Court Opinion

ID: 4148757
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-27 23:15:10.533115+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:43.707179
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                        DIVISION ONE

BECKY DEVELLE,                            )      No. 75995-7-1
                                                                                      N.,           C")
                                          )                                                  (.1)
                                                                                             "*4
                       Appellant,         )                                                         ^•• I
                                                                                      11
                                          )
           v.                             )
                                                                                      --.1
                                          )                                                               "•
LANDON POPPLETON,                         )      UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                          )                                                   G.) (1)
                                                                                      CP
                       Respondent.        )      FILED: February 27, 2017                     •-^ C
                                          )

       VERELLEN, C.J. — Becky Develle appeals the trial court's CR 12(b)(6) dismissal

of her claims against Dr. Landon Poppleton based on his quasi-judicial immunity. Her

complaint alleged that in a dissolution proceeding, Dr. Poppleton performed a negligent

parenting evaluation and participated in a civil conspiracy against her that resulted in

the loss of custody of her children. Because Dr. Poppleton has quasi-judicial immunity

from Develle's claims, we affirm.

                                          FACTS

       In August 2014, Becky Develle filed a complaint for damages, personal injuries,

and wrongful death against Dr. Landon Poppleton. In her complaint, Becky alleged that

in 2011, "the Superior Court of Clark County, WA, appointed by order of the court,

Defendant, LANDON POPPLETON, to conduct a Bilateral Parenting Evaluation Plan in

order to protect the best interests of the children involved in a custody dispute."

       1 Clerk's   Papers (CP) at 30.
No. 75995-7-1/2

Develle alleged that Dr. Poppleton "breached his Fiduciary Duties as entrusted by this

Honorable Court to protect the children involved in the dispute by recommending a

custody placement with a neglectful parent."2 She also alleged that Dr. Poppleton

participated in a civil conspiracy against her that resulted in the loss of custody of her

children, and that Dr. Poppleton's conduct amounted to gross negligence. Becky

blamed Dr. Poppleton for the subsequent suicide of her son.

       In November 2014, Dr. Poppleton filed a CR 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss Develle's

claims based upon his quasi-judicial immunity. On December 10, 2015, DeviIle filed a

"second amended complaint," adding Dr. Poppleton's wife and his employer NW Family

Psychology, LLC as defendants.3 In her second amended complaint, Develle deleted

her allegation that Dr. Poppleton "was appointed by order of the court," and instead

alleged "the parties entered into an arrangement in which defendant, LANDON

POPPLETON, would conduct a Bilateral Parenting Evaluation Plan in order to protect

the best interests of the children involved in a custody dispute." On December 11,

2015, the trial court granted Dr. Poppleton's motion and dismissed Develle's claims.

       Develle appeals.

                                        ANALYSIS

       Develle contends the trial court erred by dismissing her claims against

Dr. Poppleton based upon his quasi-judicial immunity. We review a CR 12(b)(6)

       2   CP at 31.
       3   CP at 9-11.
       4   CP at 10.

                                              2
No. 75995-7-1/3

dismissal de novo.5 "'Dismissal is warranted only if the court concludes, beyond a

reasonable doubt, the plaintiff cannot prove any set of facts which would justify

recovery." The court assumes the truth of all facts alleged in the complaint and may

consider hypothetical facts supporting the plaintiffs claim.7 But if a plaintiffs claim

remains legally insufficient even under hypothetical facts, dismissal pursuant to

CR 12(b)(6) is appropriate.5

       Immunity from suit provides "an entitlement not to stand trial or face the other

burdens of litigation." The common law provides judges with absolute immunity for

acts performed within their judicial capacity.1° "Quasi-judicial immunity 'attaches to

persons or entities who perform functions that are so comparable to those performed by

judges that it is felt they should share the judge's absolute immunity while carrying out

