Rivero v. Rivero

195 P.3d 328, 2008 WL 4774625
CourtNevada Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 30, 2008
Docket46915
StatusPublished

This text of 195 P.3d 328 (Rivero v. Rivero) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nevada Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rivero v. Rivero, 195 P.3d 328, 2008 WL 4774625 (Neb. 2008).

Opinion

195 P.3d 328 (2008)

Michelle RIVERO, Appellant,
v.
Elvis RIVERO, Respondent.

No. 46915.

Supreme Court of Nevada.

October 30, 2008.

*331 Steinberg Law Group and Brian J. Steinberg and Jillian M. Tindall, Las Vegas, for Appellant.

Bruce I. Shapiro, Ltd., and Bruce I. Shapiro, Henderson, for Respondent.

Fahrendorf, Viloria, Oliphant & Oster, LLP, and Raymond E. Oster, Reno, for Amicus Curiae State Bar of Nevada, Family Law Section.

BEFORE THE COURT EN BANC.[1]

OPINION

PER CURIAM:

Appellant Michelle Rivero and respondent Elvis Rivero's divorce decree provided for "joint physical custody" of their minor child, with Ms. Rivero having the child five days each week and Mr. Rivero having the child two days each week. The decree awarded no child support. After the divorce decree was entered, Ms. Rivero brought a motion to modify child custody and support. The district court ordered that the decree would remain in force, with the parties having joint custody of their child and neither party receiving child support. The district court deferred ruling on the motion to modify custody and ordered the parties to mediation to devise a timeshare plan. Ms. Rivero then requested that Judge Miley recuse herself. When Judge Miley refused to recuse herself, Ms. Rivero moved to disqualify Judge Miley. Chief Judge Hardcastle denied Ms. Rivero's motion for disqualification, concluding that she lacked reasonable grounds to bring it. The district court later awarded Mr. Rivero attorney fees, finding that Ms. Rivero's motion for disqualification was frivolous. The parties were unable to reach a timeshare agreement in mediation. Following mediation, after hearing sworn testimony from the parties, the district court modified the custody arrangement from a five-day, two-day split to an equal timeshare. Ms. Rivero appeals.

We are asked to resolve several custody and support issues on appeal. Preliminarily, the parties dispute the definition of joint physical custody. Additionally, Ms. Rivero challenges the district court's determination that the parties had joint physical custody, modification of the custody arrangement, denial of her motion for child support, and Judge Miley's refusal to recuse herself and Chief Judge Hardcastle's denial of Ms. Rivero's motion for disqualification of Judge Miley.

First, addressing the definition of joint physical custody, we adopt a definition that focuses on each parent spending a significant amount of time with the child to ensure that the child has meaningful contact with both parents, without requiring a specific timeshare.

Second, we conclude that the district court abused its discretion by finding that the parties had a joint physical custody arrangement without setting forth specific findings of fact to support its determination.

Third, we also conclude that the district court erred by modifying the custody timeshare arrangement without making specific findings of fact that the modification was in the child's best interest.

Fourth, we address the appropriate formula for determining child support when the parties have joint physical custody with an unequal timeshare. To account for differences in the parents' incomes and the financial costs of caring for the child, we extend the formula set forth in Wright v. Osburn,[2]*332 which accounts for income disparities, but we modify it to factor in the unequal timeshare variable. Here, the district court abused its discretion by denying Ms. Rivero's motion to modify child support without making any factual findings to justify its decision. Child support determinations, even in situations involving joint physical custody, must follow legislative objectives that require each parent to provide a certain level of support for their child in accordance with their respective incomes. When a joint physical custody arrangement exists, child support must be calculated according to Wright if the timeshare is equal, or if the timeshare is unequal, according to the modified Wright formula set forth in this opinion.

Finally, having considered the record and the parties' arguments, we conclude that Judge Miley properly refused to recuse herself, and Chief Judge Hardcastle properly denied Ms. Rivero's motion for disqualification because the motion was frivolous. The record contains no evidence that Judge Miley had personal bias against either of the parties. We further conclude the district court acted within its discretion by awarding attorney fees as a sanction for the frivolous motion.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Ms. Rivero filed a complaint for divorce, and the parties reached a settlement regarding all issues except physical custody of their minor child and child support. The district court entered a divorce decree, which ordered that the parties would have joint physical custody of their minor child. Ms. Rivero had physical custody five days each week and Mr. Rivero had physical custody for the remaining two days. Additionally, the divorce decree provided that the parties' child support obligations were offset, and therefore neither party was obligated to pay child support.

Approximately one year after entry of the divorce decree, Ms. Rivero moved for primary physical custody and child support. She alleged that Mr. Rivero did not spend time with the child, that instead his elderly mother took care of the child, and that he did not have suitable living accommodations for the child. Ms. Rivero also argued that she had defacto primary custody because she cared for the child most of the time.

At the custody hearing, the district court heard arguments from both attorneys and questioned Mr. and Ms. Rivero. Both parties presented contradictory testimony regarding how much time Mr. Rivero actually spent with the child. After hearing each party's testimony, the district court concluded that the matter did not warrant an evidentiary hearing. The district court further concluded that the divorce decree did not accurately reflect the parties' actual timeshare agreement. As a result, the court denied Ms. Rivero's motion for child support, found that the parties had joint physical custody, and ordered family mediation in order for the parties to establish a timeshare plan.

Before the hearing regarding the family mediation, Ms. Rivero served a subpoena on Mr. Rivero's employer for his employment records. Mr. Rivero moved to quash the subpoena. At the hearing on the motion, Ms. Rivero argued that Mr. Rivero's employment records were relevant for child support purposes and for determining custody in terms of whether Mr. Rivero's work schedule would realistically allow for an equal timeshare. The district court granted Mr. Rivero's motion to quash the subpoena, explaining that under the divorce decree, each party had joint physical custody, neither party owed child support, and the only pending issue was whether the parties could agree on a timeshare plan.

After the district court granted Mr. Rivero's motion, Ms. Rivero argued that the district court should reopen the child support issue and allow relevant discovery. When the district court refused, Ms. Rivero requested that presiding Judge Miley recuse herself. Judge Miley denied the request. Ms. Rivero then moved to disqualify Judge Miley, alleging that the judge did not seriously consider the facts or the law because she was biased based on the parties' physical appearance. Mr. Rivero opposed the motion and moved for attorney fees. Judge Miley submitted an affidavit wherein she swore that she was unbiased.

*333

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Bluebook (online)
195 P.3d 328, 2008 WL 4774625, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rivero-v-rivero-nev-2008.