FILED
JAN 13,2015
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
W A State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION THREE I In re the Parentage of: ) No. 31725-1-111
I
1 J.T.S. ) ) 1 EVAN BJORN LANI PAVLIC, OTHER INDIVIDUAL, ) ) f Alleged Father, ) Appellant, ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION j v. ) ) II ) STATE OF WASHINGTON and ) 1 CRYSTAL SOTO, Mother, ) ) f ~ ) I Respondents. )
BROWN, J. - Evan B.L. Pavlic, the father of J.T.S., appeals the trial court's
decision to deny his CR 60(b) motion to vacate a child support order entered after a
default summary judgment in favor of Crystal Soto, J.T.S.'s mother, and the State of
Washington, Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support (Department).
Mr. Pavlic mainly contends his mental health condition was an extraordinary ~ ! circumstance justifying his failure to respond to the summary judgment order for child
1 support and the nearly two years that elapsed before he filed his motion. Because we
find no abuse of trial court discretion, we affirm.
I I
1 No. 31725-1-111 Sofo v. Pavlic
FACTS
J.T.S. was born in December 2008. In January 2011, the Department sued to
establish paternity, back child support and current child support. Mr. Pavlic answered
on January 21,2011. He admitted paternity. On March 8, 2011, the Department
requested summary judgment. Mr. Pavlic received notice of the summary judgment, but
threw the documents "because it was too stressful." Clerk's Papers (CP) at 79. He was
then involved in Spokane County's Mental Health Therapeutic Court (MHTC) for a
domestic violence charge involving Ms. Soto.
Mr. Pavlic failed to respond to the summary judgment proceedings. On April 14,
2011, a court commissioner granted the Department's request and ordered Mr. Pavlic to
pay $327 per month as current support for the child, commencing May 1, 2011. The
court also entered judgment against Mr. Pavlic in favor of Ms. Soto and/or her assignee,
the Department, in the amount of $9,483 for back child support retroactively applied to
the date of the child's birth.
On March 20, 2013, 1 year and 11 months after the judgment, Mr. Pavlic
requested the court vacate the order under CR 60(b), arguing his mental disabilities
prevented him from proceeding with the litigation in 2011. Mr. Pavlic further argued that
his neglect was excusable under CR 60(b)(1) stating "as I was consumed with program
requirements for mental health court and dealing with my mental health issues." CP at
80. He argued the back child support order was erroneous because he supported the
child from birth until Ms. Soto and the child moved out in July 2011.
No. 31725-1-111 Soto v. Pavlic
Ms. Soto opposed the motion to vacate, arguing Mr. Pavlic had not demonstrated
a basis to vacate the orders and judgments, pointing out the severity of Mr. Pavlic's
psychiatric condition falls well short of the standard in CR 60(b)(2) for the vacation of a
judgment issued against a person of "unsound mind." CP at 162. Ms. Soto objected to
the CR 60 motion as untimely. The Department did not respond.
A superior court commissioner denied Mr. Pavlic's motion to vacate. During the
hearing, the commissioner stated, "Under [CR 60(b)(9)], I believe what's being asked is
that in some way Mr. Pavlic suffered because of his mental illness from misfortune that
could of prevented him from his meaningful involvement. And again, I looked back to
the fact that he did have some involvement, he filed his response. He actually also was
able to participate in the mental health treatment court. So I'm not finding that he
suffered any unavoidable casualty." CP at 168. Regarding the back child support
amount, the commissioner found, "I don't find that that's persuasive. It's actually his
duty to bring forth any of his own defenses, not mom's duty. It's not up to her to argue
that they lived together for a period of time. If Mr. Pavlic wanted the court to consider
that it's his obligation to bring those matters to the court. And I don't find that there is
really an excuse why this took almost two years for it to come back to court ....
Nothing prevents Mr. Pavlic from filing a petition to modify based on changed
circumstances since these orders were entered in 2011." CP at 169-70.
Mr. Pavlic requested revision by a superior court judge. The judge denied his
request, ruling "[t]he Court ... does not find an adequate basis to revise the
commissioner's orders." CP at 122. Mr. Pavlic appealed.
ANALYSIS
The issue is whether the trial court erred by denying Mr. Pavlic's motion for
revision. Mr. Pavlic contends the court should have revised the commissioner's ruling
because he established all necessary factors to support a motion to vacate.
