-case scrutiny of the underlying facts. Marriage of Pearson, ¶ 30 (citing In re Marriage of

Brown (1997), 283 Mont. 269, 272, 940 P.2d 122, 123). In order to demonstrate changed

circumstances, a party must provide specific evidence about changed economic

circumstances or actual increased need. Marriage of Pearson, ¶ 44 (citing In re Marriage of

Gingerich (1994), 269 Mont. 161, 165, 887 P.2d 714, 716).

¶19    The evidence presented at the hearing supports the court's conclusion that there was a

substantial increase in the costs of daycare. Based on the rate increase, the average monthly

daycare expense went from $360 in 1998, to $453 in 2001, for a difference of $93 per month,

which amounted to an overall increase of over 25%. Moreover, during months when the

children were in daycare for full days (i.e., summer and vacations), the costs of daycare alone

were greater than the monthly $400 support payment from Samuel. Samuel offered no

testimony or evidence at the hearing to refute these new daycare costs. When asked by the

court if he disputed the daycare calculations, Samuel responded, "No," and added that he

thought "the [daycare] figures are pretty close," and that both parties based their proposed

findings on the $4330 figure.

¶20    We conclude Marsha made a sufficient showing of changed circumstances so

substantial and continuing as to make Samuel's original support obligation unconscionable,

and accordingly, the District Court did not abuse its discretion in modifying Samuel's support

                                              8
obligation. However, we must now consider the amount that Samuel's support obligation

was modified by the District Court, since Samuel also challenges the District Court's

application of § 37.62.138, ARM, in determining the number of days per year that the

children spend with him which, in turn, affected how much his support obligation was

increased.

¶21    Rule 18 of the Child Support Guidelines, as set forth at § 37.62.138, ARM, provides

in relevant part:

       (1) If any child of a calculation spends more than 110 days with both parents,
       there will be an adjustment to the portion of the obligation due and payable
       from one parent to the other.
       ...

       (3) For the purposes of this rule, a day is when a child spends the majority of a
       24 hour calendar day with or under the control of a parent. This assumes that
       there is a correlation between time spent and resources expended for the care
       of the child.
       ... .

¶22    Samuel argues that the District Court misapplied § 37.62.138, ARM, by giving

Marsha full credit for those days Samuel drops the children off at school. Samuel contends

that he should receive credit for those days since the children spend the night with him,

particularly in light of the fact Marsha also received credit for the days she dropped the

children off at school and Samuel picked them up. For a two-week period, Samuel calculates

that he spends six nights with the children, while Marsha has them eight nights.

¶23    Marsha counters that the District Court properly applied the administrative rule,

arguing that because she takes primary responsibility for the financial support of the children

                                              9
when they are in school (i.e., pays for majority of school clothes and all of lunches), Samuel

is not entitled to credit against his child support for the hours the children are in school on the

days he drops them off. Marsha argues that for every two-week period, Samuel has the

children for more than twelve hours on only four days, as calculated under the administrative

rule's definition of a day (majority of the 24 hours).

¶24    The District Court agreed with Marsha, and made the following relevant findings:

              Since the decree was entered in 1998, there has been a substantial and
       continuing increase in the costs of caring for the children, including their
       daycare costs.

               Marsha, as the primary parent, provides for most of the children's
       financial needs. She is responsible for the children while they are in school or
       daycare on all days except for Mondays in alternating weeks, and Tuesdays in
       alternating weeks, and during Father's 14 days of vacation each year. Marsha
       takes the children to and pays for doctor's appointments, haircut appointments,
       and she pays for their school lunches, and she takes off work to stay home with
       the children if they are ill. She provides the vast majority of the children's
       clothing and shoes and activity expenses.

¶25    Applying § 37.62.138, ARM, the court concluded that Samuel is not entitled to credit

for the days that he has the children for less than twelve hours of a calendar day, calculating

the total days Samuel has the children as follows:

       14 days vacation
       72 days alternating weeks from Friday at 5:00 p.m. until Tuesday at 6:00a.m.
             (credit for Saturday, Sunday and Monday for 24 weeks)
       24 days alternating Tuesdays for 24 weeks out of the year.
       110 Total days

¶26    We review a district court's overall decision on modification of child support awards

for abuse of discretion. Marriage of Pearson, ¶ 29. In evaluating abuse of discretion, we

                                                10
look to whether the court acted arbitrarily without employment of conscientious judgment or

exceeded the bounds of reason resulting in substantial injustice. Marriage of Pearson, ¶ 30

(citation omitted).

¶27    Whenever a district court modifies an order concerning child support, "the court shall

determine the child support obligation by applying the standards in this section and the

uniform child support guidelines adopted by the department of public health and human

services pursuant to 40-5-209." Section 40-4-204(3)(a), MCA. Moreover, a support

obligation determined under the guidelines is "presumed to be an adequate and reasonable

support award unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the application of

the standards and guidelines is unjust to the child or to any of the parties or that it is

inappropriate in that particular case." Section 40-4-204(3)(a), MCA. See also, Welch v.

