In Re the Marriage of Smith

7 P.3d 1012, 1999 WL 976630

• Court: Colorado Court of Appeals
• Decided: February 3, 2000
• Docket: 97CA2202
• Status: Published

Opinions

Opinion by

Judge TAUBMAN.

In this action for retroactive payment of child support, third-party respondent, Charles Ames (father), appeals the order of the trial court awarding money damages to Donald Robert Smith (husband) as reimbursement for his past support of the children of father and Loretta Ruth Smith (wife). We affirm.

This third-party proceeding arose under the Uniform Parentage Act (UPA), § 19-4-101, et seq., C.R.8.1999, in connection with the dissolution of the marriage of husband and wife. Husband petitioned the court for a declaration as to his paternity of the three minor children born during the marriage. As grounds, husband claimed to be the children's natural father, but averred that wife had informed him that all three of the children were fathered by another man. Thereafter, wife named respondent as the putative father and requested that he be joined as a party. The court granted the wife's request.

Shortly after wife filed her motion to join father, husband filed a motion seeking reimbursement of past child support from the father or any other individual ultimately determined to be the children's biological father. Husband sought to be reimbursed for child support in an amount equal to his contributions toward the cost of raising the children since their birth Husband's motion remained pending while the parties and the children received genetic testing. The test results established the biological paternity of father.

The trial court then considered the merits of husband's motion for reimbursement and determined that he could recover the support he had previously provided to father's children. After an evidentiary hearing, the court entered an additional order finding that husband's claim of reimbursement was timely under the general two-year statute of limitations set forth in § 13-80-102(1)@), C.R.S. 1999, and that he was entitled to receive an award for $19,929.40 as damages. That amount was determined based on application of the child support guidelines and husband's testimony concerning his actual expenses in raising the children. The court also awarded attorney fees to husband in the amount of $3,436, as well as his costs for the genetic testing.

I. Statute of Limitations

In challenging the court's rulings, father first contends that husband failed to file his claim within the two-year limitations period provided by § 18-80-102(1)(i). We conclude that husband's claim was timely.

Father maintains that husband's claim is subject to the general two-year limitations provision which applies to actions not governed by a specific limitations period. Inasmuch as the parties have not raised the applicability of any other statutes of limitations, such as those provided in the UPA, we consider only whether husband's action survives the application of the two-year limitations provisions. See D'Amico v. Smith, 42 Colo. App. 869, 600 P.2d 84 (1979) (application of a statute of limitations that is not pled is waived).

The commencement of the statutory period for filing the claim at issue here depends upon when the action acerued pursuant to § 183-80-108(8), C.R.9S.1999, which provides that:

A cause of action for losses or damages not otherwise enumerated in this article shall be deemed to accrue when the injury, loss, damage, or conduct giving rise to the cause of action is discovered or should have been discovered by the exercise of reasonable diligence.

The rule of discovery, as this test is generally known, involves an inquiry into when the party bringing the action acquired knowledge of or should have reasonably discovered the essential facts, rather than the applicable legal theory. See Trimity Broadcasting of Denver, Inc. v. City of Westminster, $48 P.2d 916 (Colo.1993); Winkler v. Rocky Mountain Conference of Umited Methodist Church, 923 P.2d 152 (Colo.App. 1995).

Only when the evidence clearly shows that a party's discovery of the pertinent facts occurred or should have occurred upon a particular date can the issue be decided as a matter of law. Gavend v. Mailman, 946 P.2d 558 (Colo.App.1997). Otherwise, such issue presents a question of fact. Winkler v. Rocky Mountain Conference of United Methodist Church, supra.

Here, the court found that wife had informed husband he was not the natural father of the children in October 1998 and that, prior to that time, he believed he was their biological father and had no reason to think otherwise. The court also found that husband initially attributed wife's claim to her anger concerning the dissolution of marriage. The testimony in the record supports these findings.

Further, it is undisputed that husband did not know of father's identity until wife named him in her motion to join father as a third party. The trial court relied upon that fact to determine that husband's cause of action did not accrue until that motion was filed in April 1994.

Although father contends that husband did not bring this action until he submitted his trial brief on July 22, 1997, the record shows that his initial motion requesting reimbursement of paid child support was filed on May 3, 1994, well within the asserted two-year period. Therefore, we conclude that the trial court properly determined that husband's claim was not barred under the general two-year statute of limitations.

