IN THE SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA

(In r e :

v.

PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI

ON APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALABAMA

CASE NO.

JEFFERSON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

CASE NO. flBHBHHMmHM JAP

ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED

Pro Se:

TO THE SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA:

Cones now your p e t i t i o n e r

( h e r e i n a f t e r r e f e r r e d t o as p e t i t i o n s t h i s

Honorable Court f o r a w r i t o f c e r t i o r a r i i s s u e d t o t h e

Alabama Court o f C i v i l Appeals i n t h e a b o v e - s t y l e d case

pur s u a n t to Alabama Rule o f A p p e l l a t e Procedure 39.

s u p p o r t o f p r e p a r e d t o say and show as

H i Alabama Court o f C i v i l Appeals

e n t e r e d a O p i n i o n " i n case number a f f i r m i n g t h e

d e c i s i o n of the C i r c u i t Court o f J e f f e r s o n County, Alabama

to Rule 53 o f the Alabama Rules o f A p p e l l a t e

Procedure. r e s p e c t f u l l y t h a t t h e r e e x i s t s

i n s u f f i c i e n t evidence p r e s e n t e d t o the t r i a l c o u r t t o s u s t a i n

i t s judgment. That upon ore tenus r e v i e w :

o f c o r r e c t n e s s , however, i s r e b u t t a b l e and may be overcome where t h e r e i s

evidence p r e s e n t e d the t r i a l c o u r t t o s u s t a i n i t s judgment. v. 913

( A l a . 2005) 474 79 (Ala. 1 9 5 5 ) ) .

the ore tenus r u l e does not extend t o presumption o f c o r r e c t n e s s a t r i a l judge's c o n c l u s i o n s o f law o r the i n c o r r e c t a p p l i c a t i o n o f law t o the f a c t s . Waltman v. a t

Gaston v. Ames, 514 877 ( A l a . 1937). Questions o f are not s u b j e c t t o the ore

2

tenus s t a n d a r d r e v i e w . Reed v. Board o f Trustees f o r Alabama S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , 6 793 (Ala . 2000). A t r i a l c o u r t ' s c o n c l u s i o n s on l e g a l i s s u e s c a r r y no pre s u m p t i o n o f c o r r e c t n e s s on

p a r t e Cash, 624 576, 577 ( A l a .

Seeks review and r e v e r s a l , ( i n whole or p a r t ) ,

a f f i r m a t i o n o f the seven (7) i s s u e s b e f o r e i t under appeal.

A d d i t i o n a l l y , seeks r e v e r s a l o f the Court o f

C i v i l Appeals award t o flHHHHB

( h e r e i n a f t e r r e f e r r e d t o as o f 500 i n a t t o r n e y

. Alabama Code (e) :

except an a t t o r n e y l i c e n s e d p r a c t i c e law i n t h i s

s t a t e , who i s appearing w i t h o u t an a t t o r n e y s h a l l be assessed

a t t o r n e y s ' fees u n l e s s the c o u r t f i n d s t h a t the p a r t y c l e a r l y

knew o r reasonably should have t h a t h i s a c t i o n , c l a i m

or defense or any p a r t t h e r e o f was w i t h o u t s u b s t a n t i a l

The Alabama Court o f C i v i l Appeals d e c i s i o n i s a t t a c h e d

h e r e t o and de s i g n a t e d as - E x h i b i t A".

STATEMENT OF THE SET FORTH IN ALABAMA RULE OF

APPELLATE PROCEDURE 39(A)(1)(A) (E)

C o n f l i c t , p u r s u a n t to Alabama Rule o f Appellate

Procedure The Alabama Court o f C i v i l

Appeals had no o p i n i o n on the issues b e f o r e i t pursuant t o

Rule 53 (a) (1} and (a) (2) .

a s s e r t s t h a t t h e r e i s i n s u f f i c i e n t evidence

p r e s e n t e d t o t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o s u s t a i n i t s t he

2013 o p i n i o n / O r d e r and s a i d Order i s i n c o n f l i c t w i t h p r i o r

d e c i s i o n s o f the Supreme Court of Alabama, Alabama Court o f

C i v i l Appeals, Alabama Code and/or Alabama

4

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

Pursuant t o Alabama Rules o f A p p e l l a t e Procedure Rule

3 9 ( d ) ( 3 ) ( B ) i s a p p l i c a b l e i n t h a t the Alabama Court o f

Appeals had no o p i n i o n on the iss u e s b e f o r e i t .

Pursuant t o Rule (5) o f

D e F i l i p p o ' s appeal statement o f f a c t s and argument w i t h

r e f e r e n c e s t o the p e r t i n e n t p o r t i o n s o f the c l e r k ' s r e c o r d

and the r e p o r t e r ' s t r a n s c r i p t i s a t t a c h e d h e r e t o and

de s i g n a t e d as " E x h i b i t B".

