Tina Lang v. Michael Lang

Annotate this Case

Download PDF

REL: 05/27/2011 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 of Decisions, 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 , 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, 2010-2011 2100396 T i n a Lang v. Michael Lang Appeal from Pickens C i r c u i t Court (DR-04-16.01 and DR-04-16.02) THOMPSON, P r e s i d i n g J u d g e . T i n a L a n g ("the m o t h e r " ) a p p e a l s on remand, m o d i f y i n g custody from a judgment, e n t e r e d of the p a r t i e s ' The m o t h e r h a d b e e n a w a r d e d p r i m a r y three children. p h y s i c a l custody ofthe 2100396 c h i l d r e n when s h e a n d M i c h a e l L a n g ("the f a t h e r " ) d i v o r c e d i n December 2004. T h i s i s t h e s e c o n d t i m e t h e p a r t i e s have a p p e a r e d t h i s c o u r t on t h e i s s u e o f c u s t o d y m o d i f i c a t i o n . Lang, App. [Ms. 2090490, O c t . 29, 2010] 2010) ("Lang I " ) . judgment younger ("the 2010 j u d g m e n t " ) children m o t h e r was u n f i t , awarding to the father awarding court's finding supported by s u f f i c i e n t trial custody judgment and remanded o f t h e two finding that the This court determined that t h a t t h e m o t h e r was u n f i t was n o t We the i n c o r r e c t of the children. court entered a custody of the o l d e s t c h i l d t o the evidence. c o u r t had a p p l i e d (Ala. C i v . custody and, a f t e r children's maternal grandparents. the t r i a l See L a n g v . So. 3d I n Lang I , t h e t r i a l before also found that the standard i n modifying A c c o r d i n g l y , we r e v e r s e d t h e 2010 t h e cause f o r the t r i a l court to c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r c u s t o d y m o d i f i c a t i o n was a p p r o p r i a t e u n d e r the standard s e t f o r t h (Ala. i n Ex p a r t e McLendon, 455 So. 2d 863 1984). On remand, t h e t r i a l c o u r t c o n s i d e r e d t h e same t h a t h a d b e e n p r e s e n t e d a t t h e J u l y 30, 2009, t r i a l , did n o t t a k e any new e v i d e n c e . 2 evidence and i t We n o t e t h a t , a t t h e t i m e o f 2100396 t h e J u l y 2009 t r i a l , t h e c h i l d r e n were 16, 9, a n d 6 y e a r s o l d ; thus, t h e y were n e a r l y two y e a r s o l d e r a t t h e t i m e t h e t r i a l court entered t h e judgment at issue i n this appeal. The y o u n g e s t c h i l d i s a b o y ; t h e o l d e r two c h i l d r e n a r e g i r l s . This court has e x p l a i n e d facts of this dispute the procedural h i s t o r y and t h e as f o l l o w s : "The r e c o r d i n d i c a t e s t h e f o l l o w i n g . I n A u g u s t 2006, t h e f a t h e r f i l e d a p e t i t i o n s e e k i n g t o h o l d the mother i n contempt f o r s t a y i n g o v e r n i g h t w i t h a member o f t h e o p p o s i t e s e x w h i l e t h e c h i l d r e n were p r e s e n t , i n c o n t r a v e n t i o n o f t h e d i v o r c e judgment. The f a t h e r a l s o r e q u e s t e d c u s t o d y o f t h e p a r t i e s ' three c h i l d r e n . The m o t h e r t h e n f i l e d a m o t i o n seeking t o h o l d t h e f a t h e r i n contempt f o r h i s f a i l u r e t o pay c h i l d s u p p o r t and f o r h i s f a i l u r e t o exercise v i s i t a t i o n with a l l the c h i l d r e n . The mother a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e f a t h e r v i s i t e d w i t h o n l y one c h i l d and t o o k o n l y one c h i l d f o r summer vacation. The m o t h e r a n d t h e f a t h e r s e t t l e d t h e i r differences at that time, and t h e t r i a l court i n c o r p o r a t e d t h e i r agreement i n t o a judgment e n t e r e d on A u g u s t 23, 2006. I n t h a t judgment, t h e t r i a l c o u r t a l s o h e l d t h e mother i n contempt f o r h e r admitted v i o l a t i o n of the cohabitation p r o v i s i o n of the d i v o r c e judgment. I n t h e A u g u s t 23, 2006, j u d g m e n t , t h e t r i a l c o u r t a l s o s t a t e d : 'The p a r t i e s have a g r e e d t h a t no f u t u r e c u s t o d y p e t i t i o n s s h a l l be f i l e d b a s e d on t h e c o - h a b i t a t i o n i s s u e w h i c h i s b e i n g r e s o l v