Marriage of J.C. and M.C. CA4/3 ( 2024 )

Filed 2/13/24 Marriage of J.C. and M.C. CA4/3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION THREE
In re the Marriage of J.C. and M.C.
J.C.,
G062261
Respondent,
(Super. Ct. No. 15D005137)
v.
OPINION
M.C.,
Appellant.
Appeal from orders of the Superior Court of Orange County, Carmen R.
Luege, Judge. Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
Law Offices of Lisa R. McCall, Lisa R. McCall and Erica M. Barbero for
Appellant.
No appearance for Respondent.
This appeal involves a custody dispute between appellant M.C. (Mother)
and respondent J.C. (Father) over their child, R.C., who has significant special needs. By
the time of the original judgment, Father had moved to Northern California. The
judgment granted Mother sole legal and physical custody of R.C. and allowed Father
only limited visitation.
After Father returned to Orange County, he filed a request for order seeking
joint legal and physical custody and increased visitation. After holding an evidentiary
hearing, the trial court concluded Father’s return constituted a significant change in
circumstances warranting modification of the custody arrangement. The court granted
the parents joint legal and physical custody and expanded Father’s visitation with R.C.
beyond Father’s specific requests. It also issued orders regarding R.C.’s schooling,
prohibiting his homeschooling and requiring an updated individualized education plan
(IEP).
On appeal, Mother challenges the trial court’s changes to the custody
arrangement, as well as its visitation and schooling orders. Regarding custody, Mother
asserts various procedural errors but primarily contends there was no substantial change
of circumstances justifying modification of the prior arrangement. As for visitation and
schooling, Mother claims the court erred by issuing orders neither party had requested.
As discussed below, we conclude Father’s return to Orange County
constituted a sufficient change in circumstances supporting a modification in the custody
arrangement, and we find no reversible error in the trial court’s custody orders. We also
conclude the court’s visitation orders were within the scope of the issues before it.
However, the court’s schooling orders were not requested by either party, were not
litigated at the evidentiary hearing, and did not pertain to issues otherwise before the
court. Accordingly, we reverse that portion of the court’s orders. We affirm the orders in
all other respects.
2
FACTS
I. The Family and Initial Dissolution Proceedings
Mother and Father married in 2010 and had R.C. in January 2011. R.C.
was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at a young age, and this diagnosis was
subsequently confirmed twice, with providers stating he had “‘severe symptoms’” or was
“‘in the severe range.’” In 2012, the parents separated and Father filed a petition to
dissolve the marriage.
The family initially lived in the bay area, but Mother subsequently moved
to Orange County with R.C. Father had overnight visits with R.C. on alternating
weekends. He later moved to Orange County himself.
II. The Evidence Code Section 730 Report and Father’s Move to Sacramento
In 2016, the trial court (Judge Daphne Grace Sykes) appointed Dr. Amy
Stark, a psychologist, to conduct a custody and visitation evaluation under Evidence
Code section 730. In February of the following year, while Stark’s evaluation was still
ongoing, Father lost his job. He told Stark he “fear[ed] he might have to move to
Sacramento to move in with his dad . . . so he c[ould] get a job.”
Stark completed her evaluation and issued her report (the 730 report) in
May 2017. In her report, Stark described the uncertainty about Father’s potential move
and stated this was “one of the biggest limitations” to her report. The report included an
extensive discussion of the family and its dynamics. Among other things, Stark noted
Father’s belief that R.C. “barely ha[d] minor autism.” She also described R.C.’s
schooling: Mother was homeschooling him, and he was attending a school for
homeschooled children three days a week.
After surveying the family’s circumstances, Stark opined: “To date, the
majority of the decision making has been [Mother]’s. . . . [¶] [S]ome of the fault in this is
[Father]’s. He balks at everything and does not want to pay for it instead of
understanding what his son’s needs are and being a part of a plan to get them met. He is
3
communicated with but does not step up and do his portion . . . . Some of the problem
. . . is because [Mother] is the driver of the car and telling him what needs to be done.
She is making the decisions and announcing the results to him.”
Stark recommended Mother receive “primary physical custody” of R.C. but
that the parents receive joint legal custody. However, she added that if Father moved
away, Mother should have primary legal custody, “with information to [F]ather as
necessary.”1 Stark also opined that R.C. “need[ed] to be in school every day” and that
“[t]here c[ould] be no home schooling.” Sometime after Stark’s completion of the 730
report, Father in fact moved to Sacramento.
