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<div><div><div><div id="pdf-container" style="width: 782px"> <div id="pf1" data-page-no="1"> <div><div> <div>24CA0498 Marriage of Ziebinski 10-10-2024 </div> <div> </div> <div>COLORADO COURT OF APPEALS </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>Court of Appeals No. 24CA0498 </div> <div>Larimer<span> County District Court No. 21DR30034 </span> </div> <div>Honorable Susan Blanco, Judge </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>In re the Marriage of </div> <div> </div> <div>Danielle Ziebinski n/k/a Danielle Curry, </div> <div> </div> <div>Appellee, </div> <div> </div> <div>and </div> <div> </div> <div>Marek Ziebinski, </div> <div> </div> <div>Appellant. </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>ORDER AFFIRMED </div> <div> </div> <div>Division VII </div> <div>Opinion by JUDGE TOW </div> <div>Pawar and Schutz, JJ., concur </div> <div> </div> <div>NOT PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO C.A.R. 35(e) </div> <div>Announced October 10, 2024 </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>No Appearance for Appellee </div> <div> </div> <div>Marek Ziebinski, Pro Se </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> </div></div> <div data-data='{"ctm":[1.277778,0.000000,0.000000,1.277778,0.000000,0.000000]}'></div> </div> <div id="pf2" data-page-no="2"> <div><div> <div>1<span> </span> </div> <div>¶ 1<span> </span><span>In this post-dissolution of marriage case, Marek Ziebinski </span> </div> <div>(father) appeals the district courtâs order resolving the partiesâ </div> <div>dispute over <span>where the partiesâ children would attend sch<span></span>ool. <span>We </span></span> </div> <div>affirm. </div> <div>I.<span> <span>Background </span></span> </div> <div>¶ 2<span> </span><span>In 2021, the district court dissolved the marriage between </span> </div> <div>father and Danielle Ziebinski, now known as Danielle Curry </div> <div>(mother), <span>and entered a permanent order concerning <span></span>the partiesâ </span> </div> <div>two children <span>â</span> then-two-year-old C.Z. and then-five-year-old L.Z. </div> <div>In doing so, the court allocated joint decision-making responsibility </div> <div>to the parties <span>concerning the childrenâs education. </span> </div> <div>¶ 3<span> </span><span>For the 2023-2024 school year, C.Z. attended preschool and </span> </div> <div>L.Z. attended a charter school in Larimer County<span>. </span>Before the 2024-</div> <div>2025 school year <span>â</span> <span>C.Z.âs kindergarten year and L.Z.âs third gr<span></span>ade </span> </div> <div>year <span>â</span> a dispute arose concerning where the children <span></span>would attend </div> <div>school. </div> <div>¶ 4<span> </span><span>Father filed a motion requesting that the court resolve the </span> </div> <div>dispute. In his motion, he alleged that the parties had agree<span></span>d in </div> <div>writing that both children would move to new schools f<span></span>or the </div> <div>upcoming school year. He asserted that the charter school L.Z. </div> </div></div> <div data-data='{"ctm":[1.277778,0.000000,0.000000,1.277778,0.000000,0.000000]}'></div> </div> <div id="pf3" data-page-no="3"> <div><div> <div>2<span> </span> </div> <div>currently attended <span>âlack[s] in academic merit.â Father also </span> </div> <div>explained that mother lived in Fort Collins while <span>he</span> had relocated to </div> <div>Loveland, and he wanted the children to attend a school that was </div> <div>roughly equidistant from the parties. Mother opposed the motion<span>, </span> </div> <div>denying the existence of a written agreement to change schools an<span></span>d </div> <div>asserting that any issues with distance from school were of f<span></span>atherâs </div> <div>own making. </div> <div>¶ 5<span> <span>After the partiesâ <span>unsuccessful attempt to mediate, <span>a </span>district </span></span></span> </div> <div>court