e d by t h i s o r d e r . ' "On M a r c h 26, 2007, t h e f a t h e r f i l e d a n o t h e r p e t i t i o n f o r a custody m o d i f i c a t i o n , a l l e g i n g that t h e m o t h e r h a d v i o l a t e d t h e A u g u s t 2 3 , 2006, o r d e r enforcing the p r o v i s i o n i n the divorce judgment forbidding t h e mother to cohabitate. In h i s p e t i t i o n , the f a t h e r sought custody of the p a r t i e s ' 3 2100396 m i d d l e c h i l d and asked t h a t c u s t o d y o f t h e o l d e s t and y o u n g e s t c h i l d r e n be a w a r d e d t o t h e m a t e r n a l grandparents. The same d a y - - M a r c h 26, 2 0 0 7 - - t h e trial c o u r t e n t e r e d an ex p a r t e o r d e r awarding pendente l i t e custody of the middle c h i l d t o the f a t h e r and a w a r d i n g p e n d e n t e l i t e c u s t o d y o f t h e o t h e r two c h i l d r e n t o t h e m a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s . " D u r i n g t h e two y e a r s a f t e r t h e e n t r y o f t h e ex p a r t e pendente l i t e order, the p a r t i e s f i l e d a number o f p e t i t i o n s a n d m o t i o n s regarding c h i l d s u p p o r t a n d v i s i t a t i o n i s s u e s . F o u r j u d g e s have p r e s i d e d over t h i s case. As p o i n t e d o u t b y t h e t r i a l j u d g e who e n t e r e d t h e j u d g m e n t made t h e b a s i s of t h i s a p p e a l , i t a p p e a r s f r o m t h e r e c o r d t h a t t h e p a r t i e s r e a c h e d a g r e e m e n t s on t h e i s s u e s r a i s e d i n t h e i r v a r i o u s p e t i t i o n s b e f o r e h e a r i n g s c o u l d be held. S i n c e t h e e n t r y o f t h e M a r c h 26, 2007, ex p a r t e custody o r d e r , the custody arrangement s e t f o r t h i n t h a t order remained i n place. After p r o v i d i n g time f o r the p a r e n t s t o submit t o drug t e s t s and f o r a p s y c h o l o g i s t t o e x a m i n e t h e c h i l d r e n and a f t e r a number o f c o n t i n u a n c e s r e q u e s t e d b y t h e a t t o r n e y s f o r b o t h p a r t i e s and b y t h e g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m appointed to represent the c h i l d r e n , a t r i a l was h e l d on t h e i s s u e o f 'permanent' c u s t o d y on J u l y 30, 2009. "The e v i d e n c e a d d u c e d a t t h e J u l y 30, 2009, t r i a l t e n d e d t o show t h e f o l l o w i n g . The f a t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t he s o u g h t a c u s t o d y m o d i f i c a t i o n b e c a u s e , a t t h e t i m e he f i l e d t h e p e t i t i o n i n 2007, t h e m o t h e r was s p e n d i n g t h e n i g h t w i t h a man who was a u s e r and m a n u f a c t u r e r o f methamphetamine. The mother acknowledged that she h a d b e e n in a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e man, and she was aware he u s e d and m a n u f a c t u r e d methamphetamine, b u t , she s a i d , she did not use drugs o r d r i n k a l c o h o l . The o l d e r c h i l d r e n were u p s e t o v e r t h e m o t h e r ' s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e man, who was i n j a i l a t t h e t i m e o f t h e trial. The m o t h e r a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t , w h i l e she was i n t h a t r e l a t i o n s h i p , she h a d p u t h e r r e l a t i o n s h i p 4 2100396 w i t h h e r b o y f r i e n d b e f o r e t h e needs o f h e r c h i l d r e n . She s a i d t h a t , a t t h e t i m e , she d i d n o t b e l i e v e t h a t the r e l a t i o n s h i p might cause her t o l o s e custody of h e r c h i l d r e n b e c a u s e , she s a i d , she b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e f a t h e r was ' t r y i n g to get back' at her. She a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t , a l t h o u g h she had c o n t i n u e d t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p a f t e r t h e t r i a l c o u r t e n t e r e d t h e ex p a r t e p e n d e n t e l i t e c u s t o d y o r d e r on M a r c h 26, 2007, she n e v e r ' s t a y e d ' w i t h t h e man a g a i n . The m o t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p had e n d e d more t h a n a y e a r b e f o r e t h e 2009 t r i a l . "At t h