Court Opinion

ID: 9740528
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:36:52.921356+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:18.696395
License: Public Domain

WOLLE, Justice
(dissenting).
I dissent because I believe the Restatement rule will have unacceptable practical consequences and because that rule is unlikely to be in the best interest of children affected by the litigation it spawns. I do not here quarrel with the seeming logic of the rule; if money damages can be recovered from a child-snatching stranger, why not from a child-snatching non-custodial parent. Neither do I disregard the fact that a majority of the jurisdictions which have addressed the issue, encouraged by commentators, have extended the cause of action to permit interspousal money-damage lawsuits for child-snatching. Logic, decisions from other jurisdictions, and views of authoritative commentators must carefully be considered. In the final analysis, however, the rule should be placed in its domestic setting and studied exhaustively in the light of competing policy considerations involving the family as a unit. Adopted, the Restatement rule would become an integral part of Iowa family law. Stripped to essentials, this new civil remedy which the plaintiff espouses is a new weapon for the arsenal of litigants engaging in marital or post-marital warfare. I propose a freeze on new weapons of domestic warfare. Our legislature has not included this cause of action in our body of Iowa family law and neither should this court.
I. We can reasonably predict that the majority opinion will initially generate a proliferation of money-damage lawsuits whose quantity and variety will be far out of proportion to their value. These lawsuits will burden a court system already straining to keep pace with cases now on file while continuing to deliver quality judicial services.
Recent statistical reports clearly show that domestic litigation weighs heavy on our judges’ time. In 1981, actions arising directly from family problems accounted for 28,205 cases, or 48.4 percent of all civil filings. At the appellate level, cases involving domestic relations comprised 37.2 percent of all formal appellate decisions in appellate cases — the largest single category of dispositions. The number of rulings in domestic relations cases increased 42 percent from 1980 to 1981. See 1981 Annual Statistical Report to the Iowa Supreme Court by the Iowa Court Administrator, pp. iv-vii. The figures for 1982 show that domestic case filings and dispositions have decreased slightly in each category, but that welcome decline may be shortlived if the Restatement rule is now adopted. See 1982 Annual Statistical Report to the Iowa Su*128preme Court by the Iowa Court Administrator, pp. iv-vii.
We cannot accurately predict the number of lawsuits that will now be filed by family members on the law side of our burdened court dockets. Neither can we yet define their characteristics, though the variety may be limited only by the limits of trial lawyers’ ingenuity. When parents seek redress for alleged violations of custody orders, their lawyers will be duty-bound to inform them of this decision. We know that parties in domestic cases may be motivated less by good sense — the best interest of their children or family economic concerns — than by their emotions. The tort here involved, after all, is for infliction of emotional distress. Will not lawyers studying this case reasonably conclude that many similar new actions may be permitted? Will not parents conclude, reasonably or not, that they desire to seek money damages from each other?
The gist of the instant action is the alleged violation of the final dissolution decree. Would this not logically invite a counterclaim for alleged violation of visitation provisions in most dissolution decrees? If a parent may bring such an action, might not each child similarly have an action against the parent for infliction of emotional damages? If a parent may bring such an action, why not also a grandparent with custodial or visitation rights? Would not alleged violations of joint custody provisions also give rise to multiple causes of action for the parents, their children, and other interested parties?
If alleged violations of a final or modified decree of dissolution can be the basis for this new cause of action, so also would be alleged violations of a temporary decree entered during the marriage. This spectre of concurrent equity and law actions during the marriage should deeply concern us. Completion of expected discovery procedures may well seriously delay trial of many dissolution actions. Money-damage lawsuits between the parents or other family members would certainly reduce the likelihood of reconciliation, a vital concern whenever a petition for dissolution of marriage is filed. See Iowa Code §§ 598.16, .19 (1983) (providing for conciliation procedures and a ninety day pre-decree waiting period).
These actions are at law, providing the parties the right to trial by jury of the issues. When, if ever, will the emotional distress be considered de minimis. What if a parent seeks compensation for emotional injury resulting from one week without the children? What if a grandparent is deprived of visitation for one weekend, or one day?
These potential causes of action are mentioned here to show that little else but logic supports them. Although they seem at first blush to be logical extensions of the Restatement rule, the utility of such new varieties of domestic lawsuit would clearly be outweighed by unacceptable consequences for our court system and affected family members. Even though this court today has adopted the Restatement rule in deciding this case, we should hereafter be careful not to extend that rule beyond the specific facts here alleged by plaintiff.
II. I believe the practical adverse effect which the Restatement rule may have on our court system and family members should first be studied carefully by the Iowa legislature before it is accepted as part of our body of Iowa family law. The legislature is better equipped than this court to obtain empirical data, conduct a detailed study, and utilize what such a study reveals.
Our legislature has already demonstrated in several ways that it is actively concerned about domestic relations law in general and deterrence of child-snatching in particular. The 1981 Iowa General Assembly addressed and revised our laws governing children of distressed marriages, encouraging joint custody and liberal visitation rights while reaffirming that the polestar for decisionmak-ing should be the best interests of the child. Iowa Code § 598.41 (1983).