magistrate held a hearing. By the time the matter was hea<span></span>rd, </div> <div>however, both parties had changed their positions regarding the </div> <div>children<span>â</span><span>s school. Father now wanted both children to att<span></span>end the </span> </div> <div>charter school L.Z. was already attending. Mother wanted the </div> <div>children to attend her neighborhood school. </div> <div>¶ 6<span> </span><span>After the hearing, the magistrate determined that it was in the </span> </div> <div>childrenâs best interests for them to attend motherâs neighborhood </div> <div>school<span>. <span>Father requested review by the district court, which </span></span> </div> <div>declined to disturb the magistrateâs order<span>. <span> </span></span> </div> <div>¶ 7<span> </span><span>Father appeals. </span> </div> </div></div> <div data-data='{"ctm":[1.277778,0.000000,0.000000,1.277778,0.000000,0.000000]}'></div> </div> <div id="pf4" data-page-no="4"> <div><div> <div>3<span> </span> </div> <div>II.<span> <span>Applicable Law and Standard of Review </span></span> </div> <div>¶ 8<span> </span><span>When parents share educational decision-making </span> </div> <div>responsibility and they are unable to agree on the school for their </div> <div>children, the district court may break the parental deadl<span></span>ock. <span>In re </span> </div> <div>Marriage of Thomas<span>,</span> <span>
2021 COA 123,</span> <span>¶¶ <span>36<span>-<span>38</span></span></span><span>; </span></span>see also In re </div> <div>Marriage of Dauwe<span>,
148 P.3d 282, 285 (Colo. App. 2006) <span></span>(noting </span> </div> <div>that there is âno authority that prohibits the court from re<span></span>solving a </div> <div>dispute between joint decision makersâ)<span>.<span> <span>When exercising this </span></span></span> </div> <div>authority, the court is governed by the best interests of <span></span>the child. </div> <div>Thomas<span>, <span>¶</span><span>¶ <span>17, 38 n.7. </span></span></span> </div> <div>¶ 9<span> </span><span>We will uphold a district <span>courtâs </span>factual findings if the record </span> </div> <div>supports them. <span> Dauwe</span>,
148 P.3d at 286.<span> </span>And because the </div> <div>ultimate determination <span>of what is in the childrenâs best interest<span></span> <span>is a </span></span> </div> <div>matter within the district courtâs discretion, we will not distu<span></span>rb <span>its </span> </div> <div>judgment absent a showing that the court abused that disc<span></span>retion. </div> <div>Cf. In re Marriage of Ciesluk<span>,
113 P.3d 135, 148 (Colo.<span></span> 2005). A </span> </div> <div>court abuses its discretion when its decision is manif<span></span>estly arbitrary, </div> <div>unreasonable, or unfair or is based on a misapplication of the <span></span>law. </div> <div>In re Marriage of Bochner<span>,
2023 COA 63, ¶ 12.<span> </span>We exercise every </span> </div> </div></div> <div data-data='{"ctm":[1.277778,0.000000,0.000000,1.277778,0.000000,0.000000]}'></div> </div> <div id="pf5" data-page-no="5"> <div><div> <div>4<span> </span> </div> <div>presumption in favor of upholding its decision. <span>See In re Marria<span></span>ge </span> </div> <div>of Hatton<span>,
160 P.3d 326, 330 (Colo. App. 2007). </span> </div> <div>III.<span> <span>Analysis </span></span> </div> <div>¶ 10<span> </span><span>As father frames the issue, the district court erred by ordering </span> </div> <div>the children to <span>attend motherâs neighborhood school </span>because the </div> <div>evidence showed that âthe childâ (presumably meaning L.<span></span>Z.