MARRIAGE OF MALQUIST
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NO. 94-022 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA 1994 IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF SANDY J. MALQUIST, Petitioner/Respondent, and DALE H. MALQUIST, Respondent/Appellant. APPEAL FROM: District Court of the First Judicial District, In and for the County of Lewis and Clark, The Honorable Thomas C. Honzel, Judge presiding. COUNSEL OF RECORD: For Appellant: Dale H. Malquist, Lincoln, Montana (pro se) For Respondent: Donald A. Garrity, Helena, Montana For Amicus: Daniel Minnis, Montana Montana Legal Services, Submitted on Briefs: Decided: Filed: Cl;%rk Helena, July 12, 1994 September 20, 1994 Justice James Dale Malquist Conclusions court, of Lewis awarded for and appeals from entered on fees proceedings in amount sanctions. issues on Court. Findings 1993. in with the District order amount of $300. The in part this Fact, The affirm We of Judicial 15, judgment the the First November consistent of the by a (Sandy) for four Opinion County attorney raises the Order Clark motion further Dale and Malquist and Dale's delivered (Dale) Law Sandy $2,429.74, denied Nelson C. order and of also remand opinion. appeal: 1'. Whether the District Court erred when offset the minor child's accrued medical Social Security Disability benefits. it refused to bills by her 2. Whether the District Court erred by failing to credit Dale's medical costs arrearage by the money Sandy received from the benefit auction held by the Snow Warriors Snowmobile Club. 3. Whether the Sandy to comply 4. Whether fees. the District Court erred by not compelling with Dale's discovery requests. District Court erred by granting attorney BACKGROUND The decree November Sara, 3, at child Dale was and to In time support also pay May disability in of any decree the to As Sandy's had was amount of minor $125 not began result 2 of and per medical expenses Dale a two marriage entered, provide medical 1990, benefits. and parties the ordered for Dale The 1986. the pay ending entered on children, Darcy and Dale ordered to month insurance covered receiving Dale's was was for for by each the child. children insurance. Social disability, Security Sara, who was still a minor, was also awarded monthly Social Security benefits in the amount of $488 retroactive to October 1, 1988. Sara received a lump sum payment of $7,900 from the retroactive benefit award. On December 5, 1990, Dale filed a petition asking the District Court to review the child support order contained in the decree. Dale requested that he be relieved from having to pay the child support obligation for Sara, as a result of her receiving Social Security benefits. Dale also requested that he be relieved from his obligation to provide health insurance for Sara, and that he be relieved from having to pay all health care costs retroactive to October 1, 1988. In a written order dated January 22, 1991, the District Court relieved Dale of his child support obligation, and ordered that Dale be responsible for one-half of any medical costs incurred by Sara. The court did not retroactively relieve Dale of his obligation to pay medical expenses from the date of the decree to the date of the order. On April 12, 1993, other things, Sandy filed a motion requesting, among that Dale be required to pay all past due medical bills that he was responsible for according to the District Court's prior rulings. The District Court granted the motion, and found that Dale was responsible for $888.98 as a result of a previous judgment, accruing and $2,429.74 for his portion of health care costs after that judgment. Dale appeals from this ruling. Other facts will be presented as necessary for discussion of the issues. 3 1. gale lump OFFSET FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS argues that the District Court should have credited the sum payment Sara received from the Social Administration against his medical costs arrearages. Security Dale states that he presumed the benefits paid to Sara were replacing any payments required of him. However, the District Court concluded that Dale was responsible for all of Sara's medical costs under the terms of the original decree, and one half of Sara's medical bills under the terms of its January 22, 1991 order. conclusions of This Court reviews law to determine whether the district court's interpretation of the law was correct. Burris v. Burris 258 Mont. 265, 269, 852 P.2d 616, 619. (1993), We conclude that the District Court was correct in concluding that Dale was responsible for accrued medical costs according to the terms of its prior rulings. This Court has determined that Social Security benefits may be treated as a contribution from the disabled obligor parent toward the support of the children. In re Marriage of Durbin (1991), 251 Mont. 51, 58, 823 P.2d 243, 247. However, § 40-4-208(l), MCA, provides "a decree may be modified by a court as to maintenance or support only as to installments accruing subsequent to actual notice to Accordingly, the parties of the motion for modification." a court cannot credit a child's receipt of Social Security benefits on behalf of a disabled parent toward that parent's child support obligation until the parent moves to modify the decree. Marriase of Durbin, 823 P.2d at 247. 