CLOSING

That w i t h the upmost r e s p e c t of our s t a t e ' s j u d i c i a l

i n s t i t u t i o n Prays t h a t t h i s Court has a l e g a l ,

moral and e t h i c a l o b l i g a t i o n as a b a s t i o n - s c r u p u l o u s l y guard

and p r o t e c t the Ex p a r t e Eann, 810

That upon r e v i e w o f the p e t i t i o n b e f o r e i t , t h e Supreme

Court o f Alabama i s o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t t h e t r i a l r e c o r d

S t a t e o f Alabama and Supreme Court's l e g a l s t a n d a r d o f

r e s p o n s i b l e and/or as

compared t o and the Court stands u n i t e d , i n t o l e r a n t o f

a p a r e n t r e p e a t e d l y i n v i o l a t i o n o f i t s o r d e r s , u n w i l l i n g t o

c o - p a r e n t i n g and a c t i n g i n a manner c o n t r a r y t o the b e s t

i n t e r e s t s o f a now s i x year o l d minor c h i l d .

r e s p e c t f u l l y r e q u e s t s t h a t i t i s j u s t and

proper f o r t h i s Court t o r e a f f i r m s a i d s t a n d a r d by r e v e r s i n g

i n a l l or p a r t t he lower Court's o p i n i o n / O r d e r .

R e s p e c t f u l l y s u b m i t t e d ,

P e t i t i o n e r (pro se

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I t h a t p u r s u a n t r o Rule 39(e) t h a t on t h e 19 day o f a copy o f the ' P e t i t i o n For

o f C e r t i o r a r i was served upon each o f t h e l i s t e d

Anne-Marie Adams, C l e r k C i r c u i t Court o f J e f f . County Domestic R e l a t i o n s D i v i s i o n

Avenue, N o r t h , S u i t e 100 Birmingham, 35203

The Alabama Court o f C i v i l ATTN: John H. J r .

(hand-Delivered)

6

300 Dexter Avenue 36104

O r i g i n a l and n i n e (9) c o p i Supreme Court o f Alabama ATTN: J u l i a Jordan K e l l e r 300 Dexter Avenue Montgomery, AL 3

REL:

STATE OF ALABAMA -- JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT THE COURT OF C I V I L APPEALS

SPECIAL TERM, 2 013

Appeal from J e f f e r s o n C i r c u i t Court (| and

PITTMAN, Judge.

AFFIRMED. NO OPINION.

See Rule 53(a) and (a) (C) , A l a . R. App. Cochran

fflii£^5i Group, v. 2d 1042 1057 Ex parte Roberts, 796 So. 2d 349, 352 (Ala 2001) Ex

parte F u l l e r , 620 So. 2d 675, (Ala. Ex

698 5 (Ala. App. 2008);

925 So. 2d 977, 984 (Ala. Civ. App. Hinds v. 887 So. 2d 267, 274 (Ala. Civ. App. 2003

v. 636 So. 2d 1249, 1252 (Ala. Civ. App 1994 Bunn v. Bunn, 628 So. 2d 695, 697 (Ala. Civ. App. and Ebert v. Ebert, 469 So. 2d 615, (Ala.

The a p p e l l e e ' s motion to s t r i k e portions of the a p p e l l a n t ' s b r i e f i s granted i n p a r t and denied i n

The appellee's request for an attorney fee on appeal i s granted the amount of $2,500.

concur. Thompson, and Thomas, Moore, and Donaldson, JJ. ,

EXHIBIT B

STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

Pursuant t o Alabama Rules o f A p p e l l a t e Procedure Rule

3 9 ( d ) ( 3 ) ( B ) i s a p p l i c a b l e i n t h a t the Alabama Court o f

C i v i l Appeals had no o p i n i o n on the iss u e s b e f o r e i t .

Pursuant t o Rule summarization o f

statement o f f a c t s and argument w i t h r e f e r e n c e s

to t h e p e r t i n e n t p o r t i o n s o f the r e c o r d and t h e

t r a n s c r i p t i s a t t a c h e d h e r e t o and desi g n a t e d as

- E x h i b i t B".

ISSUES APPEALED TO THE COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS

* Did the t r i a l court e r r i n denying Rule

N i s i and i n d o i n g so, not f i n d i n g i n contempt?

non-compliant w i t h the F i n a l

o f Divorce and amended Order [ c . 5 3 2 ] :

• Paragraph o f p a r e n t a l a c t i v i t y

p a r t i c i p a t i o n and c o l l a b o r a t i o n [C.

c Ac t i t o n i c a t e

school a c t i v i t i e s from [Defendant

E x h i b i t ; t o o k t h e c h i l d f o r a p r e -

acceptance s k i l l assessment w i t h o u t n o t i f y i n g

[Defendant E x h i b i t 14 e n r o l l e d the minor

c h i l d i n the teHaagasB School w i t h o u t d i s c u s s i o n on

the m a t t e r [Defendant 55, 62] [R. 154 : 7 ] ;

the minor homework thus

deny the o p p o r t u n i t y t o a s s i s t t he minor c h i l d

w i t h h i s 2011-2012 school year homework [Defendant E x h i b i t

69] [R. d i d not advise s c h o o l

a c t i v i t i e s by f l y e r [Defendant E x h i b i t 29]

E x h i b i t and o b s t r u c t e d

from h a v i n g l u n c h w i t h t he minor c h i l d [Defendant

E x h i b i t 88:12-89:22] [R. 91:1-96:12].