those functions.'"11 Functions integral to judicial proceedings include judging,

advocating, fact finding, and testifying.12

       5FutureSelect Portfolio Mgmt., Inc. v. Tremont Grp. Holdings, Inc., 180 Wash. 2d
954, 962, 331 P.3d 29 (2014).
     6 Id. (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Tenore v. AT&T Wireless Servs.,
136 Wash. 2d 322, 329-30, 962 P.2d 104 (1998)).
       7
           Id.
       8   1d. at 963.
       9 Janaszak v. State, 173 Wash. App. 703, 712, 297 P.3d 723 (2013) (internal
quotation marks omitted) (quoting Feis v. King County Sheriffs Dep't, 165 Wash. App.
525, 538, 267 P.3d 1022 (2011)).
       1°   Id. at 719.
       11 Reddyv. Karr, 102 Wash. App. 742, 748, 9 P.3d 927 (2000) (quoting Lutheran
Day Care v. Snohomish County, 119 Wash. 2d 91, 99, 829 P.2d 746 (1992)).
       12   Gilliam v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 89 Wash. App. 569, 583-84, 950 P.2d 20
(1998).

                                              3
No. 75995-7-1/4

       RCW 26.12.050(1)(b) authorizes a superior court to appoint investigators and

other personnel that the court finds necessary to carry on the family court's work. The

court's work includes making temporary and permanent decisions about parenting plans

and custody of children.13 Court-appointed investigators and evaluators provide the

court with information as the court deems necessary to resolve parenting controversies

between divorcing parents.14 The court appoints these investigators and evaluators,

who serve at the court's pleasure.15

       In Reddy v. Karr," a court commissioner appointed a King County Family

Services employee during a dissolution proceeding to investigate which of two parents

should receive custody of their child. The mother sued the investigator, alleging that the

investigator performed a negligent parenting evaluation.17 This court affirmed the trial

court's grant of summary judgment, concluding that the investigator was entitled to

quasi-judicial immunity because she acted as an "arm of the court" in carrying out her

court-ordered investigation.15 This court noted that immunity applied even though the

investigator had no decision-making authority or capacity to affect her

recommendations; the court retained sole responsibility for making parenting plan

decisions.19

       13   RCW 26.12.190(1).
       14   RCW 26.12.190(2).
       15   RCW 26.12.050(3).
       16   102 Wash. App. 742, 745, 9 P.3d 927 (2000).
       17   Id. at 747.
       18   Id. at 749.
       19   Id. at 750.

                                            4
No. 75995-7-1/5

       Although Develle's second amended complaint alleges "the parties entered into

an arrangement in which" Dr. Poppleton "would conduct a Bilateral Parenting Evaluation

Plan," her opening appellate brief20—consistent with her original complaint21—

acknowledges the existence of a court order approving a bilateral parenting evaluation

by Dr. Poppleton. On its face, that is sufficient to trigger quasi-judicial immunity.

Consistent with Reddy, the court here appointed Dr. Poppleton to assist the court in

developing a parenting plan. Because Dr. Poppleton acted as an "arm of the court" to

perform the evaluation of the parents, he is entitled to quasi-judicial immunity against

Develle's claims.

       Although she makes no such allegation in her complaint, Develle argues the

court order did not grant any authority to Dr. Poppleton to conduct the parenting

evaluation. But Develle failed to designate the court order as part of the record on

appeal. It is the appellant's burden to perfect the record on appeal so that we have

before us all the information and evidence relevant to the issues raised.22 Even under

the generous CR 12(b)(6) standard, the contents of a court order are not hypothetical

facts. In the absence of the court order, Develle's lack of authority argument is not

compelling. We also note that the record before us does not reflect whether Develle's

       20 Appellant Br. at 8-9 ("When the lower court entered an order on April 29, 2011,
ordering the parties to undergo a custody evaluation, with Poppleton as the evaluator. .
. .).
       21 CPat 30-32.
      22 See RAP 9.2(b); Bulzomi v. Dep't of Labor & Indus., 72 Wash. App. 522, 525,
864 P.2d 996 (1994).

                                              5
No. 75995-7-1/6

purported "second amended complaint" was actually a first or second amended

complaint, and therefore, whether it was properly before the trial court.23

          Therefore, because Dr. Poppleton is entitled to quasi-judicial immunity, we

affirm.

WE CONCUR:

       23 In his appellate briefing, Dr. Poppleton claims, "According to the case docket,
Develle also filed an Amended Complaint. . . . [T]he amended pleading was improper,
never received or responded to by Dr. Poppleton, and not designated or referenced by
Develle." Respondent's Br. at 15, n.1. Generally, CR 15(a) would require court
approval for a second amended complaint. It does not appear Develle obtained such
approval.

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