S.T.W. v. T.N.

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Rel: 09/13/13 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 , 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 SPECIAL TERM, 2013 2120521 S.T.W. v. T.N. Appeal from Madison J u v e n i l e Court (JU-11-1677.01) THOMPSON, P r e s i d i n g J u d g e . In A p r i l Resources 2011, t h e Madison County Department o f Human ("DHR") f i l e d a p e t i t i o n s e e k i n g t o have S.W. ("the c h i l d " ) , who was t h e n s i x y e a r s alleged that the child's o l d , d e c l a r e d dependent. DHR s t e p f a t h e r had abused t h e c h i l d and 2120521 that the stepfather ("the the had s t a t e d t h a t t h e c h i l d ' s mother, m o t h e r " ) , was aware o f t h e a b u s e . j u v e n i l e court e n t e r e d an o r d e r On A p r i l 5, 2011, t h e j u v e n i l e court entered an o r d e r S.T.W.'s p a t e r n i t y o f t h e c h i l d a n d c o n t i n u i n g c h i l d with In a 18, 2011, f i n d i n g the c h i l d d e p e n d e n t a n d a w a r d i n g c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d t o DHR. T.N. t o be On A u g u s t adjudicating custody of the DHR. February 22, 2012, order, the j u v e n i l e court c o n t i n u e d i t s award o f l e g a l c u s t o d y o f t h e c h i l d w i t h DHR, but i t a w a r d e d p h y s i c a l c u s t o d y t o S.T.W. ("the f a t h e r " ) . few months l a t e r , on May 24, 2012, t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t A awarded the mother and t h e f a t h e r j o i n t l e g a l and p h y s i c a l c u s t o d y o f the c h i l d , w i t h t h e f a t h e r r e c e i v i n g p r i m a r y p h y s i c a l custody. T h a t o r d e r a l s o s p e c i f i e d , among o t h e r t h i n g s , t h a t t h e m o t h e r and the father A d m i n. , e a c h were t o s u b m i t a R u l e 3 2 , A l a . R. J u d . CS - 4 1 statement/affidavit c h i l d-s u p p o r t - o b l i g a t i on ("CS-41 c a l c u l a t i n g c h i l d support. form") f o r the i n c o me purposes of I n J u l y 2012, t h e m o t h e r s u b m i t t e d a CS-41 f o r m t o t h e j u v e n i l e court. On A u g u s t 17, 2012, t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t e n t e r e d an o r d e r awarding t h e mother and t h e f a t h e r j o i n t l e g a l c u s t o d y o f t h e 2 2120521 child, The but awarding juvenile primary physical c o u r t r e s e r v e d the i s s u e of o r d e r e d t h e p a r t i e s t o s u b m i t CS-41 the entry of that submitted another On CS-41 child mother. support and forms w i t h i n seven days o f August 21, 2012, the mother form. to c o m p e l , " s e e k i n g an o r d e r r e q u i r i n g t h e f a t h e r t o s u b m i t a CS- f o r m and 28, On to the "motion 41 January order. custody 2013, the mother filed a s e e k i n g the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of the 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 and an a w a r d o f r e t r o a c t i v e c h i l d In s u p p o r t o f t h a t m o t i o n , support. the mother a g a i n s u b m i t t e d a CS-41 form. On F e b r u a r y 19, 2013, scheduling the matter t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t e n t e r e d an o r d e r for a hearing on March 8, 2013, and o r d e r i n g e a c h p a r t y t o f u r n i s h t o t h e c o u r t and t o a l l c o u n s e l four The to separate February submit c h i l d - s u p p o r t forms 19, those 2013, Rule 32. order s p e c i f i e d t h a t the p a r t i e s were forms a t l e a s t as r e q u i r e d by 10 d a y s b e f o r e t h e 1 scheduled hearing. T h o s e f o r m s were a CS-41 f o r m , a CS-42 c h i l d - s u p p o r t g u i d e l i n e s f o r m , a CS-43 c h i l d - s u p p o r t - g u i d e l i n e s n o t i c e - o f c o m p l i a n c e f o r m , and a CS-47 c h i l d - s u p p o r t i n f o r m a t i o n s h e e t . 