Medical A c t i

w i t h on s c h e d u l i n g the minor c h i l d ' s

w e l l baby e x a m i n a t i o n [Defendant E x h i b i t 5]

[Defendant E x h i b i t pages 2-4] [R. t o o k the

minor t o h i s f o r

wi thou an t o

a t t e n d [Defendant E x h i b i t 7:[R.

E x h i b i t 15: [R. 79:4-52 : 7 ] ; scheduled the minor c h i l d ' s 3-

year p e d i a t r i c e x a m i n a t i o n s t a t i n g appointment is

to be changed or [Defendant E x h i b i t [R.

: d i c t a t e d verse c o l l a b o r a t e d on

s c h e d u l i n g [Defendant E x h i b i t s 5, 8, 9, 398:18-

2

401:4]; o b s t r u c t e d e f f o r t s t o have the m i n o r

c h i l d scheduled f o r and a t t e n d h i s 2 n d and 3 r d semi ­

a nnual d e n t a l appointments [Defendant E x h i b i t s 123, 124-

128, 130-131] 253:13-22]

C o l l a b o r a t i o n : as a g e n e r a l r u l e

r e f u s e d t o / c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h on any

c h i l d - r e l a t e d m a t t e r a l t h o u g h r e p e a t e d l y sought

out communication / c o l l a b o r a t i o n on m a t t e r s

v i a e m a i l and person-person w i t h o u t success. [R. 28:23-

30:1] [R: 41:17-43:20] [ [R.

[Defendant E x h i b i t 8 9 ] [ R . E x h i b i t

114] 246:15-24] 254:6-255:6]

Paragraph (a) d e l i n e a t e d

F r i d a y a t - Monday at v i s i t a t i o n [C. 533,

para. 3] and the amended Order d e l i n e a t e d two two-

one week seven (7) day summer v a c a t i o n p e r i o d s 533

para. i n which weekday [ n o t weekend]

v i s i t a t i o n was suspended.

denied Courr awarded F r i d a y -

Monday weekend v i s i t a t i o n s 18-25, 2008 and August 15-

22, J u l y 13-20, 2009 and August 17-24, 2009; J u l y 23-

3

30, 2010 and August 17-23, 2010; June 3-10,

E x h i b i t 169, 169A {See E x h i b i t s #7)]

5. (k) o f p r o v i d e s f o r

a d d i t i o n a l v i s i t a t i o n a t such o t h e r times as agreed upon

between t he p a r t i e s [C. 4 6 9 ] .

denied a d d i t i o n a l t i m e t o care f o r

son when s i c k and take son t o e n r i c h i n g / r e l i g i o u s

a c t i v i t i e s 24, 10S, 169, 205,

231, 232, 236, 237, 238] [R. 217:13-15],

, [R.

26:21.

D i r e c t e x a m i n a t i o n by — [ R . 217:13-151 Q: How many times would you guess t he defendant has

asked t o t a k e your son places and you have denied?

A: 200, 300, a l o t .

Paragraph 11 o f the FJOD p r o v i d e s

e n j o y the r i g h t o f reasonable telephone v i s i t a t i o n w i t h t h e

minor c h i l d , a t h i s expense. 471][R. 6:17].

acknowledged gave

n o t i c e t o o b j e c t t o p u r c h a s i n g a f a m i l y

phone p l a n which, r e c e i v i n g no

made s a i d 2-year c o n t r a c t u a l purchase i n August 2008

[Defendant E x h i b i t 256] 323:3-324:2]. acknowledged

r e f u s i n g on two occasions, September a g a i n i n

f o r the minor c h i l d ' s use as s t i p u l a t e d i n the p r o v i s i o n .

[Defendant E x h i b i t 256] [R.

Paragraph 12 o f the FJOD p r o v i d e s t h a t t h e r e w i l l

be no c i g a r e t t e smoking i n the p h y s i c a l presence o f t h e

minor c h i l d by [C. 471] .

(1) The minor c h i l d ' s H e a l t h S u p e r v i s i o n V i s i t 2 4

months documents H i l l a f f i r m i n g Smoke Exposure" and

p r o v i d i n g "Medical Education, Mo smoking" (Defendant

E x h i b i t 4

smokes, does not smoke R.