For a ruling on a revision motion, the superior court reviews the commissioner's
decision de novo based on the evidence and issues before the commissioner. In re
Marriage of Moody, 137 Wn.2d 979, 992-93, 976 P.2d 1240 (1999). On appeal, we
review the trial court's ruling, not the commissioner's. In re Marriage of Fairchild, 148
Wn. App. 828, 831,207 P.3d 449 (2009). In general, the denial of a CR 60(b) motion to
vacate is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Mitchell v. Wash. State Insf. of Pub. Policy,
153 Wn. App. 803, 821, 225 P.3d 280 (2009). Discretion is abused when the exercise
of discretion was manifestly unreasonable, based on untenable grounds, or based on
untenable reasons. Id.
Default judgments are "generally disfavored in Washington based on an
overriding policy which prefers that parties resolve their disputes on the merits."
Showalter v. Wild Oafs, 124 Wn. App. 506, 510, 101 P.3d 867 (2004). But courts "also
value an organized, responsive, and responsible judicial system where litigants
acknowledge the jurisdiction of the court to decide their cases and comply with court
rules." Little v. King, 160 Wn.2d 696, 703, 161 P.3d 345 (2007). A court "must balance
the requirement that each party follow procedural rules with a party's interest in a trial
on the merits." Showalter, 124 Wn. App. at 510. Review of a CR 60(b) decision is
limited to the trial court's decision, not the underlying order that the party seeks to
vacate. Bjurstrom v. Campbell, 27 Wn. App. 449, 450-51,618 P.2d 533 (1980). The
court's decision will be disturbed solely if it abused its discretion. Akhavuz v. Moody,
178 Wn. App. 526, 532, 315 P.3d 572 (2013).
Mr. Pavlic requested to vacate the default order under CR 60(b}. The parties
agree that when a motion to vacate is sought on these grounds, the moving party must
demonstrate (1) there is substantial evidence to support a prima facie defense; (2) the
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FILED
JAN 13,2015
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
W A State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION THREE I In re the Parentage of: ) No. 31725-1-111
I
1 J.T.S. ) ) 1 EVAN BJORN LANI PAVLIC, OTHER INDIVIDUAL, ) ) f Alleged Father, ) Appellant, ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION j v. ) ) II ) STATE OF WASHINGTON and ) 1 CRYSTAL SOTO, Mother, ) ) f ~ ) I Respondents. )
BROWN, J. - Evan B.L. Pavlic, the father of J.T.S., appeals the trial court's
decision to deny his CR 60(b) motion to vacate a child support order entered after a
default summary judgment in favor of Crystal Soto, J.T.S.'s mother, and the State of
Washington, Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support (Department).
Mr. Pavlic mainly contends his mental health condition was an extraordinary ~ ! circumstance justifying his failure to respond to the summary judgment order for child
1 support and the nearly two years that elapsed before he filed his motion. Because we
find no abuse of trial court discretion, we affirm.
I I
1 No. 31725-1-111 Sofo v. Pavlic
FACTS
J.T.S. was born in December 2008. In January 2011, the Department sued to
establish paternity, back child support and current child support. Mr. Pavlic answered
on January 21,2011. He admitted paternity. On March 8, 2011, the Department
requested summary judgment. Mr. Pavlic received notice of the summary judgment, but
threw the documents "because it was too stressful." Clerk's Papers (CP) at 79. He was
then involved in Spokane County's Mental Health Therapeutic Court (MHTC) for a
domestic violence charge involving Ms. Soto.
Mr. Pavlic failed to respond to the summary judgment proceedings. On April 14,
2011, a court commissioner granted the Department's request and ordered Mr. Pavlic to
pay $327 per month as current support for the child, commencing May 1, 2011. The
court also entered judgment against Mr. Pavlic in favor of Ms. Soto and/or her assignee,
the Department, in the amount of $9,483 for back child support retroactively applied to
the date of the child's birth.
On March 20, 2013, 1 year and 11 months after the judgment, Mr. Pavlic
requested the court vacate the order under CR 60(b), arguing his mental disabilities
prevented him from proceeding with the litigation in 2011. Mr. Pavlic further argued that
his neglect was excusable under CR 60(b)(1) stating "as I was consumed with program
requirements for mental health court and dealing with my mental health issues." CP at
80. He argued the back child support order was erroneous because he supported the
child from birth until Ms. Soto and the child moved out in July 2011.