e t i m e o f t h e t r i a l , the mother was e n g a g e d t o a man she had known a l l o f h e r l i f e . She s a i d t h a t t h e y had b e e n d a t i n g f o r s e v e n months. Her f i a n c e has a f o u r - b e d r o o m , t w o - b a t h h o u s e , l a r g e enough t o accommodate a l l t h r e e c h i l d r e n ; she s a i d t h a t she d i d n o t want t h e c h i l d r e n s e p a r a t e d . At t h e t i m e o f t h e t r i a l , t h e m o t h e r was l i v i n g w i t h the m a t e r n a l grandparents. She s a i d t h a t she had moved i n w i t h them t o be w i t h h e r c h i l d r e n , two o f whom had b e e n l i v i n g w i t h t h e m a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s as a r e s u l t o f t h e 2007 ex p a r t e o r d e r . The m o t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t she had a f u l l - t i m e j o b and could s u p p o r t a l l t h r e e c h i l d r e n . She a l s o s a i d t h a t she was b a c k i n s c h o o l s t u d y i n g t o e a r n a d e g r e e as a r e g i s t e r e d nurse. "The mother s u b m i t t e d to a drug t e s t , the r e s u l t s o f w h i c h were n e g a t i v e , b u t she d i d n o t submit to the h a i r - f o l l i c l e t e s t t h a t the trial court requested. The m o t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t she c o u l d n o t a f f o r d t h e l a t t e r t e s t b u t t h a t she d i d submit to a u r i n e drug t e s t . The r e s u l t s o f t h a t t e s t , i n c l u d e d i n the r e c o r d , i n d i c a t e d t h a t the m o t h e r was n o t u s i n g d r u g s o f any k i n d . "The mother a l s o d i d not take p a r t i n the p s y c h o l o g i s t ' s e x a m i n a t i o n of the c h i l d r e n . She t e s t i f i e d t h a t she t h o u g h t she was t o make t h e c h i l d r e n a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e p s y c h o l o g i s t , b u t she d i d n o t t h i n k t h a t she was t o be t h e r e . The order 5 2100396 r e q u i r i n g the c h i l d r e n t o submit t o the examinations states: "'[T]he court f i n d s t h a t i t i s i n the best i n t e r e s t o f t h e c h i l d r e n t h a t t h e y be examined by a l i c e n s e d p s y c h o l o g i s t o r p s y c h i a t r i s t i n order t o determine t h e i r c u r r e n t e m o t i o n a l s t a t e ; any u n d e r l y i n g causes of distress; and to make recommendations t o the court and t h e guardian ad litem concerning future handling of the children's emotional needs.' The f a t h e r was o r d e r e d t o p a y t h e c o s t children's sessions with the psychologist. of the " S i m i l a r l y , t h e m o t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t she d i d not contact t h e g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m a p p o i n t e d on behalf o f t h e c h i l d r e n b e c a u s e , she s a i d , she b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e g u a r d i a n a d l i t e m was t o c o n t a c t t h e c h i l d r e n . The m o t h e r s a i d t h a t she h a d n o t p a i d t h e g u a r d i a n ad l i t e m b e c a u s e , she s a i d , she n e v e r received a b i l l . "The f a t h e r was l i v i n g w i t h h i s f a t h e r i n t h e c h i l d r e n ' s p a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s ' house a t t h e t i m e of t r i a l . The f a t h e r ' s m o t h e r h a d d i e d a month before the t r i a l . The p a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s ' house has t h r e e bedrooms: t h e p a t e r n a l g r a n d f a t h e r h a s one room, t h e f a t h e r h a s one room, a n d t h e m i d d l e c h i l d has t h e l a s t room. When t h e y o u n g e s t c h i l d h a d v i s i t e d w i t h t h e f a t h e r , he h a d s l e p t w i t h t h e f a t h e r i n h i s room o r w i t h t h e p a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s i n t h e i r room. The f a t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t i f he r e c e i v e d c u s t o d y o f a l l t h r e e c h i l d r e n , he w o u l d have t o 'work out' sleeping arrangements. He speculated that they would make u s e o f ' a i r mattresses, couches, whatever.' "The f a t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t he