In the Matter of the Marriage of: Michelle Minderman & Sean Minderman

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedMay 9, 2019
Docket34829-6
StatusUnpublished

This text of In the Matter of the Marriage of: Michelle Minderman & Sean Minderman (In the Matter of the Marriage of: Michelle Minderman & Sean Minderman) 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 the Matter of the Marriage of: Michelle Minderman & Sean Minderman, (Wash. Ct. App. 2019).

Opinion

FILED MAY 9, 2019 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IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE ) OF ) No. 34829-6-III ) MICHELLE MINDERMAN, ) ) Appellant, ) ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION and ) ) SEAN MINDERMAN, ) ) Respondent. )

FEARING, J. — Michelle Minderman appeals numerous decisions and procedures

from her marital dissolution trial. We substantially affirm the dissolution court.

FACTS

Sean and Michelle Minderman married on July 19, 1997 in Spokane. The

marriage produced two children, an eight-year-old boy and a thirteen-year-old girl at the

time of a January 2016 trial. Sean and Michelle separated on March 28, 2012. We

provide the daughter a pseudonym, Mary. No. 34829-6-III In re Marriage of Minderman

Sean Minderman is a businessman and a professional bass fisherman. Sean

competes in four tournaments per year, each which requires a one week excursion. Sean

has accumulated over $500,000 in tournament winnings and sponsorships during his

career, but, at the time of trial, he no longer garnered a national ranking. Sean also owns

an optical business called Frame Factory, Incorporated. Sean’s optical company earned

$106,936 in 2011, $76,952 in 2012, $106,356 in 2013, and $87,041 in 2014.

Michelle Minderman owns a financial investment firm. She earned a net income

of $105,076 in 2012, $148,943 in 2013, and $175,909 in 2014. In 2015, her monthly net

income equaled $22,001.86.

PROCEDURE

In March 2012, Michelle Minderman filed this dissolution proceeding. She

requested primary custody of the two children with Sean Minderman to enjoy a mid-

week overnight visit and every other weekend until Monday morning. Michelle did not

then request any visitation restrictions. In May 2012, Sean petitioned for equal custody.

In July 2012, Michelle responded to Sean’s request by accusing him of reckless driving,

intoxication, illicit drug use, viewing pornography, and abuse. Michelle requested that

the court restrict Sean’s visitation time with the children.

In October 2012, the dissolution court entered a temporary parenting plan wherein

the children stayed with Michelle eight overnights and Sean six overnights in a two week

period. The court appointed a guardian ad litem, Mary Ronnestad. An arbitrator

2 No. 34829-6-III In re Marriage of Minderman

resolved the disposition of property and liabilities. The dispute concerning the parenting

plan pended for three years. In the interim, the parties abided by the October 2012

temporary parenting plan.

During the pendency of the dissolution proceeding, guardian ad litem Mary

Ronnestad periodically spoke with each child, the parents, teachers, and school

counselors. Ronnestad reviewed the two children’s medical reports. In February 2014,

Ronnestad filed a report that noted Mary desired more time with her father. After the

filing of the guardian report, Michelle Minderman alleged that Mary was suicidal and that

Mary’s counselor was ineffective.

After February 2014, Michelle Minderman reported, to Child Protective Services,

abuse of Mary by Sean. Michelle claimed that Mary found a dildo in Sean’s bathroom,

photographed the device, and sent the photo to Michelle. Ronnestad thereafter filed

another report that recommended continuation of the October 2012 parenting plan.

Michelle called the Kid’s Clinic, a pediatric care facility in Spokane, and reported Mary

as suicidal.

Trial proceeded in January 2016. Guardian ad litem Mary Ronnestad testified at

trial about the significant conflict between the parties and its effect on the children,

especially Mary. Ronnestad averred that Mary’s psychologist, Lisa Christian, discerned

no suicidal behavior in Mary.

Over the objection of Michelle Minderman, social worker Rita Zorrozua testified

3 No. 34829-6-III In re Marriage of Minderman

at trial. Zorrozua mentioned Richard Gardner’s theory of parental alienation and the

nuances and levels of “parental alienation syndrome.” Report of Proceedings (RP) at

541-46. Zorrozua knew nothing about the Minderman family.

The trial court entertained testimony from the children’s assistant school principal,

Janet Boyd. Boyd testified that Michelle informed her that Mary struggled to arrive at

school on time. Boyd thought this struggle occurred “on mom’s time.” RP at 9. Boyd

averred that she occasionally saw Sean at the school.

Melinda Mertens, Mary’s resource math teacher, testified about Mary’s grades,

reading level, and individualized education plan. According to Mertens, Michelle

involved herself more than Sean in Mary’s education.

After trial testimony, the dissolution court entered 138 findings of fact, many

which document disquieting events about the children. The court found that Michelle

Minderman “engaged in a pattern of abusive use of conflict and parental alienation.”

Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 273. Nevertheless, the trial court entered an equal parenting plan

with no restrictions on either parent. The court designated Sean the custodian:

The father is designated the custodian of the children solely for purposes of all other state and federal statutes which require a designation or determination of custody, to include the relocation statute. This designation shall not affect either parent’s rights and responsibilities under this parenting plan.

CP at 276.

4 No. 34829-6-III In re Marriage of Minderman

For purposes of calculating any child support obligation, the trial court found

Michelle’s monthly net income to be $16,152.00 and Sean’s to be $8,119.32. The

dissolution court ruled Michelle to be the obligor parent. By using the standard

calculation for child support obligations, the court ordered Michelle to monthly pay Sean

$957.60 for Mary and $774.73 for their son, for a total of $1,732.33.

During the presentment hearing on March 11, 2016, Michelle Minderman’s

counsel asked for a deviation on child support:

MS. BROWN: Your Honor, Mr. Crouse and I discussed perhaps this is better done in a formal Motion for Reconsideration. We’re essentially requesting that the Court deviate from the standard calculation because of the shared 50/50 parenting. Certainly that is within the discretion of the Court. There are plenty of funds in both households for the children. So the Court is not prohibited from deviating from standard calculations, and the worksheets we submitted yesterday showed the requested deviation based on a 50/50 residential schedule. That is within the Court’s discretion. I understand from Mr. Crouse that Mr. Minderman would like to respond to that request in a more formal way. If the Court would like to do it that way, we’re fine with doing an actual Motion for Reconsideration or we can get a decision today.

RP at 842-43. The dissolution court responded:

THE COURT: You can do it. Here’s the way I look at it, though. When the original I know Mr. Minderman at least from my memory did not file a schedule way back when temporary orders were set up, but way back when three years ago when this was originally set up, Ms. Minderman’s income was way different than what she reported to the Court. At this time, I’m not going to deviate. If you want to make a formal motion and let them respond, that would give me more time to really think about it because just of[f] the cuff three years of child support he paid to her based on the income they used her worksheets and then it’s found out that

5 No.

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