Court Opinion

ID: 4389898
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-04-23 20:45:46.979226+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:50:46.098619
License: Public Domain

Filed
                                                                                       Washington State
                                                                                       Court of Appeals
                                                                                        Division Two

                                                                                        April 23, 2019

    IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

                                        DIVISION II
 In the Matter of the Marriage of                                  No. 50889-3-II
 YONATHAN HUTAGALUNG,

                               Respondent,
 and

 JENNIFER NICHOLE BARNETT,
                                                             UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                               Appellant.

       WORSWICK, J. — Following a bench trial, Jennifer Barnett appeals the Pierce County

Superior Court’s final order on Yonathan Hutagalung’s petition to modify their parenting plan.

Barnett argues that the Pierce County Superior Court violated a valid foreign protection order.

Finding no error, we affirm.

                                             FACTS

       Barnett and Hutagalung married in 2004 and had two children together. In 2008 they

divorced in Oregon. The Oregon court entered a parenting plan, awarding “joint custody.” Ex. 2

(Parenting Plan at 4) (emphasis omitted). Specifically, the Oregon parenting plan provided that

the children’s primary residence was with Barnett and that Hutagalung was entitled to visitation

every Sunday. In 2012 Barnett moved to Washington. Hutagalung also moved to Washington to

be near his children. In 2016 Barnett moved the children from Washington to New Mexico.

       On September 20, 2016 in Pierce County Superior Court, Hutagalung filed a petition for

modification of the parenting plan and a motion for a restraining order against Barnett requesting
No. 50889-3-II

primary custody of the children. The Pierce County court entered a temporary restraining order

that restrained both Barnett and Hutagalung from disturbing the peace of the other party, directed

the parties to continue following the Oregon parenting plan, and required the parties to return for

a hearing in the Pierce County court on October 25. On October 6 in the Pierce County court,

Hutagalung filed a motion for contempt against Barnett based on Barnett’s refusal to allow

phone calls or visitation with the children.

         On October 11 in New Mexico, Barnett petitioned for a domestic violence protection

order.1 The New Mexico court found that it had jurisdiction and entered a temporary protection

order prohibiting Hutagalung from contacting Barnett (the New Mexico order). The New

Mexico order did not prohibit Hutagalung from having contact with the children. In fact, the

order directed Barnett to allow Hutagalung weekly phone calls with the children. The New

Mexico order noted that Washington was the children’s home state, and ordered the parties to

“follow all orders of Washington State regarding the children.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 299. The

New Mexico order awarded Barnett temporary custody of the children, but deferred to

Washington State “to address long-term custody issues related to the children.” CP at 298. The

New Mexico order further directed the parties to appear in court in the New Mexico court on

December 1.

         On October 25 the Pierce County court entered an amended restraining order, restraining

both Barnett and Hutagalung from disturbing the peace of the other party and to return for a

1
    Throughout the proceedings, Barnett repeatedly accused Hutagalung of domestic abuse.

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No. 50889-3-II

hearing in Pierce County on November 29. The order also directed the parties to continue

following the existing Oregon parenting plan.

        On November 29 in the Pierce County court, the parties appeared for a hearing on

Hutagalung’s motion to show cause for contempt, and for a ruling on adequate cause regarding

Hutagalung’s petition for modification of the parenting plan. The Pierce County court entered an

order continuing the hearing to December 2, to allow Hutagalung time to review Barnett’s

materials. The Pierce County court’s December 2 order also granted Hutagalung a visit with the

children that morning in the Pierce County court’s law library, providing: “[Hutagalung] may

visit with the children immediately, alone, in the law library conference room until 10:45 am.”

CP at 440.

        On December 1 the New Mexico court dismissed Barnett’s protection order case. On

December 2 the parties appeared in the Pierce County court for show cause and adequate cause

hearings. The Pierce County court found adequate cause to hold a trial regarding Hutagalung’s

petition for modification of the parenting plan. The Pierce County court also awarded temporary

residential placement of the children to Hutagalung, and awarded Barnett supervised visitation

until the parties went to trial.

        The matter proceeded to a bench trial on August 3, 2017 in the Pierce County court. The

Pierce County court ruled that it had jurisdiction to modify the Oregon parenting plan, found that

there was a substantial change in circumstances since the Oregon parenting plan was entered in

2008, and granted Hutagalung’s petition. The Pierce County court made several findings,

including:

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No. 50889-3-II

       The Court does not find Ms. Barnett credible. Her testimony is inconsistent within
       itself and she appears incapable of telling the truth.

       The parties agree and the Court finds that there has been a substantial change in
       circumstances since the 2008 parenting plan, including the mother’s multiple DUIs
       (driving under the influence); dependency actions; termination of the mother’s
       parental rights to her older child, . . . ; and most significantly, concealing the
       children and not allowing their father access.

       Ms. Barnett has made an effort to terminate the father’s relationship with the
       children.