h a d r e q u e s t e d c u s t o d y o f o n l y one o f t h e c h i l d r e n b e c a u s e i t was 6 2100396 too d i f f i c u l t f o r him to d r i v e the o l d e s t and youngest c h i l d r e n to s c h o o l . The o l d e s t c h i l d was i n h i g h s c h o o l i n G o r d o , and, a t t h e t i m e t h e f a t h e r f i l e d h i s p e t i t i o n , t h e y o u n g e s t c h i l d was i n s c h o o l i n Reform. The f a t h e r l i v e d i n G r e e n e C o u n t y , more t h a n 30 m i l e s away f r o m t h e c h i l d r e n ' s s c h o o l s . At t h e t i m e o f t h e t r i a l , h o w e v e r , t h e m i d d l e c h i l d and t h e y o u n g e s t c h i l d a t t e n d e d t h e same s c h o o l . The f a t h e r s a i d t h a t , i n a d d i t i o n to s e e i n g the youngest c h i l d e v e r y o t h e r weekend, he a l s o s e e s t h e y o u n g e s t c h i l d when he t a k e s t h e m i d d l e c h i l d t o s c h o o l o r p i c k s h e r up f r o m s c h o o l . The f a t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t he and t h e o l d e s t c h i l d , a d a u g h t e r , had a s t r a i n e d relationship. He s e l d o m saw the o l d e s t child, a l t h o u g h he d i d s p e a k w i t h h e r on t h e t e l e p h o n e a p p r o x i m a t e l y once e v e r y two weeks. "The m i d d l e c h i l d was i n t h e f o u r t h g r a d e a t t h e time of the t r i a l . By a l l a c c o u n t s , she was a g o o d student w h i l e i n the f a t h e r ' s custody. When t h e m i d d l e c h i l d was i n t h e f i r s t g r a d e , she l i v e d w i t h the mother. The f a t h e r c a l l e d t h e m i d d l e c h i l d ' s f i r s t - g r a d e teacher to t e s t i f y t h a t , w h i l e i n the f i r s t g r a d e , t h a t c h i l d had b e e n i n a t t e n t i v e , had f r e q u e n t l y d a y d r e a m e d , and had 'seemed t o be j u s t i n h e r own l i t t l e world.' B o t h t h e m o t h e r and the f a t h e r met w i t h t h e t e a c h e r and were i n v o l v e d i n h e l p i n g t o work w i t h t h e c h i l d . The t e a c h e r also t e s t i f i e d t h a t she r e c a l l e d ' s o m e t h i n g a b o u t maybe t h e power was c u t o f f ' when t h e m i d d l e c h i l d was l i v i n g w i t h the mother; however, the t e a c h e r could n o t remember s p e c i f i c a l l y where t h e power had b e e n t u r n e d o f f , s a y i n g : 'I d o n ' t know t h a t i t was [the m i d d l e c h i l d ' s ] m o t h e r ' s a p a r t m e n t o r h o u s e . I t may have b e e n someone e l s e ' s . ' The t e a c h e r n o t e d t h a t t h r e e y e a r s had p a s s e d s i n c e t h e i n c i d e n t . "The f a t h e r c o n c e d e d t h a t he had n o t made any c h i l d - s u p p o r t p a y m e n t s i n t h e e i g h t months p r e c e d i n g the trial. The f a t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t he was s e l f - e m p l o y e d and t h a t h i s income f l u c t u a t e d b e t w e e n $16,000 and $30,000 a n n u a l l y . Evidence introduced 7 2100396 a t t r i a l i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e f a t h e r ' s m o n t h l y income was $1,500 and t h a t t h e m o t h e r ' s m o n t h l y income was $2,393.60. "A p s y c h o l o g i s t who had met w i t h t h e two o l d e s t c h i l d r e n i n 2008 t e s t i f i e d t h a t , a t t h a t t i m e , b o t h were e m o t i o n a l l y h e a l t h y , w e l l a d j u s t e d c h i l d r e n . The p s y c h o l o g i s t s a i d t h a t t h e o l d e s t c h i l d a p p e a r e d t o be angry w i t h the mother for being in a relationship with a man. At the time the p s y c h o l o g i s t met w i t h t h e c h i l d r e n , t h e m o t h e r w o u l d s t i l l have b e e n i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h e man who a l l e g e d l y u s e d and m a n u f a c t u r e d methamphetamine, whom she was no l o n g e r s e e i n g a t t h e t i m e o f t h e trial. L i k e w i s e , t h e p s y c h o l o g i s t s a i d , he t h o u g h t t h e o l d e s t c h i l d had d i s t a n c e d h e r s e l f f r o m t h e father. The p s y c h o l o g i s t ' s r e p o r t i n d i c a t e d t h a t the o l d e s t c h i l d thought t h a t the f a t h e r ' s a f f a i r w i t h a ' c l o s e f r i e n d o f t h e f a m i l y ' had c a u s e d h e r parents' divorce." Lang I , On ("the So. January 2011 3d a t . 