• Paragraph 15 o f the FJOD p r o v i d e s "That P l a i n t i f f

s h a l l provide and dental insurance coverage for the

use and b e n e f i t of the minor [C. 471] .

d i s c o v e r y response t o p r o v i d e d e n t a l

i n s u r a n c e i n f o r c e was "none" 772] [C. 7951; flU

pa y i n g f u l l c o s t of d e n t a l examinations [Defendant E x h i b i t

and l a c k o f d e n t a l i n s u r a n c e f o r the use and b e n e f i t o f

the minor c h i l d was l i k e l y t h e reason obstructed

from s c h e d u l i n g the minor c h i l d f o r 1 s t , 2 n d and 3 r d

semi-annual d e n t a l appointments ( $ 1 1 7 / v i s i t )

E x h i b i t s 124-128, 130-131] [R.

p r o v i d e s "That each party

to this a c t i o n i s awarded and s h a l l r e t a i n the personal

property p r e s e n t l y in t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e p o s s e s s i o n " [C.472] .

d i s p u t e t a k i n g p e r s o n a l p r o p e r t y

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

1. Rule 70A, A l a . Civ. P., has governed contempt

proceedings i n c i v i l a c t i o n s s i n c e J u l y 11, 1994.

Rule 7 0 A ( a } ( 2 ) ( D ) d e f i n e s ' c i v i l as a c o n t i n u i n g o r r e f u s a l o f any

person t o comply w i t h a s subpoena, process, o r d e r , r u l e , o r command by i t s n a t u r e i s s t i l l capable o f w i t h . '

Brown v. 960 Sc. 2d 712, 716

2006) s t a t e s i n p a r t t h a t a t r i a l c o u r t ' s contempt

d e t e r m i n a t i o n may be r e v e r s e d on appeal w i t h a showing

" t h a t i t s judgment i s not support e d by the evidence".

3. The overwhelming evidence w i t h i n t h e t r i a l r e c o r d

i n c l u d i n g s e l f - i n c r i m i n a t i n g t e s t i m o n y , c l e a r l y

e s t a b l i s h e s t h a t w i l l f u l l y and r e p e a t e d l y over a

p e r i o d o f g r e a t e r t han f o u r years v i o l a t e d a t a minimum

p r o l o n g e d p e r i o d s w i t h t h e minor c h i l d r e a d i l y

t r a n s i t i o n e d i n t o home r o u t i n e . [R. 295:

b. The t r i a l c o u r t ' s Order, i n c r e a s i n g

v i s i t a t i o n by f i f t y p e r c e n t , a l t e r n a t i n g

t h e minor c h i l d between p a r e n t s weekly (mid-May t h r o u g h

; a f u l l q u a r t e r o f each year, i s i l l u s t r a t i v e

o f a c o u r t w i t h l i t t l e t o no concern o f the minor c h i l d ' s

t o adapt to changing households

d i s r u p t i o n .

fe^^^HH and

f r e q u e n t l y d u r i n g the school year; at l e a s t t h r e e t o f o u r

o f f i v e weekdays, 1ST and 3 r d weeks F r i d a y - Monday and

extended h o l i d a y v i s i t a t i o n s .

i n t e r e s t s

Primary r e s i d e n c e awarded t o i s f a i l i n g t h e

c h i l d .

a. The minor c h i l d ' s / teachers have expressed

concern t o the p a r t i e s t h a t t h e c h i l d has low

c o n f i d e n c e . [Defendant E x h i b i t page

n

d e c l i n e . Independent assessment by the minor c h i l d ' s

teac h e r documents i n the minor c h i l d ' s 4K

progress r e p o r t ( r e p o r t card) t h a t the minor c h i l d i s

p e r f o r m i n g l e s s than s a t i s f a c t o r y i n a l l t e n

s k i l l s e v a l u a t e d : u s i n g s u i t a b l e v o i c e

c o n t r o l , r e s p e c t i n g r i g h t s and p r o p e r t y o f o t h e r s ,

r e s p e c t i n g authority, working and playing with o t h e r s ,

e x p r e s s i n g emotions w i t h c o n t r o l , a c c e p t i n g c o r r e c t i o n ,

f o l l o w i n g d i r e c t i o n s , l i s t e n i n g i n t e r r u p t i n g ,

c o n t r o l l i n g t a l k i n g and assuming fR. 203:6-

205:11] [Defendant E x h i b i t 1 0 2 ] .

c. The minor c h i l d ' s unacceptable b e h a v i o r p a t t e r n

c o n t i n u e d i n t o w i t h the minor c h i l d coning w i t h i n one

event away from e x p u l s i o n f r o m due t c b e h a v i o r a l i s s u e s .

• s e t tne best p a r e n t a l / co-

p a r e n t i n g example th r o u g h complete abidance o f t h e Court's

o r d e r s and focus p r o d u c t i v e c o - p a r e n t i n g , o f t e n w h i l e

b e i n g faced w i t h c o n t i n u o u s a d v e r s i t y by

r e p e a t e d l y sought out w i t h o u t success,

person-person v e r b a l w i t h [A. 105:15-

[ 232:9-233:1], [Defendant E x h i b i t

A d d i t i o n a l l y , communicated to a l l 143

o f the minor c h i l d ' s s c h o o l n o t i c e s and work [Defendant

E x h i b i t as w e l l as c h i l d - r e l a t e d h e a l t h , s a f e t y and

9

c u l t u r a l events i n f o r m a t i o n [Defendant E x h i b i t s 35 .

s o l i c i t a t i o n s o f the same from s i n c e

November 2008 so b o t h p a r e n t s c o u l d remain i n f o r m e d of the

minor c h i l d ' s academics went unanswered [R.

