Sep 13, 2013 - best interest of the children." "Unlike the .... 2d 863 (Ala. 1984),] standard i s a ... to play football
REL: 09/13/2013
Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , A l a b a m a A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , Alabama 36104-3741 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r .
ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS SPECIAL TERM, 2013
2120145
J a n i c e A n i t a Jones v. Gary Tyrone McCoy Appeal from Montgomery C i r c u i t Court (DR-98-878.02) MOORE, J u d g e . J a n i c e A n i t a J o n e s ("the m o t h e r " ) a p p e a l s f r o m a judgment e n t e r e d b y t h e Montgomery modifying
custody
G a r y T y r o n e McCoy
Circuit
o f B r a n d o n McCoy ("the f a t h e r " ) .
Court
("the t r i a l
("the c h i l d " )
court")
i n favor of
We a f f i r m t h e j u d g m e n t .
2120145 Background I n November 1997, by
t h e m o t h e r a n d t h e f a t h e r were d i v o r c e d
a judgment o f t h e 89th
Texas
District
Court
("the T e x a s d i v o r c e j u d g m e n t " ) .
o f W i c h i t a County,
Pursuant
t o t h e Texas
d i v o r c e j u d g m e n t , t h e m o t h e r was a w a r d e d p h y s i c a l c u s t o d y o f the c h i l d , ordered
who was b o r n
t o pay c h i l d
i n November 1996, a n d t h e f a t h e r was
support.
j u d g m e n t was d o m e s t i c a t e d modification action.
I n 1998, t h e T e x a s
i n the t r i a l
court pursuant
I n May 1999, t h e t r i a l
judgment m o d i f y i n g t h e f a t h e r ' s v i s i t a t i o n child,
limiting
new h u s b a n d
divorce to a
court entered a
schedule w i t h the
c o n t a c t between t h e f a t h e r and t h e mother's
("the s t e p f a t h e r " ) ,
and o r d e r i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g :
"7. That t h e [ m o t h e r ] s h a l l r e f r a i n from c a l l i n g [ t h e s t e p f a t h e r ] b y any n o n - s t e p p a r e n t a l name, s u c h as ' D a d d y , ' a n d s h a l l d i s c o u r a g e t h e c h i l d from d o i n g s o . The [ m o t h e r ] s h a l l r e f e r t o t h e [ f a t h e r ] i n t h e c h i l d ' s p r e s e n c e and i n s p e a k i n g t o t h e c h i l d as t h e c h i l d ' s F a t h e r , u s i n g w h a t e v e r t h e name t h e c h i l d i s accustomed t o c a l l i n g t h e f a t h e r . The [ m o t h e r ] s h a l l make a f f i r m a t i v e e f f o r t s t o t e a c h t h e c h i l d t h e a p p r o p r i a t e r e l a t i o n s h i p between a c h i l d and his biological f a t h e r and t h e a p p r o p r i a t e r e l a t i o n s h i p between a c h i l d and h i s s t e p f a t h e r . " On J u l y 12, 2 0 1 1 , t h e f a t h e r , who now l i v e s of F l o r i d a , child.
filed a petition
seeking t o modify
i n the State
custody of the
On A u g u s t 2, 2 0 1 1 , a g u a r d i a n a d l i t e m was a p p o i n t e d
2
2120145 t o r e p r e s e n t t h e c h i l d ' s b e s t i n t e r e s t s , and, w i t h i n l e s s three
weeks,
pendente award
the
lite
guardian
relief;
he
litem's On
moved
custody
f o r expedited the t r i a l
court
of the c h i l d .
court denied
On
the guardian
ad
motion. 11, 2012, t h e g u a r d i a n
that
witness
lite
13, 2011, t h e t r i a l
June
mother
litem
recommended t h a t
the f a t h e r pendente
September
ad
than
he
intended
at the f i n a l
to c a l l
ad l i t e m
n o t i f i e d the
Dr. B r i d g e t t S m i t h
h e a r i n g ; the guardian
as
ad l i t e m
a
also
n o t i f i e d t h e m o t h e r t h a t Dr. S m i t h
h a d met w i t h t h e c h i l d on
two
wished
occasions
and t h a t
Dr. S m i t h
t o meet w i t h t h e
m o t h e r b e f o r e t h e f i n a l h e a r i n g , w h i c h was s c h e d u l e d t o b e g i n a week l a t e r . limine,
On June 15, 2012, t h e m o t h e r f i l e d a m o t i o n i n
seeking
to prohibit
the guardian
f a t h e r from o f f e r i n g i n t o evidence
ad l i t e m
or the
any t e s t i m o n y o r e v i d e n c e
f r o m o r r e l a t i n g t o Dr. S m i t h , on t h e g r o u n d s t h a t t h e m o t h e r , t h e c h i l d ' s p h y s i c a l c u s t o d i a l p a r e n t , h a d n o t a u t h o r i z e d Dr. Smith
to evaluate the c h i l d
knowledge o f Dr. S m i t h trial
court
allowed
until
a n d t h a t t h e m o t h e r h a d h a d no one week b e f o r e t h e t r i a l .
Dr. S m i t h
testimony.
3
to t e s t i f y ,
The
but l i m i t e d her
2120145 On
August
7,
2012,
the
trial
court
j u d g m e n t , f i n d i n g t h a t t h e f a t h e r had met p a r t e McLendon, 455
So.