7, the 2011, judgment") c u s t o d y o f t h e two i n which awarded finding, m o t h e r was custody see court i t again younger c h i l d r e n . L a n g I t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e was t h a t the trial of Lang I , unfit the entered a judgment awarded the Despite father our h o l d i n g s in i n s u f f i c i e n t to support a f i n d i n g and t h a t a nonparent c o u l d not children So. 3d a t in the absence , the trial of such court be a also awarded the m a t e r n a l g r a n d p a r e n t s c u s t o d y of the o l d e s t c h i l d , who i s f i n i s h i n g her senior year i n high appeals. 8 school. The mother 2100396 "When a t r i a l c o u r t h e a r s e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d o r e t e n u s , makes f i n d i n g s o f f a c t , and e n t e r s i t s j u d g m e n t b a s e d upon s u c h f a c t s , we r e v i e w t h a t j u d g m e n t w i t h a p r e s u m p t i o n o f c o r r e c t n e s s . We w i l l n o t r e v e r s e e x c e p t f o r an abuse o f d i s c r e t i o n o r where t h e j u d g m e n t i s so u n s u p p o r t e d by t h e e v i d e n c e as t o be p l a i n l y and p a l p a b l y w r o n g . Matter of Young, 456 So. 2d 823 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1 9 8 4 ) . " T a l l e n t v. T a l l e n t , 630 So. 2d 74, 75 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1993). The m o t h e r c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e was i n s u f f i c i e n t t o warrant a change The McLendon of custody pursuant s t a n d a r d i s as t o Ex p a r t e McLendon. follows: "A p a r e n t s e e k i n g t o m o d i f y a c u s t o d y j u d g m e n t awarding primary p h y s i c a l custody t o the other p a r e n t must meet t h e s t a n d a r d f o r m o d i f i c a t i o n o f c u s t o d y s e t f o r t h i n 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 ) ] . Under t h a t s t a n d a r d , t h e p a r e n t seeking to modify custody of a child must d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t t h e r e has been 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 a t t h e p r o p o s e d change i n c u s t o d y w i l l m a t e r i a l l y promote the c h i l d ' s b e s t i n t e r e s t s , 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 caused by uprooting the c h i l d . Ex p a r t e McLendon, s u p r a . " Adams v. Adams, 21 So. 3d 1247, 1252 We further note that ( A l a . C i v . App. "[a] pendente l i t e order c u s t o d y t o a p a r e n t does n o t c r e a t e a p r e s u m p t i o n t h e p a r t y who i s awarded pendente l i t e S.N.F., 960 So. 2d 669, 673 9 awarding i n favor of custody." ( A l a . C i v . App. 2009). 2006). T.J.H. v. 2100396 I n t h e 2011 j u d g m e n t , t h e t r i a l c o u r t f o u n d t h e f o l l o w i n g changes i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s : "1. The m o t h e r was i n v o l v e d i n a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h [ t h e man who u s e d a n d m a n u f a c t u r e d methamphetamine] w h i c h i s now o v e r . She a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t d u r i n g t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h [ t h a t man] t h a t he m a n u f a c t u r e d and used methamphetamine. She denied using methamphetamine o r b e i n g a r o u n d o t h e r s when t h e y did. 2. The m o t h e r i s now e n g a g e d t o be m a r r i e d t o [a man she h a s known a l l her l i f e ] which r e l a t i o n s h i p a p p e a r s t o be wholesome." The trial court also stated that t h e mother had "character f l a w s , " adding t h a t i t d i d not b e l i e v e t h e mother's testimony that, not used methamphetamine o r t h a t she h a d n o t b e e n a r o u n d o t h e r s when during her e a r l i e r relationship, she had they used i t . As she d i d i n L a n g I , t h e m o t h e r c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t b a s e d i t s f i n d i n g o f 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 on outdated longer evidence warrant