1 3 2120521 On F e b r u a r y 27, 2013, to the j u v e n i l e c o u r t . four requested submission, from his stated the recent On M a r c h 5, he mother's surgery those that father submitted a CS-41 form the mother s u b m i t t e d the c h i l d - s u p p o r t forms t o the j u v e n i l e c o u r t . that submitting the forms. had attorney as the cited reason In a d d i t i o n , the submitted several complications for not timely mother's forms In attorney with only the mother's i n f o r m a t i o n because, the mother's a t t o r n e y a l l e g e d , he d i d not have complete the juvenile court mother but submitted forms. the referenced At the t h a t i t c o u l d not b e c a u s e i t was father i n the not f a t h e r had the had not exchange then "THE father], March the rely on sworn. father with 8, 2013, which hearing, forms s u b m i t t e d the The submitted February father failed the to 19, the 2013, entered submit a the had j u v e n i l e court other an o r d e r CS-41 the f o r m she CS-41 order. form t o comply w i t h t h a t o r d e r . then form three The juvenile i n August but The but forms that 2012 the following occurred: COURT: A t t h i s p o i n t , [ c o u n s e l f o r I w i l l l e t you p r e s e n t t o t h e C o u r t 4 to by r e c e i v e d t h e f a t h e r ' s sworn CS-41 c o u r t a l s o n o t e d t h a t i t had requiring from n o t e d t h a t i t had s t a t e d t h a t i t had that information the any 2120521 a r g u m e n t t h a t y o u have as t o why t h e f a t h e r n o t be h e l d i n c o n t e m p t o f c o u r t . "[COUNSEL moment? FOR "THE COURT: THE FATHER]: I may should I have a Sure. "[COUNSEL FOR THE FATHER]: J u d g e , my c l i e n t s t a t e s t h a t he s a y s he c l a i m s he d i d n o t r e c e i v e a c o p y o f t h e o r d e r s t h a t were p r e v i o u s l y e n t e r e d b y t h i s Court." The j u v e n i l e court incarcerated. in then immediately I n i t s M a r c h 8, 2013, o r d e r ordered the father f i n d i n g the father "contempt o f c o u r t , " t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t o r d e r e d t h e f a t h e r t o be i n c a r c e r a t e d filed a provided "motion f o r 72 h o u r s . to reconsider," T h a t same d a y , t h e f a t h e r arguing that he was n o t n o t i c e t h a t t h e c o n t e m p t i s s u e w o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t , a n d he a r g u e d t h a t he "was p r e c l u d e d " submitting the other three child-support m o t h e r ' s CS-41 f o r m was u n s w o r n . juvenile court from forms because t h e on M a r c h 8, 2 0 1 3 , t h e d e n i e d t h e f a t h e r ' s postjudgment motion, and the f a t h e r t i m e l y appealed. 488, Also by See Thomas v. V a n h o r n , 876 So. 2d 491 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2003) (citing Rule 7 0 A ( g ) , A l a . R. C i v . P., a n d h o l d i n g t h a t an o r d e r f i n d i n g a p a r t y i n contempt is judgment). a final, separately appealable 5 2120521 The March 8, 2013, o r d e r juvenile court found criminal contempt. does not s p e c i f y whether t h e t h e f a t h e r t o be i n c i v i l Rule 70A(a)(2)(C), contempt o r A l a . R. C i v . P., s p e c i f i e s t h a t " c r i m i n a l contempt" i s 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 t h e c o u r t ' s p r e s e n c e o r s o n e a r t h e r e t o as to i n t e r r u p t , d i s t u r b , o r h i n d e r i t s p r o c e e d i n g s , o r " ( i i ) W i l l f u l d i s o b e d i e n c e o r r e s i s t a n c e o f any p e r s o n t o 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 , o r command, where t h e d o m i n a n t p u r p o s e of the finding o f contempt i s t o punish the contemnor." The r u l e f u r t h e r e x p l a i n s t h a t " c i v i l contempt" i s a " w i l l f u l , continuing failure court's lawful o r r e f u s a l o f any p e r s o n writ, subpoena, command t h a t b y i t s n a t u r e with." process, isstill capable R u l e 7 0 A ( a ) ( 2 ) ( D ) , A l a . R. C i v . P. contempt seeks t o compel compliance criminal-contempt contemnor determination f o r disobedience t o comply w i t h a order, of being rule, complied A finding of c i v i l with a court's order; a i s designed of a court's to order. punish a State v. Thomas, 550 So. 2d 1067, 1072 ( A l a . 