2d 863
entered
a
final
h i s b u r d e n u n d e r Ex
( A l a . 1984);
awarding
custody
of the c h i l d t o the f a t h e r ; s e t t i n g a v i s i t a t i o n schedule f o r the mother; o r d e r i n g amount o f $100
t h e m o t h e r t o pay
child
support i n the
p e r month, t o c o v e r a l l c o s t s a s s o c i a t e d
with
h e r v i s i t a t i o n w i t h t h e c h i l d i n t h e S t a t e o f F l o r i d a , and t o pay in
50% of a l l r e a s o n a b l e c o s t s f o r the c h i l d sports
parties
and
to
extracurricular activities;
each
i n c l u d i n g any
pay
50%
of
the
f e e s owed t o Dr.
On A u g u s t
31,
2012,
guardian
and ad
to p a r t i c i p a t e ordering litem's
the
fees,
Smith.
the mother f i l e d a motion
to
alter,
amend, o r v a c a t e t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s f i n a l j u d g m e n t , p u r s u a n t t o Rule
59,
A l a . R.
C i v . P.,
and
a motion
for relief
j u d g m e n t , p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 60, A l a . R. C i v . P., the f a t h e r ' s c h i l d o f June 2011 stay
the
r a t h e r t h a n as o f June 2012;
trial
postjudgment
s u p p o r t had e r r o n e o u s l y
court's
motions.
judgment
pending
from
asserting that
been r e s c i n d e d she
the
as
a l s o moved t o
r e s o l u t i o n of
her
1
On S e p t e m b e r 10, 2012, t h e g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m moved t h e t r i a l c o u r t t o amend t h e f i n a l j u d g m e n t t o r e d u c e t h e m o t h e r ' s v i s i t a t i o n s c h e d u l e f r o m two weekends a month t o one weekend 1
4
2120145 On
September
mother's motion
11,
2012,
to stay
that
the
trial
portion
o r d e r i n g t h e mother t o pay o n e - h a l f
court
granted
of the f i n a l
the
judgment
o f t h e g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m ' s
fees pending r e s o l u t i o n o f the mother's postjudgment motions. On S e p t e m b e r 14, 2012, t h e t r i a l
court
R u l e 60, A l a . R. C i v . P., i t s f i n a l
amended, p u r s u a n t t o
judgment t o r e f l e c t
that
t h e f a t h e r ' s c h i l d - s u p p o r t o b l i g a t i o n was r e s c i n d e d as o f J u n e 22,
2012.
court the
26, 2012, a f t e r
a hearing,
d e n i e d the mother's motion t o a l t e r ,
final
filed
On O c t o b e r
judgment.
her notice
the
amend, o r v a c a t e
On November 7, 2012, t h e m o t h e r
of appeal;
she p o s t e d
a supersedeas
presumably t o stay that p o r t i o n of the t r i a l o r d e r i n g h e r t o pay one-half
trial
court's
timely bond,
judgment
o f t h e g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m ' s
fees.
Analysis We f i r s t a d d r e s s t h e m o t h e r ' s argument t h a t t h e g u a r d i a n ad
litem
violated
r i g h t s by s u b m i t t i n g
her c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y
protected
the c h i l d f o r a psychological
parental assessment
a month; t h e g u a r d i a n a d l i t e m r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e m o t i o n h a d been f i l e d a t t h e c h i l d ' s r e q u e s t . T h a t m o t i o n , h o w e v e r , was untimely f i l e d . See R u l e 59, A l a . R. C i v . P. ( r e q u i r i n g t h a t p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n s s e e k i n g t o a l t e r , amend, o r v a c a t e a j u d g m e n t be f i l e d w i t h i n 30 d a y s o f e n t r y o f a t r i a l c o u r t ' s judgment). 5
2120145 without
t h e mother's
relying
on R.S.C. v. J.B.C., 812 So. 2d 3 6 1 , 366 ( A l a .
App.
2001),
asserts
knowledge
that,
custodian of the c h i l d , decisions child"
concerning
and t h a t
and c o n s e n t .
because
The
she was
she had a fundamental
the "care,
she s h o u l d
have
custody been
mother, Civ.
the
physical
right
t o make
and c o n t r o l
of her
consulted before the
c h i l d was t a k e n t o D r . S m i t h f o r a p s y c h o l o g i c a l a s s e s s m e n t o r evaluation. Although
we a g r e e
w i t h t h e mother t h a t ,
custodian
of the c h i l d ,
regarding
the c h i l d ,
decisions
on b e h a l f
she was e n t i t l e d
as t h e p h y s i c a l
t o make d e c i s i o n s
t h e f a t h e r a l s o was e n t i t l e d of the c h i l d .
Pursuant
t o make
t o t h e Texas
d i v o r c e judgment, t h e mother and t h e f a t h e r h e l d j o i n t custody Ala.
of the c h i l d .
Code 1975, §
"Joint
legal
custody"
legal
i s defined i n
30-3-151(2):
" B o t h p a r e n t s have e q u a l r i g h t s a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s f o r major d e c i s i o n s concerning the c h i l d , i n c l u d i n g , but not l i m i t e d t o , the education of the c h i l d , h e a l t h c a r e , and r e l i g i o u s t r a i n i n g . The c o u r t may d e s i g n a t e one p a r e n t t o have s o l e power t o make c e r t a i n d e c i s i o n s while both parents r e t a i n equal r i g h t s and r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s f o r o t h e r d e c i s i o n s . " Because both p a r e n t s h e l d l e g a l custody
of the c h i l d ,
i t was
w i t h i n e i t h e r parent's a u t h o r i t y t o a u t h o r i z e medical care f o r
6
2120145 t h e c h i l d ; we c o n c l u d e t h a t a p s y c h o l o g i c a l within that
evaluation
falls
category.
The g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m r e p r e s e n t e d
to the t r i a l court
that
the
f a t h e r had a u t h o r i z e d Dr. Smith's assessment o f the c h i l d
and
that
the father
Smith d u r i n g care.
the c h i l d
t o meet w i t h
t h o s e t i m e s when t h e c h i l d was
Because Dr.
