Rebecca Wright Dreading v. James Daniel Dreading

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REL: 11/10/11 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 Reporter o f Decisions, Alabama 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 , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((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 OCTOBER TERM, 2011-2012 2100565 Rebecca Wright Dreading v. James D a n i e l Dreading Appeal from S t . C l a i r C i r c u i t (DR-10-184) Court BRYAN, J u d g e . Rebecca Wright Dreading judgment o f t h e S t . C l a i r ("Rebecca") Circuit Court appeals ("the t r i a l from a court") t h a t found h e r g u i l t y o f c r i m i n a l contempt and s e n t e n c e d h e r t o f i v e days i n j a i l , w i t h t h r e e days suspended. 2100565 The r e c o r d on appealed Rebecca before by Rebecca and James for procedural arose out Daniel of a certain purposes of this 7, 2011, acts, set and, forth on February 10, handwritten 2011. The action ("James"). The only the of date, infra, e n t r y on F e b r u a r y 10, 2011, [two] to On amend, serve." March or place committed t h a t l e d the trial a hearing on contains a summary t h a t s t a t e s : "Contempt h e a r i n g , [ R e b e c c a ] present. Testimony of [Rebecca], i n contempt. [ F i v e ] days took Rebecca contempt a f t e r case-action found record following A motion hearing that between that action originated. appeal, in detail to f i n d Rebecca g u i l t y contempt judgment custody Dreading history i s relevant. February court r e v e a l s t h a t the t h i s c o u r t does n o t r e v e a l how However, on appeal in jail, [three] [Rebecca] suspended, 1 11, vacate 2011, the Rebecca trial filed court's a motion judgment of to alter, contempt. T h a t e n t r y was s i g n e d by t h e t r i a l - c o u r t j u d g e , see R u l e 58(a) and ( b ) , A l a . R. C i v . P. ( r e g a r d i n g t h e p r o p e r methods o f r e n d e r i n g an o r d e r o r a j u d g m e n t ) , b u t t h a t j u d g m e n t was n o t e n t e r e d p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 5 8 ( c ) , A l a . R. C i v . P., until O c t o b e r 18, 2011. See R u l e 5 8 ( c ) ( p r o v i d i n g t h a t an o r d e r o r j u d g m e n t s h a l l be deemed e n t e r e d f o r p u r p o s e s o f t h e R u l e s o f C i v i l and A p p e l l a t e P r o c e d u r e as o f t h e a c t u a l d a t e o f i n p u t i n t o the S t a t e J u d i c i a l I n f o r m a t i o n System). 1 2 2100565 Before the trial Rebecca f i l e d 2011. court on a n o t i c e of appeal On A p r i l 5, 2011, Rebecca's ruled postjudgment judgment d a t e d F e b r u a r y 10, 2 0 1 1 . contempt judgment s t a t e d the postjudgment to t h i s the t r i a l motion her c o u r t on M a r c h c o u r t r e n d e r e d an o r d e r that 2 motion, The amended trial the 18, on contempt c o u r t ' s amended following: "On F e b r u a r y 7, 2011, a h e a r i n g was h e l d by t h i s c o u r t on o u t s t a n d i n g m o t i o n s . On F e b r u a r y 10, 2011 a c o n t e m p t h e a r i n g was held regarding alleged c o n t e m p t by [Rebecca] f o l l o w i n g t h e F e b r u a r y 7, 2011 h e a r i n g . D u r i n g t h e c o n t e m p t h e a r i n g [ R e b e c c a ] was p r e s e n t and r e p r e s e n t e d by h e r c o u n s e l . [James] was r e p r e s e n t e d by h i s c o u n s e l . The G u a r d i a n ad L i t e m was p r e s e n t . " [ R e b e c c a ] was p l a c e d u n d e r o a t h and t e s t i m o n y and t h e c o u r t f o u n d as f o l l o w s : gave " F o l l o w i n g t h e F e b r u a r y 7, 2011 h e a r i n g , t h e G u a r d i a n ad L i t e m and h e r c l i e n t ( t h e t w e l v e y e a r o l d c h i l d o f t h e p a r t i e s ) met i n t h e f o y e r o u t s i d e t h e c o u r t r o o m d o o r s n e a r t h e c o u r t r o o m b a t h r o o m s and w a t e r f o u n t a i n . The G u a r d i a n ad L i t e m and c h i l d l