1 9 8 9 ) . "'The q u e s t i o n o f w h e t h e r [an a c t i o n i n v o l v e s ] civil contempt or criminal contempt becomes important ... b e c a u s e a c o n t e m n o r must be i n a p o s i t i o n t o purge h i m s e l f from t h e contempt. Mims v. Mims, 472 So. 2d 1063 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1 9 8 5 ) . I n 6 or 2120521 o r d e r t o purge h i m s e l f i n a c r i m i n a l contempt case, t h e c o n t e m n o r must pay t h e f i n e i m p o s e d , s e r v e t h e a u t h o r i z e d t i m e , o r do b o t h . K a l u p a v. K a l u p a , 527 So. 2d 1313 ( A l a . C i v . App. 1988) . In order to purge himself in a civil contempt case, the c o n t e m n o r must c o m p l y w i t h t h e c o u r t ' s o r d e r . Rule 3 3 . 4 ( b ) , A [ l a ] . R. C r i m . P.'" 2 Davenport 2000) App. v. Hood, 814 So. 2d 272-73 637 ( q u o t i n g H i l l v. H i l l , 268, So. (Ala. Civ. 2d 1368, 1370 (Ala. Civ. 1994)). In t h i s case, the j u v e n i l e c o u r t d i d not o r d e r the to App. be i n c a r c e r a t e d o n l y u n t i l he complied father with i t s orders to complete the c h i l d - s u p p o r t forms; i n o t h e r words, the j u v e n i l e c o u r t was its not orders for to o b t a i n the r e q u i r i n g him child-support juvenile seeking to submit o b l i g a t i o n could court ordered the f a t h e r ' s compliance be information determined. f a t h e r to serve 72 so in contempt. court's the May Rather, contempt 8, the finding 2013, order record was is not indicates that a punishment that his Rather, the hours i n jail h i s f a i l u r e t o c o m p l y w i t h i t s o r d e r s . Thus, t h e finding with one contempt of civil the juvenile f o r the father's f a i l u r e t o c o m p l e t e t h e c h i l d - s u p p o r t f o r m s as r e q u i r e d by the R u l e 33, A l a . R. C r i m . P., p r e v i o u s l y g o v e r n e d c o n t e m p t proceedings a r i s i n g out of c i v i l a c t i o n s . See G l a d d e n v. G l a d d e n , 942 So. 2d 362, 370 n.2 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 5 ) . 2 7 2120521 F e b r u a r y 19, 2013, o r d e r and p e r h a p s f o r t h e f a t h e r ' s t o comply w i t h the e a r l i e r o r d e r s CS-41 form. We, therefore, r e q u i r i n g t h a t he conclude that failure submit a the record d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t f o u n d t h e f a t h e r t o be i n c r i m i n a l contempt. 15, 2013] So. That See Ex p a r t e S h e f f i e l d , 3d , determination, regarding the nature court's March whether the indirect, 8, court i.e., ( A l a . C i v . App. however, of the 2013, found [Ms. does not 2110913, 2013). end contempt f i n d i n g . order does not the father in constructive, the The inquiry juvenile specifically direct contempt Feb. under state contempt Rule or 70A. " D i r e c t contempts are those committed i n the judge's presence, where a l l o f t h e e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s o f t h e c o n t e m p t a r e t h e eye 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 S t a t e v. Thomas, 550 So. 2d a t 1072. committed the presence outside c h a r a c t e r i z e d by Id. Recently, the this "An c o u r t has court." i n d i r e c t contempt i s of act of d i s o b e y i n g under the the court court's