Smith
a s s e s s and e v a l u a t e assessment
had d r i v e n
was
authorized
the c h i l d ,
and e v a l u a t i o n
i n the
by
the
Dr.
father's
father
to
we c o n c l u d e t h a t D r . S m i t h ' s
of the c h i l d
d i d n o t amount t o a
v i o l a t i o n of the mother's c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s t o p a r e n t the child.
See Morgan v. Morgan,
964 So. 2d 24
( A l a . C i v . App.
2 0 0 7 ) ( h o l d i n g t h a t , when p a r e n t s s h a r e e q u a l c u s t o d y a
court
welfare other
the d e c i s i o n
o f one
parent
a f f e c t i n g the
o f t h e c h i l d does n o t v i o l a t e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r i g h t s o f parent).
We court
adopting
rights,
next denied
address her
the mother's
due
process
present her witnesses before In her b r i e f f i l e d
with
this
of
argument law by
the
requiring
trial
her
to
the f a t h e r had r e s t e d h i s case. court,
however, t h e mother
f a i l e d t o p r o p e r l y s u p p o r t h e r argument. authority provided
that
has
The o n l y c i t a t i o n t o
by t h e mother i s a s i n g l e c i t a t i o n t o t h e
7
2120145 Sixth
Amendment
of the United
amendment
relates
relevancy
to a
settled
that
App.
criminal
"[t]his
court
will
Constitution.
prosecutions
custody-modification
properly presented cited."
to
States
and
action.
address
That has
no
I t i s well
only
those
issues
and f o r w h i c h s u p p o r t i n g a u t h o r i t y has been
Asam v . D e v e r e a u x , 686 So. 2d 1222, 1224 ( A l a . C i v .
1996).
" R u l e 2 8 ( a ) ( 1 0 ) [ , A l a . R. App. P.,] r e q u i r e s
that
arguments i n b r i e f s c o n t a i n d i s c u s s i o n s o f f a c t s and r e l e v a n t l e g a l a u t h o r i t i e s that support that party's p o s i t i o n . I f they do n o t , t h e a r g u m e n t s a r e w a i v e d . " v. the
W h i t e Sands Group, L.L.C.
PRS I I , L L C , 998 So. 2d 1042, 1058 ( A l a . 2008) . mother
has n o t p r o v i d e d
this
court
with
Because
citations
to
r e l e v a n t a u t h o r i t y , we n e e d n o t a d d r e s s t h i s a r g u m e n t f u r t h e r . We court
next erred
guardian
address
t h e mother's
i n denying
ad l i t e m .
assertion
t h e mother's
motion
The m o t h e r a s s e r t s t h a t
that
the t r i a l
t o recuse the the guardian
ad
l i t e m f a i l e d t o p r o p e r l y understand t h a t h i s r o l e i n the case was t o a d v o c a t e
f o r the c h i l d ' s best
advocate
f o r the c h i l d ' s personal
father.
The m o t h e r a s s e r t s
b e c a u s e , she s a y s ,
that
i n t e r e s t s and n o t t o
wish
to live
s h e was u n d u l y
with
prejudiced
as a r e s u l t o f h i s n o t u n d e r s t a n d i n g
8
the
his
2120145 role
i n the
case,
the
guardian
ad
litem
formed h i s o p i n i o n
b e f o r e a l l t h e e v i d e n c e had b e e n p r e s e n t e d . We
a g r e e w i t h t h e m o t h e r t h a t t h e r o l e o f t h e g u a r d i a n ad
l i t e m i s to z e a l o u s l y advocate child
and
not
necessarily
f o r the b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f the
to r e p r e s e n t the p o s i t i o n
c h i l d i n r e l a t i o n to the l i t i g a t i o n . N.
Peskind, Evidentiary
Hearsay Rules Matrimonial
375,
Opportunities: Applicability
396
(2013):
25
"[J]udges
of
J . Am. often
appoint
s e r v e as c o u r t i n v e s t i g a t o r s and
on
i n rendering opinions concerning
best i n t e r e s t of the
the
Acad.
g u a r d i a n s ad l i t e m , who a quasi-expert role
the
As r e c o g n i z e d i n S t e v e n
i n C h i l d Custody Proceedings,
Law.
of
take the
children."
" U n l i k e t h e c h i l d ' s a t t o r n e y whose r o l e i s g e n e r a l l y to r e p r e s e n t the s t a t e d wishes of the c h i l d , the [guardian ad litem] i s generally expected to advocate f o r the best i n t e r e s t s of the child, whether or not the c h i l d i s i n agreement. Moreover, t h e [ g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m ] 'owes h i s o r h e r p r i m a r y d u t y t o t h e c o u r t and n o t t o t h e child-client alone.'" M.
B o u m i l , C.
Freitas
& D.
Freitas,
L e g a l and E t h i c a l
C o n f r o n t i n g G u a r d i a n Ad L i t e m P r a c t i c e , 43,
45-46
(2011)
(footnotes omitted).
& Fam.
Stud.
