RICHARD D. KLINE, Petitioner-Appellant, vs. MICHELLE AIRHART, Respondent-Appellee.
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 9-649 / 08-2049
Filed October 21, 2009
RICHARD D. KLINE,
Petitioner-Appellant,
vs.
MICHELLE AIRHART,
Respondent-Appellee.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Donna L. Paulsen,
Judge.
A father appeals from the district court’s order denying his application to
modify physical care of his and the mother’s son. AFFIRMED.
Richard Schmidt, Des Moines, for appellant.
Kent Balduchi, Des Moines, for appellee.
Considered by Vogel, P.J., and Potterfield, J. and Huitink, S.J.*
*Senior judge assigned by order pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.9206 (2009).
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VOGEL, P.J.
Richard Kline appeals from the district court’s order denying his
application to modify physical care of his and Michelle Airhart’s son, Ethan. He
contends the order is not supported by the record and is not in the best interests
of the child. He also contends the court erred in setting the amount of child
support based on income imputed to him. We affirm.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings
Richard and Michelle are the parents of Ethan, born in July 2000; the
couple never married. On October 30, 2002, the court entered an order granting
Richard and Michelle joint legal custody of Ethan, and physical care to Richard.
Michelle was granted visitation. Since the order, Richard has married and four
children have been born to the marriage. In 2005 the family, including Ethan,
moved to Alabama. In September 2005, Michelle filed an application to modify
the custody, visitation, and support order, citing the move as a material change in
circumstances. On December 21, 2006, the district court changed physical care
of Ethan to Michelle. The court found that a substantial change in circumstances
occurred when Richard moved to Alabama, and noted other factors that
supported the change in care.
September 2007.
Ethan began living with Michelle in Iowa in
Richard filed an application for modification in November
2007. The district court found that Richard did not meet his burden of proof that
a substantial and material change in circumstances occurred since December
2006 to warrant a modification of physical care. Richard appeals.
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II. Standard of Review
We review child custody orders de novo. Iowa R. App. P. 6.4. However,
we recognize that the district court was able to listen to and observe the parties
and witnesses. In re Marriage of Zebecki, 389 N.W.2d 396, 398 (Iowa 1986).
Consequently, we give weight to the factual findings of the district court,
especially when considering the credibility of witnesses, but are not bound by
them. Iowa R. App. P. 6.14(6)(g). The controlling consideration in child custody
cases is always what is in the best interests of the child.
Iowa R. App. P.
6.14(6)(o); In re Marriage of Thielges, 623 N.W.2d 232, 235 (Iowa Ct. App.
2000).
III. Physical Care
Richard contends that a substantial and material change in circumstances
occurred, warranting modification.
To change the custodial provisions of a
decree, the party seeking modification must establish by a preponderance of
evidence that conditions since the decree was entered have materially and
substantially changed. In re Marriage of Frederici, 338 N.W.2d 156, 158 (Iowa
1983). The burden to modify a custody provision is a heavy one. In re Marriage
of Mayfield, 577 N.W.2d 872, 873 (Iowa Ct. App. 1998). The parent seeking to
change physical care of the child must prove an ability to minister more
effectively to the child’s well being than the current physical care parent can
render. Frederici, 338 N.W.2d at 158.
Richard claims that he can provide superior care for Ethan, sufficient to
merit modification. Evidence introduced at trial demonstrated that both Richard
and Michelle have been active and loving parents in Ethan’s life.
However,
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Richard contends that Michelle’s behavior reflects her inability to properly parent
Ethan.
Alleging specific incidences, he claims that when combined, they
demonstrate a substantial change in circumstances. Such incidences include
Michelle’s February 2007 conviction for operating while intoxicated, and her
continued driving although she does not have a valid driver’s license; Ethan’s
arrival to Richard’s house for visitation with inadequate clothing, but with
fireworks in his possession; Michelle’s inability to adequately tend to Ethan’s
medical needs; and Michelle’s failure to facilitate communication between himself
and Ethan while Ethan is in her care. Richard asserts he can provide a better
living environment and educational opportunities for Ethan, if he were returned to
his home and family.
