Bowers v. Bowers
Bowers v. Bowers
Concurring Opinion
I concur with result of the principal opinion but would hold Mrs. Bowers' first point relied on violates Rule 84.04(d) and preserves nothing for appellate review. The Rule 84.04 briefing rules are mandatory.
*618Storey v. State ,
Mrs. Bowers' point relied on states as follows:
The Circuit Court erred in excluding Mrs. Bowers from its award of legal and physical custody and awarding sole legal and physical custody to Mr. Bowers because (A) the court's finding that Mrs. Bowers was unfit was not supported by substantial evidence and was against the weight of the evidence and (B) the court made no alternative finding that the welfare of the child necessitated such a custody award, and the award of sole legal and physical custody to a third party thus violates the requirements ofMo. Rev. Stat. § 452.375.5 (5), which governs such awards, in that (1) the statute conditions any award of custody to a third party upon a sustainable finding that each natural parent is "unfit, unsuitable, or unable to be a custodian" or that "the welfare of the child requires" such an award in order to serve the best interests of the child; (2) the evidence relied on by the trial court to find Mrs. Bowers unfit was insubstantial, incapable of overcoming the presumption of fitness, and outweighed by evidence that Mrs. Bowers is the child's biological parent and that a loving, caring, and attentive relationship always has existed between mother and child; (3) the court did not make an alternative finding that the child's welfare required that full legal and physical custody be awarded to Mr. Bowers, who is neither the biological nor the adoptive parent of the child, and such a finding would have had no substantial support in the evidence and would have been against the weight of the evidence; and (4) under the evidence the exclusion of Mrs. Bowers from control of and a substantial presence in the child's upbringing violates the public policy expressed in § 452.375.5 and disserves the best interests of the child.
Mrs. Bowers' point relied on is plainly multifarious in violation of Rule 84.04. Mrs. Bowers combines her claim there was a lack of substantial evidence to support the judgment with her distinct claim the judgment was against the weight of the evidence. The "claim that the judgment is against the weight of the evidence presupposes that there is sufficient evidence to support the judgment." J.A.R. v. D.G.R. ,
*619Appellate courts "generally refrain from dismissing appeals involving child custody on the basis of technical violations." In re A.R. ,
The danger in doing so is:
[T]hat the court may interpret the thrust of the contention differently than does the opponent or differently than was intended by the party asserting the contention. If that happens, the appellate process has failed in its primary objective of resolving issues raised and relied on in an appeal.
Id.
Compliance with the Rule 84.04(d) requirements for a proper point relied on is not only mandatory, it is also easy if counsel simply follows the simple format set forth in Rule 84.04(d)(1).
Mrs. Bowers' violation of the Rule 84.04 briefing requirements is not simply an excusable, hyper-technical observation. Thummel v. King ,
The necessity of avoiding advocacy on behalf of a party is a necessary corollary to Canon 2-2.2(A) of the Code of Judicial Conduct, which requires judges to perform all judicial duties impartially.
Rule 84.04(d)(1) provides: "The point shall be in substantially the following form: 'The trial court erred in [identify the challenged ruling or action], because [state the legal reasons for the claim of reversible error], in that [explain why the legal reasons, in the context of the case, support the claim of reversible error].' "
Opinion of the Court
Jessica Bowers (hereinafter, "Jessica")
Factual and Procedural History
In 2007, Jessica and Stephen were involved in a romantic relationship. Jessica became pregnant, she informed Stephen of the pregnancy, and they ended their relationship. Jessica subsequently began a romantic relationship with Jason. Jessica informed Jason she was pregnant with Stephen's child. Jason and Jessica began cohabitating, decided to get married, and agreed to have Jason raise Child as his own. Jessica and Jason jointly informed Stephen of their decision and asked Stephen to not become involved in Child's life. Stephen acquiesced in this request and voluntarily permitted Jason to act as Child's father.
Child was born in April 2008. Four days after Child's birth, Jessica and Jason executed a Missouri Affidavit Acknowledging Paternity (hereinafter, "paternity affidavit"). The parties' execution of the paternity affidavit resulted in the state issuing a birth certificate naming Jason as Child's father.
In May 2013, Jason filed a petition for dissolution, alleging Child was born of the marriage, indicating he executed the paternity affidavit, and noting his name appeared on Child's birth certificate. Jason requested an award of joint legal and physical custody and child support. Jessica filed an answer and cross-petition for dissolution. In her initial pleading, Jessica *611denied Child was born of the marriage and alleged Jason had no custody rights to Child. Jessica alleged Jason was not Child's biological father "due to a material mistake in fact or fraud" when executing the paternity affidavit because another individual was Child's biological father. Jessica requested a declaration of non-paternity, sought DNA testing, and appointment of a guardian ad litem for Child.
