Puett v. Miller

2001 OK CIV APP 43, 23 P.3d 979, 72 O.B.A.J. 1222, 2001 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 16, 2001 WL 410697
CourtCourt of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedMarch 16, 2001
DocketNo. 93,760
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2001 OK CIV APP 43 (Puett v. Miller) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Puett v. Miller, 2001 OK CIV APP 43, 23 P.3d 979, 72 O.B.A.J. 1222, 2001 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 16, 2001 WL 410697 (Okla. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinions

OPINION

GARRETT, J:

{1 Appellant, Brian Miller, and Appellee, Tracy Puett, are the natural parents of A.M., their daughter, born October 21, 1992. Appellant and Appellee were never married. A paternity action established Appellant as the father, and a Decree of Paternity was filed on September 17, 1998. Appellee was awarded custody. Appellant was granted visitation and was ordered to pay child support. Appellant later filed a motion to modify custody. He alleged: Appellee failed to provide a stable home environment; she leaves AM. with family or friends for extended periods of time; her income is not adequate to provide for the needs of A.M.; she has placed A.M. and herself in possible physical danger; and, she is constantly moving, causing Appellant to be unable to have consistent visitation. Appellant has employment, is able to provide a stable home environment, and it would be in the best interests of A.M. to place custody in Appellant. Prior to the court's ruling on Appellant's motion, Appellee made allegations that Appellant had sexually abused A.M.

2 The court rendered an "interim order" on March 3,1 which was to be valid until July 6, 1998. The court found that a permanent, substantial and material change of conditions existed which affected the best interest of the child, and the temporal, moral and mental welfare of A.M. would be better if the current custody arrangement was changed. The court ordered a custody arrangement in which the parties would alternate custody every seven days. The court found Appellee was involved with John Keenan, who had physically abused her in A.M.'s presence. The court also found Appellee had obtained a protective order against Keenan, but that she reconciled with him and dismissed the protective order after he was incarcerated despite his threats against her and A.M. The court also found Appellee had allowed Keenan to care for A.M. after the alleged abuse.

13 In the order, the parties were ordered, inter alia, to complete eight weeks of parenting classes, not to smoke, use drugs or al[981]*981cohol in A.M.'s presence, and not to use derogatory nicknames for A.M. Additionally, Appellee was ordered not to have men over during her periods of custody, to undergo individual therapy for anger management and to deal with problems that arose in her childhood. The court ordered A.M. was to have therapy, "with the cost not covered by insurance divided according to the child support guidelines." The parties were also ordered not to use corporal punishment on A.M. and not to allow others to do so, Le., the "wife, husband, or significant other". The court found the evidence from Detective Steven Bales, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services and Dr. Leslie Barnes showed there had been no sexual abuse by Appellant.

T4 Judge Clancy Smith, who issued the March 3, 1998 order, later recused herself from the case because Appellant's mother became the judge's employee. A judge from a different county, Judge Charles Humphreys, III, was assigned to the case. On February 25, 1999, the court ruled on the motion to modify. An order, not filed until August 19, 1999, recited the March 3, 1998, "interim order" had been issued by Judge Clancy Smith, who found the standards of Gibbons v. Gibbons2 had been proven by Appellant. The order also recited that Judge Smith granted "joint custody" of A.M. to the parties and divided time with the child evenly. Additionally, the court found the evidence presented showed the joint custody arrangement was not workable, nor in A.M.'s best interest. The court awarded primary physical custody to Appellee.

15 Appellant filed a motion for new trial, which was denied. For reversal, Appellant contends:

1. The trial court's decision to grant Ap-pellee custody of the child was erroneous, considering that Judge Smith previously granted Appellant's motion to modify custody.
2. The court's decision to grant Appellee custody is not supported by fact.

'I 6 Appellant first contends the facts relating to custody and the best interests of A.M., as determined in the March 3, 1998 interim order, are conclusive and may not be relit-igated. Appellant argues that the court may modify its previous order only if new evidence is presented alleging facts unknown at the time of the previous order, citing Stewart v. Stewart, 1980 OK 160, 619 P.2d 606. However, in the instant case, the March 3, 1998 order was specifically termed an "interim order", effective only until July 6, 1998. See also 483 0.8. Supp.1998 § 112(A)(8), Care and Custody of Children, identical to the current statute, 483 0.8. Supp.2000 § 112(A)(3), which provides that the court may modify or change any custody order whenever cireum-stances make the change proper, either before or after final judgment. The court obviously intended to order joint custody only on a short term basis, followed by a review within approximately 120 days. Included as a finding of fact in the order was that Appellant had not had A.M. in his care for any extended period of time. The court was concerned about Appellant's lack of experience in caring for a child, and obviously had reservations about Appellee as well. The order shows that at that time, the court found a material change in cireumstances had been shown and that a change in the existing arrangement was necessary, to be followed by a review of the situation at a later date.

17 Since the entry of the interim order, Appellant obtained a divorce after a brief marriage and returned to live with his parents. He had steady employment and was going to college part-time, one night per week. He testified his father took A.M. to school because he had to be at work at 6:80 am. Appellant testified he picked A.M. up after school everyday at 3:80. Appellant tes[982]*982tified that he sometimes used corporal punishment, ie., spanking with a paddle, but it was only one swat with mild force as is appropriate for a six-year old. He also restricted her privileges as a form of punishment. He testified he believed Appellee also used corporal punishment.

T8 Appellee had remained in the same employment since the entry of the interim order, and was purchasing a residence, formerly owned by her grandmother, on a contract for deed arrangement. She testified she no longer lived with her allegedly abusive boyfriend. She stated that during her week of custody, she spent time only with her daughter and did not see her adult friends, although her brother and his friends would sometimes come to her home. She testified she took her daughter to school each morning and picked her up after she got off work. She denied using corporal punishment on her daughter, although she stated Appellant uses it. Appellee stated A.M.'s teacher told her that A.M. had problems with the joint custody living arrangements.

19 A change in custody will not be disturbed on appeal unless it is so clearly against the weight of the evidence as to constitute an abuse of discretion. Coget v. Coget, 1998 OK CIV APP 164, 966 P.2d 816, citing David v. David, 1969 OK 164, 460 P.2d 116. Both parties testified they had performed every requirement ordered by the court in the interim order.3 Testimony conflicted as to A.M.'s preferences as to the living arrangement. Appellee said AM. did not like the joint custody living arrangement, but Dr. Barnes, a licensed psychologist who testified about her observations of A.M. and both parents, testified A.M. said she thought it was working out just fine. She did say A.M.

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Bluebook (online)
2001 OK CIV APP 43, 23 P.3d 979, 72 O.B.A.J. 1222, 2001 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 16, 2001 WL 410697, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/puett-v-miller-oklacivapp-2001.