and t h a t her current a change i n c u s t o d y . agreed that the t r i a l I n Lang 1224 So. 3d a t court modification. Lang ( c i t i n g B.S.L. v . S.E., 875 So. 2d 1215, ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 3 ) , judgment m o d i f y i n g I, this no c o u r t h a d r e l i e d on f a c t s t h a t were no l o n g e r r e l e v a n t when o r d e r i n g t h e c u s t o d y I, circumstances custody i n which t h i s court reversed a b a s e d on t h e m o t h e r ' s h i s t o r y o f 10 2100396 d r u g and a l c o h o l abuse when t h e m o t h e r had voluntarily sought t r e a t m e n t and had a b s t a i n e d f r o m a b u s i n g d r u g s and a l c o h o l f o r a l m o s t two As we y e a r s as o f t h e d a t e o f pointed acknowledged i n the out 2011 in Lang modification I, and as the and the b a s i s f o r h i s request that the trial court p r i m a r y b a s i s f o r f i n d i n g a m a t e r i a l change i n had e n d e d more t h a n a y e a r b e f o r e approximately judgment. three trial court judgment, the mother's r e l a t i o n s h i p t h a t t h e f a t h e r t e s t i f i e d was custody trial). years In Lang I , t h i s before the trial the as of case the that, " [ a ] t t h e t i m e o f t h e t r i a l , t h e m o t h e r was e n g a g e d t o a man she had known a l l o f h e r l i f e . T h e r e was no 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 ' s f i a n c e had engaged i n improper or i l l e g a l conduct. T h e r e was no 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 using i l l e g a l drugs at the time of the t r i a l . The m o t h e r ' s f i a n c e had a l r e a d y p u r c h a s e d a h o u s e l a r g e enough t o accommodate a l l t h r e e o f t h e m o t h e r ' s children. The m o t h e r h e l d a f u l l - t i m e j o b and had r e t u r n e d t o s c h o o l t o become a r e g i s t e r e d n u r s e . The p s y c h o l o g i s t who had e x a m i n e d t h e two older c h i l d r e n f o u n d them b o t h t o be h e a l t h y and w e l l adjusted. I t i s t r u e t h a t t h e o l d e r c h i l d r e n were upset w i t h the mother's r e l a t i o n s h i p at the r o o t of t h i s c a s e ; however, the p s y c h o l o g i s t a l s o found t h a t t h e o l d e r c h i l d was upset w i t h the f a t h e r , too, because of her b e l i e f t h a t h i s a f f a i r w i t h a f a m i l y f r i e n d had caused the breakup of the p a r t i e s ' marriage." 11 the circumstances, of t h i s entry court explained used for a and 2011 2100396 Lang I, So. 3d at . We also noted that, like the m o t h e r i n B.S.L., t h e m o t h e r ' s c i r c u m s t a n c e s a t t h e t i m e the t r i a l had relationship changed f o r the b e t t e r . that characterized as the trial court, "wholesome." In f a c t , in the she 2011 Furthermore, of is in a judgment, there is no evidence i n the r e c o r d t o i n d i c a t e t h a t the mother's s o - c a l l e d " c h a r a c t e r f l a w s " a f f e c t e d the w e l f a r e of the c h i l d r e n ; thus, those "flaws" custody. App. of See A.L. 2002), (Ala. are insufficient v. S . J . , 827 and A r m s t r o n g C i v . App. 1987) to So. 2d 828, v. A r m s t r o n g , ("Custody w i l l evidence of i n d i s c r e e t conduct, custodial parent deprive unless that r e v i e w i n g the h o l d t h a t the evidence court's of So. mother (Ala. Civ. 2d 27, the is insufficient judgment m o d i f y i n g c u s t o d y , the maternal grandparents. judgment i s reversed, and a 28-29 s e x u a l o r o t h e r w i s e , by had a a substantial child."). r e c o r d b e f o r e us, to support the awarding we trial custody of y o u n g e r c h i l d r e n t o t h e f a t h e r and c u s t o d y o f t h e o l d e s t to of n o t be m o d i f i e d b e c a u s e conduct totality 832-33 515 d e t r i m e n t a l e f f e c t upon t h e w e l f a r e o f t h e In the the child A c c o r d i n g l y , the t r i a l c o u r t ' s judgment mother. 12 i s rendered for the 2100396 REVERSED AND JUDGMENT RENDERED. P i t t m a n , B r y a n , a n d Thomas, J J . , c o n c u r . Moore, J . , c o n c u r s i n t h e r e s u l t , w i t h o u t 13 writing.

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.