S.K. VS. S.G. (FM-02-1263-16 AND FV-02-1033-18, BERGEN COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) (CONSOLIDATED) (RECORD IMPOUNDED)

New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division·Decided July 28, 2020·No. A-3734-18T1/A-4025-18T1·Unpublished

Opinion

RECORD IMPOUNDED

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION

DOCKET NOS. A-3734-18T1

A-4025-18T1

S.K., Plaintiff-Respondent,

v. S.G.,

Defendant-Appellant.

S.K., Plaintiff-Appellant,

v. S.G.,

Defendant-Respondent.

Argued March 4, 2020 – Decided July 28, 2020 Before Judges Alvarez and DeAlmeida.

On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Family Part, Bergen County, Docket Nos. FM-02-1263-16 and FV-02-1033-18.

Jeffrey M. Advokat argued the cause for appellant in A-

3734-18 and respondent in A-4025-18 (Advokat & Rosenberg, attorneys; Jeffrey M. Advokat, on the briefs).

Steven M. Resnick argued the cause for respondent in A-3734-18 and appellant in A-4025-18 (Ziegler, Zemsky & Resnick, attorneys; Steven M. Resnick, of counsel and on the briefs; Jonathan H. Blonstein, on the briefs).

PER CURIAM In A-3734-18, defendant S.G. 1 appeals from the paragraphs of an April 5, 2019 order of the Family Part: (1) denying his motion to vacate a May 18, 2018 amended final restraining order (FRO) entered against him pursuant to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (the Act), N.J.S.A. 2C:25-17 to -35, or to modify the amended FRO to increase his parenting time; (2) denying his motion for reconsideration of a provision of the amended FRO awarding counsel fees against him; and (3) awarding additional counsel fees against him. We affirm the April 5, 2019 order, with the exception of paragraph 10 of the order, which awards additional counsel fees against defendant. We vacate that paragraph of

1 We identify the parties by initials to protect the identity of the victim of domestic violence. R. 1:38-3(d)(9).

A-3734-18T1

the order and remand for further proceedings to determine the appropriate amount of counsel fees to be awarded against defendant.

In A-4025-18, plaintiff S.K. appeals from the provision of April 26, 2019 amended FRO requiring the parties to communicate through the "Our Family Wizard" computer application regarding the health, welfare, and well-being of their child. We vacate the provision of the April 26, 2019 amended FRO under appeal and remand for entry of an amended FRO restoring the provision barring defendant from engaging in any form of contact with plaintiff.

I.

The following facts are derived from the record. The parties were married and have one minor child. On June 30, 2016, the trial court entered a partial judgment fixing custody and parenting time in the parties' then-pending matrimonial action. The partial judgment awarded the parties joint custody with plaintiff designated as the parent of primary residence.

While the matrimonial action was pending, plaintiff filed a domestic violence complaint seeking entry of an FRO against defendant. After entry of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and an amended TRO, the parties executed a civil restraints consent order, which was entered in the matrimonial action dismissing the two TROs. The consent order provides each party is "mutually

A-3734-18T1

enjoined and restrained from harassing the other or having any personal contact, except via respectful, non-harassing email and/or text communications regarding their son . . . ." The consent order also required defendant to have supervised visitation with the child in the presence of a member of plaintiff's family.

After entry of a judgment of divorce in the matrimonial action, plaintiff filed a domestic violence complaint seeking entry of an FRO against defendant. Plaintiff alleged defendant violated the civil restraints consent order and acted abusively when transferring the child at her mother's home. The complaint alleges a history of abusive and controlling behavior by defendant.

After a hearing, the court found plaintiff had proven defendant committed the predicate act of harassment, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4, and that she was in need of protection from future abuse by defendant. In addition, the court concluded the child was a party in need of protection from defendant. On December 12, 2017, the court entered an FRO, restraining defendant from all contact with plaintiff and the child, granting plaintiff sole custody of the child, suspending defendant's parenting time pending the outcome of an investigation by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP), and ordering defendant to undergo a psychological evaluation. The December 12, 2017 FRO prohibits defendant

A-3734-18T1

from having any form of contact with plaintiff or the child. There is no provision in the FRO requiring the parties to exchange information about the child through the Our Family Wizard computer application.

On February 22, 2018, defendant moved to modify the December 12, 2017 FRO and reinstate his parenting time. On March 23, 2018, the trial court denied defendant's motion without prejudice, concluding it was premature due to the pending DCPP investigation and defendant's failure to complete the previously ordered psychiatric evaluation.

On April 19, 2018, defendant again moved to modify the December 12, 2017 FRO to increase his parenting time. Plaintiff opposed the motion and cross-moved to require defendant to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

On May 18, 2018, the trial court granted defendant's motion in part, entered an amended FRO removing the child as a protected party, keeping sole custody with plaintiff, and arranging for supervised parenting time between defendant and the child through the Bergen County Family Center. The May 18, 2018 amended FRO prohibits defendant from having any form of contact with plaintiff and does not include a provision directing the parties to communicate through the Our Family Wizard computer application.

A-3734-18T1

On November 1, 2018, defendant moved to amend the May 18, 2018 amended FRO to obtain joint custody of the child, increase his parenting time, reinstate the parenting time schedule outlined in the consent order entered in the matrimonial action, and for access to the child's medical and school records. Defendant also filed a motion in the matrimonial action seeking to change custody and visitation, and to enforce litigant's rights. On November 13, 2018, defendant filed an additional motion for dismissal or modification of the May 18, 2018 amended FRO. Plaintiff opposed defendant's motions and cross-moved for the award of counsel fees.

On December 6, 2018, the trial court denied defendant's motion and granted plaintiff's cross-motion. The court continued sole custody of the child with plaintiff pursuant to the May 18, 2018 amended FRO, and ordered defendant to continue supervised visitation with the child, to comply with the prior orders to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, and to provide the results of the psychiatric evaluation to the court by January 10, 2019. In addition, the court awarded plaintiff $14,461.50 in counsel fees.

On January 4, 2019, defendant moved to vacate or modify the May 18, 2018 amended FRO, seeking an increase in parenting time, relaxation of the amended FRO, and reconsideration of the December 6, 2018 counsel fee award.

A-3734-18T1

Plaintiff opposed the motion and cross-moved for an order holding defendant in contempt for violating the May 18, 2018 amended FRO, directing him to undergo the previously ordered psychiatric evaluation, and for counsel fees. It is the resolution of these motions that is before us.

On April 5, 2019, the trial court denied defendant's motion. As a threshold matter, the court concluded that the motion was procedurally deficient because it did not demonstrate defendant had complied with previously ordered counseling and a psychiatric evaluation and did not provide a complete record of the prior proceedings.

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S.K. VS. S.G. (FM-02-1263-16 AND FV-02-1033-18, BERGEN COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) (CONSOLIDATED) (RECORD IMPOUNDED), (N.J. Ct. App. 2020).

S.K. VS. S.G. (FM-02-1263-16 AND FV-02-1033-18, BERGEN COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) (CONSOLIDATED) (RECORD IMPOUNDED) (S.K. VS. S.G. (FM-02-1263-16 AND FV-02-1033-18, BERGEN COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) (CONSOLIDATED) (RECORD IMPOUNDED)) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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