<span>, since </span> </div> <div>C.Z. was going to be starting kindergarten at a new school </div> <div>regardless) was thriving at the charter school, the charter school </div> <div>meets accreditation standards, and there was no evidence of abus<span></span>e </div> <div>or neglect at the charter school. Father contends that, before the </div> <div>court was <span>allowed to change the childrenâs school, it was</span> required t<span></span>o </div> <div>find that the children were being denied a competent education or </div> <div>subjected to abuse or neglect. Essentially, father argues for the </div> <div>imposition of something akin to an endangerment standard before a </div> <div>childâs school can be changed. <span>We reject this contention. </span> </div> <div>¶ 11<span> </span><span>There is no Colorado statute or case law that imposes a </span> </div> <div>heightened standard to judicial decisions resolving parental </div> <div>disagreements concerning where the children attend sch<span></span>ool<span>. </span>To the </div> <div>contrary, when a district court engages in its impasse-breaking </div> <div>authority, it must make its decision in the best interests of <span></span>the </div> </div></div> <div data-data='{"ctm":[1.277778,0.000000,0.000000,1.277778,0.000000,0.000000]}'></div> </div> <div id="pf6" data-page-no="6"> <div><div> <div>5<span> </span> </div> <div>child. <span>Thomas</span><span>, </span>¶¶ 17, 38 n.7; <span>see also </span>§ <span>14<span>-<span>10</span></span></span>-124(1.7), C.R.S. </div> <div>2024 <span>(â[C]hildren have the right to have the determination of </span> </div> <div>matters relating to parental responsibilities based upon the <span></span>best </div> <div>interests of the child.â)<span>. </span> </div> <div>¶ 12<span> </span><span>While father continues to acknowledge that <span>Thomas</span> recognized </span> </div> <div>the district courtâs authority to resolve an impasse betw<span></span>een joint </div> <div>decision-makers, he argues that the case is distinguishable. <span></span>In </div> <div>particular, father argues that a key fact in <span>Thomas</span> was that the </div> <div>child was moving from middle school to high school and, <span></span>thus, was </div> <div>changing schools in any event. Notably, father does not appear to </div> <div>acknowledge that C.Z. was moving from preschool to <span></span>kindergarten </div> <div>and, thus, like the child in <span>Thomas</span> was changing schools no matte<span></span>r </div> <div>what. </div> <div>¶ 13<span> </span><span>In any event, nothing in the <span>Thomas</span> decision suggests that the </span> </div> <div>division placed any weight at all on th<span>e </span>fact that the child was </div> <div>necessarily changing schools. Rather, <span>Thomas</span> stands for the </div> <div>simple proposition that where two parents who share </div> <div>decision-making authority cannot come to an agreement on <span></span>a </div> <div>particular decision, the district court has the authority <span></span>to break the </div> <div>impasse by deciding what is in the best interests of the child. </div> </div></div> <div data-data='{"ctm":[1.277778,0.000000,0.000000,1.277778,0.000000,0.000000]}'></div> </div> <div id="pf7" data-page-no="7"> <div><div> <div>6<span> </span> </div> <div>¶ 14<span> </span><span>Because father reads <span>Thomas </span>too narrowly, he argues that <span></span>the </span> </div> <div>court is significantly restricted in exercising its tie-breaking </div> <div>authority, at least where the decision would entail moving a chil<span></span>d </div> <div>from their established school. Relying entirely on decades-old </div> <div>out<span>-</span>of<span>-state case law, father attempts to craft his end<span></span>angerment-like </span> </div> <div>standard. </div> <div>¶ 15<span> <span>He first argues that, because L.Z. was in a âstable </span></span> </div> <div>environmentâ with respect to her schooling, there must be s<span></span>ome </div> <div>showing of endangerment before disrupting that stability. <span></span> Quoting </div> <div>Ex parte McLendon<span>,