[Defendant E x h i b i t s 3 1 ] .

t o the b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f

the c h i l d was such t h a t even a f t e r r e p eated

v i o l a t i o n s by denying seven c o u r t o r d e r

F r i d a y Monday weekend v i s i t a t i o n s and a t l e a s t

n i f t y o t h e r v i s i t a t i o n r e q u e s t s over f o u r years [R.

15] c o n t i n u e d t o extend

a d d i t i o n a l w i t h the minor c h i l d t o ensure the

minor c h i l d was a f f o r d e d the o p p o r t u n i t y o f f r e q u e n t

c o n t a c t w i t h and b o t h h i s p a r e n t s .

own i n i t i a t i v e o f f e r e d the f o l l o w i n g a d d i t i o n a l time

w i t h t h e minor c h i l d :

(1) " F i r s t r i g h t o f r e f u s a l " should have a

custody p e r i o d c o n f l i c t . [Defendant

E x h i b i t 1C3 pg 2 ] , [Defendant E x h i b i t 197]

[Defendant E x h i b i t

During extended custody

p e r i o d s [R. [Defendant E x h i b i t 107C,

169A, E x h i b i t 2 0 2 ] .

(3} During extended Christmas [R. 301:22-

302:22] [Defendant E x h i b i t and o t h e r s p e c i a l events

such as Easter egg hunt 303:22-304:13] [Defendant

E x h i b i t 198] and daycare movie n i g h t [R.

[Defendant E x h i b i t 2 0 0 ] .

[4} A d d i t i o n a l l y r e a d i l y a f f o r d e d

hours v i s i t a t i o n on Mother's day i n 2008, 2010 and 2011

a l t h o u g h i t c o n f l i c t e d w i t h weekend v i s i t a t i o n

and d e s p i t e denying h i s T h a n k s g i v i n g

B i r t h d a y v i s i t a t i o n s which c o n f l i c t e d w i t h

[R. [R. 481:15-23]

- fl^HI^HHI 'nas the

the c h i l d r e c e i v e d h i s

p e d i a t r i c e x a m i n a t i o n i n a t i m e l y manner

[Defendant E x h i b i t s 124, 125, 126, 127,

12S, 130, 131] and m e d i c a l care i n c l u d i n g

immunizations [R. 225:21 230:25] [Defendant E x h i b i t

113] .

p a r e n t i n g b e h a v i o r , the t r i a l r e c o r d t h o r o u g h l y documents

r e f u s a l t o abide by the Court's o r d e r s set i n p l a c e

t o guard and p r o t e c t t h e best i n t e r e s t s o f the manor c h i l d

and assure b o t h p a r e n t s the o p p o r t u n i t y t o be a c t i v e l y

i n v o l v e d i n the minor c h i l d ' s

OF THE ARGUMENT

1. Since the Court o f Alabama d e c i s i o n i n

Cleghorn, t h e Court o f C i v i l Appeals has acknowledged t h a t

a n o n c u s t o d i a l p a r e n t need not prove t h a t t h e r e i s an

overwhelming n e c e s s i t y for the change i n order t o s u p p o r t a

change i n custody under See v. Cleburne

County o f ;

P r i e s t , 317 . App . 2 008 ) .

2. The c u r r e n t p r i m a r y award t o i s

f a i l i n g the minor c h i l d . The outward s i g n s o f t h i s f a i l u r e

measured by h i s t e a c h e r s , who r e p o r t low s e l f - e s t e e m s i n c e

u n s a t i s f a c t o r y e m o t i o n a l b e h a v i o r i n a l l t e n r a t e d

c a t e g o r i e s s i n c e w i t h near e x p u l s i o n from 5X f o r

a d v e r s a r i a l b e h a v i o r t o classmates and s t a f f . The minor

c h i l d ' s b e h a v i o r m i r r o r i n g t h a t o f evidenced w i t h i n

the t r i a l r e c o r d i s u n a c c e p t a b l e .

3. Each p a r t y by t e s t i m o n y and the c o u r t by o r d e r

a f f i r m e d the measure o f concern o f d i s r u p t i o n i n s t a b i l i t y

by changing r e s i d e n t s i s l i k e l y n o n e x i s t e n t .