4 In the instant case, Dale moved to modify his child support and medical care costs obligation on December 5, 1990. The District Court by its order of January 22, 1991, relieved Dale of his obligation to pay child support, and limited his obligation for Sara's health care costs to one-half of such expenditures. Sara received the lump sum award shortly before Dale filed his motion for modification. Therefore, pursuant to 5 40-4-208(l), MCA, Dale's child support and medical care costs obligation could only be modified back to December 5, 1990, when Dale gave notice of his motion for modification. In re Marriage of Bolt (1993), 259 Mont. 54, GO, 854 P.2d 322, 325. We hold that the District Court was correct in concluding that Sara's receipt of Social Security benefits did not automatically relieve Dale from his obligation to pay his share of Sara's medical bills that he was responsible for according to the terms of the previous court orders. 2. FUND RAISER OFFSET In March of 1991, the Ponderosa Snow Warriors, a snowmobile club located at Lincoln, Montana held a fund raiser to help pay for Sara's medical expenses. As a result of the benefit, received approximately $5,000. Sandy Sandy did not use the money to pay for Sara's past medical expenses, and Dale argues that the District Court abused its discretion by not ordering the money raised to offset the medical costs arrearage. According to the terms of the decree and the January 22, 1991 order of the District Court, Dale was responsible for a share of 5 the medical costs. If Dale wanted to relieve himself of this Dale was required by law to petition the court for obligation, modification. Section 40-4-208, MCA. Because Dale failed to petition the court for a modification subsequent to Sandy's receipt of the fundraiser money, we hold that the District Court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to offset the medical costs arrearage by $5,000. 3. DISCOVERY REQUESTS The third issue Dale raises concerns whether the District Court erred by not compelling Sandy to comply with Dale's discovery requests. As stated earlier in the opinion, the District Court modified the terms of the original decree concerning child support and medical costs on January 22, 1991, and ordered Dale to pay onehalf of Sara's medical costs. On April 12, 1993, Sandy moved the court for a hearing to determine why Dale had not made the required payments under both the original decree and the January 22, 1991 order, and to order him to make immediate payment of the medical costs previously incurred. request. On April 27, 1993, Dale served Sandy with a discovery In response to the request, Sandy filed a motion for sanctions under Rule 11, M.R.Civ.P., alleging that the discovery request was prepared and served in response to Sandy's April 12, 1993 motion for an order to show cause. Dale then filed a motion to compel discovery and noticed the matter for hearing on June lG, 1993. Although Dale appeared for the June 16 hearing, neither Sandy nor her attorney appeared. 6 On her June failure Rule 37, 1993, to 1993, Dale appear alleging required to The court the concluded had court requiring found that issues to before compel In this and to Court District Law will appellant and allow Dunham Massaro v. Granite County 166, v. the Court issued payments Findings above motions. requests to a relate modify portion the motions trial the trial possibility 184 Komberec (1990), 245 orders costs. not of The relate the court to Dale s denied on only discovery when the motion a his or her of the miscarriage 405, Mont. issues, rights substantial 400, costs sanctions. rulings of Mont. these concerning medical prior did judge the the court for court's affect of requests Therefore, to the totally its discovery did 23, order. the discovery (1979), June make the for reverse materially to 1991 to are regarding parties' may and Order move pay judgment were for on while to the motion failed 22, Sandy pursuant and raiser, court. interpreting the has the that both Dale against hearing, requests January remaining the why 1993 to the failed the discovery of fund him 16, and of snowmobilers' June sanctions 1993, 15, Fact, Conclusions for responded Dale's decree November Dale the question the moved Sandy that the by On issue, at M.R.Civ.P. irrelevant of 21, of justice. 603 P.2d 249, 252: 252, 261, 800 P.2d 171. The District discovery based State rel. 67-68, ex 634 P.2d Court on Guar. its has authority Ins. v. 649, 650. inherent to District "Control 7 discretionary control Court over power trial (1981), pretrial to control administration. 194 Mont. discovery is 64, best exercised by the District Court which is in a better position than this court to supervise the day to day operations of pretrial discovery." State ex rel. Guar. Ins., 634 P.2d at 650. In the instant case we conclude that the District Court's denial of Dale's motion to compel did not materially affect his substantial rights. Any discovery Dale might have received concerning the fund raiser would not have changed his obligation to pay medical costs under the original decree or the January 22, 1991 order. Dale was responsible for paying the accrued medical costs regardless of the status of the fundraiser money. The remaining discovery requests had nothing to do with issues before the court, and therefore could not have affected his responsibility to pay for the health care costs as previously ordered by the District Court. We hold that the District Court's discovery ruling did not materially affect Dale's substantial rights and that the court did not abuse its discretion in denying his motion to compel discovery. 