Marriage of Rannebarger

2014 MT 347N

• Court: Montana Supreme Court
• Decided: December 30, 2014
• Docket: 14-0060
• Status: Published

Opinion

December 30 2014

DA 14-0060 Case Number: DA 14-0060

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

2014 MT 347N

IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF: CHRISTINA JEAN ATKINSON, f/k/a Christina Jean Rannebarger,

Petitioner and Appellant,

and

ROBERT NICHOLAS RANNEBARGER,

Respondent and Appellee.

APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Thirteenth Judicial District, In and For the County of Yellowstone, Cause No. DR 08-1274 Honorable Ingrid G. Gustafson, Presiding Judge

COUNSEL OF RECORD:

For Appellant:

Erik M. Moore, Attorney at Law, Billings, Montana

For Appellee:

Jeff A. Turner, Towe, Ball, Mackey, Sommerfeld & Turner, PLLP, Billings, Montana

Submitted on Briefs: November 6, 2014 Decided: December 30, 2014

Filed:

__________________________________________ Clerk Chief Justice Mike McGrath delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶1 Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(d), Montana Supreme Court Internal Operating

Rules, this case is decided by memorandum opinion and shall not be cited and does not

serve as precedent. Its case title, cause number, and disposition shall be included in this

Court’s quarterly list of noncitable cases published in the Pacific Reporter and Montana

Reports.

¶2 Christina Atkinson appeals from the order of the Thirteenth Judicial District Court,

Yellowstone County, granting a motion to modify a parenting plan. Christina argues that

the District Court abused its discretion by adopting the proposed parenting plan of

Robert. She maintains that the District Court failed to properly consider and apply the

statutory factors governing custody determinations and ignored evidence showing the

best interests of the children were served by residing with her. We affirm.

¶3 Christina Atkinson and Robert Rannebarger divorced in January 2009. The parties

have two minor children, T.R. and B.R. The original parenting plan named Christina as

the primary custodial parent of the children. Robert moved to Colorado in September

2009 and has remained there since.

¶4 In October 2011, Christina asked Robert to take the children to Colorado.

Christina had suffered a miscarriage and was troubled with depression and suicidal

thoughts. Under the new, informal agreement, the children visited Christina during

holidays. During a visit for Christmas in 2012, Christina decided to keep the children

and did not return them to Robert in Colorado. Christina then reinstated a claim for child

2 support with the Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED). CSED determined that

Robert was current on his support obligations.

¶5 While in her care, Christina enrolled the boys in counseling with therapist Flor

Lopez. In July 2013, Christina obtained a temporary order of protection against Robert

and included the children on the order. The basis of the order was allegations of

threatening and vulgar text messages. In October 2013, Robert moved to amend the

parties’ parenting plan.

¶6 On January 21, 2014, following a hearing, the District Court issued its Findings of

Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order in which it adopted Robert’s amended parenting

plan. The plan provides that T.R. and B.R. reside primarily with Robert in Colorado.

The children visit Christina during certain holidays and summer vacations.

¶7 We review for clear error the findings of fact underlying a district court’s decision

to modify a parenting plan. In re Klatt, 2013 MT 17, ¶ 12, 368 Mont. 290, 294 P.3d 391.

If the findings are not clearly erroneous, “we will reverse the district court’s decision

only where an abuse of discretion is clearly demonstrated.” Klatt, ¶ 12 (citations

omitted). This Court reviews de novo the issue of whether the court’s actions conform to

the statutory requirements. Klatt, ¶ 12.

¶8 A court may amend an existing parenting plan if it finds that “a change has

occurred in the circumstances and that the amendment is necessary to serve the best

interests of the child.” Section 40-4-219, MCA; In re Marriage of Oehlke, 2002 MT 79,

¶ 14, 309 Mont. 254, 46 P.3d 49. In determining the best interest of the child, the court

considers a non-exhaustive list of factors including: the wishes of the parents; the child’s

3 adjustment to home, school, and community; the mental and physical health of all

individuals involved; physical abuse or threats of physical abuse; continuity and stability

of care; and the developmental needs of the child. Section 40-4-212, MCA.

Additionally, the court may consider the effect of one parent’s refusal to allow the other

parent contact with the child. Section 40-4-219(1)(d), MCA. Although the court is not

required to make a specific finding on each of the factors, it must note the “essential and

determining” facts upon which it rests its conclusions. In re Marriage of Merriman, 247

Mont. 491, 493, 807 P.2d 1351, 1353 (1991).

¶9 The District Court’s findings are not clearly erroneous. The court found that

substantial changes had arisen due to changes in both parents’ residences, informal

modifications to the plan, and the deterioration of the parents’ relationship. While

Christina asserts that the District Court failed to make findings on the statutory factors,

the record shows otherwise. The court made multiple, separate findings on the children’s

developmental needs, Christina’s mental health, the children’s adjustment to life in

Colorado, and the possibility of physical abuse by Robert.

¶10 In making its findings, the court also considered the effect of Christina’s unilateral

choice to keep the children without consulting Robert. The Court pointed to facts

establishing that Robert had facilitated continued contact between the children and their

mother, whereas Christina had blocked contact, including on important dates such as

birthdays. While this Court is troubled by the vulgar and hostile language used in texts

between Robert and Christina, the District Court was in the best position to examine the

possibility of physical violence between the parties.

4 ¶11 Christina also argues that the District Court abused its discretion by not

considering Flor Lopez’s testimony and reports. The District Court’s Order indicates that

it considered Ms. Lopez’s testimony and that Ms. Lopez testified that she saw no safety

concerns with Robert. At the hearing, Ms. Lopez agreed that the children should

reestablish a relationship with their father.

¶12 The District Court found that placement with Robert best served the interests of

the children. The court’s findings, supported by testimony at the hearing, established that

the children thrived in Colorado, where they had many friends and family. The court also

found that B.R. had overcome developmental deficiencies while enrolled in pre-school in

Colorado and that the boys benefited from a stable home life while living with their

father.

¶13 We have determined to decide this case pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(d) of

our Internal Operating Rules, which provides for memorandum opinions. The District

Court’s decision to modify the parenting plan was not clearly erroneous and the court

adequately considered the children’s best interests in adopting Robert’s proposed

parenting plan. The District Court’s findings of fact are supported by substantial

evidence and the legal issues are controlled by settled Montana law, which the District

Court correctly interpreted.

¶14 We decline to award costs or fees.

¶15 Affirmed.

/S/ MIKE McGRATH

5 We Concur:

/S/ LAURIE McKINNON /S/ PATRICIA COTTER /S/ BETH BAKER /S/ MICHAEL E WHEAT