12

The c o u r t ' s a c t i o n o f a i n c r e a s e i n

v i s i t a t i o n t o fc—» i s a testament that any d i s r u p t i o n

i s outweighed by p o s i t i v e good o f a d d i t i o n a l p a r e n t a l

f u l l y abided by the c o u r t ' s Orders;

r o u t i n e l y g o i n g beyond the standard o f each p r o v i s i o n even

n the

a c t i o n s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h Alabama J o i n t Custody p h i l o s o p h y

"the b est i n t e r e s t o f the minor c h i l d i s served by b o t h

p a r e n t s b e i n g a f f o r d e d the o p p o r t u n i t y t o be a c t i v e l y

i n v o l v e d i n p a r e n t i n g . "

The p o s i t i v e good b r o u g h t about by a change i n

p r i m a r y r e s i d e n c e t o who has been a p o s i t i v e r o l e

and advocate o f c o - p a r e n t i n g o v e r w h e l m i n g l y o f f s e t s

what i s a r g u a b l y no i n the s t a b i l i t y o f t h e

1

• t r i a l c o u r t e r r i n not

reduced

by h a l f once

[C. 469] [C. 5351

1. That from - 2012 t h e minor

13

c h i l d enjoyed v i s i t a t i o n w i t h each Tuesday and

Thursday from 6:30PM. Beginning teMj&tmmmm?, s a i d

v i s i t a t i o n was a u t o m a t i c a l l y reduced i n h a l f t o Wednesday

o n l y w i t h o u t p r o o f t h a t , due t c a m a t e r i a l change o f

circum s t a n c e s , the would m a t e r i a l l y promote the b e s t

i n t e r e s t s o f the c h i l d and would more than o f f s e t t h e

i n h e r e n t d i s r u p t i o n i n the l i f e o f the c h i l d . See Ex p a r t e

455 So. 2d 863, 865-66 ( A l a .

2. That page paragraph 8 o f

Motion A l t e r , Amend or i n the A l t e r n a t i v e

M o t i o n t o Reconsider p e t i t i o n e d t he t r i a l c o u r t

to r e i n s t a t e changing i f d e s i r e d

Tuesday Thursday t o Tuesday £ F r i d a y v i s i t a t i o n (C. 989-

Said p e t i t i o n was denied.

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

v. 731 225

the Court o f C i v i l Appeals, c i t i n g Hovater, 577 a t

63, r e v e r s e d judgment c o n t a i n i n g a p r o v i s i o n f o r

m o d i f i c a t i o n o f v i s i t a t i o n a f t e r s i x months had

passed 781 a t 227. The Court o f C i v i l Appeals n o t e d

t h a t t h e r e was no evidence t o i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e r e would be

a change o f circumstance w a r r a n t i n g a m o d i f i c a t i o n o f

1 4

v i s i t a t i o n and t h a t t h e r e was no b a s i s t o determine f u t u r e

2. p r o v i s i o n a u t o m a t i c a l l y changing custody o f t h e

c h i l d based on sons f u t u r e event i m p r o p e r l y r e l i e v e s t h e

p a r e n t o f h i s or her burden o f s a t i s f y i n g t h e

McLendon s t a n d a r d and can o n l y be on a

s p e c u l a t i o n o f what t h e best i n t e r e s t s o f the c h i l d r e n

be a t a f u t u r e d a t e . " See 577 So. 2d a t

and Hovater, the p r o v i s i o n

w i t h i n the May 2008 judgment a u t o m a t i c a l l y changing

weekday custody when the minor c h i l d began

(May c o n f l i c t s w i t h Alabama law on the m a t t e r .

t r i a l c o u r t e r r awarding

?

p a r t y

a. I t i s reasonable t o conclude t h a t was

the p r e v a i l i n g p a r t y a t t r i a l .

The t r i a l c o u r t awarding add r e s s i n g t he

f o l l o w i n g issues r a i s e d by Summer v a c a t i o n

i n c r e a s e d by 50% from 4 6 weeks [ c . 955 8.B.].

b i r t h d a y s w i t h son decreased 50% w i t h

the p a r t i e s ' T h a n k s g i v i n g v i s i t a t i o n p e r i o d reduced f r o m

Wednesday - Sunday t o Wednesday F r i d a y .

b i r t h d a y v i s i t a t i o n was i n c r e a s e d from t he FJOD 3:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m. day o f b i r t h d a y [C. 469 para. 5 . ( h ) ] t o 4:00PM on

b i r t h d a y u n t i l 7:30AM the f o i i o w i n g day [See E x h i b i t s

t r i a l c o u r t ' s Order para.

awarded l u n c h w i t h the minor c h i l d weekly on Tuesdays [C.

954 par a . 5.] and was awarded each Veteran's Day

w i t h the minor c h i l d f r o m 8:00?M the n i g h t b e f o r e Veteran's

Day u n t i l t r i a l

Order para. 1 . 1 . A d d i t i o n a l l y ,

a l t h o u g h the t r i a l c o u r t d i d not g r a n t s p e c i f i c o t h e r

i n b o t h the fll ana

i n c r e a s e d emphasize on "Other V i s i t a t i o n " [C. 956, para.

t he re q u i r e m e n t o f the p a r t i e s t o p r o m p t l y

n o t i f y each o t h e r i l l n e s s or a c c i d e n t [C. 956, para. S.G.I;

c l a r i f y i n g the r i g h t o f each p a r t y ' s access t o i n f o r m a t i o n

p e r t a i n i n g t o the minor c h i l d [C. 957, par a . r a i s i n g

the m e d i c a l / d e n t a l t h r e s h o l d o f when b o t h p a r t i e s would

16

s p l i t c o s t s from $200 - $250 a n n u a l l y [C.

para. 9.] and ordered the p a r t i e s t o a t t e n d Gateway

[C. 95 9, p a r a .

not award p r i m a r y r e s i d e n c e , c o u r t

c o s t s or a t t o r n e y f e e s .

swarding $27, o f a t o t a l o f

$29,625.00 i n a t t o r n e y fees [C. 959, p a r a . 12.]

