Katare v. Katare

105 P.3d 44
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedJanuary 20, 2005
Docket53231-6-I
StatusPublished

This text of 105 P.3d 44 (Katare v. Katare) 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
Katare v. Katare, 105 P.3d 44 (Wash. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

105 P.3d 44 (2004)

In re the Marriage of Lynette KATARE, Respondent,
v.
Brajesh KATARE, Appellant.

No. 53231-6-I.

Court of Appeals of Washington, Division 1.

December 20, 2004.
Publication Ordered January 20, 2005.

*45 Gregory Mann Miller, Seattle, WA, for Appellant.

Catherine Wright Smith, Edwards Sieh Smith & Goodfriend, Gordon Wilson Wilcox, Seattle, WA, for Respondent.

SCHINDLER, J.

Under RCW 26.09.191, a trial court has authority to impose limitations in a parenting plan. Brajesh Katare contends the trial court erred in adopting restrictions designed to prevent him from taking his children out of the United States and limiting his visits to a two-county area in Florida until the youngest child turns five despite its finding that the factors in RCW 26.09.191 did not apply. Brajesh also contends the court abused its discretion when it refused to order additional time with his children if he is unable to travel to Florida and the trial court erred when it required him to pay all the transportation expenses. Lynette Katare cross-appeals and argues the trial court abused its discretion in not finding Brajesh engaged in an abusive use of conflict under RCW 26.09.191(3)(e) and the trial court's findings support imposing the challenged conditions under RCW 26.09.191(3)(g).

The trial court entered inconsistent and contradictory findings regarding its concerns about the risk of abduction. Although the court concluded there was no basis for finding that the factors in RCW 26.09.191 justified imposing restrictions in the parenting *46 plan and Brajesh did not present a serious risk, the court imposed restrictions on Brajesh's visitation because of his threats to take the children to India and the irreversible consequences of abduction. We remand to the trial court to clarify its intent in imposing the passport and foreign-travel restrictions and if appropriate to enter findings to justify limitations it imposed. We conclude the provision in the parenting plan that prohibits Brajesh from removing the children from a two-county area in Florida was an abuse of discretion. We reverse that restriction and remand to amend the parenting plan to allow Brajesh to take the children to Orlando. We affirm the trial court's decision to deny Brajesh's request for make up time. We remand for the trial court to clarify its intent and if appropriate amend the child support order to include findings that support a deviation requiring Brajesh to pay the travel expenses.

FACTS

Lynette and Brajesh Katare were married on November 25, 1995, in Clearwater, Florida, and have two children, Annika, born May 27, 2000, and Rohan, born September 20, 2001.[1] On July 22, 2002, after approximately seven years of marriage, Lynette filed a petition for dissolution.

Brajesh Katare was born and raised in India. He moved to Florida in 1989 to obtain a master's degree. All of his family members live in India. Lynette Katare was born and raised in Florida, and most of her family lives in Florida. Lynette and Brajesh met in Florida in 1992. Lynette was a student and Brajesh was employed in the computer industry. After Lynette and Brajesh married, they continued to live in Florida and in 1996, Lynette earned a master's in business administration. Both Lynette and Brajesh are very close to their families and maintained close contact with them during their marriage, including visits with Lynette's family in Florida, Brajesh's family visiting from India, and Lynette and Brajesh visiting Brajesh's family in India.

Lynette and Brajesh relocated to Washington State in 1999 when Microsoft hired Brajesh. Lynette did not want to move to Washington and leave her family and friends. Brajesh insisted they move and Lynette eventually agreed. Lynette also worked for Microsoft in Washington until she became pregnant with Annika.

Brajesh's job with Microsoft required a great deal of travel.[2] In 2002, he sought a different position within Microsoft because a back injury made traveling difficult. In April 2002, Microsoft offered Brajesh a position in Florida. Brajesh did not accept the job offer. In May 2002, when Microsoft offered Brajesh a two year position in India to supervise local operations, he accepted.

Brajesh and Lynette gave different accounts about the decision to accept the position and move to India. Lynette said Brajesh accepted the job before discussing it with her. She said she expressed concerns about security in India, being isolated and the children's heath. According to Lynette, when she expressed her objections and concerns, Brajesh became very angry and threatened her. Lynette said Brajesh told her he would go to India and take the children with or without her and he would relocate even if it meant divorce. At one point, Brajesh told Lynette she could stay and he would take the children to India.

According to Brajesh, he was excited about the job in India because it was the best option for him in terms of professional advancement and avoiding extensive travel. He said he was frustrated with Lynette's unwillingness to go because he thought some of her concerns were not valid. He denied threatening to take the children to India without her.

As the deadline to move to India in September 2002 got closer, Lynette and Brajesh fought more about the move. In July 2002, Brajesh went on a two-week business trip to India to prepare for the family's move. While Brajesh was gone, Lynette filed for dissolution and obtained an ex parte restraining order. In support of the restraining *47 order, Lynette told the court Brajesh threatened to take the children to India. After Brajesh returned, he and Lynette agreed to a temporary parenting plan that required Lynette and a court-approved supervisor to attend the twice-weekly visits with the children and Brajesh at specific locations.[3] Lynette and Brajesh also agreed to appoint Margo Waldroup to conduct a parenting assessment and make recommendations regarding a parenting plan.

In October 2002, Lynette filed a notice of her intent to relocate with the children to Florida. After Brajesh objected, the relocation decision was postponed to the dissolution trial in June 2003.

In fall 2002, Waldroup completed her parenting assessment and submitted a report with her recommendations. In Waldroup's opinion, the children were close to both parents but they were closer to Lynette as the primary caregiver. Waldroup's report included an extensive discussion of the threats to abduct the children and the risk of abduction. While Brajesh denied making threats, Waldroup stated Lynette's allegation that Brajesh threatened to abduct the children was corroborated by two witnesses. But in Waldroup's opinion, no evaluation could predict whether Brajesh would abduct the children.

Waldroup recommended that the twice-weekly visitation schedule established in the temporary parenting plan continue for a few months before adding overnight visits, and that Lynette no longer attend the visits.

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