e f t t h a t area l e a v i n g the Guardian ad l i t e m ' s f i l e The t r i a l court's A p r i l 5, 2011, amended c o n t e m p t j u d g m e n t was n o t e n t e r e d i n t h e S t a t e J u d i c i a l I n f o r m a t i o n S y s t e m ("SJIS") u n t i l O c t o b e r 18, 2 0 1 1 ; t h u s , R e b e c c a ' s n o t i c e o f a p p e a l , w h i c h had b e e n f i l e d b e f o r e t h e F e b r u a r y 10 and A p r i l 5, 2011, c o n t e m p t j u d g m e n t s were a c t u a l l y e n t e r e d i n t o S J I S , i s t r e a t e d as h a v i n g b e e n f i l e d on O c t o b e r 18, 2011. See R u l e 4(a) ( 4 ) , A l a . R. App. P. ("A n o t i c e o f a p p e a l f i l e d a f t e r t h e announcement o f a d e c i s i o n o r o r d e r b u t b e f o r e t h e e n t r y o f t h e j u d g m e n t o r o r d e r s h a l l be t r e a t e d as f i l e d a f t e r t h e e n t r y and on t h e day t h e r e o f . " ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) ) . 2 3 2100565 i n c l u d i n g t h e G u a r d i a n ad L i t e m ' s y e l l o w n o t e b o o k w i t h h e r h a n d w r i t t e n n o t e s i n i t . These i t e m s were l e f t i n a c h a i r where t h e y were s i t t i n g i n t h e foyer. " [ R e b e c c a ] t h e n w a l k e d i n t o t h e f o y e r a r e a where t h e G u a r d i a n ad L i t e m h a d p r e v i o u s l y met w i t h h e r client. When t h e G u a r d i a n ad l i t e m r e t u r n e d t o t h e a r e a and d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e n o t e b o o k was m i s s i n g , [Rebecca] was t h e n a s k e d by t h e G u a r d i a n ad L i t e m and h e r own a t t o r n e y i f she knew t h e w h e r e a b o u t s o f the notebook. [Rebecca] d e n i e d knowledge of i t s w h e r e a b o u t s . [ R e b e c c a ] , d u r i n g t h e F e b r u a r y 10, 2011 h e a r i n g , a d m i t t e d t o t a k i n g t h e n o t e b o o k and p l a c i n g i t i n h e r c r a t e c o n t a i n i n g h e r p o s s e s s i o n s . She a l s o a d m i t t e d t e a r i n g o u t t h e p o r t i o n o f t h e G u a r d i a n ad L i t e m ' s n o t e b o o k c o n t a i n i n g t h e G u a r d i a n ad L i t e m ' s notes, p l a c i n g the notes i n her belongings and t h r o w i n g the unused p o r t i o n of the Guardian ad L i t e m ' s notebook i n the f o y e r t r a s h can. [Rebecca] t h e n l e f t t h e c o u r t h o u s e . The G u a r d i a n ad L i t e m ' s d i s c a r d e d n o t e p a d , minus t h e n o t e s , was located s h o r t l y t h e r e a f t e r i n t h e f o y e r t r a s h can by c o u r t s e c u r i t y . A h e a r i n g was t h e n s e t on F e b r u a r y 10, 2011 and c o u n s e l was n o t i f i e d . "Prior to the February 10, 2011 hearing, [Rebecca] r e t u r n e d t o t h e c o u r t r o o m f o y e r a r e a and she t e s t i f i e d t h a t one o f t h e r e a s o n s she r e t u r n e d t o t h a t a r e a was t o see i f h e r own a t t o r n e y had l i e d t o h e r a b o u t t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a s e c u r i t y camera i n the foyer area. During the February 10, 2011 hearing,[Rebecca]'s attorney, on behalf of [ R e b e c c a ] , r e t u r n e d t h e G u a r d i a n ad L i t e m ' s n o t e s w h i c h h a d b e e n t a k e n by [Rebecca] without the Guardian ad L i t e m ' s permission. [Rebecca] then a s s u r e d t h i s c o u r t t h a t she r e t u r n e d a l l n o t e s and t h a t t h e s e n o t e s were n o t c o p i e d o r d u p l i c a t e d i n any way. "Following this hearing, the court found [Rebecca] i n c o n t e m p t [and] o r d e r [ e d R e b e c c a ] t o 4 2100565 s e r v e 5 days i n t h e S t . C l a i r County J a i l . the c o u r t suspended a l l b u t 2 days." On a p p e a l , Rebecca argues t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s judgment i s e r r o n e o u s because 2011, However, (1) h e r a c t i o n s d i d n o t c o n s t i t u t e a d i r e c t contempt, on F e