II. Retroactive Child Support

Father next contends that the UPA does not permit the collection of child support retroactively. We disagree.

Although proceedings to establish and enforce child support obligations operate only prospectively under the Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act, § 14-10-101, et seq., C.R.S. 1999, the UPA vests authority and jurisdiction in the trial court to permit the recovery of past child support. In re Custody of Garcia, 695 P.2d 774 (Colo.App.1984). See also People in Interest of LW., 756 P.2d 392 (Colo. App.1988)(the question of child support in a paternity proceeding involves both past and future support).

As § 19-4-116(8)(a), C.R.S.1999, provides, a judgment or order determining paternity "may contain any other provision directed against the appropriate party to the proceeding concerning the duty of support, the recovery of child support debt pursuant to section 14-14-104 ... or any other matter in the best interest of the child." Section 19-4-116(4), C.R.8.1999, further provides, in pertinent part:

The court ... may enter an order directing the father to pay for support of the child, in an amount as may be determined by the court ... to be reasonable under the circumstances, for a time period which occurred prior to the entry of the order establishing paternity. The court may limit the father's liability for past support of the child to the proportion of the expenses already incurred that the court deems just. (emphasis added)

Father argues that the reference in § 19-4-116(8) to § 14-14-104, C.R.9.1999, which concerns child support debt based upon prior payments of public assistance, restricts the right to obtain reimbursement for past child support to county departments of social services. We are not so persuaded. Statutes must be given effect according to their plain and ordinary meaning. People in Interest of R.T.L., 780 P.2d 508 (Colo.1989).

No reference to § 14-14-104 appears in § 19-4-116(4), and that provision does not contain any language that limits the right of reimbursement to governmental entities. In fact, the supreme court has recognized that the right to obtain past support may be asserted by the mother of the child. See People in Interest of A.A.T, 191 Colo. 494, 554 P.2d 802 (1976). Moreover, this court has previously determined that the discretion to reduce a father's Hability applies only to the reimbursement of past support provided by a child's custodian and not to an award under § 14-14-104, which, pursuant to the dictates of the version of that statute, as it existed before 1998, could equal or exceed the amount of public assistance paid. See People in Interest of A.AV., 815 P.2d 997 (Colo.App.1991). Consequently, the interpretation urged by father would render superfluous the specific power granted the court in § 19-4-116(4) to limit a father's liability for past support.

Also, a plain reading of the clauses of § 19-4-116, C.R.S.1999 quoted above indicates that the statute was intended to give trial courts broad discretion in enforcing it. These clauses vest the trial court with broad discretion concerning the establishment of liability for and the amount of retroactive child support.

Our conclusion that a father may be required to pay child support retroactive to the birth of the child under the UPA is consistent with the result reached by courts in other jurisdictions.

Interpreting the Wyoming equivalent of § 19-4-116(8)(a), the Wyoming Supreme Court held in Ellison v. Walter ex rel. Walter, 834 P.2d 680 (Wyo.1992) that a trial court possesses the authority to issue support orders retroactive to the date of a child's birth in paternity/support actions initiated by a state social services agency for the reimbursement of public assistance. The Ellison court also determined that retroactive child support orders should be the rule, rather than the exception. Nothing in the analysis by the Ellison court limits its holding to cireumstances in which a state is seeking reimbursement of public assistance.

The Ellison court reasoned that, because the Wyoming statute allowed a trial court to "reach back to expenses incurred during the mother's pregnancy and confinement," it followed logically that a trial court should have the authority to provide for expenses incurred to support a child who resulted from the pregnancy. Ellison v. Walter ex rel. Walter, supra, 834 P.2d at 684.

Here, § 19-4-116(8)(a) coritains identical language concerning the payment for the mother's "pregnancy and confinement," and thus, we agree with the Ellison court's reasoning. See also J.A.W. v. D.M.E., 591 A.2d 844 (D.C.App.1991) (allowing award of retroactive child support to mother); Mason v. Reiter, 564 So.2d 142 (Fla.App.1990) (no abuse of discretion to order retroactive support to mother, even where mother did not request such support); Weaver v. Chester, 195 Ga.App. 471, 393 S.E.2d 715 (1990) (father liable to mother for child support for period prior to paternity adjudication, during which time mother had supported child without the benefit of public assistance); State ex rel. Coleman v. Clay, 805 S.W.2d 752 (Tenn.1991) (under statute similar to § 19-4-116(8)(a), juvenile court had discretion to order retroactive support back to date of child's birth).