2
S e e a l s o A l a . Code 1975, § 1 2 - 1 5 - 3 0 4 ( a ) ( m a n d a t i n g t h a t g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m be a p p o i n t e d f o r a c h i l d who i s the 2
a
13 J . L .
Issues
9
2120145 I n t h i s c a s e , t h e g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m e x p r e s s e d h i s b e l i e f in
a
document
filed
with
the
trial
court
that
i t was
"sworn d u t y t o z e a l o u s l y a d v o c a t e
f o r [the c h i l d ' s ]
that
transferred
physical
custody
From t h a t s t a t e m e n t , appears
t h a t the
s h o u l d be and
his
position"
to the
father.
others c o n t a i n e d i n the r e c o r d , i t
guardian
ad
litem
understood
t h a t he
was
a c t i n g as an a t t o r n e y f o r t h e c h i l d , r a t h e r t h a n as a g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m . have
However, t h e
misunderstood
itself,
fact
t h a t t h e g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m
h i s appointed
demonstrate
that
the
role
does
mother's
not,
i n and
may of
rights
were
unduly
3 So.
3d 237
(Ala.
prejudiced. The Civ.
App.
mother c i t e s 2008),
o n l y M.B.
i n support
were u n d u l y p r e j u d i c e d . had
v.
of her
I n M.B.,
been p r e j u d i c e d because the
R.P.,
argument t h a t h e r
rights
this court held that a party juvenile
court considered a
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f a g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m who
d i d not a t t e n d the
subject of dependency and termination-of-parental-rights p r o c e e d i n g s and t h a t t h e g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m ' s r o l e " s h a l l be t o p r o t e c t t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f t h e c h i l d " ) ; and A l a . Code 1975, § 26-14-11 ("In e v e r y c a s e i n v o l v i n g an a b u s e d o r n e g l e c t e d c h i l d w h i c h r e s u l t s i n a j u d i c i a l p r o c e e d i n g , an a t t o r n e y s h a l l be a p p o i n t e d t o r e p r e s e n t t h e c h i l d i n s u c h p r o c e e d i n g s . Such a t t o r n e y w i l l r e p r e s e n t t h e r i g h t s , i n t e r e s t s , w e l f a r e , and w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e c h i l d , and s e r v e as a g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m f o r the c h i l d . " ) . 10
2120145 trial
and, t h u s , d i d n o t c o n s i d e r t h e e v i d e n c e
presented at
t h e t r i a l when m a k i n g t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n a n d , f u r t h e r , h a d n o t been s u b j e c t t o c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n . 918 So. 2d 105 ( A l a . 2005) process
is
violated
recommendation mother
does
( h o l d i n g t h a t p a r t y ' s r i g h t t o due
when
of guardian
See a l s o Ex p a r t e R.D.N.,
court
considers
ad l i t e m ) .
In t h i s
n o t a s s e r t t h a t she was d e n i e d
ex
parte
case,
the
and
fair
a full
o p p o r t u n i t y t o c o n t e s t t h e recommendations o f t h e g u a r d i a n ad litem
or h i s purported misunderstanding
case. find
T h e r e f o r e , M.B.
of h i s role
i n the
does n o t s u p p o r t h e r a r g u m e n t , a n d we
no b a s i s f o r c o n c l u d i n g t h a t t h e m o t h e r was d e n i e d due
process
or
that
the guardian
ad
litem
should
have
been
recused. We unduly
next
address
p r e j u d i c e d by t h e c h i l d ' s
during her testimony. ad
t h e mother's
litem
courtroom
specifically
assertion
presence
that
i n the
she was courtroom
The m o t h e r p o i n t s o u t t h a t t h e g u a r d i a n requested
that
the c h i l d
f o r o n l y t h e mother's testimony.
enter the
The t r i a l
a l l o w e d t h e c h i l d t o e n t e r and remain i n t h e courtroom,
court over
t h e m o t h e r ' s o b j e c t i o n , b a s e d upon t h e p o s i t i o n t a k e n b y t h e f a t h e r ' s l a w y e r a n d t h e g u a r d i a n a d l i t e m t h a t t h e c h i l d was
11
2120145 a p a r t y t o the c u s t o d y - m o d i f i c a t i o n a c t i o n . that
the
child
was
not
a party
to
the
The m o t h e r a r g u e s
custody-modification
action. We to
agree w i t h the mother t h a t the
the c u s t o d y - m o d i f i c a t i o n
49 A l a . App. overruled (1972)
178,
on
189,
other
269
action. So.
grounds,
( c h i l d r e n of
parties
See
2d 884, 289
c h i l d was
to
a
C o c h r a n v.
895
Ala.
not
Cochran,
( C i v . App.
615,
269
divorce
not
required).
cogent
argument
action
precluded present
the
However, t h e m o t h e r does n o t as
to
trial
i n the
court
R.
Evid.
witnesses other
...
witnesses
that
(i.e.,
("At
from
child's allowing
t h a t the t r i a l
the request
excluded
motion."),
the
courtroom d u r i n g her
mother i s c o m p l a i n i n g Ala.
how
i t
2d
897
are
not
ad
develop
nonparty the
testimony.
litem
may
any
status
child
to
be
Assuming
the
court v i o l a t e d Rule
615,
o f a p a r t y t h e c o u r t may
so t h a t t h e y and
1970),
So.
p a r t i e s t h e m s e l v e s and t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f a g u a r d i a n is
a party
order
cannot hear the testimony make
the
order
of
its
of own
the mother f a i l s t o acknowledge " [ t ] h e g e n e r a l r u l e excluding
the
matter l e f t
witnesses
upon
i n v o c a t i o n of
rule requiring sequestration
of
l a r g e l y to the d i s c r e t i o n of the
12
'the
rule'
witnesses)
is a
trial
judge
and
2120145 that
his decision
will
not
be
d i s t u r b e d on
s h o w i n g o f an abuse o f d i s c r e t i o n . " So.
2d
1338,
identify
1341
any
absent
C h r i s t i a n s e n v. H a l l ,
( A l a . 1990).
