Court Opinion

ID: 1065084
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 19:19:44.375956+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:13:33.349703
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges Humphreys, Beales and Senior Judge Fitzpatrick

ROBERT T. WALKER
                                                                    MEMORANDUM OPINION*
v.      Record No. 0840-06-3                                            PER CURIAM
                                                                      FEBRUARY 27, 2007
SHIRLEY A. WALKER

                    FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE
                                 Charles N. Dorsey, Judge

                  (Cheryl K. Brunner, on brief), for appellant.

                  No brief for appellee.

        Robert T. Walker appeals a decision of the trial court dismissing his request to find a

therapeutic counselor in contempt for failure to provide certain records. On appeal, Walker

contends: (1) his failure to appear at the trial court hearing constituted excusable neglect; and

(2) the trial court abused its discretion by imposing sanctions against him and his attorney. Upon

reviewing the record and opening brief, we conclude that this appeal is without merit. Accordingly,

we summarily affirm the decision of the trial court. See Rule 5A:27.

                                                     I.

        Walker and his counsel failed to appear at the trial court hearing on this matter. In Walker’s

first issue raised on appeal, he asserts his failure to appear at the trial court hearing constituted

excusable neglect. On the final order in the case, Walker noted an objection, stating, “As will be

explained in the motion to rehear, the failure of defendant to appear was not due to any fault of his

own. The failure of counsel to appear was due to excusable neglect.” The opinion letter of the trial

        *
            Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
court states that the trial court did not consider a motion to rehear. In addition, nothing in the record

shows that the trial court ruled at any time on the question of whether Walker’s failure to appear at

the trial court hearing was excusable neglect. Because the record does not show that the trial court

ruled on Walker’s argument, there is no ruling of the trial court for this Court to review on appeal.

See Ohree v. Commonwealth, 26 Va. App. 299, 308, 494 S.E.2d 484, 488 (1998); Fisher v.

Commonwealth, 16 Va. App. 447, 454, 431 S.E.2d 886, 890 (1993). Furthermore, the record does

not reflect nor does Walker argue any reason to invoke the good cause or ends of justice exceptions

to Rule 5A:18. Accordingly, Rule 5A:18 bars our consideration of this question on appeal.

                                                   II.

        Walker contends the trial court abused its discretion by imposing sanctions against him and

his counsel. However, the record does not show Walker made this argument to the trial court.

        “The Court of Appeals will not consider an argument on appeal which was not presented

to the trial court.” Ohree, 26 Va. App. at 308, 494 S.E.2d at 488. See Rule 5A:18. Accordingly,

Rule 5A:18 bars our consideration of this question on appeal.

                        Although Rule 5A:18 allows exceptions for good cause or
                to meet the ends of justice, appellant does not argue that we should
                invoke these exceptions. See e.g., Redman v. Commonwealth, 25
Va. App. 215, 221, 487 S.E.2d 269, 272 (1997) (“In order to avail
                oneself of the exception, a defendant must affirmatively show that a
                miscarriage of justice has occurred, not that a miscarriage might
                have occurred.” (emphasis added)). We will not consider, sua
                sponte, a “miscarriage of justice” argument under Rule 5A:18.

Edwards v. Commonwealth, 41 Va. App. 752, 761, 589 S.E.2d 444, 448 (2003) (en banc).

        Accordingly, we affirm the decision of the trial court.

                                                                                 Affirmed.

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