FILED JUNE 2, 2022 In the Office of the Clerk of Court WA State Court of Appeals Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION THREE
In the Matter of the Custody of: ) No. 38056-4-III ) C.S.† ) ) ) WAYNE JANKE and DORIS STRAND, ) ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION Respondents, ) ) and ) ) RONALD SIMON and TERESA SIMON, ) ) Appellants. )
PENNELL, J. — Ronald and Teresa Simon appeal from the trial court’s denial of
reconsideration of an order striking their CR 60 motion for relief from judgment and
imposing attorney fees as a CR 11 sanction. We affirm in part and reverse in part. The
order striking the CR 60 motion is affirmed but we reverse the CR 11 sanction, without
prejudice, based on insufficient findings. This matter is remanded for further proceedings.
† To protect the privacy interests of the minor child, we use their first and last name initials throughout the body of this opinion. Gen. Order 2012-1 of Division III, In re Use of Initials or Pseudonyms for Child Victims or Child Witnesses (Wash. Ct. App. June 18, 2012), https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/?fa=atc.genorders_ orddisp&ordnumber=2012_001&div=III. No. 38056-4-III In re Custody of C.S.
FACTS
Ronald and Teresa Simon are the biological parents of C.S. In 2015, Wayne Janke
and Doris Strand petitioned for nonparental custody of C.S. Extensive litigation ensued,
including the appointment of a guardian ad litem (GAL). Ultimately, in 2018 the petition
was granted and both parties were ordered to pay a share of the GAL fees.
In 2019, the Simons moved for relief from judgment under CR 60, arguing they
had newly discovered evidence as well as evidence of fraud.1 The court denied the
motion, ruling (1) the fraud alleged was not perpetrated by an opposing party, (2) the
Simons failed to make a showing of fraud, and (3) the Simons failed to show the alleged
newly discovered evidence could not have been uncovered earlier.
In 2020, the Simons filed another CR 60 motion. This motion raised several new
factual arguments concerning the alleged conspiracy against them, but shared the same
fundamental legal defects as their prior motion. In response, Doris Strand moved to strike
the Simons’s motion, asserting it was duplicative of the previous CR 60 motion. The trial
court granted the motion to strike and imposed on the Simons $2,500 in attorney fees as a
1 The Simons appear to have filed a similar motion in August 2018. See Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 3584; 1 Report of Proceedings (Apr. 12, 2019) at 31. This motion does not appear to be included in the appellate record.
2 No. 38056-4-III In re Custody of C.S.
CR 11 sanction due to the “repetitive nature” of the motion. Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 4831.
The Simons then unsuccessfully moved for reconsideration of this order.
The Simons now appeal from the trial court’s denial of reconsideration of the order
striking their CR 60 motion and imposing attorney fees as a CR 11 sanction.
ANALYSIS
Order striking the CR 60 motion
Under CR 12(f), a party may move in the trial court to strike any redundant or
immaterial portion of a pleading or motion prior to filing a responsive pleading. CR 60
sets forth the procedures governing motions for relief from judgment. A motion for
relief from judgment based on newly discovered evidence must be made within one year.
CR 60(b)(11). A motion for relief based on fraud must be made within “a reasonable
time.” Id. We review a trial court’s disposition of a CR 60 motion for abuse of discretion.
Coogan v. Borg-Warner Morse Tec Inc., 197 Wn.2d 790, 820, 490 P.3d 200 (2021).
Motions to strike under CR 12(f) are reviewed under the same standard. Oltman v.
Holland Am. Line USA, Inc., 163 Wn.2d 236, 244, 178 P.3d 981 (2008). Our case law
permits us to affirm the trial court on any basis supported by the record and the law.
LaMon v. Butler, 112 Wn.2d 193, 200-01, 770 P.2d 1027 (1989).
3 No. 38056-4-III In re Custody of C.S.
The Simons’s motion for relief from judgment was untimely under the plain terms
of CR 60. To the extent the motion was based on newly discovered evidence, it was not
filed within one year of the 2018 nonparental custody order. To the extent the CR 60
motion was based on fraud, it was not filed within a reasonable amount of time,
particularly in light of the Simons’s prior litigation.
