Grace C Rutledge v E Preston Rutledge
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COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA Present: Judges Bumgardner, Kelsey and Senior Judge Hodges GRACE C. RUTLEDGE v. Record No. 1961-02-4 MEMORANDUM OPINION * PER CURIAM FEBRUARY 19, 2003 E. PRESTON RUTLEDGE FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ARLINGTON COUNTY Paul F. Sheridan, Judge (Mary Elizabeth Davis; Hofheimer/Ferrebee, P.C., on brief), for appellant. (Martin A. Gannon; James Ray Cottrell; David H. Fletcher; Christopher W. Schinstock; Kyle F. Bartol; Gannon & Cottrell, P.C., on brief), for appellee. Grace C. Rutledge (mother) appeals the decision of the circuit court denying her motion for unsupervised visitation with the parties' minor son, Andrew Rutledge, and court-ordered therapy. On appeal, mother contends the trial court denied her due process and substantial justice by dismissing her motion without a hearing. Upon reviewing the record and the parties' briefs, we conclude that this appeal is without merit. Accordingly, we summarily affirm the decision of the trial court. See Rule 5A:27. * Pursuant to Code ยง 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication. Background Mother and E. Preston Rutledge (father) were divorced by final decree on February 27, 1997. In a May 10, 2000 order, father was awarded sole legal and physical custody of Andrew. The court allowed mother supervised visitation with Andrew on alternate Sunday afternoons through the Visitation Services Program of Northern Virginia Family Service, until further order of the court. On June 7, 2002, mother moved the court for unsupervised visitation and court-ordered therapy. After considering mother's written motion and father's written opposition, the court denied mother's motion. Mother acknowledges she was informed of the court's denial of her motion on June 26, 2002. Mother failed to file a motion to reconsider or any other form of objection to the court's ruling. Analysis This Court will not consider an argument on appeal that was not presented to the trial court. Ohree v. Commonwealth, 26 Va. App. 299, 308, 494 S.E.2d 484, 488 (1998); Rule 5A:18. The requirements of Rule 5A:18 apply equally to constitutional claims. Deal v. Commonwealth, 15 Va. App. 157, 161, 421 S.E.2d 897, 900 (1992). "The goal of the contemporaneous objection rule is to avoid unnecessary appeals, reversals and mistrials by allowing the trial judge to intelligently consider an issue and, if necessary, to take corrective action." - 2 - Campbell v. Commonwealth, 12 Va. App. 476, 480, 405 S.E.2d 1, 2 (1991). Appellant failed to voice her objections before the trial court at any time. Accordingly, Rule 5A:18 bars our consideration of this question on appeal. Moreover, the record does not reflect any reason to invoke the good cause or ends of justice exceptions to Rule 5A:18. trial court. Therefore, we summarily affirm the decision of the See Rule 5A:27. Affirmed. - 3 -
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