Angela K. v. Timothy K.

CourtNebraska Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 26, 2015
DocketA-14-672
StatusUnpublished

This text of Angela K. v. Timothy K. (Angela K. v. Timothy K.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Angela K. v. Timothy K., (Neb. Ct. App. 2015).

Opinion

IN THE NEBRASKA COURT OF APPEALS

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND JUDGMENT ON APPEAL (Memorandum Web Opinion)

ANGELA K. V. TIMOTHY K.

NOTICE: THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PERMANENT PUBLICATION AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY NEB. CT. R. APP. P. § 2-102(E).

ANGELA K., NOW KNOWN AS ANGELA B., APPELLEE, V.

TIMOTHY K., APPELLANT.

Filed May 26, 2015. No. A-14-672.

Appeal from the District Court for Douglas County: TIMOTHY P. BURNS, Judge. Affirmed in part, and in part reversed and remanded for further proceedings. Avis R. Andrews for appellant. Mark J. Milone, of Govier & Milone, L.L.P., for appellee.

INBODY, PIRTLE, and BISHOP, Judges. PIRTLE, Judge. INTRODUCTION Timothy K. appeals the order of the district court for Douglas County modifying the decree of dissolution, specifically with respect to custody, parenting time, and his financial responsibility for the parties’ minor child. For the reasons that follow, we affirm, in part, and reverse and remand, in part. BACKGROUND The parties were divorced pursuant to a decree of dissolution entered in the district court for Douglas County on June 27, 2003. At the time of the divorce, the parties had three minor children. The decree awarded the parties joint legal and physical custody of the children. The

-1- children spent Monday and Tuesday with their father, Wednesday and Thursday with their mother, and alternated weekends between the two homes. In April 2006, an order of modification defined holiday parenting time by agreement of the parties. Angela filed a complaint to modify the decree on April 26, 2012, requesting sole legal and physical custody of the two children who were minors at the time, James and Ashley. She also requested an order restricting contact between Timothy and the children and requiring their contact to be supervised. James turned 19 approximately 3 months after the modification action was filed, and only Ashley, born in May 1997, is subject to the current action. The trial court issued an ex parte restraining order on April 26, 2012, enjoining Timothy from contacting, visiting, and/or disturbing the peace of Ashley. On May 25, 2012, Timothy filed an answer denying the allegations in the complaint to modify. On June 4, 2012 the trial court ordered that Timothy should have no contact with Ashley until further order of the court except in the form of therapeutic contact, as directed by Ashley’s mental healthcare providers. Both parties were ordered to have full and complete access to all of the medical and mental health records for the minor child. On October 16, 2013, the trial court ordered the parties to arrange a psychological/psychiatric evaluation for Ashley. Also in October, Ashley received a car from her paternal grandparents. In December 2013, Ashley was caught with marijuana and drug paraphernalia in her car. After Ashley was cited, Angela requested that Timothy take back the car that Ashley had received. Ashley was expelled from school after the drug charges were brought against her. She had also been in a physical altercation with another individual resulting in criminal charges. Ashley was admitted to a diversion program. Ashley completed the school year through the ombudsman program. The ombudsman program is an alternative school for students in the Millard Public Schools district to complete their coursework for the semester after they are expelled. On January 14, 2014, the trial court entered an order eliminating the no contact order, and determined that Timothy was entitled to reasonable parenting time to be arranged by the parties. The parties were unable to arrange parenting time following that order. A few weeks before trial, Ashley texted Angela and stated that she was afraid because Timothy had shown up and tried to take her from her school. Angela was already at the school to pick up Ashley, and when she entered the building she saw that Ashley was hysterical, screaming, and crying. While Angela and Timothy spoke with the school’s staff, Ashley left the building and ran to Angela’s home. Trial was held on June 4 and June 19, 2014. Angela testified that both parties have remarried since the date of the decree. Angela testified that the parties were unable to successfully co-parent in the years following the modification of the decree in 2006. She testified that they have had communication problems, and they generally only communicated by phone or email. Angela testified that on April 23, 2012, she received a call from her son James stating that he was taking Ashley to see his psychologist, Dr. Joseph Rizzo. Rizzo referred them to Immanuel Hospital and recommended that Ashley be admitted to the adolescent psychiatric unit for suicidal ideation. Angela notified Timothy approximately 4 to 5 hours after Ashley’s admission, and Ashley was hospitalized for a week. Rizzo provided an affidavit supporting Angela’s application

-2- for an order preventing Timothy from seeing Ashley because Ashley was so upset. Timothy was not allowed to see Ashley during her stay at Immanuel. Angela stated that Ashley had not been treated for any mental health issues prior to her admission to Immanuel, but Angela had noticed signs of depression in Ashley around 2010. Ashley had complained about people bullying her at school. After Ashley’s admission to Immanuel, Angela sought a modification of the decree and a no contact order for Timothy. Prior to that time, Angela did not observe anything that led her to believe Timothy was the cause of Ashley’s mental health issues. Ashley continued to see Rizzo after her discharge from Immanuel. Rizzo informed Angela that Ashley was cutting herself, and Ashley testified that she began cutting herself when she was 12 or 13 years old. Rizzo diagnosed Ashley with major depressive disorder. During Ashley’s sessions with Rizzo, Ashley alleged that Timothy put his hands around her throat, he had thrown her on the floor, and that he raped her. Ashley did not provide further specifics. Rizzo testified that he did not find circumstances to believe Timothy was abusive toward Ashley. However, he stated that he was concerned about Ashley’s allegations regarding her father. Rizzo testified that from what he had witnessed, Timothy and Angela were not able to work together for Ashley’s benefit. Rizzo testified that he believed both parents should have a relationship with their children, but if one parent is abusive and physically or emotionally dangerous, then it is another issue. Rizzo recommended that Ashley, Angela, and Timothy participate in the Family Bridges program, an intensive therapeutic program designed to break through barriers and help rebuild the relationships between parents and child. They did not participate in this program. Rizzo referred Ashley to Boys Town in mid-August 2012. Ashley then saw Dr. Greg Snyder from mid-September 2012 until mid-November 2013. Ashley also was treated by Dr. Jane Dahlke, a licensed psychiatrist, on a monthly basis starting in July 2012. Dahlke diagnosed Ashley with unspecified bipolar and related disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and a possibility of attention deficit hyperactive disorder. Ashley was treated with several medications prescribed by Dahlke, and Ashley continued to see other counselors for therapy sessions. Dahlke testified that shortly before trial, Ashley had told her that she would kill herself if she had unsupervised time with her father. Dahlke stated that she did not see Ashley as suicidal, and she felt Ashley was making progress with her self-esteem, confidence, and appearance. Dahlke recommended continuing psychiatric treatment of the type Ashley was already receiving, and recommended against Ashley being “forced to spend parenting time with her father.” Dahlke testified that Ashley’s relationship with Timothy was “presently irreparable” but stated that the relationship could potentially be mended in the future.

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Bluebook (online)
Angela K. v. Timothy K., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/angela-k-v-timothy-k-nebctapp-2015.