No. 31725-1-111 Soto v. Pavlic
Ms. Soto opposed the motion to vacate, arguing Mr. Pavlic had not demonstrated
a basis to vacate the orders and judgments, pointing out the severity of Mr. Pavlic's
psychiatric condition falls well short of the standard in CR 60(b)(2) for the vacation of a
judgment issued against a person of "unsound mind." CP at 162. Ms. Soto objected to
the CR 60 motion as untimely. The Department did not respond.
A superior court commissioner denied Mr. Pavlic's motion to vacate. During the
hearing, the commissioner stated, "Under [CR 60(b)(9)], I believe what's being asked is
that in some way Mr. Pavlic suffered because of his mental illness from misfortune that
could of prevented him from his meaningful involvement. And again, I looked back to
the fact that he did have some involvement, he filed his response. He actually also was
able to participate in the mental health treatment court. So I'm not finding that he
suffered any unavoidable casualty." CP at 168. Regarding the back child support
amount, the commissioner found, "I don't find that that's persuasive. It's actually his
duty to bring forth any of his own defenses, not mom's duty. It's not up to her to argue
that they lived together for a period of time. If Mr. Pavlic wanted the court to consider
that it's his obligation to bring those matters to the court. And I don't find that there is
really an excuse why this took almost two years for it to come back to court ....
Nothing prevents Mr. Pavlic from filing a petition to modify based on changed
circumstances since these orders were entered in 2011." CP at 169-70.
Mr. Pavlic requested revision by a superior court judge. The judge denied his
request, ruling "[t]he Court ... does not find an adequate basis to revise the
commissioner's orders." CP at 122. Mr. Pavlic appealed.
ANALYSIS
The issue is whether the trial court erred by denying Mr. Pavlic's motion for
revision. Mr. Pavlic contends the court should have revised the commissioner's ruling
because he established all necessary factors to support a motion to vacate.
For a ruling on a revision motion, the superior court reviews the commissioner's
decision de novo based on the evidence and issues before the commissioner. In re
Marriage of Moody, 137 Wn.2d 979, 992-93, 976 P.2d 1240 (1999). On appeal, we
review the trial court's ruling, not the commissioner's. In re Marriage of Fairchild, 148
Wn. App. 828, 831,207 P.3d 449 (2009). In general, the denial of a CR 60(b) motion to
vacate is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Mitchell v. Wash. State Insf. of Pub. Policy,
153 Wn. App. 803, 821, 225 P.3d 280 (2009). Discretion is abused when the exercise
of discretion was manifestly unreasonable, based on untenable grounds, or based on
untenable reasons. Id.
Default judgments are "generally disfavored in Washington based on an
overriding policy which prefers that parties resolve their disputes on the merits."
Showalter v. Wild Oafs, 124 Wn. App. 506, 510, 101 P.3d 867 (2004). But courts "also
value an organized, responsive, and responsible judicial system where litigants
acknowledge the jurisdiction of the court to decide their cases and comply with court
rules." Little v. King, 160 Wn.2d 696, 703, 161 P.3d 345 (2007). A court "must balance
the requirement that each party follow procedural rules with a party's interest in a trial
on the merits." Showalter, 124 Wn. App. at 510. Review of a CR 60(b) decision is
limited to the trial court's decision, not the underlying order that the party seeks to
vacate. Bjurstrom v. Campbell, 27 Wn. App. 449, 450-51,618 P.2d 533 (1980). The
court's decision will be disturbed solely if it abused its discretion. Akhavuz v. Moody,
178 Wn. App. 526, 532, 315 P.3d 572 (2013).
Mr. Pavlic requested to vacate the default order under CR 60(b}. The parties
agree that when a motion to vacate is sought on these grounds, the moving party must
demonstrate (1) there is substantial evidence to support a prima facie defense; (2) the
failure to timely appear or respond was occasioned by mistake, inadvertence, surprise,
or excusable neglect; (3) the moving party acted with due diligence after notice of the
default; and (4) the opposing party will not suffer substantial hardship if the trial court
vacates the default. Topliffv. Chicago Ins. Co., 130 Wn. App. 301, 304-08,122 P.3d
922 (2005) (citing White v. Holm, 73 Wn.2d 348, 352,438 P.2d 581 (1968)).
The first two factors are the "primary" factors. Little, 160 Wn.2d at 704. When
evaluating the first factor, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the moving
party. Pfaffv. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 103 Wn. App. 829, 835,14 P.3d 837
(2000). If the moving party is able to demonstrate a strong or virtually conclusive
defense, courts will generally spend little time inquiring into the reasons for the default.