Welch (1995), 273 Mont. 497, 501, 905 P.2d 132, 135 (a district court's determination of

child support modifications "is presumed to be correct and, absent an abuse of discretion, will

not be disturbed") (citations omitted).

¶28    In reviewing the District Court's modification order, we recognize that the Guideline

defining "days" with respect to possible adjustments to child support obligations (§

37.62.138(3), ARM), offers no direction to district courts, or this Court, in how the "majority

of the day" is calculated when children spend part of that day not under the explicit control of

either parent, such as when they are in school or daycare. This lack of guidance may well

lead to disparate calculations as to the numbers of "days" a child spends with one parent or

another, as this case demonstrates. Because of the vagueness of the Guidelines, a district

                                              11
court ends up engaging in a detailed day-by-day evaluation of expenses and levels of

responsibility associated with children while they attend school/daycare, and an ensuing

analysis of the correlation between such monetary resources or parental accountability and

the allocation of "days" when calculating whether one of the parents spends over 110 days

with the children.

¶29    Unless and until these Guidelines are amended by the Department of Public Health

and Human Services, to truly provide guidance to a district court on how to allocate the

"majority of a 24 hour calendar day," we will review a district court's determination of which

parent "gets credit" for certain hours of a day, for an abuse of discretion.      Under this

standard, we cannot conclude that the District Court abused its discretion when it calculated

how many days per year Samuel spends with the children. Moreover, we conclude that the

District Court demonstrated the "employment of conscientious judgment," when it

"credited" Samuel for two of the days the children were in school/daycare, even though it

also concluded that Marsha had primary responsibility for the children while they attended

school/daycare. Accordingly, we conclude the District Court did not abuse its discretion, and

we affirm the District Court's modification of Samuel's child support obligation.

                                                         /S/ PATRICIA COTTER

We Concur:

/S/ KARLA M. GRAY

                                             12
/S/ JIM REGNIER
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
/S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART

                          13
Justice Terry N. Trieweiler dissenting.

¶30    I dissent from the majority Opinion.

¶31    I would conclude that there was no change in circumstances so substantial as to make

the terms of the original decree unconscionable and, further, that the District Court erred by

treating the parties inconsistently when deciding the parent with whom the children spend the

majority of each 24-hour calendar day.

¶32    Section 40-4-208(2)(b)(i), MCA, provides that the child support provisions of an

existing decree may be modified only "upon a showing of changed circumstances so

substantial and continuing as to make the terms unconscionable." Here, there was evidence

that Marsha's cost of daycare increased by approximately $1,100 per year. However, there

was also evidence that her medical expenses for the children and the cost of health insurance

declined by approximately $1,000 per year and that the net increase in her expenses was

$108.96 per year. However, whether the increase in daycare is offset by the decrease in other

expenses for which there was evidence or is not, the range of increase in Marsha's expenses

for which there was evidence is from $108.96 to $1,114. Neither increase is so unforseen or

substantial that it renders the prior child support provision unconscionable, especially when

considered with the fact that Marsha's income increased over the same period of time by

nearly $5,000 annually. It certainly did not warrant an increase in child support in the

amount of $4,104 annually. Therefore, I would conclude that the District Court abused its

discretion when it found there were grounds to modify the previous child support provision.

¶33    Furthermore, I would conclude that the District Court erred when it treated the parties

arbitrarily and differently for purposes of determining the parent with whom the children

spent the majority of each 24-hour day. On those days when Marsha delivered the children

                                              14
to daycare following nights spent with her, she was given credit for a majority of that 24-hour

day. On those days when Samuel delivered the children to daycare following nights spent

with him, Marsha was still given credit for having the children a majority of that day. That

makes no sense to me. The majority accepts Marsha's lame rationale for this disparate

treatment by pointing out that she takes primary financial responsibility for the children.

However, that consideration is only relevant to the determination of which parent receives

child support. It is not relevant to a determination of where the children are actually

spending their time. The fact that Marsha actually pays for the children's expenses is why

Samuel sends child support checks to her rather than vice-versa.

¶34    The majority observes that the child support guidelines give no guidance to a district

court for determining where a child spends the majority of his or her day. However, specific

guidance was not necessary in this case. All the District Court had to do was treat both

parents in the same manner. The fact that there are no guidelines is no explanation for

treating them differently under the exact same circumstances.

¶35    For these reasons, I would conclude that the District Court abused its discretion by

reopening the issue of child support and then calculating child support based on an

unreasonable determination of where the children were spending their days. I would reverse

the order of the District Court and dissent from the majority's refusal to do so.

                                                          /S/ TERRY N. TRIEWEILER

Justice Rice joins in the foregoing dissent.

                                                          /S/ JIM RICE

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