The Simons’s motion also fails on the merits. In order to justify vacating a
judgment on the basis of newly discovered evidence, the Simons must show new
evidence:
(1) would probably change the result if a new trial were granted, (2) was discovered since trial, (3) could not have been discovered before the trial by the exercise of due diligence, (4) is material, and (5) is not merely cumulative or impeaching.
Jones v. City of Seattle, 179 Wn.2d 322, 360, 314 P.3d 380 (2013).
To obtain relief from a judgment due to fraud, a party must demonstrate fraudulent
conduct or a misrepresentation that caused the entry of the judgment such that the losing
party was prevented from fully and fairly presenting its case or defense. Lindgren v.
Lindgren, 58 Wn. App. 588, 596, 794 P.2d 526 (1990). The moving party must establish
fraud with clear and convincing evidence. Id.
The nine fraud elements are: (1) a representation of an existing fact; (2) the fact is material; (3) the fact is false; (4) the defendant knew the fact was false or was ignorant of its truth; (5) the defendant intended the plaintiff to
4 No. 38056-4-III In re Custody of C.S.
act on the fact; (6) the plaintiff did not know the fact was false; (7) the plaintiff relied on the truth of the fact; (8) the plaintiff had a right to rely on it; and (9) the plaintiff had damages.
Baddeley v. Seek, 138 Wn. App. 333, 338-39, 156 P.3d 959 (2007).
The Simons fail to point to any newly discovered evidence that is material to their
case, or any evidence of fraud. The Simons’s arguments requesting relief from judgment
are difficult to understand and appear to be based on allegations of an elaborate
conspiracy involving the court and the GAL. The Simons fail to address the elements of
fraud, do not allege fraud by an adverse party (i.e. not the court or the GAL), and fail to
describe why they were unable to discover the claimed new evidence or fraud sooner than
the time of filing. These are similar to the defects that led the trial court to deny the
Simons’s CR 60 motion in 2019. Indeed, due to the similarity of subject matter between
the two motions, the 2020 CR 60 motion can easily be interpreted as another attempt at
the failed prior motion. Thus, it was not an abuse of discretion for the trial court to rule
the Simons’s 2020 CR 60 motion was repetitive, grant the motion to strike under
CR 12(f), and deny the Simons’s subsequent motion for reconsideration.
CR 11 sanction
“[CR 11] permits a court to award sanctions, including expenses and attorney
fees, to a litigant whose opponent acts in bad faith in instituting or conducting litigation.”
5 No. 38056-4-III In re Custody of C.S.
Delany v. Canning, 84 Wn. App.
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FILED JUNE 2, 2022 In the Office of the Clerk of Court WA State Court of Appeals Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON DIVISION THREE
In the Matter of the Custody of: ) No. 38056-4-III ) C.S.† ) ) ) WAYNE JANKE and DORIS STRAND, ) ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION Respondents, ) ) and ) ) RONALD SIMON and TERESA SIMON, ) ) Appellants. )
PENNELL, J. — Ronald and Teresa Simon appeal from the trial court’s denial of
reconsideration of an order striking their CR 60 motion for relief from judgment and
imposing attorney fees as a CR 11 sanction. We affirm in part and reverse in part. The
order striking the CR 60 motion is affirmed but we reverse the CR 11 sanction, without
prejudice, based on insufficient findings. This matter is remanded for further proceedings.
† To protect the privacy interests of the minor child, we use their first and last name initials throughout the body of this opinion. Gen. Order 2012-1 of Division III, In re Use of Initials or Pseudonyms for Child Victims or Child Witnesses (Wash. Ct. App. June 18, 2012), https://www.courts.wa.gov/appellate_trial_courts/?fa=atc.genorders_ orddisp&ordnumber=2012_001&div=III. No. 38056-4-III In re Custody of C.S.
FACTS
Ronald and Teresa Simon are the biological parents of C.S. In 2015, Wayne Janke
and Doris Strand petitioned for nonparental custody of C.S. Extensive litigation ensued,
including the appointment of a guardian ad litem (GAL). Ultimately, in 2018 the petition
was granted and both parties were ordered to pay a share of the GAL fees.