4. ATTORNEY FEES Finally, Dale argues that the District Court erred by granting attorney fees to Sandy when she was represented by a pro bono attorney who was representing her at the request of Montana Legal Services assets: Association. Sandy responds that Dale owns substantial receives full Social Security disability payments; has forced her to enlist the aid of the court to collect small sums of money that lawyers would not find economical to pursue: has failed to pay her attorney fees awarded as a result of a previous court appearance in this case: and that any attorney fees awarded should 8 be paid directly to Montana Legal Services Association. Dale's assertion raises two separate issues: (1) whether the District Court abused its discretion by awarding attorney fees in the first instance; (2) whether a pro bono attorney or Montana Legal Services Association may seek and accept on behalf of an indigent client attorney fees and costs under § 40-4-110, MCA. As to the first issue, Sandy requested that she be awarded The District Court stated that Sandy $1,000 in attorney fees. failed to provide the court with evidence supporting the reasonableness of the $1,000 fee, but awarded her $300 in attorney fees, nevertheless. The court concluded that Sandy was entitled to $300, in light of Dale's continuing failure to provide medical insurance for the children or to pay his share of the medical bills. Section 40-4-110, MCA, allows the district court to discretionarily award attorney fees and costs in certain domestic relation matters. In re Marriage of Dzivi (1991), 167-68, 805 P.2d 567, 568. 247 Mont. 165, Section 40-4-110, MCA, provides: The court from time to time, after considering the financial resources of both parties, may order a party to pay a reasonable amount for the cost to the other party of maintaining or defending any proceeding under chapters 1 and 4 of this title and for attorney's fees, including sums for legal services rendered and costs incurred prior to the commencement of the proceeding or after entry of judgment. The court may order that the amount be paid directly to the attorney, who may enforce the order in his name. In interpreting that section, we have required that before a court awards attorney fees under the statute, the petitioning party must make a showing of necessity. 9 In addition, the award must be reasonable and must be based on competent evidence. In re Marriage of Barnard (1990), 241 Mont. 147, 154, 785 P.2d 1387, 1391: In re Marriage of Laster (1982), 197 Mont. 470, 479, 643 P.2d 597, 602; Wilson v. Bean (1981), 192 Mont. 427-28, 628 P.2d 287, 289. To make a showing of reasonableness a hearing must be held allowing for oral opportunity 1391. testimony, to the introduction of exhibits, cross-examine. and the Marriase of Barnard, 785 P.2d at If the award of attorney fees is supported by substantial evidence, we will not reverse the award upon appeal. Marriage of Barnard, 785 P.2d at 1391-92. In its Conclusions of Law, the District Court stated that Sandy did not submit any evidence to support the amount of the attorney fees requested or the reasonableness of the fees. Therefore, under the rules set forth in our previous cases, we must reverse the District Court's award of $300 in attorney fees and remand for an evidentiary hearing in order to determine necessity, in order to consider the statutory criteria, and for a determination of the reasonableness of the fees requested. In so doing, however, we must also address the second issue mentioned above -- Dale's argument that Sandy is not entitled to an award of attorney fees at all because she is represented by a pro bono attorney at the request of Montana Legal Services Association. Dale argues that pro bono attorneys and, presumably, Legal Services attorneys, represent indigent litigants as a "community service" and have, therefore, no expectation of payment or right to collect attorney fees from the opposing party. 10 Implicit in Dale's argument is the proposition that Sandy would receive a windfall if the court awarded attorney fees to her when she did not incur any obligation of payment or representation, debt as a result of her obtaining legal Dale's position has support in our prior case law. This Court has previously held that a trial court cannot award attorney fees pursuant to 5 40-4-110, MCA, to a party represented by a legal services attorney. Thompson v. Thompson (1981), 193 Mont. 127, 129, 630 P.2d 243, 244. In Thompson, we reasoned that "the authority of the court to order the payment of an attorney's fee in a divorce action does not exist for the protection of the attorney, but is strictly Thompson, 630 P.2d at 244. for the benefit Therefore, of the client." we affirmed the district court's ruling which denied the award of attorney fees to the former who wife Association. was Thompson, represented by Montana 630 P.2d at 244. Legal Services In our decision we reasoned that a party who was represented by a legal services attorney could not show a personal necessity to seek payment from the former spouse. Thompson, 630 P.2d at 244. When this Court decided Thompson, the case law governing awarding fees to legal services organizations was not fully developed. Subsequent to our decision, however, the majority of jurisdictions ruling on this issue have held that legal services organizations are entitled to attorney fees both in family law cases and in non-family law cases. Ward (Cal.App. 1992), See e.g., In re Marriage of 1992), 4 Cal.Rptr.2d 365; Beeson v. Christian (Ind. 594 N.E.2d 441; In re Marriage of Gaddis (Mo.App. 1982), 632 S.W.Zd 340 326 N.W.2d 1992), in our that At the represented Legal client domestic we bono the financially do relations 1983), and same professional proceeding is pay for where of pro behalf 5 40-4- above circumstances, are it is Thomnson. between litigants represented not services, to on by considerations, factor not allowing fees mentioned in those of criteria distinguish The to favor were Association the decision which attorney Services under not deciding award requirements our unable (Wis. v. Lamb (Ind.App. in statutory attorneys The the militate Legal Association. apply. Castrovinci considerations Accordingly, reconsider pro providing is Montana outset, Services attorney Thomnson evidentiary we by hereafter, in clients, providing satisfied. necessary policy discretionarily to the v. claim). that to and and otherwise (wage opinion courts indigent MCA, 1310 shands tenant): Kleine-Albrandt (landlord attorneys 110, cases); conclude district bono law N.E.2d also discussed the 506 597 We of (family the but legal Montana discussed status that of the indigent representation representation is the a in a practical requirement. In Thompson, to individuals the concept We reasoned our decision represented of that by to deny legal services "personal necessity." an of award fees the award agencies Thompson, was of not attorney was 630 necessary fees based P.2d at on 244. because the wife who was awarded attorney fees did not incur a debt as a result of that obtaining is only legal one, but representation. not While necessarily, 12 true the as most far as important it goes, or the determinative consideration in resolving this issue. We live in a society where, next to health care, competent legal service most is likely the essential, most yet costly, professional service that most people from time to time require. That is certainly no more evident than in domestic relations cases wherein the court's decision will likely involve important property questions and will forever alter the personal obligations of the litigants to each other. however, relationships More and importantly, at issue in many such cases are the relationships of children to their parents and the fundamental rights of those children to medical care, support, and to a safe and reasonably stable home life. The food, clothing, shelter, education, multiplicity of laws and often technical court rules and procedures governing domestic relations cases combined with the emotionally charged nature of such proceedings, present a mine field to the litigant who is too poor to hire competent counsel. Legal Services Corporation is a publicly funded agency whose purpose is to ensure that economic barriers to legal assistance are minimized and whose overall objective is to provide equal access to our country's system of justice. that mandate, which, 42 U.S.C. § 2996. In fulfilling Legal Services works to develop pro bono programs presumably, will provide services to greater numbers of eligible clients and thereby advance the purposes of the Legal Services Corporation Act. See, 45 C.F.R. 1614(l)(a). To that end, as in this case, Montana Legal Services Association refers many domestic relations cases to attorneys willing to take the case 13 without charging a fee to the indigent client. It is important to point out that the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Legal Services Corporation Act, permit legal services agencies to request and accept a fee awarded or approved by a court or administrative body. 45 C.F.R. 5 1609.5. This regulation helps insure that eligible clients are able to obtain appropriate and effective legal assistance. 45 C.F.R. 3 1609.1. Unfortunately, the number of indigent litigants appears to be growing, while the numbers of attorneys willing to do domestic relations work for an affordable fee seem to be decreasing. The net result of that unfortunate state of affairs is that already financially strapped and understaffed legal services organizations must deal with ever expanding case loads and, of necessity, must increasingly rely on members of the bar who are willing to render legal assistance to indigent domestic relations clients, pro bono, to pick up the overflow. Moreover, many attorneys, in fulfilling their professional responsibilities to provide public interest legal service as required by Rule 6.1 of Montana's Rules of Professional Conduct, provide representation to indigent domestic relations clients at a reduced charge or for no charge, without a request from Montana Legal Services Association. Section 40-4-110, discretionarily award MCA, broadly allows the trial court to attorney fees in domestic relations cases 'I.. . after considering the financial resources of both parties." Furthermore, our statute allows the court to 'I... 14 order that the amount [awarded] be paid directly to the attorney, who may enforce the order in his name." Importantly, there is nothing in the statutory language which precludes a district court from awarding attorney fees in an appropriate case merely because the attorney representing the indigent party has agreed to not charge the client for his or her professional services. Equally important, there is nothing in the statute that makes the litigant who would, otherwise, be required to pay attorney fees, the third party beneficiary of the Legal Services or pro bono attorney's agreement with the indigent client. While awarding attorney fees