Jason denied all of Jessica's allegations in his answer to her cross-petition and filed a motion to dismiss Jessica's claim of mistake or fraud in executing the paternity affidavit for failure to state a claim. The circuit court appointed a guardian ad litem and ordered therapy for Child. The circuit court also ordered Jessica to respond to Jason's motion to dismiss, indicating it would treat the issue as one for summary judgment.
In September 2013, Jessica filed an amended answer and cross-petition for dissolution in lieu of responding to Jason's motion to dismiss and complying with the circuit court's order. Jessica again denied Child was born of the marriage but admitted Jason was Child's "legal" father because of the paternity affidavit. Jessica requested sole physical and legal custody of Child. Jason also requested sole physical and legal custody. Jason later filed motions for temporary custody of Child due to Jessica's attempts to alienate him from Child and withholding certain periods of visitation.
In December 2013, Jessica introduced Stephen to Child for the first time and told Child he was her biological father. In January 2014, Stephen filed a "Motion to Intervene, Third-Party Respondent's Petition for Determination of Father-Child Relationship and Judgment and Order of Custody" in Jessica and Jason's dissolution action. In his motion, Stephen acknowledged Jason was named as Child's father on her birth certificate; however, Stephen alleged he was Child's natural father. Stephen sought intervention to assert his rights of parentage to Child pursuant to the Missouri Uniform Parentage Act (hereinafter, "UPA"), sought joint physical and legal custody of Child to be shared with Jessica, and requested Child's birth certificate be amended to name him Child's biological father. The circuit court sustained Stephen's motion to intervene in the dissolution action over Jason's objections. The circuit court also ordered Stephen to have no contact with Child, ordered Jessica to not discuss with Child any issue related to the litigation, including, but not limited to, parentage, and admonished all of the parties not to discuss any aspect of the litigation with Child. The circuit court further ordered Jessica not to have her current boyfriend accompany her during custody exchanges with Jason.
Although the circuit court did not grant any party's request for DNA testing, Jessica and Stephen pursued their own testing, which confirmed Stephen was Child's biological father. Jessica subsequently filed a motion to dismiss Jason's claims for custody and child support, arguing the circuit court had no authority to determine custody in their dissolution proceeding when Child was not born of the marriage or adopted by Jason. Jessica also rescinded her allegation Jason was Child's "legal" father.
In his response to Jessica's motion to dismiss, Jason alleged she was barred statutorily from rescinding the paternity affidavit. Alternatively, Jason filed a motion for third party custody pursuant to section 452.375.5, RSMo 2000,
The circuit court held a bench trial on the respective petitions and motions filed by Jessica, Jason, and Stephen regarding dissolution, paternity, custody, and visitation. All of the interested parties were present and testified, along with Child's therapist and guardian ad litem.
The circuit court entered a detailed judgment, assessing credibility and disposing of all of the issues. The circuit court recognized if this case were solely a dissolution proceeding, it would lack the authority to determine child custody because Child was not born of the marriage or adopted by Jason. However, because all interested parties were present, the primary issue to be decided was custody and because the biological parents requested a custody determination in this proceeding, the circuit court concluded, "In the interest of judicial efficiency this [c]ourt should determine custody" within the dissolution proceeding. The circuit court held Jason was to be treated as a third party pursuant to section 452.375.5.
The circuit court found Child's therapist and Jason were credible witnesses. The circuit court found Jessica and Stephen credible only to the extent they admitted they repeatedly violated court orders during the litigation.
Jessica filed a motion for new trial or to amend the judgment, alleging the circuit court erred in allowing Jason to proceed as both a party and a third party in the same proceeding. Jessica also averred the circuit court failed to set forth the relevant factors under section 452.375.2(1)-(8) in making its custody determination, and the custody determination was against the weight of the evidence. The circuit court overruled Jessica's motion but issued an addendum to the judgment in which it explained which section 452.375.2 factors it applied in reaching its custody determination.
Jessica timely appealed. The Eastern District affirmed the circuit court's judgment. Judge Lisa Page dissented and certified this case for transfer to this Court. See Rule 83.03.