518:25]. flU custody or c o u r t c o s t s .

2. N e i t h e r p a r t y was found i n contempt o f c o u r t .

p r e s e n t i n t o evidence e i t h e r t h r o u g h

t e s t i m o n y , p l e a d i n g s or p r o d u c t i o n any debt beyond t h a t

a mortgage and car payment (S380). r e t o r t e d i n

annual o f and F e d e r a l

r e t i r e m e n t s a v i n g s account balance o f 617].

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

H H o f A p p e l l e e " page 52, flB argues

t h a t " t h i s Court has r e p e a t e d l y h e l d where husband

u n s u c c e s s f u l l y b r i n g s a p e t i t i o n t o m o d i f y , the t r i a l c o u r t

nas t h e d i s c r e t i o n t o award an a t t o r n e y fee t c w i f e f o r

her defense o f the p e t i t i o n to c i t i n g

, Ebert v. Ebert and Epperson.

17

argues t h a t was e q u a l l y b r i n g i n g a

p r i m a r y r e s i d e n c e a f a r more

complex defense w i t h severe consequences had he f a i l e d .

2. Both and u n s u c c e s s f u l i n t h e i r

p e t i t i o n t o m o d i f y at t r i a l c o u r t , argument t h i s

s p e c i f i c m a t t e r moot u n l e s s c o n t e n t i o n i s t h a t t h e

c i t e d case law i s o n l y a p p l i c a b l e t o women.

3. The non-gender commonality between the cases

c i t e s i s t h a t t h e p r e v a i l i n g p a r t y was awarded a t t o r n e y

having p r e v a i l e d t e n issu e s brought

b e f o r e the t r i a l c o u r t was the p r e v a i l i n g p a r t y . As such i t

was and pro p e r t o award

C i v i l Contempt

a t t o r n e y

was contempt by the

c o u r t ; as such n e i t h e r p a r t y was e n t i t l e d t o a t t o r n e y f e e s .

3. The Alabama c o u r t ' s s t a n d a r d o f revi e w i n contempt

cases and award a t t o r n e y fees i s w e l l s e t t l e d :

R ecognizing t h a t a t r i a l c o u r t may award a t t o r n e y fees

a proceeding t o m o d i f y a d i v o r c e judgment and i n a

contempt p r o c e e d i n g i n which a f i n d i n g o f contempt i s

Sosebee v. Sosebee, 896 564

Court o f C i v i l Appeals i n Alabama F r e d r i c k v. F r e d r i c k

2101144. March 23, 2012: I n contempt p r o c e e d i n g s ,

a t t o r n e y fees may be awarded o n l y when the Defendant

i s found i n contempt. Robbins v. 2100427

4, 2011] — (Ala.Civ.App2011)

.. 1975,] § p r e c l u d e s t h e award o f an

a t t o r n e y fee t o the p e t i t i o n e r i n a contempt a c t i o n

when the t r i a l c o u r t f a i l s t o make a f i n d i n g o f

contempt a g a i n s t t h e d e f e n d i n g p a r t y .

A b i l i t y t o Pay

possesses comparable net f i n a n c i a l r e s o u r c e s

w i t h which t o pay her a t t o r n e y f e e s .

D .

a t t o r n e y fees

the p a r t y a t w i t h

not found i n contempt o f c o u r t on

any o f t h r e e s e p a r a t e p e t i t i o n s o f contempt; t o

i n c l u d e the f i v e s p e c i f i c Rule N i s i c l a i m s i d e n t i f i e d i n

response t o i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s . 695]

435:25 -

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

3. See summary o f argument paragraph IV.

19

954]

While s i l e n t on the m a t t e r ,

o f f e r e d i n sup p o r t o f the minor c h i l d ' s d e s i r e t o

develop h i s own i d e n t i t y and d e s i r e d name

a s c e r t a i n the t r u t h o f tne m a t t e r o f the minor c h i l d ' s name

r e b u t t a l d i g i t a l r e c o r d i n g evidence [R. 471:19-

25:; request t h a t the t r i a l c o u r t i n t e r v i e w the minor c h i l d

p e r s o n a l l y (minor c h i l d ' s expressed h i s d e s i r e t o c e l l Your