and orders." explained: "'Such a d e t e r m i n a t i o n i s important because the p r o c e d u r e f o r f i n d i n g a p a r t y i n d i r e c t contempt i s d i f f e r e n t from the procedure r e q u i r e d b e f o r e a p a r t y can be found g u i l t y of c o n s t r u c t i v e contempt.' D r e a d i n g v. D r e a d i n g , 84 So. 3d 935, 937 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2011). Rule 70A(a)(2), A l a . R. Civ. P., 8 is 2120521 defines 'direct contempt' c o n t e m p t ' as f o l l o w s : and 'constructive "'(A) "Direct contempt" means d i s o r d e r l y or i n s o l e n t behavior or other m i s c o n d u c t c o m m i t t e d i n open c o u r t , i n t h e presence of the judge, t h a t d i s t u r b s the court's business, where a l l of the e s s e n t i a l elements of the misconduct occur 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 b y t h e c o u r t , a n d where immediate a c t i o n i s e s s e n t i a l t o prevent diminution of the court'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 o r c i v i l c o n t e m p t o t h e r t h a n a d i r e c t contempt.' " R u l e 70A(b) a n d ( c ) , A l a . R. C i v . P., p r o v i d e the procedure f o r f i n d i n g a p a r t y g u i l t y o f e i t h e r d i r e c t contempt o r c o n s t r u c t i v e contempt: "'(b) Summary D i s p o s i t i o n o f D i r e c t Contempt P r o c e e d i n g s . "'(1) Finding. 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, immediately notifying the person of i t s f i n d i n g . The j u d g e s h a l l c a u s e t o be p r e p a r e d a w r i t t e n order r e c i t i n g the grounds for the finding, i n c l u d i n g a statement t h a t the judge observed the conduct c o n s t i t u t i n g t h e contempt. The order 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) M i t i g a t i o n . The c o u r t s h a l l apprise the person of the 9 2120521 specific c o n d u c t on w h i c h t h e f i n d i n g i s b a s e d and g i v e t h a t person a reasonable opportunity t o p r e s e n t e v i d e n c e o r argument regarding excusing or m i t i g a t i n g 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 course of the p r o c e e d i n g out of w h i c h the contempt a r i s e s , u n l e s s prompt punishment i s 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 the court's dignity and authority. "'(3) Sentence. Unless i t i s pronounced i m m e d i a t e l y under subsections (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 t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e c o n t e m n o r , w i t h i n s e v e n (7) days a f t e r t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f the proceeding out of which the contempt a r o s e . "'(c) Disposition Contempt P r o c e e d i n g s . of Constructive "'(1) I n i t i a t i o n of A c t i o n . A p r oc e e d i ng bas ed on constructive contempt, whether criminal or civil, shall be s u b j e c t t o the r u l e s of civil 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 b y t h e f i l i n g o f a petition seeking a finding of c o n t e m p t ( t h e p e t i t i o n may be i n the form of a c o u n t e r c l a i m or c r o s s - c l a i m a u t h o r i z e d under R u l e 13[, A l a . R. C i v . P . ] ) . The petition shall provide the a l l e g e d contemnor w i t h n o t i c e o f 10 2120521 the e s s e n t i a l 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) Issuance of Process T T ^ ^ « -1-1-., and N o t i c e . Upon t h e f i l i n g o f a contempt petition, the clerk s h a l l i s s u e process i n accordance with these rules, unless the petition is initiated by a counterclaim or cross-claim 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 p e r s o n a g a i n s t whom t h e petition is directed shall be notified (1) o f t h e time and place f o r t h e h e a r i n g on the 