MARRIAGE OF MALCOLM
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
No. 81-157 I N THE SUPREME COURT O THE STATE O MONTANA F F 1981 I N RE THE MARRIAGE O F P A T R I C I A LOUISE M L O M AC L , P e t i t i o n e r and Respondent, -vsCORNEL HOWARD M L O M AC L , Respondent and A p p e l l a n t . Appeal from: D i s t r i c t Court of t h e Eighth J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t , I n and f o r t h e County o f Cascade, The Honorable J o e l G. Roth, Judge p r e s i d i n g . Counsel o f Record: For A p p e l l a n t : S t e p h e n E. Hagerman, Great F a l l s , Montana For Respondent: Larsen & N e i l l , G r e a t F a l l s , Montana .. S u b m i t t e d on B r i e f s : Decided : Filed: FEB 4 - 1362 t' November 1 2 , 1 9 8 1 E B 4 1982 J u s t i c e Frank B. M o r r i s o n , J r . , d e l i v e r e d t h e Opinion of t h e Court. Mr. On J u l y 2 , 1980, P a t r i c i a Malcolm ( m o t h e r ) p e t i t i o n e d t h e E i g h t h ~ u d i c i a l i s t r i c t f o r d i s s o l u t i o n of h e r m a r r i a g e D t o C o r n e l Malcolm ( f a t h e r ) . A temporary o r d e r was i s s u e d by t h a t c o u r t on September 4 , 1980, g r a n t i n g , among o t h e r t h i n g s , temporary c u s t o d y of t h e c o u p l e ' s t h r e e c h i l d r e n t o t h e i r mother. A d e c r e e d i s s o l v i n g t h e m a r r i a g e was g r a n t e d on J a n u a r y 2 7 , 1981. Following f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n , a n o r d e r was i s s u e d on F e b r u a r y 9, 1981, whereby t h e mother was g r a n t e d permanent c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d r e n and t h e f a t h e r was o r d e r e d t o pay one hundred d o l l a r s p e r c h i l d p e r month a s c h i l d support. The f a t h e r a p p e a l s t h i s c u s t o d y o r d e r and c l a i m s t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t abused i t s d i s c r e t i o n by g r a n t i n g c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d r e n t o t h e i r mother. H e a s s e r t s t h a t permanent c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d r e n s h o u l d n o t have been g r a n t e d t h e mother f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g r e a s o n s : (1) She h a s l i v e d w i t h a n o t h e r man w h i l e s t i l l m a r r i e d t o h e r husband. (2) She h a s "abused and n e g l e c t e d " t h e c h i l d r e n by l o c k i n g them i n a c a r w i t h a loaded gun. (3) She h a s been i n t r o u b l e w i t h t h e p o l i c e . (4) She h a s l e f t t h e c h i l d r e n u n a t t e n d e d on s e v e r a l occasions. Therefore, a s s e r t s t h e f a t h e r , it i s not i n t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s of t h e c h i l d r e n t o g r a n t permanent c u s t o d y t o t h e i r mother. H e r e q u e s t s w e r e v e r s e t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s o r d e r and g r a n t him c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d r e n . This Court has long followed t h e r u l e t h a t u n l e s s t h e r e i s a c l e a r a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n by t h e ~ i s t r i c C o u r t , t h e t ~ i s t r i c C o u r t ' s c u s t o d y d e c i s i o n w i l l n o t be o v e r t u r n e d on t appeal. he t r i a l judge i s i n a b e t t e r p o s i t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e c h i l d c u s t o d y a s he h a s h e a r d t h e t e s t i m o n y and o b s e r v e d t h e demeanor of t h e w i t n e s s e s . A l l e n v . A l l e n ( 1 9 7 8 ) , 175 Mont. 527, 575 P.2d 74; I n r e M a r r i a g e of Tweeten ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 172 Mont. 404, 563 P.2d 1 1 4 1 ; I n r e t h e M a r r i a g e of I s l e r ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 173 Mont. 29, 566 P.2d 55. W f i n d no c l e a r a b u s e of d i s c r e t i o n by t h e D i s t r i c t e Court i n t h i s i n s t a n c e . T h e r e f o r e , we a f f i r m t h e D i s t r i c t Court's order. The mother t e s t i f i e d t h a t s h e and h e r c h i l d r e n l i v e d w i t h a n o t h e r man b e f o r e s h e o b t a i n e d a d i s s o l u t i o n of h e r marriage. She a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e c h i l d r e n were l o c k e d i n h e r c a r w i t h a l o a d e d gun i n c i d e n t t o h e r a t t e m p t t o r e g a i n c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d r e n from t h e i r f a t h e r . The gun was i n i t i a l l y p o i n t e d by t h e mother a t t