Honor 471:25 - request t h a t t h e

c c u r r o r d e r the minor c h i l d i n t e r v i e w e d by a c h i l d

p s y c h o l o g i s t t o a s c e r t a i n t h e t r u t h o f m a t t e r ; a i l were

r e j e c t e d by the t r i a l c o u r t . A d d i t i o n a l l y ,

s e v e r a l examples showing chat when g i v e n t h e

o p p o r t u n i t y no choose f o r h i m s e l f , minor c h i l d has i n

own h a n d w r i t i n g i d e n t i f i e d h i m s e l f as

E x h i b i t s 84 , 8 5 ] . O f f e r e d i n t o evidence

an e m a i l r e c e i v e d d u r i n g p r o d u c t i o n i n which the minor

20

c h i l d ' s 4-K t e a c h e r s t a t e s i n her November 29, 2011 e m a i l

"He c h i l d ] i s not w r i t i n g on any homework

now..." [Defendant E x h i b i t 1] [R. 473:8 25] and

t o always be known as

and w i l l be known as We have

had t h i s d i s c u s s i o n v i a e m a i l s on s e v e r a l occasions and

a g a i n , i n i n s t a n c e s where we are not a b l e t o agree, I am

the p r i m a r y d e c i s i o n maker." [Defendant

275:13 - 277:4]

OF THE ARGUMENT

I n t o the t r i a l

a s c e r t a i n the minor c h i l d ' s best i n t e r e s t s ,

the t r i a l c o u r t ' s o r d e r c o n f l i c t s w i t h Alabama Department

o f E d u c a t i o n A d m i n i s t r a t i v e Rule Alabama Department o f

E d u c a t i o n S e r v i c e s 290-3-1-

0 2 ( 4 ) ( b ) which mandates " s t u d e n t r e c o r d s must c o n t a i n l e g a l

names."

• c o u r t e r r by

' " 6-hours

The t r i a l c o u r t l i m i t e d

e x a m i n a t i o n

d i r e c t

21

e x a m i n a t i o n t o 6 h o u r s ; 10:30 - 4:30 day one {minus

1-hour l u n c h p l u s breaks) and 8:30 10:00 day 2. [R.

113:4-6] [R. 120:24-121:4] [R. 225:15-16] [R.

282:2-5] [R. 311:9-11] 330:3-13], and

1 i d c f

h i m s e l f 481:24-25] Cross e x a m i n a t i o n began s h o r t l y

t h e r e a f t e r . [R. 485]

2. The T r i a l remarked a t t r i a l ' s end Defendant

got p r e t t y c l o s e t o meeting the McLendon Standard. Had

been a f f o r d e d a d d i t i o n a l hour t o p r e s e n t

n i s case, met the

The Court: Eut as f a r as ycur p e t i t i o n f o r change i n custody, cannot see where the McLendon Standard has been met. I s t a t e d y e s t e r d a y t h a t you were l o o k i n g f o r death by a thousand cuts and l o o k i n g at the e x h i b i t s i n f r o n t o f we d i d n ' t get t c a thousand c u t s , we got c l o s e t o

543:6;

SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT

S t r a i n v. t h e Appeals Court s t a t e d : " [A]

p a r e n t i s e n t i t l e d t o due process i n pr o c e e d i n g s i n v o l v i n g

the c ustody o f a S t r a i n v. 83 So. 3d

571 Civ. App. I n v. Maloy, supra, t h i s

c o u r t

d e a l i n g w i t h such a d e l i c a t e and w e l f a r e of a minor process o f

lav; i n l e g a l proceedings s h o u l d be observed. These s e t t l e d courses o f procedure, as e s t a b l i s h e d by our lav;, due n o t i c e , a or t o be heard b e f o r e a c o u r t o f competent

The Appeals c o u r t s t a t e d i n [ v . 272 A l a . [517,3 520, 132 So. 2d [734,] 735-36 [ ( 1 9 6 1 ) ] . As t h i s c o u r t has f u r t h e r e x p l a i n e d :

due process contemplates t h e b a s i c r e q u i r e m e n t s o f a f a i r p r o c e e d i n g i n c l u d i n g an i m p a r t i a l h e a r i n g b e f o r e a l e g a l l y c o n s t i t u t e d c o u r t ; p r e s e n t evidence and arguments; i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g the c l a i m s o f the opposing p a r t y ; a reasonable o p p o r t u n i t y t o c o n t r o v e r t the

c l a i m s ; and r e p r e s e n t a t i o n by counsel i f i t i s

o f Pensions 356 So. 2d 4 51, 455 ( A l a . C i v . (emphasis added)." So. 3d a t

2 . I n l i m i t i n g t o 6-honrs d i r e c t

and 1-hour t o s case,

o n l y came " p r e t t y c l o s e " zc meeting McLendon s t a n d a r d .

The o f denying argument

d i d not a f f o r d subsequently the minor c h i l d )

due process and have l i f e - l o n g on t h e

minor c h i l d

Defendant a s s e r t s t h a t the f a c t s and statements

c o n t a i n e d h e r e i n are t r u e and c o r r e c t .