b r u a r y 7, (2) s h e d i d n o t receive proper notice of a constructive-contempt and contempt proceeding, (3) t h e t r i a l - c o u r t j u d g e v i o l a t e d s p e c i f i c p r o v i s i o n s s e t f o r t h i n t h e A l a b a m a Canons o f J u d i c i a l E t h i c s . Initially, we note factual that the appellate allegations parties contain attached t h a t a r e n o t i n t h e c e r t i f i e d r e c o r d on a p p e a l . we have s t a t e d on many p r i o r o c c a s i o n s , and/or b r i e f s of both have documents "[a]n appellate i s confined i n i t s review t o the appellate record, that 3 As court record c a n n o t be ' c h a n g e d , a l t e r e d , o r v a r i e d on a p p e a l b y s t a t e m e n t s I n c l u d e d i n t h e r e c o r d on a p p e a l i s an u n v e r i f i e d m o t i o n f i l e d b y R e b e c c a on o r a b o u t A p r i l 14, 2 0 1 1 , a f t e r h e r n o t i c e o f a p p e a l h a d b e e n f i l e d b u t b e f o r e i t became e f f e c t i v e , w h i c h was s t y l e d " D e f e n d a n t ' s R e p l y t o Contempt D e t a i l s O r d e r . " I n t h a t " m o t i o n , " w h i c h does n o t r e q u e s t any s p e c i f i c r e l i e f , Rebecca s e t s f o r t h h e r v e r s i o n o f t h e f a c t s t h a t l e d t o t h e f i n d i n g o f c o n t e m p t . The r e c o r d on a p p e a l does n o t c o n t a i n a t r a n s c r i p t o f any c o u r t p r o c e e d i n g s . R e b e c c a ' s A p r i l 14, 2011, m o t i o n s e t t i n g f o r t h h e r v e r s i o n o f t h e f a c t s c a n n o t be c o n s i d e r e d b y t h i s c o u r t as an a p p r o v e d s t a t e m e n t o f t h e evidence o r p r o c e e d i n g s because Rebecca d i d n o t attempt t o make h e r s t a t e m e n t o f t h e e v i d e n c e p a r t o f t h e a p p e l l a t e r e c o r d p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 1 0 ( d ) , A l a . R. App. P. 3 5 2100565 i n b r i e f s o f c o u n s e l , ' a n d t h e c o u r t may n o t 'assume e r r o r o r presume the existence silent.'" 2009) Civ. of facts Beverly v Beverly, as t o w h i c h the record i s 28 So. 3d 1, 4 ( A l a . C i v . App. ( q u o t i n g Q u i c k v. B u r t o n , 960 So. 2d 678, 680-81 ( A l a . App. 2006)). Since 1994, t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f R u l e P., have a p p l i e d t o c o n t e m p t p r o c e e d i n g s actions. Rule pertinent 70A(a)(2), A l a . R. 70(a), A l a . R. C i v . a r i s i n g out of c i v i l C i v . P., provides, part: "(A) ' D i r e c t c o n t e m p t ' means d i s o r d e r l y o r i n s o l e n t behavior or other misconduct committed i n open c o u r t , i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e j u d g e , t h a t d i s t u r b s t h e c o u r t ' s b u s i n e s s , where a l l o f t h e e s s e n t i a l elements of the misconduct occur i n the p r e s e n c e o f t h e c o u r t and a r e a c t u a l l y o b s e r v e d by t h e c o u r t , a n d where i m m e d i a t e a c t i o n i s e s s e n t i a l to prevent d i m i n u t i o n o f t h e c o u r t ' s d i g n i t y and authority before the p u b l i c . "(B) ' C o n s t r u c t i v e c o n t e m p t ' means any c r i m i n a l or c i v i l contempt o t h e r than a d i r e c t contempt. "(C) ' C r i m i n a l c o n t e m p t ' means e i t h e r "(I) M i s c o n d u c t o f any p e r s o n t h a t o b s t r u c t s t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f j u s t i c e and t h a t i s committed e i t h e r i n the c o u r t ' s presence or so near thereto as t o interrupt, disturb, or hinder i t s proceedings, or "(ii) resistance Willful disobedience or o f any p e r s o n t o a c o u r t ' s 6 in 2100565 lawful writ, subpoena, process, order, rule, o r command, where the dominant purpose o f t h e f i n d i n g o f contempt i s t o p u n i s h t h e contemnor. "(D) ' C i v i l c o n t e m p t ' means w i l l f u l , c o n t i n u i n g f a i l u r e o r r e f u s