Other courts have similarly held that a father may have a duty to reimburse a stepparent who provides support for a child during the period in which paternity has not been established.

In Mougey v. Salzwedel, 401 N.W.2d 509 (N.D.1987), in a situation factually similar to the one before us, the court held that the stepfather had a cause of action against the natural father for reimbursement for support. See also Richard P. v. Superior Court, 202 Cal.App.3d 1089, 249 Cal.Rptr. 246 (1988) (allowing cause of action for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses by stepfather where stepfather believed that he was natural father of children).

In Anonymous Wife v. Anonymous Husband, 153 Ariz. 573, 739 P.2d 794 (1987), the court held that the biological father had an obligation to support the child even where the husband was aware that the child was not his, but nonetheless elected to support the child. The court reasoned that the law implies a promise by the irresponsible parent to reimburse those who provide support for the child. See also Stat v. Porter, 314 A.2d 172 (Del.1973) (allowing stepfather a cause of action for reimbursement against natural father where stepfather was aware that children were not his biological children). But cf. Drescher v. Morgan, 251 S.W.2d 173 (Tex.Civ.App.1952) (stepfather not entitled to reimbursement from biological father where stepfather knew he was not biological father and elected to support child).

To the extent that father argues that husband was the presumed father of the children, and thus should not be entitled to reimbursement for past child support, father did not raise that argument until his reply brief in this appeal. Therefore, such argument is not properly before this court, and we do not address it. See People v. Czemerynski, 786 P.2d 1100 (Colo.1990) (issue not properly before the court where defendant did not raise the argument at trial or in the opening brief, but raised it for the first time only in the reply brief).

We thus conclude that an action for reimbursement of child support expenses incurred by husband from the dates of each child's birth may be brought by husband under the UPA.

III. Due Process

Father additionally contends that requiring him to pay retroactive child support deprives him of due process because he lacked notice of his paternity prior to his joinder in these proceedings. We also reject this contention.

Because father's argument appears to be predicated upon both procedural and substantive due process, we address both contentions.

Procedural due process involves the manner in which state action occurs and requires notice and an opportunity for a hearing. People v. Garlotte, 958 P.2d 469 (Colo.App.1997). Substantive due process, in turn, prohibits the government from engaging in conduct which is arbitrary, capricious, or irrational, regardless of the procedures used to implement it. Sundheim v. Board of County Commissioners, 904 P.2d 1337 (Colo.App.1995).

Father's procedural due process argument is predicated on his contention that, because he lacked notice of his paternity prior to the commencement of these proceedings, he lacked notice and an opportunity to be heard for purposes of procedural due process. In making such argument, however, father confuses the element of "notice" contained in the requirements for procedural due process with his alleged lack of notice of paternity. The requirement of notice under the test for procedural due process is that of being provided with actual knowledge that a governmental entity or official intends to take some action against an individual or entity to terminate or limit a property or liberty interest.

Here, father concedes that he was provided with notice of these proceedings and, within these proceedings, afforded an opportunity to dispute husband's contention that he could be ordered to pay retroactive child support. Accordingly, there is no basis for father's procedural due process argument.

Rather, father's argument is more properly characterized as a substantive due process contention that he was deprived of fundamental fairness by the court's imposition of liability on him for retroactive child support before he was aware that he was the biological father of the children.

For government action to violate substantive due process, it must be arbitrary, capricious, or irrational such that no articulated basis for the decision bears any rational relationship to a legitimate governmental interest. See Sundheim v. Board of County Commissioners, supra. Such is not the case here.

In considering a constitutional challenge to the statutory predecessor to § 19-4-116, the supreme court, in People in Interest of S.P.B., 651 P.2d 1213, 1217 (Colo.1982), articulated the governmental interests in obtaining child support from parents pursuant to the Uniform Parentage Act, stating that:

The statutory presumption of a shared parental obligation of child support protects three critical interests: the interest of the child in receiving adequate support, the interest of the state in ensuring that children not become its wards, and the interest of the parents in being free from governmental intrusion into the intimate sphere of family life.