The
prejudice
resulting
undue
appeal
mother
has
from
failed
the
a 567 to
child's
presence i n the courtroom d u r i n g her testimony t h a t would l e a d this
court
discretion. result
As
conclude
next
App.
that
a r e s u l t , we
of the t r i a l
45, A l a . R. We
to
the
trial
court
exceeded i t s
f i n d no b a s i s f o r r e v e r s a l as a
court's ruling
on t h a t i s s u e .
See
Rule
P.
address
the
mother's
argument
that
the
trial
c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t must be r e v e r s e d b e c a u s e t h e f a t h e r f a i l e d t o meet h i s b u r d e n u n d e r Ex p a r t e McLendon, 455
So. 2d 863 ( A l a .
1984). " I n s i t u a t i o n s i n w h i c h t h e p a r e n t s have j o i n t l e g a l custody, but a p r e v i o u s j u d i c i a l d e t e r m i n a t i o n has g r a n t e d p r i m a r y p h y s i c a l c u s t o d y t o one p a r e n t , t h e o t h e r p a r e n t , i n o r d e r t o o b t a i n a change i n c u s t o d y , must meet t h e b u r d e n s e t o u t i n Ex p a r t e M c L e n d o n [ , 455 So. 2d 463 ( A l a . 1 9 8 4 ) ] . See S c h o l l v. P a r s o n s , 655 So. 2d 1060, 1062 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1995) . The b u r d e n s e t o u t i n McLendon r e q u i r e s t h e p a r e n t s e e k i n g a c u s t o d y change t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t a m a t e r i a l change i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s has o c c u r r e d s i n c e the p r e v i o u s judgment, t h a t the c h i l d ' s b e s t i n t e r e s t s w i l l be m a t e r i a l l y p r o m o t e d by a change o f c u s t o d y , and t h a t t h e b e n e f i t s o f t h e change w i l l more t h a n o f f s e t t h e i n h e r e n t l y d i s r u p t i v e e f f e c t r e s u l t i n g f r o m t h e change i n c u s t o d y . Ex p a r t e McLendon, 455 So. 2d a t 866." 13
2120145 Dean v . Dean, 998 So. 2d 1060, The
trial
thus,
1064-65
c o u r t made no s p e c i f i c
we must
assume
( A l a . C i v . App. 2008) .
findings
that the t r i a l
court
i n i t s judgment; implicitly
t h o s e f i n d i n g s n e c e s s a r y t o s u p p o r t i t s judgment.
made
See, e . g . ,
M c C o r m i c k v . E t h e r i d g e , 15 So. 3d 524, 529 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2008). "A m a t e r i a l change o f c i r c u m s t a n c e s o c c u r s when i m p o r t a n t facts
unknown
arise
that
a t t h e time
impact
of the i n i t i a l
the welfare
custody
of the c h i l d . "
judgment K.E.W. v .
T.W.E., 990 So. 2d 3 7 5 , 380 ( A l a . C i v . A p p . 2 0 0 7 ) .
"The
[Ex
p a r t e ] M c L e n d o n [ , 455 So. 2d 863 ( A l a . 1 9 8 4 ) , ] s t a n d a r d i s a 'rule
of repose,'
custody
because
meant this
t o minimize Court
i n h e r e n t l y more b e n e f i c i a l parte Cleghorn,
disruptive
presumes
to a child
that
changes o f
stability
i s
than d i s r u p t i o n . "
Ex
993 So. 2 d 462, 468 ( A l a . 2 0 0 8 ) .
"On a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w o f custody matters, [the a p p e l l a t e ] c o u r t i s l i m i t e d when t h e e v i d e n c e was p r e s e n t e d o r e tenus, and, i n such c i r c u m s t a n c e s , a t r i a l c o u r t ' s d e t e r m i n a t i o n w i l l n o t be d i s t u r b e d ' a b s e n t an abuse o f d i s c r e t i o n o r where i t i s shown t o be p l a i n l y a n d p a l p a b l y w r o n g . ' A l e x a n d e r v . A l e x a n d e r , 625 So. 2d 4 3 3 , 434 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1993) ( c i t i n g B e n t o n v . B e n t o n , [520 So. 2d 534 ( A l a . Civ. App. 1 9 8 8 ) ] ) . As t h e A l a b a m a Supreme C o u r t h i g h l i g h t e d i n [Ex p a r t e ] P a t r o n a s , [693 So. 2d 473 (Ala. 1 9 9 7 ) ] , '"[T]he t r i a l c o u r t i s i n t h e b e t t e r p o s i t i o n t o c o n s i d e r a l l o f t h e e v i d e n c e , as w e l l a s 14
2120145 t h e many i n f e r e n c e s t h a t may be drawn f r o m t h a t e v i d e n c e , and t o d e c i d e t h e i s s u e o f c u s t o d y . " ' P a t r o n a s , 693 So. 2d a t 474 ( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e B r y o w s k y , 676 So. 2d 1322, 1326 ( A l a . 1 9 9 6 ) ) . Thus, a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w o f a judgment m o d i f y i n g custody when t h e e v i d e n c e was p r e s e n t e d o r e t e n u s i s l i m i t e d t o d e t e r m i n i n g w h e t h e r t h e r e was s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e to support the t r i a l court's judgment. See P a t r o n a s , 693 So. 2d a t 475." Cheek v. D y e s s , 1 So. 3d 1025, 1029 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 7 ) . We c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t h a d b e f o r e evidence from which i t c o u l d a
material
change
r e a s o n a b l y have d e t e r m i n e d
of circumstances
e n t r y i n 1997 o f t h e T e x a s d i v o r c e custody of the c h i l d the
mother
Cochran,
that
5 So. 3d 1220
v i s i t a t i o n disputes,
had o c c u r r e d
that
since
the
judgment a w a r d i n g p h y s i c a l
t o t h e mother.