a l o f any p e r s o n t o c o m p l y w i t h a c o u r t ' s l a w f u l w r i t , subpoena, p r o c e s s , o r d e r , r u l e , or command t h a t b y i t s n a t u r e i s s t i l l c a p a b l e o f being complied with." (Emphasis added.) The t r i a l c o u r t does n o t s p e c i f y w h e t h e r i t f o u n d R e b e c c a guilty of d i r e c t contempt or constructive d e t e r m i n a t i o n i s i m p o r t a n t because a party i n direct contempt required before a party contempt. contempt. Such a the procedure f o r f i n d i n g i s different from t h e procedure c a n be f o u n d g u i l t y of constructive R u l e 70A p r o v i d e s : "(b) Summary Proceedings. Disposition of Direct Contempt "(1) F i n d i n g . The c o u r t may s u m m a r i l y f i n d i n c o n t e m p t any p e r s o n who commits a d i r e c t contempt, i m m e d i a t e l y n o t i f y i n g t h e p e r s o n o f i t s f i n d i n g . The j u d g e s h a l l cause t o be p r e p a r e d a w r i t t e n order reciting t h e grounds f o r the f i n d i n g , including a statement that the judge observed the conduct c o n s t i t u t i n g the c o n t e m p t . The o r d e r s h a l l be s i g n e d b y t h e judge and e n t e r e d o f r e c o r d . "(2) Mitigation. The court shall a p p r i s e the person of the s p e c i f i c conduct on w h i c h t h e f i n d i n g i s b a s e d a n d g i v e t h a t 7 2100565 person a reasonable opportunity to present e v i d e n c e or argument r e g a r d i n g e x c u s i n g o r mitigating circumstances. No decision c o n c e r n i n g t h e p u n i s h m e n t t o be i m p o s e d s h a l l be made d u r i n g t h e c o u r s e o f t h e proceeding out of which the contempt arises, unless prompt punishment is i m p e r a t i v e to achieve immediate v i n d i c a t i o n of t h e c o u r t ' s d i g n i t y and a u t h o r i t y . "(3) S e n t e n c e . U n l e s s i t i s p r o n o u n c e d i m m e d i a t e l y u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n s (1) and (2) a b o v e , s e n t e n c e s h a l l be p r o n o u n c e d i n open c o u r t , i n the presence of the contemnor, w i t h i n s e v e n (7) d a y s a f t e r t h e c o m p l e t i o n of t h e p r o c e e d i n g o u t o f w h i c h t h e c o n t e m p t arose. "(c) Disposition Proceedings. of Constructive Contempt "(1) Initiation of Action. A p r o c e e d i n g b a s e d on c o n s t r u c t i v e c o n t e m p t , w h e t h e r c r i m i n a l o r c i v i l , s h a l l be s u b j e c t to the rules of c i v i l procedure. The p r o c e e d i n g s h a l l be i n i t i a t e d by t h e f i l i n g of a p e t i t i o n s e e k i n g a f i n d i n g o f c o n t e m p t (the p e t i t i o n may be i n t h e f o r m o f a counterclaim or cross-claim authorized u n d e r R u l e 1 3 [ , A l a . R. C i v . P . ] ) . The petition shall provide the alleged contemnor w i t h n o t i c e of the essential f a c t s c o n s t i t u t i n g the a l l e g e d contemptuous conduct. "(2) I s s u a n c e o f P r o c e s s and N o t i c e . Upon t h e f i l i n g o f a c o n t e m p t p e t i t i o n , t h e c l e r k s h a l l i s s u e process i n accordance w i t h these r u l e s , u n l e s s the p e t i t i o n i s i n i t i a t e d by a c o u n t e r c l a i m o r c r o s s - c l a i m a u t h o r i z e d u n d e r R u l e 13. I n any c a s e , t h e person against whom the petition is 8 2100565 d i r e c t e d s h a l l be n o t i f i e d (1) o f t h e t i m e and p l a c e f o r t h e h e a r i n g on t h e p e t i t i o n and (2) t h a t f a i l u r e t o a p p e a r a t t h e h e a r i n g may r e s u l t i n t h e i s s u a n c e o f a w r i t of a r r e s t pursuant to Rule 70A(d), t o compel the presence of the alleged contemnor. "(3) R i g h t t o C o u n s e l . I n actions involving criminal contempt, upon the r e q u e s t o f t h e a l l e g e d c o n t e m n o r and p r o o f o f i n d i g e n c e , c o u n s e l 