See Abrams v.. Connolly, 781 P.2d 651 (Colo.1989) (child has legal right to support from both parents, and both parents have a continuing duty to provide reasonable support until child's emancipation).

In light of these governmental interests, it cannot be said that the application of § 19-4-116 to father violated his right to substantive due process.

IV. Equitable Estoppel

We also reject father's argument that the doctrine of equitable estoppel precludes husband from bringing his claim for reimbursement.

The party asserting an estoppel claim must demonstrate that he or she reasonably relied to his or her detriment upon the acts or representations of the other person and that he or she had no knowledge or convenient means of knowing the facts. In re Marriage of Dennin, 811 P.2d 449 (Colo.App.1991). Ordinarily, the doctrine will be applied only in certain limited circumstances such as uncompleted adoption proceedings. In re Marriage of Barone, 895 P.2d 1075 (Colo.App.1994).

Here, despite father's claim that husband knew his paternity of the eldest child was questionable prior to marrying wife, husband testified to the contrary. Further, father claimed no reasonable reliance other than his ignorance. Nothing in the record indicates that husband affirmatively led father to believe he was relieved of any duty to support the children. Consequently, we conclude the trial court properly determined that husband was not equitably estopped from seeking reimbursement of his child support expenses. See Mougey v. Salzwedel, supra (estoppel not applicable in situation where stepfather seeks reimbursement for support from natural father because stepfather was unaware that child was not his biological child).

V. Application of Child Support Guidelines

Finally, father asserts that the trial court erred in determining the amount of damages by basing its decision on the child support guidelines set forth in § 14-10-115, C.R.S.1999, and on husband's testimony. Again, we disagree.

A party cannot recover damages which are uncertain or speculative. Nelson v. Lake Canal Co., 644 P.2d 55 (Colo.App.1981). However, a party need not prove damages with mathematical certainty. A monetary award of damages may be based upon evidence which is sufficient to allow the trier of fact to determine an amount which will adequately compensate a party. See Great West Food Packers, Inc. v. Longmont Foods Co., 636 P.2d 1331 (Colo.App.1981).

Here, the trial court concluded that the fact of damages was certain. There was no dispute that husband and mother had supported the children from their birth through November 1998, and it was also not disputed that father had not supported the children during this period.

Accordingly, husband sought to be reimbursed for his actual expenses in raising the three children. In support of his claim for damages, he presented evidence, through an expert, of his income and that of his wife during the relevant period. His expert used this information to determine the amount of child support for which husband would have been liable pursuant to the child support guidelines had he been required to pay child support. Also, husband testified about the cost of raising the children during the relevant period.

The trial court concluded that both the child support guidelines and husband's testimony regarding the cost of raising the children were reasonable bases for estimating the amount of damages here. Accordingly, after concluding that husband had contributed approximately fifty percent of the cost of raising the children, the trial court averaged the amounts derived from the child support guidelines and from husband's testimony and concluded that the amount of damages to be awarded to husband was $19,929.

We agree that use of the child support guidelines was an appropriate method to determine a reasonable amount of husband's damages. See §§ 19-4-129 and 19-4-116(6)(k), C.R.S.1999 (child support guidelines apply to child support obligations established or modified in proceedings under the UPA). We also agree with the trial court that husband's testimony and documentary proof as to his and wife's respective incomes and expenses were adequate evidence to support the trial court's calculation of damages.

Finally, we note that, although § 19-4-116(4) provides that "the court may limit the father's liability for past support of the child to the proportion of the expenses already incurred that the court deems just," father does not argue on the basis of this statute or a disparity in income of the parties that he should have been liable for a lesser amount of damages. See e.g., J.A.W. v. D.M.E., supra (father not required to reimburse mother for unreasonable expenses such as birthday party with 65 guests, or trip to Disneyland).

Moreover, to the extent that father contends that the amount of damages should have been lower based upon the doctrine of equitable estoppel, we have concluded that the trial court properly rejected such argument. To the extent that father relies upon the doctrine of unjust enrichment for his contention, the trial court rejected his contention and father does not raise this issue on appeal.

The order is affirmed.

Judge ROY concurs. Judge ROTHENBERG concurs in part and dissents in part.