h e f a t h e r and a n o t h e r man, a f t e r which it was p l a c e d i n t h e m o t h e r ' s p u r s e and l o c k e d by h e r i n t h e c a r . The mother had a l s o l o c k e d h e r c h i l d r e n i n t h e c a r t o keep them from t h e i r f a t h e r . Although t h e c o u r t condoned n e i t h e r of t h e s e a c t i o n s on t h e p a r t of t h e m o t h e r , i t h e l d t h a t t h e s e i n s t a n c e s d i d n o t n e c e s s a r i l y p r o v e t h a t s h e was " t o t a l l y u n f i t and i n c a p a b l e of b e i n g awarded c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d r e n . " W e agree. Evidence was p r e s e n t e d which e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e f a t h e r had a s s a u l t e d t h e mother on s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s . was a f r a i d of him. She This evidence, coupled with t h e unusually e m o t i o n a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e u s e of t h e gun, l e a d s u s t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e r e was no c l e a r a b u s e of d i s c r e t i o n by t h e t r i a l c o u r t r e g a r d i n g t h i s d e t e r m i n a t i o n . The c o n t a c t s t h e mother h a s had w i t h t h e p o l i c e s t e m from t h e above d e s c r i b e d gun i n c i d e n t and a t r e s p a s s . The D i s t r i c t C o u r t d i d n o t a b u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n by f a i l i n g t o deny c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d r e n t o t h e i r mother a s a r e s u l t of the police contact. F i n a l l y , e v i d e n c e was p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l c o n f i r m i n g t h a t t h e one t i m e t h e c h i l d r e n were l e f t a l o n e a t n i g h t , a n e i g h b o r p e r i o d i c a l l y checked on them. W e do n o t condone l e a v i n g young c h i l d r e n a l o n e a t n i g h t w i t h o u t a b a b y s i t t e r p r e s e n t i n t h e home. However, i n l i g h t of t h e t o t a l e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l , we do n o t f i n d t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t abused i t s d i s c r e t i o n on t h e b a s i s of t h a t s i n g l e i n c i d e n t . The b e s t i n t e r e s t of t h e c h i l d i s t h e primary f a c t o r t o be c o n s i d e r e d when d e t e r m i n i n g c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d . 40-4-212, MCA, Section states: "40-4-212. B e s t i n t e r e s t of c h i l d . The c o u r t s h a l l determine custody i n accordance w i t h t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t of t h e c h i l d . The c o u r t s h a l l consider a l l relevant f a c t o r s including: " ( 1 ) t h e w i s h e s of t h e c h i l d ' s p a r e n t o r p a r e n t s a s t o h i s custody; " ( 2 ) t h e w i s h e s of t h e c h i l d a s t o h i s c u s t o dian; " ( 3 ) t h e i n t e r a c t i o n and i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p of the child with h i s parent o r parents, h i s sibl i n g s , and any o t h e r p e r s o n who may s i g n i f i c a n t ly affect the child's best interest; " ( 4 ) t h e c h i l d ' s a d j u s t m e n t t o h i s home, s c h o o l , and community; and " ( 5 ) t h e m e n t a l and p h y s i c a l h e a l t h of a l l individuals involved." F a c t o r number one i s i r r e l e v a n t i n t h i s d i s p u t e a s b o t h p a r e n t s wish t o have c u s t o d y of t h e i r c h i l d r e n . I n addition, t h e t r i a l c o u r t found b o t h p a r e n t s t o b e i n good h e a l t h and none of t h e c h i l d r e n t o have c u r r e n t r e l e v a n t p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l h e a l t h problems. T h e r e f o r e , f a c t o r number f i v e i s a l s o irrelevant t o t h i s dispute. Evidence r e c e i v e d a t t r i a l s u p p o r t s t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s c u s t o d y d e t e r m i n a t i o n when i t i s a p p l i e d t o f a c t o r s two, t h r e e and f o u r . When i n t e r v i e w e d by Family C o u r t S e r v i c e s , b o t h s i x y e a r o l d Shawndel Malcolm and e i g h t y e a r o l d Ray Shawn Malcolm e x p r e s s e d t h e d e s i r e t o r e s i d e w i t h t h e i r mother. Although b o t h c h i l d r e n s t a t e d t h e y l o v e d t h e i r f a t h e r and would l i k e t o s e e him o f t e n , t h e y b o t h e x p r e s s e d a f e a r of him. Three y e a r o l d Sheronda Malcolm i s t o o young t o express a preference. R e p o r t s from