Rybolt v. Riley CA3 ( 2021 )

Filed 1/26/21 Rybolt v. Riley CA3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
(Sacramento)
----
COURTNEY E. RYBOLT, C087877
Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. 10FL05692)
v.
JAMES E. RILEY IV,
Appellant.
James Riley IV (appellant), appeals from a court order awarding attorney fee
sanctions under Family Code section 271 because it did not consider his ability to pay
when imposing the sanctions. Appellant’s claim is not supported by the record.
Courtney Rybolt (respondent) contends the trial court’s order was correct and appellant’s
appeal is frivolous. We affirm the trial court’s order and deny respondent’s request for
sanctions on appeal.
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LEGAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND
On appeal, we must presume the trial court’s judgment is correct. (See Denham v.
Superior Court (1970) 2 Cal.3d 557, 564.) Accordingly, we adopt all intendments and
inferences to affirm the judgment or order unless the record expressly contradicts them.
(See Brewer v. Simpson (1960) 53 Cal.2d 567, 583.)
It is the burden of the party challenging a judgment on appeal to provide an
adequate record to assess error. (Ketchum v. Moses (2001) 24 Cal.4th 1122, 1140-1141.)
The appellate record here does not include a reporter’s transcript. We must, therefore,
treat this as an appeal “ ‘on the judgment roll.’ ” (Kucker v. Kucker (2011)
192 Cal.App.4th 90, 93.) Accordingly, we are required to conclusively presume the
evidence admitted at trial is ample to sustain the trial court’s findings; our review is
limited to determining whether any error “ ‘appears on the face of the record.’ ”1 (Id. at
p. 93; Nielsen v. Gibson (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 324, 324-325.)
Here, the limited record we have establishes that following a two-day evidentiary
hearing in July 2018, the trial court issued written findings and an order ruling on issues
related to custody and visitation of the parties’ minor child and respondent’s request for
attorney fees.
Relative to the order for attorney fees, the trial court found appellant “has
frustrated the policy of the law to promote settlement of litigation and, where possible
reduce the cost of litigation by encouraging cooperation between the parties; and [¶] . . .
[t]he amount of attorney’s fees does not impose an[] unreasonable financial burden on
[appellant].” The court then ordered appellant to pay to respondent $5,000 in attorney
1 Notably, the exhibits admitted at trial also are not included in the appellate record.
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fees as sanctions under Family Code section 271.2 The court directed those fees to be
paid in monthly installments of $300 beginning August 15, 2018.
DISCUSSION
I
Attorney Fees
Appellant claims the court erred in ordering him to pay fees because the court
failed to hear argument on the issue of fees and “fail[ed] to consider evidence of parties’
income, assets, and liabilities.” He further claims the fees ordered “created an
unreasonable burden on [him].”
Our review is limited to determining whether any error “ ‘appears on the face of
the record.’ ” (Kucker v. Kucker, supra, 192 Cal.App.4th at p. 93; Nielsen v. Gibson,
supra, 178 Cal.App.4th at pp. 324-325.) And on the face of this record, we find no error.
II
Sanctions On Appeal
In her brief, respondent asks this court to impose sanctions on appellant for filing
another frivolous appeal. (See Rybolt v. Riley, supra, (C086056) [nonpub. opn.].) We
will not impose sanctions.
Sanctions may be imposed on appeal. (Code Civ. Proc., § 907; Cal. Rules of
Court, rule 8.276(a).) Sanctions are warranted “only when [the appeal] is prosecuted for
an improper motive -- to harass the respondent or delay the effect of an adverse judgment
-- or when it indisputably has no merit -- when any reasonable attorney would agree that
the appeal is totally and completely without merit.” (In re Marriage of Flaherty (1982)
31 Cal.3d 637, 650.) “The two standards under Flaherty are often used together, with
2 The trial court also ordered appellant to pay Family Code section 271 sanctions in
November 2017, which was the subject of a previous appeal in this court. (Rybolt v.
Riley (Mar. 24, 2020, C086056) [nonpub. opn.].) We affirmed that order as well.
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one providing evidence of the other.” (Doran v. Magan (1999) 76 Cal.App.4th 1287,
1295.)
Here, the appeal is not totally and completely without merit, though it comes
close; however, the standard for issuing sanctions is high and, on this record, that
standard has not been met.
DISPOSITION
The trial court’s order is affirmed. Respondent’s request for sanctions on appeal is
denied. Respondent shall nevertheless recover costs on appeal. (Cal. Rules of Court,
rule 8.278(a)(2).)
/s/
Robie, Acting P. J.
We concur:
/s/
Hoch, J.
/s/
Krause, J.
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