       Ms. Barnett has engaged in abusive use of conflict that creates the danger of serious
       damage to the children’s psychological development. . . .

       Ms. Barnett’s litigation conduct demonstrates abusive use of conflict. She did not
       act in good faith with respect to petitions for domestic violence protection orders in
       New Mexico and in Washington, as well as multiple applications for relief made to
       other Pierce County Superior Court judicial officers in May and June 2017, in
       disregard of this Court’s prior order.

       Ms. Barnett’s behavior by leaving the state and trying to conceal the children from
       the father also demonstrates abusive use of conflict.

       Ms. Barnett has a long-term emotional or physical problem that gets in the way of
       her ability to parent. Substantial evidence demonstrates her poor decision making
       and bad judgment. In particular, her decision to have the children file declarations
       in court demonstrates very poor parenting.

       Ms. Barnett’s demeanor and manner has been both odd and inconsistent. She
       minimizes her own actions and seems to lay blame solely on Mr. Hutagalung,
       alleging that he is a sociopath and a narcissist. She is fixated on blaming him, with
       no evidence.

       Ms. Barnett’s allegations regarding Mr. Hutagalung, were they believable, do not
       constitute domestic violence per Washington State law.

CP at 377-78.

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No. 50889-3-II

       The Pierce County court also entered a final parenting plan, designating Hutagalung the

children’s custodian, and awarding Barnett visitation every other Saturday. The Pierce County

court provided that Barnett’s visitation could increase upon Barnett’s completion of court

ordered conditions. Barnett appeals the Pierce County court’s final order.

                                            ANALYSIS

       Barnett appeals the Pierce County court’s final order. She lists multiple assignments of

error, but offers argument related to only full faith and credit. She argues that the Pierce County

court failed to extend full faith and credit to her valid foreign protection order in two ways.

       First, she argues that the Pierce County court’s November 29 order failed to extend full

faith and credit to her valid foreign protection order when it violated the terms of the New

Mexico order by allowing Hutagalung visitation with the children on November 29, 2016.

Second, she argues that the Pierce County court’s December 2, 2016 order failed to extend full

faith and credit to her valid foreign protection order when it violated the terms of the New

Mexico order by granting Hutagalung temporary residential placement of the children until the

parties went to trial. We hold that both arguments fail.2

A.     Full Faith and Credit

       A foreign protection order is an order, issued by another state or territory, related to

domestic or family violence to prevent violent or threatening acts, or contact or communication

2
  Barnett does not offer argument related to Pierce County court’s final order, or assign error to
the Pierce County court’s findings contained in the final order. The trial court’s unchallenged
findings of fact are verities on appeal. In re Marriage of Bobbitt, 135 Wash. App. 8, 28-29, 144
P.3d 306 (2006).

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No. 50889-3-II

with another person. RCW 26.52.010(3). A foreign protection order is valid if the issuing court

had jurisdiction over the parties and matter under the law of the state or territory.3 RCW

26.52.020. Under the full faith and credit clause of the United States Constitution, a judgment

rendered by one state is entitled to recognition in Washington. U.S. CONST. art. IV, § 1; Brown

v. Garrett, 175 Wash. App. 357, 367, 306 P.3d 1014 (2013). We review de novo whether the

superior court accorded full faith and credit to a foreign judgment. Brown, 175 Wn. App. at 367.

          1. Pierce County Court’s November 29, 2016 Order

          Barnett asserts that the Pierce County court’s November 29 order failed to accord full

faith and credit to a valid foreign protection order when it allowed Hutagalung to have contact

with the children that day. We disagree because the Pierce County court’s November 29 order

did not conflict with the New Mexico order.

          The Pierce County court’s November 29 order continued the adequate cause and show

cause hearings, and also granted Hutagalung a visit with the children “immediately, alone, in the

law library conference room until 10:45 am.” CP at 440. The parties agree that the New Mexico

order was valid and in effect on November 29. Because the New Mexico order was valid on

November 29, it was entitled to full faith and credit.

          The New Mexico order did not prohibit Hutagalung from contacting the children.

Rather, the New Mexico order prohibited Hutagalung from contacting Barnett. Further, the New

Mexico order directed the parties to “follow all orders of Washington State regarding the

children.” CP at 299. Because the New Mexico order did not prohibit Hutagalung from having

3
    The parties do not challenge New Mexico’s jurisdiction to enter its temporary protection order.

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No. 50889-3-II

contact with the children, the Pierce County court did not violate its terms by allowing contact

with the children. We hold that the Pierce County court did not fail to extend full faith and credit

to the New Mexico order in its November 29 order.

       2. Pierce County Court’s December 2, 2016 Order

       Barnett also asserts that the Pierce County court’s December 2 order failed to extend full

faith and credit to her valid foreign protection order. Specifically, she claims that the Pierce

County court violated the New Mexico order by granting Hutagalung temporary residential

placement of the children. We disagree because on December 2, the New Mexico order was not

valid, and, therefore, the Pierce County court was not required to accord it full faith and credit.