III. The 2021 Judgment
In 2019, the trial court (then Judge Maurice Sanchez) held a trial on
permanent custody and visitation arrangements. In March 2021, the court issued its
judgment, granting Mother sole legal and physical custody of R.C. It granted Father
visitation for one weekend a month, with various conditions he was to meet to be allowed
to have R.C. overnight, including the requirement that Father give R.C. dietary
supplements as prescribed by the child’s doctor. The court also ordered Father to
complete a high-conflict parenting course, attend an anger management program, and
educate himself on autism.
IV. Father’s Return to Orange County and the Parties’ Requests for Orders
Shortly after the 2021 judgment, Father moved back to Orange County, to a
residence less than one mile from Mother and R.C.’s residence. In October 2021, on
Mother’s request, the trial court suspended Father’s overnight visits pending proof that he
has satisfied the conditions in the judgment. The court later suspended Father’s visits
altogether because Father withheld R.C. overnight.
1
Elsewhere in her report, Stark stated the parents should have joint legal
custody, without mentioning her alternative recommendation should Father move away.
4
In November, Father filed a request for order, seeking joint legal and
physical custody of R.C. He also sought additional visitation, asking to return to
alternate weekends with overnight stays. Mother opposed these requests, asserting there
was no change in circumstances that could justify a change in custody. She additionally
claimed Father had engaged in various kinds of misconduct, including making
disparaging comments about her to R.C. and, on one occasion, screaming at Mother and
“put[ting] his hand in [her] face” in front of the child.
The trial court (Judge Carmen R. Luege) appointed counsel for R.C., and
following a hearing, temporarily restored and increased Father’s visitations with R.C.,
granting him alternating weekends without overnights, among other provisions. The
court later temporarily expanded Father’s visitations further, including by granting him
weekend overnight visits.
At one of the parties’ status hearings, R.C.’s counsel described her
conversations with R.C., the parties, and various third parties. Among other things, she
noted that Father did not agree with R.C.’s autism diagnosis but that according to the
child’s therapist, R.C. was “very autistic” and counsel agreed with the therapist. Counsel
also noted that Father thought R.C. should be in a traditional school with a normal
curriculum.
In August 2022, R.C.’s counsel submitted a declaration stating she had
spoken with the child’s therapist, who was concerned about his “regression and
aggressive behaviors.” According to the therapist, R.C. was intentionally breaking items
in session and threatening her. She noted that R.C. was watching violent movies and
playing violent games with Father and had recently gone to see Jurassic World with
Father, later having nightmares. According to the therapist, although R.C. was 11 years
old, “he [was] developmentally more like age [eight].” Counsel reported that Father
placed all blame for R.C.’s behavioral issues on Mother.
5
That same day, Mother filed a request for order seeking to reduce Father’s
visitation, including by removing overnight visits. Mother reported R.C. had a host of
behavioral and health issues that had recently developed or worsened, which she
attributed to his time with Father. Among other things, Mother included a declaration
from Anita Patten, a behavioral therapist and R.C.’s private swimming instructor. Patten
described a recent incident with R.C. at the pool. According to her, R.C. started entering
the pool using the stairs and said the water was cold, although it was the usual
temperature. Patten and Mother tried to talk R.C. through the issue, but he insisted on
going home and became increasingly agitated and ultimately violent, leading Mother to
place him in a “safety hold.” R.C. remained aggressive and violent, trying to hurt Mother
and threatening to kill her, Patten, and others. This continued for 25 minutes, until R.C.
was calm enough to leave.
The parties’ competing requests for orders were set for a hearing in October
2022.2 Because Father had not completed the number of sessions of anger management
the 2021 judgment ordered, the court ordered him to attend 10 more sessions by the time
of the hearing.
Before the hearing, the parties submitted a joint statement of issues for trial,
which reflected, inter alia, Father’s request for joint legal and physical custody of R.C.
and an expanded visitation schedule that included weekends with overnights and a short
Wednesday evening visit. Father included no request regarding R.C.’s schooling.
V. The Evidentiary Hearing
At the start of the evidentiary hearing, the trial court indicated to the parties
that it might not issue permanent custody orders at the conclusion of the proceeding,
stating: “I’m not certain the end of all of this is I issue final orders” and “I’m not
2
Mother’s counsel estimated the parties would need half a day for the
hearing. The court noted that half a day amounted to three hours, but ultimately allotted
the parties two hours per side.
