In Re The Parentage And Support Of: C.m., Cassandra Weisenberger, App v. Tyler Mittge, Resp

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedApril 7, 2020
Docket51956-9
StatusUnpublished

This text of In Re The Parentage And Support Of: C.m., Cassandra Weisenberger, App v. Tyler Mittge, Resp (In Re The Parentage And Support Of: C.m., Cassandra Weisenberger, App v. Tyler Mittge, Resp) 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 Parentage And Support Of: C.m., Cassandra Weisenberger, App v. Tyler Mittge, Resp, (Wash. Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

April 7, 2020

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II In re the Parenting and Support of: No. 51956-9-II

C.M.,

Child, UNPUBLISHED OPINION CASSANDRA WEISENBERGER,

Appellant.

and

TYLER PAUL MITTGE,

Respondent.

MAXA, C.J. – Cassandra Weisenberger appeals the trial court’s order regarding the

parenting plan relating to CM, the son of Weisenberger and Tyler Mittge. The court ruled that

there was no adequate cause to schedule a hearing on Weisenberger’s motion to modify the

parenting plan, but at the same time revised certain parenting plan provisions.

We hold that (1) the trial court applied an incorrect analysis in finding no adequate cause

for a full hearing on modifying the parenting plan and (2) the trial court erred in revising certain

parenting plan provisions because the court’s ruling represented modifications rather than

clarifications of the parenting plan. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s order ruling that No. 51956-9-II

Weisenberger did not show adequate cause to modify the parenting plan and revising certain

parenting plan provisions and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

FACTS

Parenting Plan

Weisenberger and Mittge are the parents of CM. A final parenting plan for CM was

entered in Pacific County Superior Court on March 6, 2017 when CM was two years old. At the

time, Mittge had a job that required him to work out of state. His work schedule meant that he

was out of the state for weeks or months at a time.

The parenting plan provided that CM’s primary residential placement would be with

Weisenberger. Mittge’s visitation with CM was divided into three phases based on when he was

off work. Phase 1 applied when Mittge returned to Pacific County, Phase 2 applied when he was

home for more than two weeks, and Phase 3 applied when he was home for more than four

weeks.

The parenting plan also provided transportation arrangements. The exchange for

parenting time would take place at the “Raymond Police Station or another agreed upon

location.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 29. In addition, the parenting plan stated that “Lorie Mittge

shall not transport the child on pick up.” CP at 32.

Petition for Modification

A few months after the parenting plan was entered, Mittge left his out-of-state job and

moved home to Pacific County. He started working in Aberdeen in Grays Harbor County. After

leaving his job, Mittge consistently had visitation with CM every other weekend. In early 2018,

Mittge moved to Chehalis in Lewis County

2 No. 51956-9-II

In January 2018, Weisenberger filed a petition for a “minor change” of the parenting plan

under RCW 26.09.260(5). Weisenberger also filed a motion for an adequate cause determination

on the petition to change the parenting plan.

As grounds for the minor change, Weisenberger stated, “The situation of the child/ren, a

parent, or a non-parent custodian has changed substantially. . . . The current parenting/custody

order is difficult to follow because the parent who has less residential time with the children has

moved.” CP at 35. In the declaration attached to her petition, Weisenberger stated, “Since

leaving his previous job and moving to Lewis County, Mr. Mittge has consistently had visitation

every other weekend. . . . Because the current plan does not apply we’ve had to sort out

visitation on our own.” CP at 40. Weisenberger requested that the parenting plan be modified to

reflect the status quo.

The trial court heard argument on whether there was adequate cause to schedule a hearing

on Weisenberger’s petition. Weisenberger argued that there had been a substantial change of

circumstances because the parenting plan was designed for Mittge’s unique work schedule, but

he no longer worked in the out-of-state job. In addition, Mittge had moved to Lewis County and

the parenting plan only addressed when Mittge was living in Pacific County. Mittge argued that

there had been no change of circumstances and the Phase 3 scenario in the parenting plan applied

because he no longer worked out of state.

The trial court concluded that there was no adequate cause to schedule a full hearing and

denied Weisenberger’s petition to modify the parenting plan. The court stated, “I’m not going to

find adequate cause. I think he’s in Phase 3. The fact that he lives slightly outside Pacific

County doesn’t change what I see to be the intent. If he’s able to be around on a regular basis,

he’s entitled to the 50 percent [visitation].” Report of Proceedings (RP) at 29. The court also

3 No. 51956-9-II

stated that he was getting a “bad impression” of both parents. RP at 44. “You were definitely

giving me the idea that you’re trying to alienate this child from this father. . . . No ifs, ands, or

buts about that. . . . So – so that’s my impression of both of you, neither are very good.” RP at

45. The court continued, “I’m a little mystified that you could reach such a good agreement to

begin with and suddenly have it deteriorate into what I can only describe in my – or think in my

mind reasonable parents would have resolved without bringing the acrimony of these kind of

things to a courtroom.” RP at 45.

In its written order denying adequate cause, the court outlined a number of “provisions

and understandings”:

A. At the present time we will be following Phase Three as noted in paragraph 8 of the Plan, in spite of father’s present residence in Lewis County. ....

D. Transportation shall be as follows:

i. Shall occur at a midpoint location between the homes of the parties; presently at the Pe Ell Texaco Station.

ii. Father may utilize any qualified licensed and insured driver to do the exchanges.

iii. If father gives mother at least 24 hours notice, the exchange point may be changed to Galey’s in Raymond.

E. For the purpose of determining which Phase of contact we are in, in the Parenting Plan, the terms “home” or “Pacific County” shall include any residential location within 85 miles of Raymond, WA.

CP at 79-80.

Motion for Reconsideration

Weisenberger filed a motion for reconsideration. She argued that the trial court erred in

finding no adequate cause for a minor change under RCW 26.09.260(5) and improperly modified

the parenting plan.

4 No. 51956-9-II

The trial court denied Weisenberger’s motion for reconsideration. The court stated that

Weisenberger “sought a ‘minor modification’ when she was really asking for a ‘major

modification.’ ” CP at 135-36. The court ruled that Weisenberger did not qualify for a minor

change to the parenting plan under RCW 26.09.260(5) because the modification sought was for

more than 24 days and because CM no longer was residing a majority of the time with

Weisenberger.

Weisenberger appeals the trial court’s order ruling that there was no adequate cause to

schedule a hearing on her motion to modify the parenting plan and revising certain parenting

plan provisions.

ANALYSIS

A.

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