Rodney A. Redix v. Theresa (Redix) Nichols
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2008-CA-00039-COA
RODNEY A. REDIX
APPELLANT
v.
THERESA (REDIX) NICHOLS
DATE OF JUDGMENT:
TRIAL JUDGE:
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED:
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE:
NATURE OF THE CASE:
TRIAL COURT DISPOSITION:
DISPOSITION:
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
APPELLEE
10/19/2007
HON. JAYE A. BRADLEY
JACKSON COUNTY CHANCERY COURT
WOODROW W. PRINGLE
MICHAEL J. VALLETTE
CIVIL - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
AWARDED ATTORNEY’S FEES TO EXSPOUSE WHO SOUGHT COLLECTION OF
CHILD SUPPORT ARREARS
AFFIRMED - 02/03/2009
BEFORE LEE, P.J., GRIFFIS AND BARNES, JJ.
LEE, P.J., FOR THE COURT:
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶1.
Rodney Redix and Theresa Redix (now Theresa Nichols) were divorced in 2001.
Theresa was awarded custody of the couple’s minor son, and Rodney was ordered to pay
$300 per month in child support. In 2003, Rodney filed a motion for modification of
visitation and contempt. Theresa then filed an answer and counterclaim for contempt,
asserting that Rodney’s child support payments were in arrears. After considerable delay,
a hearing was conducted on October 18, 2007. Both parties stipulated that Rodney’s child
support payments had been in arrears, but he had caught up the payments. The chancellor
and the parties agreed that the only remaining issue was whether Theresa was entitled to
attorney’s fees. The chancellor found that Theresa was entitled to attorney’s fees in the
amount of $2,925. Rodney now appeals, asserting that the chancellor erred in awarding
Theresa attorney’s fees.
DISCUSSION
¶2.
In his sole issue on appeal, Rodney argues that the chancellor erred in awarding
Theresa attorney’s fees. An award of attorney’s fees is generally left to the chancellor’s
discretion. Gray v. Pearson, 797 So. 2d 387, 395 (¶31) (Miss. Ct. App. 2001). Furthermore,
the chancellor’s finding on the issue of attorney’s fees will not be disturbed unless it is
manifestly wrong. Cumberland v. Cumberland, 564 So. 2d 839, 844 (Miss. 1990). In
McKee v. McKee, 418 So. 2d 764, 767 (Miss. 1982), the supreme court established certain
factors to be considered in making an award of attorney’s fees, including the financial ability
of the parties, the skill and standing of the attorney employed, the nature of the case and
novelty and difficulty of the questions at issue, the time and labor required, the customary
charge in the community, and the preclusion of other employment by the attorney due to the
acceptance of the case.
¶3.
During the hearing Theresa was questioned about her employment history and
testified that prior to the hearing she had begun receiving monthly disability payments.
Theresa’s attorney also testified as to the amount of time he had spent working on Theresa’s
attempts to collect the child support.
Theresa’s counsel submitted an itemized bill
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documenting 20.5 hours of time expended at a rate of $150 per hour. The chancellor
ultimately deducted one hour from the total hours expended and awarded Theresa attorney’s
fees for 19.5 hours at the rate of $150 per hour for a total of $2,925. We cannot find that the
chancellor erred in ordering Rodney to pay Theresa’s attorney’s fees. This issue is without
merit.
¶4.
THE JUDGMENT OF THE JACKSON COUNTY CHANCERY COURT IS
AFFIRMED. ALL COSTS OF THIS APPEAL ARE ASSESSED TO THE
APPELLANT.
KING, C.J., MYERS, P.J., IRVING, GRIFFIS, BARNES, ISHEE, ROBERTS
AND CARLTON, JJ., CONCUR.
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