6
promising final orders.” The court then heard the testimony of Father, Mother, and
Mother’s child psychology expert, Dr. Daniel B. Pickar.
A. Father’s Testimony
At the hearing, Father testified about the parents’ marriage and divorce
proceedings, as well as his relationship with R.C. Mother was still homeschooling R.C.,
who was now attending school only twice a week. Discussing his compliance with the
2021 judgment, Father provided evidence of his handling of R.C.’s dietary supplements,
his self-education on autism (he had purchased several books, read one and was halfway
through another), and his progress in an anger management program (he had one session
left, which he had been unable to complete before the hearing). Father previously
provided proof he had completed a high-conflict parenting course.
On cross-examination by R.C.’s counsel, Father said he did not believe the
autism diagnosis fit the child and he wanted to get a second opinion. He allowed R.C. to
watch Jurassic Park but did not believe the movie caused the child’s aggressive
behaviors. He did not let R.C. watch any kind of movie the child wanted to watch. He
knew Mother and R.C.’s medical team believed the child’s mental age was younger than
his biological age, but he believed this was in part because Mother was treating R.C. like
a little boy. Father treated R.C. according to his actual age and believed the child had
responded well. R.C. had not been violent while in Father’s care.
Mother’s counsel then cross-examined Father about his failure to complete
the anger management classes the trial court had ordered in the 2021 judgment, the
details of the program he was currently attending, and various other issues not pertinent
to this appeal. It is unclear how long Mother’s counsel cross-examined Father, but the
examination spanned about nine pages of the reporter’s transcript. At that point, the court
stopped counsel’s questioning, noting that Mother’s allotted time was running out and the
court wanted to hear the testimony of Mother and Pickar. The court notified counsel that
if Mother had time left over after those testimonies, she could recall Father.
7
B. Pickar’s Testimony
At the trial court’s instruction, Pickar provided his direct testimony in
writing and answered additional questions by the trial court and Mother’s counsel. Pickar
was a clinical and forensic child psychologist with expertise regarding children with
autism and divorce. He had not conducted a child custody evaluation of the family and
could not make recommendations on a parenting plan. According to Pickar, Father’s
state of denial about R.C.’s diagnosis, lack of cooperation with Mother, and high level of
hostility toward her suggested he would be unable to successfully coparent R.C. and
advocate for the services the child needed. He opined these circumstances “should lead
the court to have tremendous caution regarding the appropriateness of joint legal
custody.” Pickar similarly cautioned the court against allowing Father to continue to
have overnight visits, stating the evidence he reviewed suggested overnight visits with
Father “have caused extreme emotional dysregulation, aggression, and regression in
R[.C.]”
Pickar explained autistic children may engage in “masking” or “social
masquerading” when placed in novel situations, meaning they put a lot of energy into
appearing normal in that setting, but the attendant stress manifests when they return to
their comfortable environment. He believed that was happening here—R.C. was rising to
the occasion with Father, but was not capable of sustaining it, and therefore was acting
out upon returning to Mother’s home.
The trial court related the pool incident to Pickar and asked if the expert
thought R.C. was angry during the incident because the child felt he was being pressured
to stay in the pool. Pickar replied: “I think it’s a great question. It would be purely
conjecture. I don’t know what he was responding to. He could have been responding to
that or carrying stress with him where he reached a limit around something and was
having difficulty adjusting that day or back into [Mother]’s home. It could have been a
number of things.”
8
C. Mother’s Testimony
Mother testified about her relationship with R.C., his activities while in her
care, and his education. She claimed that R.C. had no regular bedtime at Father’s home
and that Father would allow the child to get up after bedtime or early in the morning and
play videogames unattended. After Mother answered her counsel’s question on whether
she had ever tried to teach R.C. to tie his shoes, the trial court said it was going to direct
counsel “in a little way.” The court noted it believed Mother was dedicated to R.C. and
took good care of him. It added that Mother was “a very competent parent” and her
competency was not in question; instead, the court was focused on the claimed reasons to
limit Father’s role in R.C.’s life.
Mother proceeded to testify about her concerns with Father’s care of R.C.