*613Standard of Review
This Court must affirm the circuit court's judgment "unless there is no substantial evidence to support it, unless it is against the weight of the evidence, unless it erroneously declares the law, or unless it erroneously applies the law." Brown v. Brown ,
Third-Party Designation
Jessica alleges the circuit court erred in designating Jason as a third party in their dissolution proceeding and awarding him third-party custody because such an award violates section 452.375.5(5). Jessica maintains the legislature did not intend for a third party under section 452.375.5(5) to include a party to a dissolution proceeding. Jason's designation as a third party is a legal question this Court reviews de novo. Pearson v. Koster ,
The legal quagmire this case presents gives this Court an opportunity to reiterate the appropriate procedure to adjudicate paternity actions when a related dissolution proceeding is pending. Supreme Court Operating Rule 4.05.3 expressly provides, "Dissolutions and paternity actions shall be filed separately. A separate case number shall be assigned for each dissolution and each paternity action filed and shall be related in the automated case management system for scheduling and other processing." Operating Rule 4.05.3's plain and unambiguous language instructs circuit courts to sever contested paternity actions from dissolution proceedings so the proceedings are assigned different case numbers. Had the parties and the circuit court followed Operating Rule 4.05.3, the need for Jason to seek third-party custody as an alternative claim in his own dissolution proceeding could have been avoided.
Jessica argues because Jason already was a party to the dissolution, he also could not be designated as a third party for purposes of custody. Section 452.375.5(5) states, "Prior to awarding the appropriate custody arrangement in the best interest of the child, the court shall consider each of the following as follows ... [t]hird-party custody or visitation." This subsection further provides, "Before the court awards custody, temporary custody or visitation to a third person under this subdivision, the court shall make that person a party to the action."
*614Jessica relies on In re Marriage of Said ,
The second sentence of § 452.375.5(5)(a) specifically provides that before a court awards custody, temporary custody or visitation to a third person, the court shall make that person a party to the action. Because a husband and wife are always parties to an action to dissolve their marriage, the statutory requirement that the court make the third person a party to the action indicates the General Assembly did not intend that the term 'third person' include a husband or wife in a dissolution action.
Said is distinguishable from the instant case in many respects. First, the children were born of the marriage while Child was not. Second, the husband's third-party custody claim was premised on his status as a stepparent, hence mimicking an equitable parentage claim, which this Court rejected in Cotton v. Wise ,
The record also reveals Jessica actively sought out Stephen after Jason filed for dissolution, encouraged Stephen to assert his paternity rights, and assisted Stephen in securing an attorney to file his custody claim.
Child Custody Award
Jessica next raises a multitude of arguments
Appellate courts act with caution in exercising the power to set aside a decree or judgment on the ground that it is against the weight of the evidence. [A] claim that the judgment is against the weight of the evidence presupposes that there is sufficient evidence to support the judgment. The against-the-weight-of-the-evidence standard serves only as a check on a circuit court's potential abuse of power in weighing the evidence, and an appellate court will reverse only in rare cases, when it has a firm belief that the decree or judgment is wrong. When reviewing the record in an against-the-weight-of-the-evidence challenge, this Court defers to the circuit court's findings of fact when the factual issues are contested and when the facts as found by the circuit court depend on credibility determinations. A circuit court's judgment is against the weight of the evidence only if the circuit court could not have reasonably found, from the record at trial, the existence of a fact that is necessary to sustain the judgment. When the evidence poses two reasonable but different inferences, this Court is obligated to defer to the trial court's assessment of the evidence. This Court rarely has reversed a trial judgment as against the weight of the evidence....
S.S.S. v. C.V.S. ,
Jessica asserts that, as Child's biological parent, she has a superior right to custody. Accordingly, Jessica believes the circuit court erred in failing to award her sole legal and physical custody because its finding she was unfit was against the weight of the evidence and not supported with substantial evidence when it found she: (1) disregarded Child's medical needs; (2) withheld visitation on a number of occasions; (3) required a specific court order to allow Jason frequent and meaningful contact with Child; (4) intended to remove Child from her current school; (5) diminished or excluded Jason's role in Child's life; (6) consistently placed her interests ahead of Child's such that it called into question whether she was willing to perform her function as a mother; and (7) was incapable of co-parenting with Jason.
The law contains a parental presumption that the best interest of a child is *616best served by vesting custody of the child with his or her biological parent. White v. White ,
[w]hen the court finds that each parent is unfit, unsuitable, or unable to be a custodian, or the welfare of the child requires, and it is in the best interests of the child, then custody, temporary custody or visitation may be awarded to any other person or persons deemed by the court to be suitable and able to provide an adequate and stable environment for the child.
