Haley Stuckey v. Thomas Stuckey

CourtCourt of Appeals of Mississippi
DecidedJune 21, 2022
Docket2020-CA-00848-COA
StatusPublished

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

Bluebook
Haley Stuckey v. Thomas Stuckey, (Mich. Ct. App. 2022).

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

NO. 2020-CA-00848-COA

HALEY STUCKEY APPELLANT

v.

THOMAS STUCKEY APPELLEE

DATE OF JUDGMENT: 07/02/2020 TRIAL JUDGE: HON. D. NEIL HARRIS SR. COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: JACKSON COUNTY CHANCERY COURT ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: JOHN S. GRANT IV ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE: MATTHEW STEPHEN LOTT NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - CUSTODY DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 06/21/2022 MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED: MANDATE ISSUED:

BEFORE CARLTON, P.J., GREENLEE AND McDONALD, JJ.

GREENLEE, J., FOR THE COURT:

¶1. In October 2014, the Jackson County Chancery Court granted Thomas and Haley

Stuckey a divorce based on irreconcilable differences. The chancellor adopted the parties’

written agreement for custody and property settlement, granted sole physical custody of the

minor child to Haley, and granted joint legal custody of the child to both parties.

Subsequently in 2018, Thomas sought modification of custody. Finding Thomas had met his

burden of proving a material change in circumstances, the chancellor granted the motion.

¶2. Haley now appeals from the chancellor’s judgment, arguing that the chancellor erred

by (1) granting sole physical custody of the child to Thomas; (2) requiring her to pay child

support; and (3) requiring her to submit to quarterly drug tests. Finding no reversible error, we affirm the chancellor’s judgment.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶3. Thomas and Haley were married on June 6, 2009. They had one child, S.S., before

they separated on July 17, 2013.1 On July 24, 2013, Haley filed for a divorce from Thomas

on the statutory ground of irreconcilable differences. On July 16, 2014, Thomas filed his

answer and counter-claim for divorce. Thomas alleged that he was entitled to a divorce on

the ground of habitual cruel and inhuman treatment. Alternatively, Thomas requested a

divorce based on irreconcilable differences.

¶4. In October 2014, the parties agreed to divorce based on irreconcilable differences. The

chancellor adopted the parties’ written agreement for custody and property settlement,

granted sole physical custody of S.S. to Haley, and granted joint legal custody of the child

to both parties.

¶5. In October 2017, Thomas filed a complaint for contempt, modification of custody,

child support, visitation, and other relief. Thomas asserted in his complaint that material

changes in circumstances that were adverse to S.S. existed, including: (1) Haley was

suspected of prescription drug abuse; (2) Haley was cohabiting with her new fiancé, Adair

Steelman, who was still married to another woman; (3) Steelman was potentially an alcoholic

with a violent temper; (4) Haley was abusing alcohol; and (5) S.S. had numerous school

absences and tardies. The parties ultimately resolved the matter, and in January 2018, the

chancellor entered a final judgment reflecting such. Haley retained sole physical custody of

1 We use initials to protect the identity of the minor child.

2 S.S., and the parties shared joint legal custody. Thomas received additional visitation, and

his child support payments were reduced from $1,031 per month to $850 per month.

¶6. In June 2018, Thomas filed another petition for contempt, modification of custody,

child support, visitation, and other relief. Thomas again alleged that Haley was abusing drugs

and was mentally and emotionally unstable. Thomas also alleged that Steelman—a married

man who was potentially an alcoholic with a violent temper—had “angry outbursts” in the

presence of S.S. In July 2018, the chancellor appointed Kimber Roten as the guardian ad

litem (GAL). The chancellor also ordered both parties to submit to drug and alcohol testing

and set a hearing for July 18, 2018. In the interim, Haley tested positive for suboxone, an

opioid withdrawal drug. She also admitted to the GAL that she previously had purchased

drugs from friends and family without a prescription. At the hearing on July 18, Haley’s

attorney informed the court that she (the attorney) had a doctor’s appointment that conflicted

and that she did not want to proceed with the hearing without a court reporter.

¶7. The next day, July 19, 2018, Thomas requested that the chancellor grant an ex parte

emergency hearing. The chancellor entered an emergency temporary custody order without

notice to Haley, which granted Thomas’ request for emergency temporary physical custody

of S.S. The chancellor set the matter for a hearing on August 17, 2018.

¶8. Shortly after, Haley filed a motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, to dissolve the ex

parte emergency order. On August 6, 2018, the chancellor granted Haley’s motion to dissolve

the emergency ex parte order and reinstated the previous provisions of the divorce decree and

final judgment.

3 ¶9. On August 22, 2018, the chancellor held a temporary hearing. Haley had tested

positive for a prescription medicine that she had not been prescribed. After questioning by

the chancellor, Haley admitted to consuming someone else’s Lortab. The chancellor awarded

Thomas temporary physical custody and terminated all child support payments. Haley was

awarded visitation.

¶10. On May 21, 2019, Thomas filed a motion to suspend visitation because Haley failed

to disclose her living arrangements and take the court-ordered drug tests. The chancellor

suspended Haley’s visitation after Thomas and the GAL expressed concern over Haley’s

erratic behavior. The chancellor further noted that Haley did not have a working phone

number, and she failed to provide her work schedule or report for drug testing as ordered by

the court.

¶11. The trial was held on October 9, 2019. The chancellor entered another temporary

order that “maintained” physical and legal custody with Thomas and visitation with Haley.

On July 2, 2020, the chancellor entered his findings of fact and conclusions of law as the

final judgment, which awarded sole physical custody of S.S. to Thomas, visitation to Haley,

and required Haley to pay child support and submit to quarterly drug tests.

¶12. Haley now appeals from the chancellor’s judgment, arguing that the chancellor erred

by (1) granting sole physical custody of S.S. to Thomas; (2) requiring her to pay child

support; and (3) requiring her to submit to quarterly drug tests.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

¶13. “The scope of review in domestic cases is limited by the substantial evidence/manifest

4 error rule. This Court will not disturb a chancellor’s findings unless they were manifestly

wrong or clearly erroneous, or the chancellor applied an erroneous legal standard.” Stewart

v. Stewart, 309 So. 3d 44, 68 (¶68) (Miss. Ct. App. 2020) (citation omitted) (quoting Lee v.

Lee, 154 So. 3d 904, 906 (¶5) (Miss. Ct. App. 2014)). “Chancellors are afforded wide

latitude in fashioning equitable remedies in domestic-relations matters, and their decisions

will not be reversed if the findings of fact are supported by substantial credible evidence in

the record.” Id. (quoting Dickinson v. Dickinson, 293 So. 3d 322, 326 (¶5) (Miss. Ct. App.

2020)). “When reviewing a chancellor’s decision, we will accept a chancellor’s findings of

fact as long as the evidence in the record reasonably supports those findings.” Id. (quoting

Mercier v. Mercier, 717 So. 2d 304

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Haley Stuckey v. Thomas Stuckey, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/haley-stuckey-v-thomas-stuckey-missctapp-2022.