According to Mother, after the 2021 judgment, R.C. “was doing amazing.” But after
Father received temporary expanded visitation, R.C. showed significant regression:
among other symptoms, he became aggressive, including by threatening his therapist and
throwing things in her office; he was having nightmares; and he was wetting the bed
more frequently. Mother thought this was partly because he was watching movies and
playing video games that were not age appropriate. She did not think the change in
R.C.’s behavior had to do with puberty because he had not yet gone through puberty.
Mother claimed Father had not provided R.C. the right dosage of dietary supplements,
which resulted in the child getting rashes and having gastrointestinal distress.
After Mother concluded her testimony, the trial court asked Father about
his administration of R.C.’s supplements, and Father responded that Mother had not
given him the updated protocol at the time. The court later said it intended to order that
R.C.’s doctor communicate any change in protocol to Father directly. At the close of the
hearing, R.C.’s counsel expressed concern that if the court gave Father joint legal
custody, the parties would soon be back in court when Father “has decided the child is
not autistic and doesn’t need behavioral therapy and occupational therapy.” In response,
9
the court addressed Father, advised him that whether R.C. was autistic was not in
question in the court’s mind, and warned him, “Don’t go there.”
Shortly before the close of evidence, the trial court told the parties it
intended to issue only temporary orders. The court repeated similar statements after the
close of evidence. Mother’s counsel asked the court for a statement of decision but did
not specify the controverted issues as Code of Civil Procedure section 632 requires.
VI. The Trial Court’s Tentative Ruling and Proposed Statement of Decision on Custody
In December 2022, the trial court issued its tentative ruling and proposed
statement of decision on custody issues. In this tentative ruling, the court gave the
parents joint legal and physical custody of R.C., on a permanent basis. The court
recognized that a party requesting a change to a permanent custody arrangement must
show a substantial change in circumstances. It concluded that Father’s return to Orange
County was a sufficient change in circumstances.3
The trial court relied heavily on the 730 report and found that “the dynamic
between the parents described by Dr. S[t]ark continues to exist today.” The court found
joint custody would “equalize the role of the parents” by removing Mother from a
position of control and allowing Father to take R.C. to appointments with medical
providers without having to obtain permission from Mother. According to the court, this
would force Father to assume greater responsibility over R.C.’s wellbeing, rather than
simply criticize Mother’s decisionmaking and the medical providers she chose.
The court additionally stated joint custody would allow the parents to
reconsider “their parental perspectives,” and it found Mother’s “parental perspective
lack[ed] reasonable balance.” The court believed the pool incident illustrated this.
According to the court, Mother “could have prevented or mitigated the entire incident” by
3
The trial court also suggested that the 2021 judgment may be “void” for
various reasons, rendering a substantial change unnecessary, but it did not vacate that
judgment because Father had not challenged it.
10
allowing R.C. to leave the pool soon after he asked to go home because the water was
cold, rather than trying to “‘talk[] him through’” the issue. It opined, “Mother may be too
focused on controlling [R.C.]’s behavior rather than figuring out what triggers his anger
so she can anticipate it and avoid it.” The court added: “Mother’s insistence that
R[.C.]’s anger and aggression is the result of . . . Father’s involvement in his son’s life
. . . fails to consider that R[.C.] may be starting to experience hormonal changes due to
his age that may affect his mood. Another possibility is that R[.C.], as a pre-teen, is
naturally rebelling against the adults in his life who frequently attempt to control his
behavior.”
As for Father’s perspective, the trial court stated he likely had “a distorted
perception of R[.C.]’s cognitive and physical limitations,” noting Pickar’s testimony
about masking. But according to the court, the solution to this problem was to allow
Father to spend more time with R.C.
In addition to the trial court’s custody orders, the court’s tentative ruling
included an order for the parties to obtain an updated IEP for R.C. The court based this
order in part on its finding that Father had not been able to participate in the prior IEP.
VII. The Trial Court’s Order on Visitation and Schooling
Shortly after its tentative ruling on custody, the trial court issued a
temporary order on visitation, schooling, and other issues. As relevant here, the court
expanded Father’s visitation time with R.C., allowing him not only alternate weekends
with overnights but also midweek overnight visits from Tuesday afternoon to Thursday
morning, every week. The court also included orders on R.C.’s schooling, instructing
that “[t]he child shall be in school every day of the week” after the end of his winter
break and that homeschooling was prohibited unless ordered by the court.
