Marriage of Callister CA2/7

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 13, 2014
DocketB242819
StatusUnpublished

This text of Marriage of Callister CA2/7 (Marriage of Callister CA2/7) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Marriage of Callister CA2/7, (Cal. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

Filed 1/13/14 Marriage of Callister CA2/7 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION SEVEN

In re Marriage of LISA and KEVIN B242819 CALLISTER. (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. BD377699)

KEVIN CALLISTER,

Respondent,

v.

LISA CALLISTER,

Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Elizabeth Feffer, Judge. Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded. Paula S. Glickstein for Appellant. Law Office of Anthony D. Zinnanti and Anthony D. Zinnanti for Respondent.

____________________________________ Appellant Lisa Callister (Lisa) and Kevin Callister (Kevin) were married1 and their son Chase was born in March 2000. In October 2002, Kevin filed a petition for marital dissolution. On August 15, 2003, an order of marital dissolution was entered. Lisa appeals from a post-judgment order made on January 23, 2012, ordering her, inter alia, to pay Kevin’s attorneys fees of $45,000, travel expenses for Chase, and costs of a child custody evaluation. We affirm in part, reverse in part and remand. FACTUAL & PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Lisa and Kevin were awarded joint and physical custody of Chase with a 50 percent time share. Lisa moved to Utah in March 2011. Chase was then attending fifth grade in public school in California, where Kevin lived with his new wife and baby daughter. Kevin asked Lisa to allow him to enroll Chase in a private school in Thousand Oaks and offered to pay the tuition himself. On May 13, 2011, Kevin filed an ex parte application for an OSC ( hereafter referred to as the May OSC) requesting additional custodial time and a psychological evaluation of Chase. A child custody evaluation was ordered and was performed by Dr. Gibbs. The parties each paid half of Dr. Gibbs’ fee. Kevin also had a psychologist of his own choosing, Dr. Suzanne Dupee, conduct an evaluation of Chase. The issues raised in the May OSC were heard on October 27, 2011. Lisa testified at the hearing about her relationship with Chase and the amount of time she spent with him. She testified about Chase’s delicate emotional state. She claimed that Kevin placed Chase in a private school and took him on a cruise against her wishes. She testified she left her job in California because of a fear that she would lose her job due to an impending merger by her employer. She stated she had a job offer in Utah, moved, and then the job offer was withdrawn. Upon cross-examination by Kevin’s counsel, she admitted writing a letter of resignation to her employer which cited an eating disorder and

1 There is no indication in the record of the date they were married.

2 conflicts with other employees, but did not state her fear of the merger. She also admitted that she had been arrested in January 2011 and that the job offer in Utah had been withdrawn due to the arrest. Dr. Gibbs’ report was submitted to the court. Counsel for Kevin argued that Lisa was not truthful in her examination by Dr. Gibbs and that had Dr. Gibbs known the true facts he would have reached different conclusions. Counsel also alleged that Lisa had an additional arrest in 2001. The court then ordered the remainder of hearing closed and the transcript sealed in the best interests of Chase pursuant to Family Code section 214. The court made factual findings regarding custody of Chase, but those findings were made under seal. It reserved ruling on the attorney fees and costs for the custody evaluation and set a hearing date in December 2011. On November 23, 2011, Kevin filed an application for an OSC for modification of child support (hereinafter referred to as the November OSC). He requested that Lisa pay him child support and Chase’s travel expenses to Utah. He requested attorney fees in the amount of “$55,000 plus” and costs. Kevin stated in a supporting declaration that he was laid off from his prior job in biotech pharmaceuticals in April 2009 and that he now operates his own business teaching music and swim lessons. Chase was enrolled in a private school near Kevin’s home. Kevin agreed to pay Chase’s tuition. Kevin filed an Income and Expense Declaration showing a net monthly income of $629.20. Lisa filed an opposition to the November OSC, citing Kevin’s affluent lifestyle. She requested more custodial time with Chase in Utah, and for Kevin to share in the travel costs. Lisa submitted an Income and Expense declaration showing $10,000 salary per month and debts of $90,000. On December 1, 2011, Kevin filed a response to Lisa’s brief, claiming inter alia, that he was forced to bring the May OSC to obtain court orders regarding psychological treatment for Chase. He agreed to modifications to the custody schedule, but claimed the

3 custody evaluation was necessitated by Lisa’s move to Utah and that she should pay for Dr. Gibbs’ fee. The December 2011 hearing date was continued until January 23, 2012. On January 11, 2012, Lisa filed a responsive declaration stating that she would consent to sharing the costs of Chase’s travel but that she did not consent to private school tuition. She argued that Kevin had the capacity to earn more based upon his education and prior job experience and that public school would be better for Chase. On January 23, 2012, Lisa’s counsel was not present due to a death in the family and substitute counsel appeared. Lisa was also not present. The court agreed not to take evidence and to issue temporary rulings on the issues of custody and visitation until the next hearing. Kevin’s counsel then indicated that he would be making a supplemental request for attorneys fees. The court suggested that Kevin’s counsel then file a supplemental declaration. However, Lisa’s substitute counsel then stated, “I would suggest that the court make orders today. I don’t see the need to drag the case on and incur more fees. . . . I don’t think any notice to counsel would have made today any less important. . . .” The court then proposed the parties each submit pleadings because “[t]hat way it levels the playing field since [Lisa’s] counsel is not here.” Lisa’s substitute counsel stated, “I would ask we submit on the paperwork, your Honor. I think that will reduce fees for everyone and terminate this matter which is the goal.” The court then stated, “So there won’t be any argument. Some of these are reserved issues left over and were not decided after the child custody evaluation hearing,” that is, the custody schedule, the costs of the custody evaluation, child support and attorney fees and costs. The court then referred to the closed hearings without going into specifics. It did refer to Lisa’s lack of candor about the reasons for her move to Utah, and that Lisa had deliberately misled the child custody evaluator by giving false answers and fabricating information. It considered the parties’ income and expense declarations and noted the disparity between Lisa’s and Kevin’s income. The court then ordered, inter alia, that Lisa pay all travel expenses for Chase, reasoning that Lisa’s move was in bad faith, that Lisa chose to leave a well-paying job in

4 Los Angeles, and that it would be inequitable to shoulder Kevin with the burden of travel costs. It ordered Kevin to pay for the private school tuition. It declined to impute minimum wage to Kevin, stating “[T]his is a child who needs, or has needed psychological attention and mental health counseling.

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