t h e mere
i t sufficient
passage
A l t h o u g h we a g r e e of time,
( A l a . 2008),
with
see Cochran
v.
and t h e p e r s i s t e n c e
of
i d . , a l o n e do n o t c o n s t i t u t e a m a t e r i a l
change o f c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t w o u l d j u s t i f y a m o d i f i c a t i o n o f p h y s i c a l c u s t o d y , we c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e t r i a l it
evidence
of
other
previously considered
factors i n 1997.
that
could
Specifically,
court had before not
have
the t r i a l
been court
h e a r d e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e m o t h e r was n o t m e e t i n g t h e social
and a t h l e t i c
behavioral
needs o f t h e c h i l d a n d t h a t t h e m o t h e r ' s
r u l e s were s t i f l i n g
15
the a b i l i t y
of the c h i l d t o
2120145 m a t u r e i n t o an i n d e p e n d e n t and s e l f - r e l i a n t young a d u l t . evidence, since
as a c c e p t e d
the
last
circumstances welfare The
trial
reasonable
the t r i a l
custody
had
of the
by
court, demonstrated that,
judgment,
occurred
That
a
t h a t had
material
change
of
n e g a t i v e l y impacted
the
child. court a l s o heard evidence t h a t would support
conclusion
that
the
child's
social
and
a
athletic
i n t e r e s t s w o u l d be m a t e r i a l l y p r o m o t e d by m o v i n g i n w i t h
the
father.
the
The
mother,
he
mother's
was
community; he
allowed
or
to
socialize
although
that, had
testified
not
house
neighborhood,
filed,
child
they
until
the
that, leave
was
rarely
lived
living
children
in
a
t o have
of
in
gated
action
was
backseat of
the
t h a t , a t t h e age
f r i e n d s over
his their
prestigious,
r i d e i n the 3
with
driveway
custody-modification
been r e q u i r e d t o
allowed
the
with
mother's c a r , presumably f o r s a f e t y ; he
while
to v i s i t
of
15,
at
the
m o t h e r ' s h o u s e and t h e m o t h e r r e f u s e d t o d r o p t h e c h i l d o f f a t t h e m o v i e t h e a t e r w i t h h i s f r i e n d s t o see a m o v i e ; and t h a t had
only
3
stood
r e c e n t l y been
A t the time of the 5'9" o r 5'10", and
allowed
to watch
"PG"
rated
he
movies.
t r i a l , t h e c h i l d was 15 y e a r s o l d , w e i g h e d b e t w e e n 180 and 200 p o u n d s . 16
2120145 The
mother
admitted
that,
a t t h e age o f 15, t h e c h i l d h a d
never had f r i e n d s
sleep
n e v e r been i n v i t e d
t o a f r i e n d ' s house f o r a s l e e p o v e r .
evidence interest his
further
i n playing
enrollment
football
a t t h e mother's house and had
that
football,
i n a magnet
4
the c h i l d
had expressed
an
b u t t h e mother had m a i n t a i n e d
school
that
d i d not maintain
a
football
hand, t h e f a t h e r h a d a r r a n g e d f o r t h e c h i l d at a local
high
school,
and, i n f a c t , t h e
c h i l d h a d begun p r a c t i c i n g w i t h t h a t f o o t b a l l 2011
The
program.
On t h e o t h e r to play
showed
over
summer v i s i t a t i o n
with
the father.
team d u r i n g h i s The f a t h e r
also
a r r a n g e d f o r t h e c h i l d t o have a c e l l u l a r t e l e p h o n e , w h i c h t h e mother would n o t a l l o w . had
also allowed
child
The c h i l d
t e s t i f i e d that the father
h i m t o have f r i e n d s o v e r a n d h a d a l l o w e d t h e
to socialize
with
friends
a t other
places;
that the
f a t h e r had f o s t e r e d t h e c h i l d ' s independence; t h a t the f a t h e r had
taught the c h i l d
t o cook and t o p e r f o r m c h o r e s t h a t t h e
The mother t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e c h i l d had p a r t i c i p a t e d i n numerous o t h e r a c t i v i t i e s , i . e . , t h a t he p l a y e d t e n n i s a n d swam a t t h e YMCA, h a d p a r t i c i p a t e d i n c o m p e t i t i v e b a s k e t b a l l f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s i n t h e YMCA l e a g u e s , h a d p l a y e d c h e s s a n d s t u d i e d F r e n c h , h a d p a r t i c i p a t e d i n an " U l t i m a t e F r i s b e e " C l u b a t s c h o o l , was a member o f t h e B a n j o Band a t s c h o o l , a n d p r e v i o u s l y h a d s t u d i e d Taekwondo. 4
17
2120145 m o t h e r r e g u l a r l y d i d f o r t h e c h i l d a n d t o be s e l f - r e l i a n t ; a n d that
t h e f a t h e r had taught him s k i l l s
live
on h i s own when he l e f t home f o r c o l l e g e . Dr.
and
t h a t he w o u l d n e e d t o
S m i t h a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e c h i l d was v e r y
had
articulated
m o t h e r ' s home. identified
reasons
According
why
he
wanted
bright
t o leave
the
t o Dr. Smith, a l t h o u g h t h e c h i l d had
several negative
factors associated with l i v i n g i n
t h e m o t h e r ' s home, he h a d b e e n more f o c u s e d on t h e p o s i t i v e s he Dr.
believed
would
r e s u l t f r o m a move t o t h e f a t h e r ' s
S m i t h t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e c h i l d was m a t u r e i n some ways a n d
immature
i n others.
clinical
signs
had
home.