VIII. The Trial Court’s Final Order and Statement of Decision on Custody
Mother objected to the trial court’s proposed statement of decision on
custody. Among other things, she asserted the court exceeded its jurisdiction by
11
awarding relief not requested by Father, including greater visitation, the prohibition on
homeschooling, and an updated IEP. In January 2023, the trial court issued its final
statement of decision, making no significant changes from its proposed statement of
decision.4 The court stated Mother’s claims about the scope of its orders concerned its
visitation and schooling orders, which the court said were not part of its statement of
decision. It concluded those objections were therefore procedurally improper and
declined to address them.
Mother timely appealed, challenging the trial court’s orders changing the
parents’ custody arrangement, as well as the court’s visitation and schooling orders.
Father did not file a respondent’s brief.5
DISCUSSION
I. The Custody Change
Challenging the trial court’s custody orders, Mother asserts, inter alia:
(1) there was no substantial change in circumstances that could warrant a custody change;
(2) the court disregarded evidence that increased time with Father led to behavioral
regression in R.C.; (3) the court’s statements at the evidentiary hearing reflected its
misapprehension of the law; (4) the court improperly relied on its analysis of the pool
incident; and (5) the court violated her due process rights in various ways. As explained
below, we find no reversible error and therefore affirm the court’s custody orders.
4
The trial court again suggested the 2021 judgment may be void but clarified
that it was nevertheless applying the substantial change in circumstances standard. The
court noted Father had the burden to establish changed circumstances and found he had
met this burden.
5
As the appellant, Mother bears the affirmative burden to show error,
regardless of Father’s failure to file a brief, “and we ‘examine the record and reverse only
if prejudicial error is found.’ [Citation.]” (Smith v. Smith (2012) 208 Cal.App.4th 1074,
1078.)
12
A. Applicable Law
“In an initial custody determination, the trial court has ‘the widest
discretion to choose a parenting plan that is in the best interest of the child.’ [Citation.]
It must look to all the circumstances bearing on the best interest of the minor child.
[Citation.]” (In re Marriage of Burgess (1996) 13 Cal.4th 25, 31-32 (Burgess), italics
omitted.) After a final judicial custody determination has taken place, “a party seeking to
modify [the] order can do so only if he or she demonstrates a significant change of
circumstances justifying a modification.” (Montenegro v. Diaz (2001) 26 Cal.4th 249,
256.)
“‘The [changed circumstance] rule requires that one identify a prior custody
decision based upon circumstances then existing which rendered that decision in the best
interest of the child. The court can then inquire whether alleged new circumstances
represent a significant change from preexisting circumstances, requiring reevaluation of
the child’s custody.’ [Citation.]” (Burgess, supra, 13 Cal.4th at p. 37.) The change of
circumstances must be “‘“of a kind to render it essential or expedient for the welfare of
the child that there be a change.”’ [Citation.]” (Id. at p. 38.)
“We review a ruling on a request for modification of a custody order for
abuse of discretion. [Citation.]” (Anne H. v. Michael B. (2016) 1 Cal.App.5th 488, 501.)
“An abuse of discretion occurs if, in light of the applicable law and considering all of the
relevant circumstances, the court’s decision exceeds the bounds of reason and results in a
miscarriage of justice. [Citations.] This standard of review affords considerable
deference to the trial court provided that the court acted in accordance with the governing
rules of law. We presume that the court properly applied the law and acted within its
discretion unless the appellant affirmatively shows otherwise. [Citations.]” (Mejia v.
City of Los Angeles (2007) 156 Cal.App.4th 151, 158.)
13
B. Analysis
We conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting the
parents joint legal and physical custody of R.C. Father’s return to Orange County
constituted a change of circumstances sufficient to warrant a change in custody
arrangements. Father lost his job in Orange County during Stark’s evaluation, and he
told Stark he “fear[ed] he might have to move to Sacramento to move in with his dad . . .
so he c[ould] get a job.” Stark believed the uncertainty about Father’s potential move
was “one of the biggest limitations” to her report. Thus, she recommended the parents
receive joint legal custody of R.C. but added that if Father moved away, Mother should
receive primary legal custody “with information to [F]ather as necessary.”6 Stark’s
conditioning of her recommendation for joint legal custody made sense. If Father moved
away and could not remain in close and continuous contact with R.C., a child with
significant special needs, it would be difficult for him to have a beneficial role in R.C.’s
life as a joint legal custodian.
Stark also recommended Mother receive “primary physical custody.” As a
leading treatise explains: “The terms ‘primary physical custody’ and ‘primary caretaker’
are not the equivalent of sole physical custody and, indeed, have no legal meaning.
