Court Opinion

ID: 9513434
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 22:35:34.397811+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:05:51.616598
License: Public Domain

VANDE WALLE, Chief Justice,
concurring specially.
[¶ 39] There is no doubt Dale Barth was in contempt of court and the trial court was entirely justified in imposing sanctions for that contempt. I agree the trial court has broad discretion in imposing an appropriate sanction for discovery abuse and, on appeal, we will not upset the trial court’s decision unless there is an abuse of discretion. Dakota Bank & Trust Co. v. Brakke, 377 N.W.2d 553 (N.D.1985). Nevertheless, I write to express my concern with the use of child-support guidelines as a sanction vehicle. I believe the Legislature through the Department of Human Services has attempted to lift child support above the fray. E.g., Montgomery v. Montgomery, 481 N.W.2d 234 (N.D.1992) (stating under guidelines determinations of child support are made by applying calculations required by regulations and these calculations result in presumptively correct amount of child support). Child support should not be the football tossed between the parents in an attempt to out maneuver one another as they dissolve the family. I hope the trial courts, in the exercise of them discretion, will not use child support to impose sanctions for discovery abuse when other sanctions are available.
[¶ 40] I realize Dale Barth’s failure to comply with discovery requiring him to divulge information about his income directly affected the computation of child support and arguably justifies the sanction imposed in this instance. But, notwithstanding the trial courts discretion, we would, in my opinion, be hard pressed to sustain a sanction reducing child support when the custodial parent refuses to divulge information as to income or property for the purpose of establishing spousal support or dividing the marital property.
[¶ 41] I believe other sanctions are available for this egregious conduct. I urge the trial courts to keep the calculation of child support as close to the mathematical computation prescribed by the guidelines as possible. Distortions of the guidelines for one purpose only serve to encourage that distortion for other purposes.
[¶ 42] Gerald W. VandeWalle, C.J.