discussed
retired
that with
She t e s t i f i e d
at-home According
no
h a d b e e n c o a c h e d a n d t h a t she
the c h i l d
that
with
the father,
t h e m o t h e r , an u n e m p l o y e d
and t h e s t e p f a t h e r ,
t o Dr. Smith,
life
a
m i g h t w e l l be more s t r u c t u r e d a n d
t h a n i t was w i t h
mom,
she h a d f o u n d
the c h i l d
A i r Force general,
disciplined
that
the c h i l d
a practicing was
prepared
stay-
physician. f o r that
possibility. Whether t h e b e n e f i t s from c h a n g i n g p h y s i c a l c u s t o d y from t h e m o t h e r t o t h e f a t h e r w i l l more t h a n o f f s e t t h e i n h e r e n t l y d i s r u p t i v e e f f e c t r e s u l t i n g f r o m t h e change i n c u s t o d y was a
18
2120145 question of fact f o r the t r i a l court. So.
3d 801 ( A l a . 2009) .
found
that
The t r i a l c o u r t c o u l d have
the evidence
independent
environment
child's
response
child's
best
regarding
found
to that
more t h a n o f f s e t
t h e more
reasonably social
and
i n t h e f a t h e r ' s home a n d t h e
environment
i n t e r e s t s would
change o f c u s t o d y
Ex p a r t e B l a c k s t o c k , 47
established
that the
be m a t e r i a l l y p r o m o t e d
by a
a n d t h a t t h e b e n e f i t s o f t h a t change w o u l d the inherently d i s r u p t i v e e f f e c t
resulting
f r o m a change i n c u s t o d y . We a c k n o w l e d g e t h a t t h e j u d g m e n t r e s u l t s being
removed f r o m t h e home o f t h e m o t h e r ,
long resided with h i s h a l f brother.
i n the child's i n w h i c h he h a d
However, i n A.B. v. J . B . ,
40 So. 2d 723, 729 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 9 ) , t h i s c o u r t h e l d t h a t a trial
c o u r t may s e p a r a t e
concludes, the
b a s e d on s u f f i c i e n t
separation w i l l
at i s s u e . " half
serve
The c h i l d
brother
could
during h i s v i s i t s the t r i a l
half siblings evidence
the best
testified
sufficiently
19
i n the record,
that
t h a t he b e l i e v e d he a n d t h e maintain
t o t h e m o t h e r ' s home.
Cheek v. D y e s s ,
court
i n t e r e s t s of the c h i l d r e n
c o u r t was e n t i t l e d t o a c c e p t
on t h a t i s s u e .
" i f the t r i a l
supra.
their relationship As t h e f a c t - f i n d e r ,
the child's
testimony
2120145 The
mother
also
challenges
e s t a b l i s h e d f o r her i n the t r i a l that the t r i a l child
the
visitation
c o u r t ' s judgment and a s s e r t s
court e r r e d i n awarding her l e s s time w i t h the
than the f a t h e r had p r e v i o u s l y r e c e i v e d .
however, has f a i l e d argument.
to cite
the foregoing
court i s affirmed. on a p p e a l
The m o t h e r ,
any a u t h o r i t y i n s u p p o r t
As a r e s u l t , we w i l l
R u l e 2 8 ( a ) ( 1 0 ) ; Asam, s u p r a ; For
a n d W h i t e Sands Group,
reasons,
Both p a r t i e s '
t h e judgment requests
f o r attorney
Thomas, a n d D o n a l d s o n , J J . , c o n c u r .
Thompson, P . J . , d i s s e n t s , w i t h
writing.
See
supra.
of the
AFFIRMED.
20
of her
not address that i s s u e .
are denied.
Pittman,
schedule
trial fees
2120145 THOMPSON, P r e s i d i n g J u d g e , d i s s e n t i n g . I must r e s p e c t f u l l y d i s s e n t . T y r o n e McCoy ("the f a t h e r " ) prove that there to
warrant
presented s u f f i c i e n t evidence to
f o r a change
or that
a change
promote t h e c h i l d ' s w e l f a r e . 1158, 455
i n the e x i s t i n g
i n custody
So. 2d 863, 865-66
physical 1997,
Anita
would
custody
materially
See B a i r d v. H u b b a r t , 98 So. 3d
1163 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2012) ( c i t i n g
Janice
Ex p a r t e
McLendon,
(Ala. 1984)).
Jones
("the
custody of the c h i l d
mother")
since
has
had
primary
the p a r t i e s divorced i n
when t h e c h i l d was a b o u t a y e a r o l d .
The c h i l d was 15
y e a r s o l d and i n h i g h s c h o o l a t t h e time o f t h e t r i a l . petition, the
i n Destin,
t h a t t h e m o t h e r was a t t e m p t i n g as g r o u n d s w a r r a n t i n g
was
Florida--and
the custody m o d i f i c a t i o n .
to alienate
noncustodial
his belief
However, t h e
i n d i c a t e d t h a t he h a d b e e n c o n c e r n e d t h a t
attempting
with
t o a l i e n a t e t h e c h i l d from him
the c h i l d
from
t h e mother
him s i n c e
F u r t h e r m o r e , when a c h i l d e x p r e s s e s a p r e f e r e n c e the
In h i s
the father c i t e d the c h i l d ' s desire to reside
f a t h e r - - w h o now l i v e s
father
Gary
h a s b e e n a m a t e r i a l change i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s
t h e need
arrangement,
I do n o t b e l i e v e t h a t
to live
1999. with
p a r e n t i n a m o d i f i c a t i o n p r o c e e d i n g , such a
21
2120145 preference, in
w i t h o u t more, i s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o j u s t i f y a change
custody.