In 2019, the Simons moved for relief from judgment under CR 60, arguing they
had newly discovered evidence as well as evidence of fraud.1 The court denied the
motion, ruling (1) the fraud alleged was not perpetrated by an opposing party, (2) the
Simons failed to make a showing of fraud, and (3) the Simons failed to show the alleged
newly discovered evidence could not have been uncovered earlier.
In 2020, the Simons filed another CR 60 motion. This motion raised several new
factual arguments concerning the alleged conspiracy against them, but shared the same
fundamental legal defects as their prior motion. In response, Doris Strand moved to strike
the Simons’s motion, asserting it was duplicative of the previous CR 60 motion. The trial
court granted the motion to strike and imposed on the Simons $2,500 in attorney fees as a
1 The Simons appear to have filed a similar motion in August 2018. See Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 3584; 1 Report of Proceedings (Apr. 12, 2019) at 31. This motion does not appear to be included in the appellate record.
2 No. 38056-4-III In re Custody of C.S.
CR 11 sanction due to the “repetitive nature” of the motion. Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 4831.
The Simons then unsuccessfully moved for reconsideration of this order.
The Simons now appeal from the trial court’s denial of reconsideration of the order
striking their CR 60 motion and imposing attorney fees as a CR 11 sanction.
ANALYSIS
Order striking the CR 60 motion
Under CR 12(f), a party may move in the trial court to strike any redundant or
immaterial portion of a pleading or motion prior to filing a responsive pleading. CR 60
sets forth the procedures governing motions for relief from judgment. A motion for
relief from judgment based on newly discovered evidence must be made within one year.
CR 60(b)(11). A motion for relief based on fraud must be made within “a reasonable
time.” Id. We review a trial court’s disposition of a CR 60 motion for abuse of discretion.
Coogan v. Borg-Warner Morse Tec Inc., 197 Wn.2d 790, 820, 490 P.3d 200 (2021).
Motions to strike under CR 12(f) are reviewed under the same standard. Oltman v.
Holland Am. Line USA, Inc., 163 Wn.2d 236, 244, 178 P.3d 981 (2008). Our case law
permits us to affirm the trial court on any basis supported by the record and the law.
LaMon v. Butler, 112 Wn.2d 193, 200-01, 770 P.2d 1027 (1989).
3 No. 38056-4-III In re Custody of C.S.
The Simons’s motion for relief from judgment was untimely under the plain terms
of CR 60. To the extent the motion was based on newly discovered evidence, it was not
filed within one year of the 2018 nonparental custody order. To the extent the CR 60
motion was based on fraud, it was not filed within a reasonable amount of time,
particularly in light of the Simons’s prior litigation.
The Simons’s motion also fails on the merits. In order to justify vacating a
judgment on the basis of newly discovered evidence, the Simons must show new
evidence:
(1) would probably change the result if a new trial were granted, (2) was discovered since trial, (3) could not have been discovered before the trial by the exercise of due diligence, (4) is material, and (5) is not merely cumulative or impeaching.
Jones v. City of Seattle, 179 Wn.2d 322, 360, 314 P.3d 380 (2013).
To obtain relief from a judgment due to fraud, a party must demonstrate fraudulent
conduct or a misrepresentation that caused the entry of the judgment such that the losing
party was prevented from fully and fairly presenting its case or defense. Lindgren v.
Lindgren, 58 Wn. App. 588, 596, 794 P.2d 526 (1990). The moving party must establish
fraud with clear and convincing evidence. Id.
The nine fraud elements are: (1) a representation of an existing fact; (2) the fact is material; (3) the fact is false; (4) the defendant knew the fact was false or was ignorant of its truth; (5) the defendant intended the plaintiff to
4 No. 38056-4-III In re Custody of C.S.
act on the fact; (6) the plaintiff did not know the fact was false; (7) the plaintiff relied on the truth of the fact; (8) the plaintiff had a right to rely on it; and (9) the plaintiff had damages.
Baddeley v. Seek, 138 Wn. App. 333, 338-39, 156 P.3d 959 (2007).