(They are commonly used by courts, however, to distinguish between levels of physical
responsibility for children under various types of shared parenting plans.)” (Hogoboom
et al., Cal. Practice Guide: Family Law (The Rutter Group 2023) ¶ 7:302, p. 7-145.)
Regardless of the precise meaning of Stark’s recommendation, Father’s move to
Sacramento rendered shared physical custody all but moot. It is therefore unsurprising
that after Stark issued her report and Father moved away, the trial court granted Mother
sole legal and physical custody of R.C. Under these circumstances, Father’s return to
6
Mother’s assertion that Stark’s recommendations “were to remain whether
Father remained in Orange County or moved to Northern California” is therefore
incorrect.
14
Orange County when it became feasible was indeed a significant change that supported
the court’s decision to revisit the prior custody arrangement.7 (See Burgess, supra, 13
Cal.4th at p. 38).
Mother lists an array of asserted faults in Father’s conduct she claims
showed no significant change had occurred justifying modification. These include, inter
alia, that Father: continued to disagree that R.C. was autistic; violated prior orders by
failing to educate himself about autism and to complete anger management and high-
conflict parenting classes; improperly dosed R.C’s medication and supplements; allowed
R.C. to watch age-inappropriate movies; and derided Mother in front of R.C. Mother
also highlights that R.C. experienced regression in various areas and started to exhibit
significant aggressive behavior around the time he started having overnight visits with
Father. She claims the court disregarded this evidence.
Mother’s description of several of these items is inaccurate or incomplete.
For instance, by the time of the evidentiary hearing, Father had begun to educate himself
about autism, had completed a high-conflict parenting class, and was one session away
from completing an anger management program. As for R.C.’s medication and dietary
supplements regimen, Father testified Mother had not given him an updated protocol, and
in response, the court announced it intended to order that R.C.’s doctors communicate
any change in protocol to Father directly.
Other issues Mother references raise legitimate concerns about Father’s
ability to serve as coparent, not the least of which was his continued refusal to accept that
R.C. is autistic, which may well be at the root of some of his other deficiencies. But that
does not mean the trial court’s decision exceeded the bounds of reason. (Mejia v. City of
Los Angeles, supra, 156 Cal.App.4th at p. 158.) At the evidentiary hearing, the court
7
Given our conclusion that Father’s return to Orange County constituted a
sufficient change of circumstances, we need not consider the trial court’s suggestion that
the 2021 judgment may be void.
15
addressed Father’s disagreement with the autism diagnosis, told him this was not an open
question in the court’s mind, and warned him not to seek to disprove this diagnosis. In its
statement of decision, the court noted Father likely had “a distorted perception of R[.C.]’s
cognitive and physical limitations.” Yet the court apparently believed Father’s attitude
resulted in part from the limited involvement he had been permitted to have in R.C.’s life.
Per the court’s view, allowing Father to spend more time with R.C. and to seek
assessments from other medical experts would force Father to assume greater
responsibility, rather than simply criticize Mother’s decisionmaking and R.C.’s medical
providers. This was consistent with the 730 report’s description of the family dynamics.8
The wisdom of the court’s approach may be debatable, but its analysis was not irrational.
Contrary to Mother’s contention, the trial court did not disregard evidence
about R.C.’s behavioral regression. It simply was unpersuaded that this was the result of
R.C.’s exposure to Father, explaining in its statement of decision: “Mother’s insistence
that R[.C.]’s anger and aggression is the result of . . . Father’s involvement in his son’s
life . . . fails to consider that R[.C.] may be starting to experience hormonal changes due
to his age that may affect his mood. Another possibility is that R[.C.], as a pre-teen, is
naturally rebelling against the adults in his life who frequently attempt to control his
behavior.”9 Mother’s disagreement with this conclusion does not establish that the court
abused its discretion.
Mother also finds fault in various comments the trial court made at the
hearing. For example, Mother argues the court’s oral statements show it assigned her the
8
Mother claims the trial court placed too much weight on the 730 report,
given that Stark produced it more than five years before. But despite the passage of time,
the 730 report remained highly relevant to the court’s analysis, given the court’s finding
that “the dynamic between the parents described by Dr. S[t]ark continues to exist today.”
9 Mother takes exception to the trial court’s characterization of R.C. as a
“pre-teen” because, according to Mother’s evidence, R.C. was like an eight-year-old in
terms of his mental development. But R.C. was in fact a pre-teen, and Mother does not
contend that his physical development was delayed.