See M a r u s i c h v. B r i g h t ,
( A l a . C i v . App. 2006) 995,
996
947
So. 2d 1068,
( c i t i n g G l o v e r v. S i n g l e t o n ,
( A l a . C i v . App.
1071
598 So. 2d
1992)).
The m o t h e r has s t r e s s e d a c a d e m i c s t h r o u g h o u t t h e c h i l d ' s life.
The c h i l d has c o n s i s t e n t l y e x c e l l e d i n h i s s t u d i e s , and
he was a c c e p t e d i n t o t h e L o v e l e s s A c a d e m i c Magnet P r o g r a m H i g h School
("LAMP"), w h i c h i s h i g h l y
mother p o i n t e d
ranked n a t i o n a l l y .
As t h e
o u t , t h e f a t h e r d i d n o t v o i c e an o b j e c t i o n when
t h e m o t h e r e n r o l l e d t h e c h i l d i n LAMP.
A l t h o u g h LAMP does n o t
have a f o o t b a l l team, t h e c h i l d t a k e s p a r t i n e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r activities
at the school.
The e v i d e n c e a l s o
indicates
that
t h e m o t h e r t e n d s t o be p r o t e c t i v e o f t h e c h i l d . The
father
agrees
that
academics are important,
a l s o f o c u s e s on d e v e l o p i n g what t h e c h i l d c a l l e d " l i f e through p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n sports father
intends
to e n r o l l
the
and s o c i a l child
b u t he skills"
activities.
i n a more
The
traditional
p u b l i c h i g h s c h o o l w i t h a s t u d e n t body o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2,000. The
father
school's
has
encouraged the
football
team.
child
Unlike
the
to
t r y out
mother,
e n c o u r a g e s t h e c h i l d t o be more i n d e p e n d e n t .
22
for
the
that
father
2120145 In
Bishop
v. K n i g h t ,
949
So.
2d 160
(Ala.
C i v . App.
2006), t h i s c o u r t r e v e r s e d a judgment m o d i f y i n g c u s t o d y o f t h e p a r t i e s ' teenage son. modification
The f a t h e r i n t h a t c a s e h a d s o u g h t t h e
because
t h e son wanted
b e c a u s e he d i d n o t l i k e
the s t y l e
u s e d when t h e s o n m i s b e h a v e d .
t h e m o d i f i c a t i o n and
of d i s c i p l i n e
t h e mother
F o r e x a m p l e , when t h e s o n was
suspended a second time from r i d i n g t h e s c h o o l bus, t h e mother made
him walk
suspension the
the three
miles
l a s t e d three days.
mother's
punishment.
disagreed
with
excluding
him from
p a d d l i n g him.
family
from
school.
164.
The
father
d e c i s i o n to punish event,
cutting
his hair,
f o r being
told
"yeah" i n s t e a d o f " y e s , s i r " and " y e s ,
suspended
r e c e i v i n g bad grades. trial
and
I d . The s o n t e s t i f i e d t h a t he was p a d d l e d f o r
t o do s o , f o r s a y i n g
The
also
t h e son by
t h i n g s l i k e n o t c l e a n i n g h i s room a f t e r r e p e a t e d l y b e i n g
ma'am,"
The
The f a t h e r d i d n o t a g r e e w i t h
Id. at
the mother's a
t o and
from
the school
bus, and f o r
Id.
court i n Bishop modified custody
after
finding
t h a t t h e m o t h e r was p h y s i c a l l y a b u s i n g t h e s o n a n d t h a t he was s u f f e r i n g emotional style.
This
court
harm b e c a u s e o f t h e m o t h e r ' s d i s c i p l i n a r y determined
23
that
the evidence
d i d not
2120145 support the not m e r i t In
trial
court's
f i n d i n g s and
a change i n c u s t o d y .
this
case,
styles
of the
there
is
no
conclusion
there
evidence
that
the
Id. at
i s no
f a t h e r and
t h a t the
evidence
168.
question
that
the
parenting
the mother d i f f e r g r e a t l y .
in
the
record
that
mother's p a r e n t i n g
c h i l d p h y s i c a l o r e m o t i o n a l harm.
would
style
Although
However, support
i s causing I may
not
do
not
believe
i t is this
court's
place,
or
that
agree son,
of
t r i a l c o u r t , t o i m p l i c i t l y f i n d t h a t one
s t y l e of p a r e n t i n g
better
custody
than
preference Our
another
of p a r e n t i n g supreme
and
custody
has
on
a
previously
stated
that
"[t]he
i s t y p i c a l l y a heavy of
because
stability
is
to a c h i l d than d i s r u p t i o n . "
Ex
Cleghorn,
met
requisite
based
is
t h a t i t i s "meant t o m i n i m i z e d i s r u p t i v e c h a n g e s this
993
p a r t e McLendon, 455 father
modify
t h e McLendon s t a n d a r d
Court
i n h e r e n t l y more b e n e f i c i a l parte
to
the
style.
court
b u r d e n i m p o s e d by one"
and
a the
w i t h a l l o f t h e methods u s e d by t h e m o t h e r i n r a i s i n g h e r I
did
that
So. So.
heavy
showings of
2d
presumes
462,
468
2d a t 8 6 5 ) . burden
in
a material
24
that
( A l a . 2008)
(citing
I do n o t b e l i e v e t h a t this
case.
Ex the
Without
the
change i n c i r c u m s t a n c e
and
2120145 that
a
custody
w e l f a r e of the who
has
years.
been
modification child,
the
custody
would
materially
promote
should remain w i t h the
c h i l d ' s c u s t o d i a l parent
f o r the
mother, last
A c c o r d i n g l y , I would r e v e r s e the judgment of the
court.
25
the
14
trial
