In Re The Marriage Of: Ashley L. Kuzior v. Skipper W. Kuzior

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedAugust 27, 2019
Docket51407-9
StatusUnpublished

This text of In Re The Marriage Of: Ashley L. Kuzior v. Skipper W. Kuzior (In Re The Marriage Of: Ashley L. Kuzior v. Skipper W. Kuzior) 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
In Re The Marriage Of: Ashley L. Kuzior v. Skipper W. Kuzior, (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

August 27, 2019

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II In the Matter of the Marriage of No. 51407-9-II

ASHLEY LYNN KUZIOR,

Respondent,

and

SKIPPER WILLIAM KUZIOR, UNPUBLISHED OPINION

Appellant.

CRUSER, J. — Skipper Kuzior appeals from the trial court’s orders dissolving his marriage

with Ashley Kuzior and the trial court’s issuance of a permanent domestic violence protection

order against Skipper.1 Skipper contends that (1) the trial court erred in denying his motion to

clarify the CR 2A agreement and in placing restrictions on his visitation, (2) the trial court

demonstrated bias against him in finding that he was not credible and in scheduling a date for the

presentation of final orders, and (3) the trial court erred in awarding of attorney fees and costs to

Ashley. Skipper requests fees on appeal.

We affirm the trial court’s orders and grant Ashley’s request for attorney fees and costs on

appeal.

1 We use the parties’ first names for clarity. No. 51407-9-II

FACTS

Skipper and Ashley married in 2005 and have two daughters. In June 2016, Ashley filed

a petition for legal separation and a continuing restraining order against Skipper. Ashley also

requested that the trial court order supervised visitation and appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL).

The trial court granted Ashley’s request for a restraining order against Skipper, supervised

visitation for Skipper, and appointed a GAL. Subsequently, Ashley filed a petition for dissolution

of marriage.

The parties mediated their case in August 2017. Both parties were represented by counsel

at the mediation. Skipper and Ashley, and their respective counsel, signed a CR 2A agreement

that settled on terms of the decree of dissolution. The agreement states that the parties

“acknowledge and agree” that the agreement “fully settled the dissolution case as it relates to

division of assets and liabilities, [and] spousal maintenance.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 269. The

agreement also specified that each party would pay their own attorney fees and costs.

One week after the mediation, Skipper filed a motion to “clarify”2 the CR 2A agreement.

In his motion, Skipper asked the trial court for “[his] share” of the family businesses, accounts,

real estate, and vehicles. CP at 205. He alleged that during the mediation, the mediator was

threatening, hostile, and would not let him read the final agreement. After Skipper filed his motion

to clarify, his attorney withdrew.

2 Skipper captioned his motion as a “Motion to Clarify Altered Settlement Conference Amendment to Split All Businesses Acquired and Ran by the Respondent and Petitioner Equally as well as Any Accounts or Real Estate Automobiles.” The caption of the motion suggests that he was seeking relief from the CR 2A, not its clarification.

2 No. 51407-9-II

In response to Skipper’s motion, Ashley moved to enforce the CR 2A agreement. In

support of her motion, Ashley submitted the deposition testimony of the mediator and Skipper’s

former attorney. The mediator and Skipper’s former attorney testified that Skipper was never

threatened at the mediation, the mediator did not act “inappropriately,” and Skipper entered the

CR 2A agreement fully and voluntarily. Skipper’s former counsel testified that Skipper was aware

of all assets at issue and was informed of all possible settlement options. His counsel also testified

that he and Skipper reviewed the agreement together multiple times, going “line by line,” before

Skipper signed the agreement. CP at 260-61. The trial court denied Skipper’s motion to clarify

and granted Ashley’s motion to enforce the CR 2A agreement.

In October 2017, Skipper moved for an appointment of a new GAL or parenting

investigator. Skipper requested that the trial court appoint a new GAL because the first court-

appointed GAL did not investigate what he alleged was Ashley’s drug use, her mental health

issues, or her extended family’s criminal history. The trial court denied his motion.

The case proceeded to trial for determination of the parenting plan. Ashley also requested

that the court enter a permanent domestic violence protection order against Skipper. At trial,

Ashley presented evidence of Skipper’s long-term mental health issues, including two court-

ordered forensic psychological reports that diagnosed Skipper with “bipolar 1 disorder, manic with

psychotic features” and one court-ordered report that diagnosed Skipper with “Schizoaffective

Disorder, Manic Type.” 1 Verbatim Report of Proceedings (VRP) at 66; Ex. 39 at 14.

