Haugen v. Simmons

2015 ND 25

• Court: North Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: February 12, 2015
• Docket: 20140261
• Status: Published

Opinion

Filed 2/12/15 by Clerk of Supreme Court

IN THE SUPREME COURT

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

2015 ND 25

Melissa J. Haugen, f/k/a

Melissa J. Simmons, Plaintiff and Appellant

v.

James M. Simmons,                                                                   Defendant and Appellee

        and

State of North Dakota, Statutory Real Party in Interest

No. 20140261

Appeal from the District Court of Grand Forks County, Northeast Central Judicial District, the Honorable Jon J. Jensen, Judge.

AFFIRMED.

Per Curiam.

Rhiannon L. Gorham, P.O. Box 6306, Grand Forks, ND 58206-6306, for plaintiff and appellant; submitted on brief.

Jacey L. Johnston, 221 South 4th Street, Grand Forks, ND 58201, for defendant and appellee; submitted on brief.

Haugen v. Simmons

[¶1] Melissa Haugen appeals from a district court judgment awarding James Simmons primary residential responsibility of their two minor children.  Haugen argues the district court erred in applying the best interest factors and in awarding primary residential responsibility to Simmons.  Simmons argues the appeal was frivolous and requests attorney fees on appeal under N.D.R.App.P. 38.  We conclude the district court’s findings on the best interest factors and its determination to award Simmons primary residential responsibility of the children were not clearly erroneous.  We summarily affirm the judgment under N.D.R.App.P. 35.1(a)(2).  Because the appeal is not frivolous, we decline to award Simmons attorney fees.

[¶2] Gerald W. VandeWalle, C.J.

Carol Ronning Kapsner

Lisa Fair McEvers

Daniel J. Crothers

Dale V. Sandstrom