16
burden to prove why the existing custody arrangement should not be changed. She
acknowledges, however, that the court’s statement of decision properly recognized Father
had the burden to justify a modification. We do not consider Mother’s contentions about
the court’s oral comments, which cannot serve as a basis to challenge its order.
(Silverado Modjeska Recreation & Park Dist. v. County of Orange (2011) 197
Cal.App.4th 282, 300 [“‘[A] judge’s comments in oral argument may never be used to
impeach the final order’”].)
Mother contends the trial court erred by relying solely on the pool incident
to conclude that “Mother may be too focused on controlling [R.C.]’s behavior rather than
figuring out what triggers his anger so she can anticipate it and avoid it.” The court
opined Mother “could have prevented or mitigated the entire incident” and noted the
incident as illustration of its finding that Mother’s “parental perspective lack[ed]
reasonable balance.” According to Mother, in so finding, the court minimized the
evidence of her “excellent care of [R.C.]”
The trial court’s conclusion that Mother’s perspective “lack[ed] reasonable
balance” is not at odds with the evidence of her competent and dedicated care for R.C.,
which the court never questioned. Assuming without deciding that the court erred in its
analysis of the pool incident, Mother has not established there was a reasonable
probability of a ruling more favorable to her absent the claimed error, as is her burden.10
(County of Los Angeles v. Nobel Ins. Co. (2000) 84 Cal.App.4th 939, 945 [“‘appellant
bears the duty of spelling out in his [or her] brief exactly how the error caused a
10
The trial court’s conclusion that Mother could have “prevented or mitigated
the entire incident” by allowing R.C. to leave the pool soon after he expressed his
displeasure appears rash. It is by no means unreasonable for a parent to encourage their
child not to give up on an activity because of an inconvenience. And as noted, Mother
worked together with a behavioral therapist to address R.C.’s reluctance to continue with
the lesson. Nothing in the record suggests their approach was so wrongheaded as to call
Mother’s judgment into question. We observe that when the court asked Pickar if he
thought R.C. was angry because the child felt he was being pressured to stay in the pool,
the expert replied this “would be purely conjecture.”
17
miscarriage of justice’”]; Cassim v. Allstate Ins. Co. (2004) 33 Cal.4th 780, 800
[miscarriage of justice occurs when “‘it is reasonably probable that a result more
favorable to the appealing party would have been reached in the absence of the error’”].)
Indeed, Mother presents no reasoned argument that the court’s reliance on the pool
incident was prejudicial. We observe that the court cited several factors independent of
the pool incident in support of its ruling on custody. Accordingly, the court did not
reversibly err.
Mother additionally claims the court violated her due process rights by:
(1) cutting off her presentation of evidence regarding her care of R.C.; (2) curtailing her
cross-examination of Father; and (3) making permanent custody orders after informing
the parties it would issue only temporary orders. We disagree.
First, the trial court did not cut off Mother’s presentation of evidence
regarding her care of R.C. The court merely apprised her counsel—who had just asked
Mother if she had ever tried to teach R.C. to tie his shoes—that it had no doubts about
Mother’s competence as a parent and counsel would do better to focus on the claimed
reasons to limit Father’s role in R.C.’s life.
Second, the trial court did not improperly curtail Mother’s cross-
examination of Father. After R.C.’s counsel fully cross-examined Father, Mother’s
counsel conducted his own cross-examination spanning about nine pages of the reporter’s
transcript. It is unclear exactly how long that examination took. At that point, the court
stopped the questioning, noting that the time allotted to Mother was running out and the
court wanted to hear the testimony of Mother and her expert, Pickar.11 The court told
counsel that if Mother still had time after she and her expert testified, she could recall
11
An hourly time limit imposed on one side typically includes time spent in
examining the adverse party’s witnesses, in addition to time spent in examining its own
witnesses. (California Crane School, Inc. v. National Com. for Certification of Crane
Operators (2014) 226 Cal.App.4th 12, 20-21.)
18
Father. Thus, the court did not curtail Mother’s cross-examination of Father but merely
held her to her allotted time.
Finally, Mother’s conclusory assertion that the trial court violated due
process by making permanent custody orders after stating it would make only temporary
ones is insufficient to establish error. (In re S.C. (2006) 138 Cal.App.4th 396, 408
[“When a point is asserted without argument and authority for the proposition, ‘it is
deemed to be without foundation and requires no discussion by the reviewing court’”].)