Ashley testified about her observations as to Skipper’s mental health throughout their

relationship. Skipper was prescribed a medication for his disorder, however Ashley testified that

he did not take his medication regularly. When Skipper did not take his medication, he stopped

3 No. 51407-9-II

sleeping, experienced bursts of energy, and became incoherent. When this happened, she and their

daughters moved out of the home.

Ashley also testified to three incidences where she feared for her safety. First, on or around

March 2016, Skipper became agitated and threw several dishes at Ashley. Skipper stopped

throwing dishes when Ashley threatened to call the police. Second, in April 2016, Ashley asked

Skipper to seek help. A discussion ensued, and Skipper “hit [Ashley] so hard that [she] felt pins

move through [her] body.” 1 VRP at 72. They were in the car with their two daughters at the

time. The court-appointed GAL also reported on the April 2016 incident. During an interview

with their daughter, the daughter disclosed to the GAL that she saw her father hit her mother in

the car while she was in the back seat. Third, Ashley feared for her safety when she attempted to

leave their home because Skipper became incoherent and blocked Ashley’s vehicle in their

driveway.

The trial court gave its oral ruling on December 14, 2017. After the trial court presented

its oral ruling, the trial court set the date for the presentation of the final pleadings. Skipper

objected to the trial court’s date on the basis that his “[d]ad is about to die at any time. . . . It’s

going to be really busy.” CP at 328. The trial court set a date and directed Skipper to contact

Ashley’s attorney or the court if “there’s a problem.” CP at 329.

On December 21, with both parties present, the trial court entered findings of fact and

conclusions of law, a dissolution decree, a parenting plan, a child support order, and a permanent

domestic violence protection order against Skipper. The trial court found that Skipper has a history

of domestic violence as defined by former RCW 26.50.010(3) (2015). The court also found that

Skipper had been diagnosed with a schizoaffective disorder and based upon his behavior at trial as

4 No. 51407-9-II

well as his litigious behavior throughout the case, he is sporadic in his use of his prescribed

medication. The court further found that Skipper’s mental health issues affect his behavior and

his ability to parent.

The trial court designated Ashley as the primary decision maker and custodian for the

children. The trial court put two “phases” to Skipper’s visitation limitations in the parenting plan.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

In Re the Marriage of Gillespie
948 P.2d 1338 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1997)
Baird v. Baird
494 P.2d 1387 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1972)
In Re Marriage of Littlefield
940 P.2d 1362 (Washington Supreme Court, 1997)
In Re the Marriage of Murray
622 P.2d 1288 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1981)
In Re Borchert
359 P.2d 789 (Washington Supreme Court, 1961)
Kruger v. Kruger
679 P.2d 961 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1984)
State v. McFarland
899 P.2d 1251 (Washington Supreme Court, 1995)
In the Matter of Marriage of Greenlee
829 P.2d 1120 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1992)
In Re the Marriage of Wehr
267 P.3d 1045 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2011)
Wilson v. Wilson
267 P.3d 485 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2011)
In Re Disciplinary Proceeding Against King
232 P.3d 1095 (Washington Supreme Court, 2010)
In Re Marriage of Fiorito
50 P.3d 298 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2002)
Buchanan v. Buchanan
207 P.3d 478 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2009)
State v. Kirkman
155 P.3d 125 (Washington Supreme Court, 2007)
Dewberry v. George
62 P.3d 525 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2003)
City of University Place v. McGuire
30 P.3d 453 (Washington Supreme Court, 2001)
State v. Thomas
83 P.3d 970 (Washington Supreme Court, 2004)
Olivia & William Herring Et Ux v. Jose & Blanca Pelayo, Et Ux
397 P.3d 125 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2017)
In Re The Marriage Of: Lance G. Rounds v. Brinetter R. Rounds
423 P.3d 895 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2018)
In re the Marriage of Littlefield
133 Wash. 2d 39 (Washington Supreme Court, 1997)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
In Re The Marriage Of: Ashley L. Kuzior v. Skipper W. Kuzior, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-the-marriage-of-ashley-l-kuzior-v-skipper-w-kuzior-washctapp-2019.