s c h o o l t e a c h e r s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e c h i l d r e n a r e well adjusted t o t h e i r present school s i t u a t i o n s . Neighbors of t h e Malcolms t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e Malcolm c h i l d r e n a r e w e l l behaved and a r e v e r y s u i t a b l e p l a y m a t e s f o r t h e i r own c h i l d r e n . The c h i l d r e n seem t o be w e l l a d j u s t e d t o t h e i r c u r r e n t home, s c h o o l and community. O t h e r t e s t i m o n y of n e i g h b o r s and f r i e n d s of t h e Malcolms, a s w e l l a s S h e r o n d a ' s day c a r e t e a c h e r , a t t e s t e d t o t h e f i n e i n t e r a c t i o n and i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p between P a t r i c i a Malcolm and h e r c h i l d r e n . She was w i l l i n g t o change jobs when t h e new work h o u r s a t h e r former job i n t e r f e r e d w i t h t h e t i m e s h e had t o spend w i t h h e r c h i l d r e n . r e p o r t e d t o be c l e a n , n e a t and happy. The c h i l d r e n were Evidence was r e c e i v e d i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e mother p a r t i c i p a t e d w i t h h e r c h i l d r e n i n numerous a c t i v i t i e s s u c h a s s k a t i n g , swimming and t r i p s t o t h e park. Evidence was a l s o r e c e i v e d c o n c e r n i n g t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p of C o r n e l Malcolm w i t h h i s c h i l d r e n . Although h e a p p a r e n t l y d i d n o t spend a s much t i m e i n t e r r e a c t i n g w i t h h i s c h i l d r e n a s d i d t h e i r m o t h e r , t h e t i m e s t o g e t h e r were e n j o y a b l e t o a l l parties. H e was found by t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t t o b e a f i t and l o v i n g f a t h e r . However, t h e f i n d i n g t h a t a p a r e n t i s b o t h f i t and c a p a b l e d o e s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y mean i t would be i n t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s of t h e c h i l d t o be p u t i n t h a t p a r e n t ' s custody. In re of - - M a r r i a g e - I s l e r , s u p r a ; I n t h e M a t t e r of t h e Adoption of Redcrow ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 172 Mont. 366, 5 6 3 P.2d 1121. O t h e r f a c t o r s s u p p o r t e d by t h e e v i d e n c e and c o n s i d e r e d by t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 40-4-212, MCA, s u p p o r t t h e c o u r t ' s d e t e r m i n a t i o n t h a t t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s of t h e c h i l d r e n would be s e r v e d by g r a n t i n g permanent c u s t o d y of them t o t h e i r mother. They a r e : " 1 ) The f a t h e r f a i l e d t o pay s u p p o r t f o r t h e c h i l d r e n a s t e m p o r a r i l y o r d e r e d by t h e c o u r t . "2) The f a t h e r had t o be o r d e r e d by t h e c o u r t t o deliver the children's clothing, furniture and household cooking u t e n s i l s t o t h e mother. " 3 ) The f a t h e r seldom v i s i t e d t h e c h i l d r e n f o l l o w i n g t h e s e p a r a t i o n of t h e husband and wife. "4) The f a t h e r r e f u s e d t o p e r m i t t h e mother t o have a m i l i t a r y i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c a r d s o t h a t s h e c o u l d shop a t t h e b a s e commissary and b a s e exchange f o r food and c l o t h i n g f o r the children." Although t h e s e a c t s were a p p a r e n t l y i n t e n d e d t o i r r i t a t e and i n c o n v e n i e n c e t h e m o t h e r , t h e y a l s o a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t e d the children. They were p r o p e r l y c o n s i d e r e d by t h e t r i a l c o u r t and s u p p o r t t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n made. The D i s t r i c t C o u r t found t h a t " t h e p r e p o n d e r a n c e of t h e e v i d e n c e e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e p e t i t i o n e r i s a good mother t o t h e c h i l d r e n , a d e q u a t e l y c a r e s f o r them, l o v e s them, wants t o b e t h e c u s t o d i a n of t h e c h i l d r e n , and i s a b l e t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e i r needs and t o p r o v i d e a home f o r t h e m . ' V e f i n d ample e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o r t t h i s f i n d i n g and t h e r e f o r e a f f i r m t h e permanent c u s t o d y o r d e r of t i s t r i c t Court. F We Concur:
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.