       The New Mexico case was dismissed on December 1. On December 2 the Pierce County

court entered a temporary order awarding Hutagalung temporary residential placement of the

children until the parties’ trial date. Therefore, the New Mexico order was not valid on

December 2. See In re Parentage, Parenting, & Support of A.R.K.-K., 142 Wash. App. 297, 304,

174 P.3d 160 (2007) (“[A]n expired order has no continuing force or effect.”).

       Because the New Mexico order had been dismissed, a valid foreign protection order did

not exist on December 2 when the Pierce County court entered its order. Because Barnett did not

have a valid foreign protection order, we reject Barnett’s claim that the Pierce County court

failed to extend full faith and credit to her valid foreign protection order in its order on December

2.

B.     Other Assignments of Error

       Barnett also makes the following assignments of error: The trial court erred by (1)

allowing this litigation to go forward when Hutagalung admitted that he violated a foreign

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No. 50889-3-II

protection order, (2) admitting the guardian ad litem report because it was not timely filed, (3)

removing the children from Barnett’s care, (4) allowing pleadings to be proof, (5) changing

custody absent any proof that the children were in danger of abuse or neglect, (6) entering its

final order based on Hutagalung’s petition and unlawful actions, and (7) comparing this case to

In Re Marriage of Velickoff, 95 Wash. App. 346, 968 P.2d 20 (1998). Barnett also asserts that

“judicial officers” violated a variety of laws. Br. of Appellant at 32.

       Her assignments of error are unsupported by meaningful argument or citation to the

record, and we do not address them. RAP 10.3(a)(6); Stiles v. Kearney, 168 Wash. App. 250, 266-

67, 277 P.3d 9 (2012) (“Passing treatment of an issue or lack of a reasoned argument does not

provide a sufficient basis for review.”).

       Barnett also raises two assertions for the first time in her reply brief. First, she asks:

“[W]hy, when [she] came to court [in Pierce County] for Contempt of the Oregon Parenting

Plan, was she held in contempt, when New Mexico took temporary emergency jurisdiction and

put in place a Domestic Violence Protection Order which superseded the Oregon Parenting

Plan?”4 Reply Br. of Appellant at 2. Second, Barnett asserts that the Pierce County Superior

Court failed to order screening of both parties, as required under RCW 26.09.191(4). “An issue

raised and argued for the first time in a reply brief is too late to warrant consideration.” RAP

10.3(a)(6); Cowiche Canyon Conservancy v. Bosley, 118 Wash. 2d 801, 809, 828 P.2d 549 (1992).

4
 For clarification, the New Mexico order did not supersede the Oregon parenting plan. The New
Mexico order stated: “It appears that Washington State is the children’s home state,” and
provided that the “[p]arties shall follow all orders of Washington State regarding the children.”
CP at 299.

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No. 50889-3-II

Further, Barnett does not offer meaningful argument regarding either claim. We do not consider

the claims.

                                        ATTORNEY FEES

       Barnett argues that she is entitled to attorney fees because Hutagalung brought this action

in bad faith. A party is required to devote a separate section of the brief to the request for fees.

RAP 18.1(b). “The rule requires more than a bald request for attorney fees on appeal. Argument

and citation to authority are required under the rule to advise the court of the appropriate grounds

for an award of attorney fees as costs.” Stiles, 168 Wn. App. at 267 (internal citations omitted).

Barnett does not provide a separate section in her brief devoted to her request, or offer

meaningful argument or citation to the record. Thus, we deny Barnett’s request for attorney fees.

       Hutagalung also requests attorney fees on appeal based on RAP 18.1 and RCW 4.84.185,

characterizing Barnett’s appeal as frivolous. Hutagalung asserts that Barnett’s appeal is

frivolous because she made “numerous allegations” without authority or meaningful argument.

Br. of Resp’t at 13. “An appeal is frivolous if, considering the whole record, [we are] convinced

there are no debatable issues on which reasonable minds may differ and it is totally devoid of

merit.” In re Recall of Boldt, 187 Wash. 2d 542, 556, 386 P.3d 1104 (2017). Barnett’s appeal is

likely frivolous. But, given the long history between the parties, the emotional nature of the

proceedings, and the interests of the children, we decline to award attorney fees on appeal.

       Barnett has not demonstrated error in the Pierce County court’s order entered on

November 29, 2016, allowing Hutagalung to have contact with the children on the morning of

November 29; the order entered on December 2, 2016, awarding Hutagalung temporary

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No. 50889-3-II

residential placement of the children until the parties’ trial date; or the final order entered on

August 25, 2017. We affirm.

       A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the

Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW

2.06.040, it is so ordered.

                                                                        Worswick, J.
 We concur:

 Maxa, C.J.

 Glasgow, J.

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