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 the a l l e g e d contemnor." (Emphasis added.) There i s no procedure provided set to indication there issued forth Rebecca that i s no a i n t h e r e c o r d on a p p e a l t h a t i n Rule in in Thus, 70A(c), A l a . R. present case. the contempt indication process Procedure. indication petition that the accordance the record was clerk with the P., There filed, of reveals Civ. was is no and, thus, trial the court of Civil Rules that the the contempt p r o c e e d i n g below d i d not conform t o the procedure s e t f o r t h i n R u l e 7 0 A ( c ) , and, therefore, valid, c o u r t must the trial i n o r d e r f o r t h e j u d g m e n t t o be have found Rebecca in direct contempt. See C a r p e n t e r v. Newman, 853 So. 2d 1002, C i v . App. 2002) ( c o n c l u d i n g t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t h a d f o u n d t h e appellant guilty of direct contempt 9 after 1006 ( A l a . considering the 2100565 language i n the judgment, and t h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e any p a r t y On the procedural was no i n d i c a t i o n i n t h e r e c o r d sought t o h o l d the a p p e l l a n t appeal, Rebecca the f i n d i n g o f contempt and outside h i s t o r y of the case, argues that that i n contempt). her a c t i o n s were c o m m i t t e d o u t s i d e the presence of the t r i a l - c o u r t that the l e d to courtroom j u d g e and that, t h e r e f o r e , h e r a c t i o n s do n o t c o n s t i t u t e a d i r e c t c o n t e m p t court. We agree. provides that judge, plain language t h e a l l e g e d l y contemptuous been committed court The i n open c o u r t , so t h a t of Rule of 70A(2)(A) b e h a v i o r must have i n the presence of the trial- " a l l of the e s s e n t i a l elements of the m i s c o n d u c t o c c u r i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e c o u r t and a r e a c t u a l l y o b s e r v e d by findings the court." of fact set elements of Rebecca's I t i s c l e a r from the t r i a l forth above that a l l the Thus, R e b e c c a ' s c o u l d n o t have c o n s t i t u t e d d i r e c t c o n t e m p t . 1978) of the essential m i s c o n d u c t d i d n o t o c c u r i n open or i n the presence of the judge. Co. v. U n i t e d court's F u r n i t u r e Workers, 361 misconduct See C h a r l e s So. 2d 1033, court Mfg. 1036 ( A l a . ("Direct contempts are those committed i n the 'presence' judge, misconduct where a l l of the are under t h e eye of the court, 10 e s s e n t i a l elements of the and a r e a c t u a l l y 2100565 observed by t h e c o u r t . not personally I f some o f t h e e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s a r e o b s e r v e d b y t h e j u d g e i t i s an i n d i r e c t [ , o r c o n s t r u c t i v e , ] contempt."). Accordingly, because we conclude that Rebecca's m i s c o n d u c t d i d n o t c o n s t i t u t e d i r e c t c o n t e m p t , a n d b e c a u s e we have d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e p r o c e d u r e r e q u i r e d c o n s t r u c t i v e c o n t e m p t was n o t f o l l o w e d , court's judgment f o r a f i n d i n g of we r e v e r s e t h e t r i a l f i n d i n g Rebecca i n contempt. 4 REVERSED. Thompson, P . J . , a n d Thomas a n d Moore, J J . , c o n c u r . Pittman, J . , concurs i n the r e s u l t , without w r i t i n g . I n l i g h t o f t h e f a c t t h a t we a r e r e v e r s i n g t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t on t h e g r o u n d s s e t f o r t h a b o v e , we p r e t e r m i t d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e arguments p r e s e n t e d by R e b e c c a on a p p e a l . F u r t h e r m o r e , we n o t e t h a t o u r d e c i s i o n does not n e c e s s a r i l y p r e c l u d e t h e f i l i n g o f a c o n s t r u c t i v e - c o n t e m p t a c t i o n a g a i n s t Rebecca. 4 11

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