Bryan Michael Aneweer v. Amber Mae Smithlin

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedDecember 15, 2020
Docket54287-1
StatusUnpublished

This text of Bryan Michael Aneweer v. Amber Mae Smithlin (Bryan Michael Aneweer v. Amber Mae Smithlin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bryan Michael Aneweer v. Amber Mae Smithlin, (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

December 15, 2020

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II

BRYAN MICHAEL ANEWEER, No. 54287-1-II

Respondent,

v.

AMBER MAE SMITHLIN, UNPUBLISHED OPINION

Appellant.

CRUSER, J. – Amber Mae Smithlin appeals the trial court’s order denying her CR 60(b)(1)

motion to vacate final parenting plan and child support orders due to irregularities in the

proceedings. Smithlin fails to establish that the trial court abused its discretion. Accordingly, we

affirm the order denying Smithlin’s motion to vacate.

FACTS

I. 2016 PARENTING PLAN AND PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS

Smithlin and Bryan Aneweer are NA’s parents. Under a 2016 parenting plan, Smithlin was

NA’s primary parent, and Aneweer had every-other weekend visitation.

On August 6, 2018, Smithlin was involved in a vehicle accident in which she struck another

vehicle and killed three people. NA, who was five years old at the time, was seriously injured in

the accident and was hospitalized. Smithlin was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide.

Child Protective Services placed NA with Aneweer. No. 54287-1-II

On August 10, Aneweer filed a “Petition to Change a Parenting Plan, Residential Schedule

or Custody Order” based on Smithlin’s arrest. Aneweer also filed a proposed parenting plan that

prohibited contact between Smithlin and NA based on Smithlin’s neglect, emotional or physical

problems, substance abuse, and arrest.

That same day, the trial court issued an “Order Setting Case Schedule,” a “Summons:

Notice about Changing Parenting Plan, Residential Schedule or Custody Order,” and an

“Immediate Restraining Order (Ex Parte) and Hearing Notice.” The Order Setting Case Schedule

stated that the trial was set for February 21, 2019. The Summons advised Smithlin that if she did

not serve her response to the motion on Aneweer or file a notice of appearance within 20 days of

service of the summons, “[n]o one has to notify [her] about other hearings in this case, and . . .

[t]he court may approve the requests in the Petition without hearing [her] side (called a default

judgment).” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 16 (emphasis omitted). Smithlin never responded to the

petition.

A deputy sheriff served Smithlin in jail. The return of service stated that Smithlin had been

served with the following documents: (1) Immediate Restraining Order (Ex Parte) and Hearing

Notice, (2) Summons: Notice about Changing Parenting Plan, Residential Schedule or Custody

Order, (3) Petition to Change a Parenting Plan, Residential Schedule or Custody Order, (4) Motion

for Adequate Cause Decision, and (5) Aneweer’s proposed parenting plan. The return of service

did not state that Smithlin was served with the August 10, 2018 Order Setting Case Schedule.

On September 10, Aneweer appeared for the adequate cause hearing. Smithlin did not

appear. The trial court found adequate cause to hold a full hearing or trial on the motion to change

the parenting plan and entered a “Temporary Family Law Order” designating Aneweer as NA’s

2 No. 54287-1-II

“custodial parent.” Id. at 65. The trial court did not reissue the restraining order and allowed

Smithlin to have telephone contact with NA once a week if it could be arranged by the jail.

On January 29, 2019, the trial court held a status conference and entered an order

scheduling the trial for February 21. Aneweer appeared at this hearing, but Smithlin, who was still

incarcerated, did not.

On February 21, Aneweer appeared for trial. Smithlin did not appear. The trial court

continued the trial date to accommodate Smithlin’s criminal case. A new Order Setting Case

Schedule stated that the trial was set for May 28. The new Order Setting Case Schedule included

a notation stating that the court had copied the order to Smithlin “via mail.” Id. at 82.

II. MAY 28, 2019 TRIAL AND RESULTING ORDERS

Aneweer appeared for the May 28 trial; Smithlin did not appear. The report of proceedings

from the trial is not part of the appellate record.

In the “Final Order and Findings on Petition to Change a Parenting Plan, Residential

Schedule or Custody Order” (Final Order), the trial court noted that it had held an “uncontested

court hearing or trial” on May 28, and that Smithlin did not appear because she was incarcerated.

CP at 120. The Final Order did not, however, state that it was a “default” order.

In the Final Order, the trial court “approve[d] a major change to the parenting/custody

order” because “[t]he requested change is in the [child’s] best interest,” there had been a substantial

change in the child’s or the non-petitioning parent’s situation, and the child’s “current living

situation is harmful to [his] physical, mental, or emotional health” to the extent “[i]t would be

better for the [child] to change the parenting/custody order.” Id. at 123-24. The court described

how the situation had changed as follows:

3 No. 54287-1-II

Petitioner alleges as follows: Mother was sentenced to 13 years + 2 [months] for driving under the influence which resulted in the death of 3 people & serious physical injury to child who had surgeries and continues to attend counseling. Mother has a history of substance abuse and alcohol issues which resulted in 3 other children being removed from her care. Petitioner [(sic)] has mental health history which includes hearing voices. Mother has had no contact since August 6, 2018.

Id. at 123.

The Final Order also stated that Smithlin’s parenting time and participation was limited for

reasons stated in the new parenting plan and found that Smithlin was “currently incarcerated.” Id.

at 124. The order further stated that there was no protection order requested and that any request

for a restraining order had been withdrawn. A notation on the Final Order states that the court

copied “both parties via mail.” Id. at 120.

The trial court also entered a new parenting plan. The new parenting plan placed limitations

on Smithlin under former RCW 26.09.191 (2017)1 based on neglect and several other factors that

could be detrimental to the child’s best interests, including the fact Smithlin was now serving a

lengthy prison sentence. The order required that Smithlin have no contact with NA. The new

parenting plan noted that Smithlin had not appeared, but it did not state that it was a “default”

order.

1 Former RCW 26.09.191 establishes when a parenting plan can limit a parent’s decision-making ability or residential time based on factors such as a parent’s willful abandonment, abuse, history of domestic violence or sex offenses, or other factors that could adversely affect the child’s best interests.

4 No. 54287-1-II

III. SMITHLIN’S MOTION TO VACATE

A. MOTION TO VACATE AND MEMORANDUM OF LAW

Approximately three months later, Smithlin moved to vacate the May 28 orders pursuant

to CR 60(b)(1), (6), and (11), and CR 55(c).2 In a supporting declaration, Smithlin stated that she

had never been served with the August 10, 2018 Order Setting Case Schedule, the September 10,

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