The Simons fail to point to any newly discovered evidence that is material to their
case, or any evidence of fraud. The Simons’s arguments requesting relief from judgment
are difficult to understand and appear to be based on allegations of an elaborate
conspiracy involving the court and the GAL. The Simons fail to address the elements of
fraud, do not allege fraud by an adverse party (i.e. not the court or the GAL), and fail to
describe why they were unable to discover the claimed new evidence or fraud sooner than
the time of filing. These are similar to the defects that led the trial court to deny the
Simons’s CR 60 motion in 2019. Indeed, due to the similarity of subject matter between
the two motions, the 2020 CR 60 motion can easily be interpreted as another attempt at
the failed prior motion. Thus, it was not an abuse of discretion for the trial court to rule
the Simons’s 2020 CR 60 motion was repetitive, grant the motion to strike under
CR 12(f), and deny the Simons’s subsequent motion for reconsideration.
CR 11 sanction
“[CR 11] permits a court to award sanctions, including expenses and attorney
fees, to a litigant whose opponent acts in bad faith in instituting or conducting litigation.”
5 No. 38056-4-III In re Custody of C.S.
Delany v. Canning, 84 Wn. App. 498, 509-10, 929 P.2d 475 (1997). The rule applies
to pro se parties as well as attorneys. See West v. Wash. Ass’n of County Officials,
162 Wn. App. 120, 136, 252 P.3d 406 (2011). We review the imposition of a CR 11
sanction for abuse of discretion. Kilduff v. San Juan County, 194 Wn.2d 859, 874,
453 P.3d 719 (2019).
The trial court here found that “[b]ased on the repetitive nature of several
successive CR (60) motions on the same grounds, CR (11) sanctions are appropriate.”
CP at 4831. The court did not explicitly find the Simons had filed their CR 60 motion
for an improper purpose such as harassment. Nor did the court find the Simons made a
baseless filing without a reasonable inquiry into law and facts.
The trial court’s finding was insufficient to support the CR 11 sanction. “[I]n
imposing CR 11 sanctions, it is incumbent upon the court to specify the sanctionable
conduct in its order.” Biggs v. Vail, 124 Wn.2d 193, 201, 876 P.2d 448 (1994). “The court
must make a finding that either the . . . [pleading, motion, or legal memorandum] is not
grounded in fact or law and the attorney or party failed to make a reasonable inquiry into
the law or facts, or the paper was filed for an improper purpose.” Id. “If a . . . [pleading,
motion, or legal memorandum] lacks a factual or legal basis, the court cannot impose
CR 11 sanctions unless it also finds that the attorney [or party] who signed and filed the
6 No. 38056-4-III In re Custody of C.S.
. . . [pleading, motion, or legal memorandum] failed to conduct a reasonable inquiry into
the factual and legal basis” of the filing. In re Jones v. A.M., 13 Wn. App. 2d 760, 768,
466 P.3d 1107 (2020) (quoting Bryant v. Joseph Tree, Inc. 119 Wn.2d 210, 220, 829 P.2d
1099 (1992)).
Because the trial court’s findings were insufficient to support the attorney fee
award as a CR 11 sanction, we reverse the sanction and remand so that the trial court
may consider whether a CR 11 sanction is appropriate in light of the aforementioned
standards. See Biggs v. Vail, 124 Wn.2d at 202 (setting forth procedure for remand on CR
11 findings).
APPELLATE ATTORNEY FEES
Doris Strand requests an award of attorney fees under RAP 18.1 for having to
defend against a frivolous appeal. Because the Simons have prevailed in part on their
appeal, we cannot find the appeal was wholly frivolous. The request for attorney fees on
appeal must be denied.
CONCLUSION
The order striking the Simons’s CR 60 motion is affirmed. The trial court’s award
of attorney fees as a sanction under CR 11 is reversed without prejudice. This matter is
remanded for further proceedings.
7 No. 38056-4-III In re Custody of C.S.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW
2.06.040.
_________________________________ Pennell, J.
WE CONCUR:
______________________________ Siddoway, C.J.
______________________________ Fearing, J.