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 result i n the i s s u a n c e of a w r i t of a r r e s t pursuant to Rule 70A(d), t o compel the p r e s e n c e of the a l l e g e d contemnor. .T^-l--; "'(3) R i g h t t o C o u n s e l . In actions involving criminal c o n t e m p t , upon t h e 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 indigence, counsel shall be appointed to represent the a l l e g e d contemnor. T h i s r i g h t t o a p p o i n t e d c o u n s e l , once a s s e r t e d , may be s u b s e q u e n t l y w a i v e d by t h e a l l e g e d contemnor i n w r i t i n g or on t h e r e c o r d , a f t e r t h e c o u r t has a s c e r t a i n e d t h a t t h e a l l e g e d c o n t e m n o r k n o w i n g l y , intelligently, and voluntarily d e s i r e s to forgo the r i g h t to counsel. The c o u r t may, in i t s discretion, appoint advisory counsel to advise the a l l e g e d contemnor.'" 11 2120521 Ex p a r t e Sheffield, The in and father's d i d not c o n d u c t was and [was] orders." a l s o Ex parte differences R u l e 70A). State v. parte the 3d 938 Sheffield, contempt petition, the So. direct Accordingly, 935, by and not 3d the act presence of the disobeying the of So. 2d at at . The constructive contempt I d . ; see a l s o D r e a d i n g v. ( A l a . C i v . App. 2011) . was initiated trial-court the f a t h e r was provided no the 70A(c) to in assert c o n t e m p t were n o t that and followed support in this 12 Ex that filing of a Procedure, or So. n o t i c e t h a t the is Rule Dreading, conducted." considered record one c l e r k i s s u e d process f o r such on s u c h a p e t i t i o n was from the the under However, as by c o n s t r u c t i v e c o n t e m p t w o u l d be clear See (discussing a p e t i t i o n i n accordance w i t h the Rules of C i v i l at 1072. " [ t ] h e r e i s no i n d i c a t i o n i n t h e r e c o r d t h a t the the t h e c o n t e m p t f i n d i n g a t i s s u e was proceeding that a hearing committed proceedings; rather, Thomas, 550 Sheffield, between c a s e was "committed o u t s i d e of c o n s t r u c t i v e contempt. So. . i n t e r r u p t the characterized court's 84 3d a t contemptuous conduct i n t h i s court court So. 3d issue of at the h e a r i n g . procedures afforded a claim case. of It under constructive 2120521 We do not condone orders p e r t a i n to attempts to r e q u i r e the party The in civil with court orders, failure with child. court father's comply his several the j u v e n i l e court or particularly has the refusal when orders. contempt, supra. 3 See discussion of those father to support a u t h o r i t y to hold or c r i m i n a l contempt f o r a f a i l u r e civil and to a comply criminal Thus, t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t , i f i t f o l l o w s t h e p r o c e d u r e s s e t f o r t h i n R u l e 70A, has the a u t h o r i t y to f i n e a p a r t y v i o l a t i n g i t s o r d e r s , to order the p a r t y c o n f i n e d he o r she c o m p l i e s noncompliance. to until w i t h court orders, or to punish a p a r t y f o r However, i n t h i s case, because the j u v e n i l e c o u r t f a i l e d t o f o l l o w the procedures s e t f o r t h under Rule for f i n d i n g a p a r t y i n c o n s t r u c t i v e c o n t e m p t , we must its M a r c h 8, 2013, 70A reverse order. REVERSED. Pittman, Thomas, M o o r e , and Donaldson, J J . , concur. We a l s o n o t e t h a t t h e j u v e n i l e c o u r t may p r o t e c t t h e c h i l d ' s r i g h t to support from h i s p a r e n t s t h a t has b e e n i m p e d e d by t h e d e l a y s i n f i l i n g t h e a p p r o p r i a t e c h i l d - s u p p o r t f o r m s by o r d e r i n g t h a t c h i l d s u p p o r t be made r e t r o a c t i v e . 3 13

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