to the indigent represented by Montana Legal Services Association or a client m bono attorney, would, in fact, be a windfall to the client, that result can be easily avoided by the court simply awarding the fee directly to Legal Services or to the attorney, as is permitted by § 40-4110, MCA. On the other hand, refusing to award attorney fees in favor of the indigent client because of the status of his or her attorney, where the opposing litigant is financially able and would otherwise be charged with the indigent party's fees and costs under the statute, represents a windfall to the non-indigent litigant. Presumably, if Montana Legal Services Association and pro bono attorneys can recoup from the non-indigent litigant those fees and costs for which he or she would, otherwise, be liable under the statute, that organization and those attorneys will be financially better able to provide more legal services to the increasing numbers of indigent litigants who need such services. 15 Moreover, non-indigent litigants who might be encouraged to simply "run up the other party's bill I1 with vexatious conduct and frivolous court proceedings, might be less inclined to do so knowing that the court has the statutory discretion to award the indigent party's attorney fees and costs against the offending party. Recognizing the validity of those considerations and the legislature's grant to the district courts of broad discretion to award attorney fees in domestic relations cases, we are also persuaded by the post-Thompson decisions of other jurisdictions that our focus in that case was, in retrospect, too narrow. Those courts have concluded that the broader principle of providing equal access of justice to all warrants the award of fees to individuals represented by legal services Marriage of Swink, (Colo.App. Benavides (Conn.App. 1987), organizations. See for example, 1991), 807 P.2d 1245; Benavides v. 526 A.2d 536; In re Marriage of Gaddis (Mo.App. 1982), 632 S.W.2d 326. For example, the Connecticut court which considered this issue in Benavides reasoned as follows: We are aware that indigents are represented by legal services attorneys in a large number of family relations matters. It would be unreasonable to allow a losing party in a family relations matter to reap the benefits of free representation to the other party. A party should not be encouraged to litigate under the assumption that no counsel fee will be awarded in favor of the indigent party represented by public legal services: or as in this case, that a reasonable fee will be discounted for the same reason. IPut in another way, the public should be relieved from the financial burden of obtaining an indigent plaintiff's divorce or successfully defending against a husband's complaint, to the extent that the husband is able to pay all or part of her attorney's fees. The taxpayer has an interest in recovering where possible a portion of the costs in these 16 situations.' An award of counsel fees that does not discriminate against non profit legal service entities will encourage non profit counsel to expend its resources in the representation of those clients who are unable to afford private counsel in disputed child custody and child support enforcement litigation. The purposes of such acts as the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act... are advanced and are made more available to the poor where there is an expectancy that the nonprofit legal services will recoup at least part of its resources through an award of counsel fees to its client. Furthermore, a realization that the opposing party, although poor, has access to an attorney and that an attorney's fee may be awarded deters noncompliance with the law and encourages settlements. (Citations omitted.) Benavides, 526 A.2d Similarly, in addressed this court 5 40-4-110, attorney of trial a is the is who is the fees delivers for appropriate we of to wife's request for bono debt award Colorado identical attorney appellate an court for the "legal was not services at 1247. fees at overturned incurment P.2d due for under consideration legal requested. necessity pro the nearly the requesting pay 1245, attorney of giving and Accordingly, it to a The allowed award P.2d statute showing parties, the of irrelevant, attorney an a by of Swink, 807 inability reasonableness a 807 denied agency. that when, both under court statute stated, of trial holding the Swink, issue services authorized resources i.e. legal of wasrepresented Marriage Simply MCA, she since rendered." same The as court necessary Marriase MCA. fees request the at 538. party unrelated the legal reasons the a overrule to necessity party the financial -- -- and incurs debt services. the to shows 40-4-110, representation Whether is § aforementioned, our decision in status we of conclude Thompson to the that the extent our decision in that case prohibits a discretionary award of attorney fees under 5 40-4-110, MCA, in favor of a party represented by Montana Legal Services Association or a pro bono attorney. We hold that a district court may discretionarily award attorney fees under the criteria set forth in § 40-4-110, MCA, to either Montana Legal Services Association or to a pro bono attorney representing the requesting party providing that such party demonstrates the necessity for and reasonableness of the fees requested. Affirmed in part and remanded consistent with this opinion w 18 for further proceedings
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