Richard also faults the district court for not considering events that
occurred prior to the last modification hearing.
However, we find the court
properly restricted its findings to the evidence of the conduct of the parties since
the last modification order, as it concluded, “[t]he Court is unable to relitigate the
decision to change custody that was made in December of 2006.” See Mears v.
Mears, 213 N.W.2d 511, 514 (Iowa 1973) (stating that when modifying child
custody, a court looks at evidence of a substantial change in circumstances since
the time of the last modification order). Therefore on this appeal, we too, look
only to any changes that have occurred since the December 2006 modification
decree. While we believe both parents are capable of being the primary care
parent, and we acknowledge Richard can provide a very suitable home
environment for Ethan, Ethan has been living with Michelle since September
2007. We, like the district court, believe it is in Ethan’s best interests that he be
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in the home which will preserve the greatest amount of stability for him.
Thielges, 623 N.W.2d at 235-36.
Michelle has maintained employment, a
suitable home, private schooling, and general stability for Ethan since he has
been in her care. The evidence also supports that Richard is a very capable
parent, and can provide excellent care for Ethan.
However, Richard has a very heavy burden to meet to show a change in
physical care is warranted. Mayfield, 577 N.W.2d at 873. On our review of the
record, we agree with the district court Richard did not prove that since
December 2006 there has been a material and substantial change sufficient to
warrant disruption in Ethan’s life, by once again changing his physical care.
Therefore, we affirm the physical care decision of the district court.
IV. Child Support.
Richard also argues the district court erred in calculating his child support
obligation for Ethan, as he no longer has the same employment or income as he
had before he moved his family to Alabama in 2005. Specifically, he argues the
court erred in imputing income to him above his current earnings.
Prior to the move, Richard was “medically laid off” from Bridgestone
Firestone, where he had an annual income of approximately $37,000.
Unsuccessful in obtaining similar employment in Alabama, Richard enrolled in
college, working towards a bachelor’s degree in political science. At the time the
December 2006 change of physical care decree was entered, Richard was
ordered to pay child support but no amount was set. Therefore, in the current
modification proceeding, the district court made income findings as to each
parent in order to arrive at a child support amount. The court imputed $1500 per
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month net income to Richard and set support at $337 per month retroactive to
September 1, 2007, when Ethan was moved back to Iowa.
Our standard of review in equity is de novo. Iowa R. App. P. 6.4. When a
parent voluntarily reduces his or her income or decides not to work, it may be
appropriate for the court to consider earning capacity rather than actual earnings
when applying the child support guidelines.
In re Marriage of Nelson, 570
N.W.2d 103, 106 (Iowa 1997). However, before using earning capacity the court
must “make a finding that, if actual earnings were used, substantial injustice
would result or that adjustments would be necessary to provide for the needs of
the child and to do justice.” In re Marriage of Nielsen, 759 N.W.2d 345, 348
(Iowa Ct. App. 2008).
In making this determination, the court examines the
employment history, present earnings, and reasons for the current employment.
Nelson, 570 N.W.2d at 106.
The district court considered many factors before imputing income to
Richard, including Richard’s demonstrated earning capacity, and the choices he
and his wife have made to accommodate their current family needs, as well as
future goals. We conclude the district court was well within its discretion to
impute $1500 per month net income to Richard for purposes of setting child
support. We affirm the amount set by the district court.
V. Appellate Attorney Fees.
Michelle requests appellate attorney fees. An award of appellate attorney
fees is within the discretion of the appellate court. Spiker v. Spiker, 708 N.W.2d
347, 360 (Iowa 2006). Whether such an award is warranted is determined by
considering “the needs of the party making the request, the ability of the other
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party to pay, and whether the party making the request was obligated to defend
the trial court’s decision on appeal.” Id. Applying these considerations, we find
Michelle should be awarded $1000 in appellate attorney fees. The costs of this
appeal are assessed to Richard.
AFFIRMED.
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