Akhavuz, 178 Wn. App. at 533. If, on the other hand, the moving party is unable to
No. 31725-1-11' Soto v. Pavlic
show a strong defense, the reasons for default, the timeliness of the motion to vacate,
and the prejudice to the opposing party will be more carefully scrutinized. Akhavuz, 178
Wn. App. at 533.
Mr. Pavlic partly alleges he presented a strong or virtually conclusive defense of
excusable neglect based on mental disability or unsound mind under CR 60(b)(1} and
(2}.1 The phrase "unsound mind" is not defined by this rule. It does, however, have a
well settled meaning in Washington law. The phrase is used in the witness competency
statute, RCW 5.60.050, and the concurrent witness competency rule, CrR 6.12(c). In
construing both the statute and rule, our Supreme Court has stated '''unsound mind,' as
used here, means total lack of comprehension or the inability to distinguish between
right and wrong." State v. Smith, 97 Wn.2d 801,803,650 P.2d 201 (1982).
The record shows Mr. Pavlic suffers from "severe chronic generalized anxiety
disorder, recurrent major depressive disorder of varying severity, subclinical OCD, adult
residual ADD inattentive type, borderline personality traits, and alcohol and cannabis
abuse of varying activity." CP at 68. But no evidence shows Mr. Pavlic has a total lack
of comprehension or the inability to distinguish between right and wrong. Washington
courts have held "the statutory term refers to those who are without comprehension at
all, not to those whose comprehension is merely limited." State v. Bishop, 51 Wn.2d
1 Mr. Pavlic also argues the judgment should have been vacated because the court erroneously ordered back child support for the period the child allegedly lived with him. But, when reviewing a denial of a motion to vacate, we review solely the decision, not the merits of the underlying judgment. Bjurston v. Campbell, 27 Wn. App. 449, 450 51,618 P.2d 533 (1980).
No. 31725-1-111 Sofo v. Pavlic
884,885,322 P.2d 83 (1958). A history of mental disorders, by itself, is not adequate.
Id.
Moreover, Mr. Pavlic admitted he was aware of the proceedings, he answered
the initial petition, but discarded papers relating to summary judgment because it was
"too stressful." CP at 79. This is not a strong or virtually conclusive defense to support
vacating the judgment. Akhavuz, 178 Wn. App. at 533. Lastly, we note Mr. Pavlic's
final reliance here on "[a]ny other reason justifying relief' under CR 60(b)(11), but we
find no abuse of discretion in not considering his mental condition as a reason to justify
granting his motion to vacate the summary judgment order for child support.
The next factor is timeliness. Topliff, 130 Wn. App. at 304. A CR 60(b) motion f ~i must be brought "within a reasonable time" and for CR 60(b)(1)-(3), "not more than 1 1 ,~ year" after the default order or judgment is entered. This one year time limit is strictly
j enforced and the trial court may not extend the deadline. See CR 60(b). But, "[i]f the
~ party entitled to relief is a minor or a person of unsound mind, the motion shall be made I f within 1 year after the disability ceases." CR 60(b). Mr. Pavlic's motion to vacate was
I! not timely, being filed 1 year and 11 months after the child support judgment. He
argues he suffered from mental unsoundness; however, as reasoned, this is
I unsupported by the record. Mr. Pavlic's ability to participate in legal proceedings in the
I MHTC undermines his argument that he was mentally unable to participate in
I! proceedings involving child support.
Without the establishment of the two primary factors to vacate a default
judgment, there is no need to reach the secondary factors. Holm, 73 Wn.2d at 352.
Given our analysis, we reason the commissioner had tenable grounds to deny Mr.
Pavlic's motion to vacate judgment as determined by the trial court.
Both parties request attorney fees under RCW 26.26.140. In a parentage action,
the court has discretion to award attorney fees to the prevailing party. RCW 26.26.140.
This is regardless of the pa~y's ability to pay. In re Marriage of T., 68 Wn. App. 329,
333-34,842 P.2d 1010 (1993). This appeal; however, relates solely to child support;
therefore, RCW 26.26.140 does not apply. See In re G. W.-F., 170 Wn. App. 631,285
P.3d 208 (2012) (because the father acknowledged paternity of the children, there was
no basis for an award of fees under RCW 26.26.140). Thus, both parties' requests are
denied.
Affirmed.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW
2.06.040.
Brown, J ..
WE CONCUR:
Lawrence-Berrey, J.