Section 452.375.5(5)(a). "The language and context of section 452.375.5 shows that the legislature intended third-party custody or visitation referenced in subparagraph (5)(a) as an alternative consideration to parental custody." Hanson v. Carroll ,
Permitting a person to seek custody of a child to whom he or she is not biologically related does not run afoul of the holding in Troxel v. Granville ,
The Missouri statute carries a rebuttable presumption that custody should be with the parent. We presume parental custody is in a minor child's best interests. To rebut this presumption, the third party seeking custody must carry the burden of showing either that each parent is unfit, unsuitable, or unable to have custody or that the welfare of the child requires third party custody.
Moreover, Jason "is not simply 'any third party that comes along.' "
The circuit court had before it all of the interested parties and a multitude of pleadings, and it held an extensive trial. The circuit court issued a judgment, and an addendum to the judgment at Jessica's request, setting forth the relevant factors it considered in awarding Jason third-party custody of Child. This Court declines Jessica's invitation to contravene the standard of review in an "against the weight of the evidence" challenge and reweigh the *617evidence, disregard the circuit court's credibility determinations, and reach different, even if reasonable, inferences, from the evidence presented. Jessica has not presented any evidence demonstrating the circuit court's judgment is erroneous. The circuit court properly found Jason rebutted the parental presumption in Jessica's favor when it determined she was unfit or unsuitable to have sole legal and physical custody of Child.
Jessica further claims the circuit court erred in failing to find Child's welfare required an award of third-party custody. This contention lacks merit. Section 452.375.5(a) plainly requires a third party to allege "each parent is unfit, unsuitable, or unable to be a custodian, or the welfare of the child requires, and it is in the best interests of the child." (Emphasis added). Although Jason pleaded unfitness, welfare, and best interest, the circuit court was only required to find unfitness or welfare, and best interest to award him third-party custody.
Although the circuit court was not required to find Child's welfare required an award of third-party custody in light of Jason's unfitness allegations, there are cases holding a "significant bonding familial custody relationship with third parties can constitute a special or extraordinary reason or circumstance rendering it in a child's best interest to award third-party custody" when analyzing the welfare-of-the-child prong under section 452.375.5. C.L. v. M.T. ,
Jason also testified credibly about Jessica's attempts to diminish and eliminate his role in Child's life despite having knowledge of the therapist's recommendation it would be "psychologically destructive" to Child. The circuit court recognized this significant bond in its judgment and found Jessica took express action to break that bond repeatedly and would continue to attempt to do so, even with a court order directing her to the contrary. The circuit court's award of third-party custody to Jason was not against the weight of the evidence.
Conclusion
The circuit court's judgment is affirmed.
Wilson, Russell, Powell, Breckenridge and Stith, JJ., concur;
Fischer, C.J., concurs in separate opinion filed.
This Court refers to the parties by their first names for ease of clarity and intends no familiarity or disrespect.
After opinion by the court of appeals and a dissenting opinion, which certified the majority opinion was contrary to a previous decision of this Court, this case was transferred to this Court pursuant to Rule 83.03. This Court has jurisdiction. Mo. Const. art. V, sec. 10.
This Court is cognizant, as were the lower courts, that the parties knew, at the time the paternity affidavit was executed, Stephen was Child's biological father.
All statutory references are to RSMo 2000, as supplemented.
Jason filed several contempt motions against Jessica, alleging she violated the circuit court's orders prohibiting her from having her current boyfriend accompany her during custody exchanges, allowing Stephen to have contact with Child, and failing to cooperate with filing her income tax return with Jason. At a contempt hearing held after the custody trial, Jessica admitted she violated the circuit court's order regarding the custody exchanges, and two other orders. The circuit court held Jessica in contempt, and she does not contest that ruling on appeal.
This Court is cognizant that section 210.829.1 states an action brought under the UPA "may be joined by separate document with an action for dissolution of marriage, annulment, separate maintenance, support, custody or visitation." See also DeWitt v. Lechuga ,
See also Warlop v. Warlop ,
Notably, Stephen's stated desire at trial to become Child's custodian is belied by the fact he did not file an appeal presenting any challenge to the circuit court's procedure, the finding he is an unfit custodian, or the denial of his custody claim.
Jessica's point on appeal is clearly multifarious, containing more than one basis for reversal. Multifarious points relied on are noncompliant with Rule 84.04(d) and preserve nothing for review. Kirk v. State ,
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Jason BOWERS v. Jessica BOWERS
- Cited By
- 30 cases
- Status
- Published