Our legislature’s concern for deterring child kidnapping has been manifested in the statutory remedies available to the custodial parent who is aggrieved by action of the *129non-custodial parent. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, adopted by our Legislature in 1977, provides a means for enforcing custody decrees across state lines and specifically permits the court to assess against a person violating an out-of-state custodial decree “necessary travel and other expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred by the party entitled to the custody or by that party’s witnesses.” Iowa Code § 598A.15 (1983). Persons abducting minor children can be charged with criminal offenses under Iowa as well as federal criminal statutes. Iowa Code §§ 710.5, .6 (1983); 18 U.S.C. § 1073 (1976 & Supp. IV 1980). Additionally, our legislature has codified the traditional action for contempt of court in domestic cases. A court may punish a person who violates a custodial order in a temporary or final decree by imposing a fine or jail sentence. Iowa Code §§ 598.23, 665.4 (1983); see Wilson v. Fenton, 312 N.W.2d 524, 527-29 (Iowa 1981).
We should have laws which deter parental child-snatching, and the Iowa legislature has already enacted laws designed to accomplish that purpose. The parent contemplating child-snatching faces tough civil, criminal, and contempt sanctions. The plaintiff in this case has not demonstrated that these existing remedies are inadequate. I suggest that the statutory remedies already available should be time-tested and shown clearly to be inadequate before we authorize trial by jury of what are essentially child custody issues.
III. Regardless whether it is more appropriate for the Iowa legislature or this court to accept or reject the Restatement rule, that decision should turn on whether such a lawsuit between family members is in the best interest of affected minor children. This court has consistently held that in child custody cases the first and governing consideration is the best interest of the child. Iowa R.App.P. 14(f)(15); In lie Marriage of Winter, 223 N.W.2d 165,166 (Iowa 1974). The legislature has expressly so provided in several statutes. See e.g., Iowa Code §§ 598.41(1), (3); 598A.1(1), .8(2) (1983).
The instant case, and others here discussed, would arise from the same domestic discord as child custody cases, would be generated by the same family circumstances as child custody cases, and would either run concurrently with such cases (in the event temporary orders are violated) or follow in their aftermath. What will be the likely effects on the children of money-damage lawsuits?
Again, a detailed legislative study would provide us far more insight than our limited personal experience and instincts. Lacking such a study, we should at least consider worst-case possibilities and predict likely effects.
Worst-case examples need not be imagined — they will certainly soon occur. The litigants in many of our decided cases have proved they can go to great lengths in battling for custody of their children. See, e.g., In Re Marriage of Bevers, 326 N.W.2d 896 (Iowa 1982); In Re Marriage of Schoonover, 228 N.W.2d 31 (Iowa 1975). The emotional injury in many of these Iowa cases was certainly great, as was the vigor and ingenuity of the attorneys. Parents and their counsel will certainly use this new weapon skillfully, if not always wisely.
Certain will be the right to jury trial. Surely, the children often will be called as witnesses, pressed to choose sides — for one parent and against the other. Is this not contrary to the recently-enacted statute which encourages not only the granting of joint custody but also liberal visitation rights “which will assure a minor child frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the parents have separated or dissolved the marriage....”? Iowa Code § 598.41 (1983).
Certain will be the expense to the family unit of additional lawyers’ fees and court costs. Monies needed for raising of children may often be sacrificed to the parents’ continuing internecine struggle. Likely, too, will be prolonged bitterness among family members resulting from jury verdicts, whether damages be collected or denied.
*130I suggest that the Restatement rule is not only unneeded as a deterrent but also contrary to the best interests of most of the minor children who would be entangled in the litigation.
IV. Although some jurisdictions have adopted the Restatement rule, most have not yet addressed the issue. We would not be alone in holding that the rule should not be adopted by court decision. In McGrady v. Rosenbaum, 62 Misc.2d 182, 308 N.Y.S.2d 181 (1970), aff’d 37 A.D.2d 917, 324 N.Y. S.2d 876 (1970), the court refused to recognize a father’s claim for damages based on the mother’s alleged denial of his visitation rights. The court distinguished Pickle v. Page, 252 N.Y. 474, 169 N.E. 650 (1930), which involved abduction of a child from the custodial parent by a sheriff, then commented that “an action for damages or a damage verdict would probably be the least useful technique for the resolution of matrimonial differences or custody disputes.” 308 N.Y.S.2d at 190. The court concluded:
The remedy against a spouse who violates a court order respecting custody or visitation by removing the child from the state is by way of contempt or by precluding her standing to challenge the order or to enforce its support provisions, not by an action for damages, [citations omitted] Custody may be awarded to the father in an appropriate action, in such cases, [citations omitted] But this does not authorize damages.
308 N.Y.S.2d at 188. That New York decision was followed by Friedman v. Friedman, 79 Misc.2d 646, 361 N.Y.S.2d 108 (1974), in which the court quoted the above language from the McGrady opinion, distinguished other New York cases involving suit by the parents of infants against third parties, and held:
It would appear, therefore, that as between the parents of the child, an action for damages for mental anguish resulting from interference with custodial rights is not actionable.
361 N.Y.S.2d at 110.
This court, like those two New York courts, should reject interspousal law actions for damages arising from violations of orders and decrees in dissolution actions. Our courts of equity should continue to address these serious problems for parents and their children without unduly burdening the law side of our crowded court dockets. Our courts can and should continue to deter child-snatching by encouraging speedy trial of criminal proceedings, imposing appropriate sanctions for contempt, and granting traditional forms of equitable relief when custodial orders are violated. The legislature, not this court, should decide whether new remedies are needed and, if so, whether such a cause of action as plaintiff here espouses is really in the best interest of our court system and, more importantly, the best interest of children whom their parents would involve in such litigation.
I would affirm the trial court’s dismissal of this action.
HARRIS and McGIVERIN, JJ., join this dissent and McCORMICK, J., joins division I.