Moreover, we observe the court initially said it might make only temporary orders,
making such comments as “I’m not certain the end of all of this is I issue final orders”
and “I’m not promising final orders.” Nothing in these statements suggested final orders
were off the table. The court’s more definitive statements came just before and after the
close of evidence, and Mother does not explain how those statements could have
prevented her from presenting her case. In short, we see no reversible error in the court’s
modification of the custody arrangement.
II. Visitation and Schooling Orders
Mother contends the trial court erred by granting Father greater visitation
rights than he had asked for and making orders regarding R.C.’s schooling neither party
had sought.12 We agree the court erred by issuing the schooling orders and therefore
reverse in part.
A trial court’s judgment may not exceed the issues raised by the pleadings
or litigated at trial. (Moore v. California State Bd. of Accountancy (1992) 2 Cal.4th 999,
1024.) “Although some informality and flexibility have been accepted in marital
dissolution proceedings, such proceedings are [generally] governed by the same statutory
12
In the fact section of her brief, Mother notes that the trial court issued
numerous other orders not requested by the parties. However, she does not address those
orders specifically in the argument section of her brief, and we therefore do not consider
their propriety. (Browne v. County of Tehama (2013) 213 Cal.App.4th 704, 726 [failure
to raise contention in argument section of opening brief constitutes forfeiture].)
19
rules of evidence and procedure that apply in other civil actions . . . .” (Elkins v. Superior
Court (2007) 41 Cal.4th 1337, 1354.)
The Orange County Superior Court requires parties to a family law case to
“file a joint statement of issues to be tried at least five court days prior to the trial or
hearing date.” (Super. Ct. Orange County, Local Rules, rule 709(c).) As noted, in the
parties’ joint statement, apart from his specific visitation requests, Father asked for joint
physical custody. It is certainly unusual for a trial court to grant a parent greater
visitation rights than the parent expressly requests, in the face of objections by the other
parent. Nevertheless, we conclude the court’s visitation orders did not exceed the scope
of the contested issues submitted by the parties, given Father’s request for joint physical
custody. “‘Joint physical custody’ means that each of the parents shall have significant
periods of physical custody.” (Fam. Code, § 3004.) Although the Family Code does not
say what amounts to significant time with each parent, courts have held that “where ‘a
father has a child only 20 percent of the time, on alternate weekends and one or two
nights a week, this amounts to sole physical custody for the mother with “liberal
visitation rights” for the father.’” (Celia S. v. Hugo H. (2016) 3 Cal.App.5th 655, 664.)
Thus, Father’s request for joint physical custody placed Mother on notice that he sought
significant additional time with R.C. (See ibid.) And at the evidentiary hearing, Mother
vigorously opposed and presented her evidence against granting Father overnight visits.
The trial court’s schooling orders are different. The parties’ joint statement
of issues for trial made no mention of R.C.’s schooling situation, let alone a request to
prohibit homeschooling or order an updated IEP. Nor did Father raise these issues during
the hearing. To be sure, R.C.’s counsel described a conversation with Father in which
Father told her that R.C. should be in a traditional school. Additionally, the parties
described R.C.’s schooling at trial, and the 730 report (issued for purposes of the 2021
judgment) addressed R.C.’s schooling situation. But none of that suggested a court order
prohibiting homeschooling or requiring an updated IEP was on the table at the time of the
20
hearing. Mother therefore had no opportunity to present evidence bearing on whether
homeschooling was appropriate for R.C. or whether an updated IEP was necessary. In
issuing the schooling orders, the court reversibly erred.13 (See Elkins v. Superior Court,
supra, 41 Cal.4th at p. 1357 [denial of right to offer relevant and competent evidence on
material issue is “‘almost always considered reversible error’”].)
DISPOSITION
The trial court’s orders pertaining to R.C.’s homeschooling and an updated
IEP are reversed. In all other respects, the court’s orders are affirmed. We award no
costs on appeal.
O’LEARY, P. J.
WE CONCUR:
BEDSWORTH, J.
GOODING, J.
13
The trial court’s unexpected schooling orders and its critique of Mother’s
conduct in the pool incident prompt us to remind the court that family law cases involve
delicate matters that can have far-reaching consequences for all involved, and they
therefore call for a sensitive and judicious approach.
21