455 So. 2d 863, 865 (Ala. 1984), he arg<span></span>ues that </span> </div> <div>â[t]he positive good brought about by the modification must more </div> <div>than offset the inherently disruptive effect caused by up<span></span>rooting the </div> <div>child.â <span>Beyond the fact that we are not bound by out-<span>of</span>-state </span> </div> <div>authority, this case does not support father<span>âs</span> position. The </div> <div>uprooting referenced in <span>Mc<span>Lendon</span></span> did not involve a simple change </div> <div>of schools; rather, that case involved uprooting a child from her </div> <div>established home with her grandparents and moving her ac<span></span>ross the </div> <div>country to live with her mother, who had previously voluntarily </div> <div>surrendered custody. <span>Id.</span> at 864. In short, the case is wholly </div> <div>inapposite. </div> </div></div> <div data-data='{"ctm":[1.277778,0.000000,0.000000,1.277778,0.000000,0.000000]}'></div> </div> <div id="pf8" data-page-no="8"> <div><div> <div>7<span> </span> </div> <div>¶ 16<span> </span><span>Father next invokes a sixty-year-old case from the Missouri </span> </div> <div>Court of Appeals for the proposition that once parties have been </div> <div>allocated joint decision-<span>making, âno further decision shoul<span></span>d be </span> </div> <div>required of the court save to prevent the abuse of the <span></span>child or the </div> <div>neglect of his essential interests.â <span>Jenks v. Jenks<span>, <span>
385 S.W.2d 370, </span></span></span> </div> <div>377 (Mo. Ct. App. 1964). Father asserts that the division in <span>Thoma<span></span>s<span> </span></span> </div> <div>referenced <span>Jenks</span>, and thus appears to argue the division adopted </div> <div>its standards. Father is wrong on both counts. </div> <div>¶ 17<span> <span>First, contrary to fatherâs assertion, the <span>Thomas</span><span> division never </span></span></span> </div> <div>mentioned <span>Jenks</span>. The division did address <span>Griffin v. Griffi<span></span>n<span>, 699 </span></span> </div> <div>P.2d 407, 409-10 (Colo. 1985), in which the Colorado Supreme </div> <div>Court discussed <span>Jenks</span>. But, as noted in <span>Thomas</span><span>, </span><span>Griffin</span><span>âs </span> </div> <div>interpretation of the district courtâs statutory authorit<span></span>y to be the </div> <div>decision-maker of last resort has been superseded b<span></span>y intervening </div> <div>amendments to the relevant statute, section 14-<span>10</span>-130, C.R.S. </div> <div>2024<span>. </span><span>Thomas</span><span>, ¶¶ <span>33</span>-34. Thus, to the extent <span>Griffin</span><span>âs </span></span> </div> <div>interpretation of the statute may have embraced <span>Jenks</span>, we cannot </div> <div>say the case has any continuing vitality. </div> <div>¶ 18<span> </span><span>Second, nothing in <span>Thomas</span> suggests that the division intended </span> </div> <div>to incorporate the standards discussed in <span>Jenks</span>. To the contra<span></span>ry, </div> </div></div> <div data-data='{"ctm":[1.277778,0.000000,0.000000,1.277778,0.000000,0.000000]}'></div> </div> <div id="pf9" data-page-no="9"> <div> <img alt="" src="https://icbg.s3.amazonaws.com/media/MM9/Zgu/MM9ZguMTW/pwsU7Hj38Z0aT83wGmUtrM/47S7PRRijEBs%3D?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIA5PHC3MTPTYY6MGS4&Expires=1728709389&Signature=GxapxK6ZU5mMv2g95KKyMLuC7tA%3D&x-amz-security-token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEEQaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJGMEQCIEf11TU8zMFjxdyYbfaZN3AEhsBQX8P5ktMAVsOHs9ORAiBRKjIJRJyfvaaA7h0jkWnxX8VtNNiEQUvRHIq%2Bg0xuUiq7BQic%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F8BEAAaDDkyNjA0MTIwMzkzNSIMbRaF1%2FA9NZqYnVr%2BKo8FDszdSKPl05IxRL3e5PIHJQCSr%2BsJmUMhYRFeBgP49NYTYQb3gCSieM5Vtm3MLb9auIviOSoRA6K6AOhH2%2Bc01o6O%2FTVKEzBRnLesiI%2FXRa1c%2BdZaMGURw%2Fodz6AD94OL3eZS0ymSHFoqssp5Djts5H8%2FvC3lK5%2BaVX4ZwzvPEQ0BySBQft5nfQgQRSiCwPKvRkaLtYZAt1Eel%2F2vtwd5mwGaysNfIkBuX3Wx4Q8TDvqVrseCeBG7EeOFRx%2Fy1pYY05ZV6knxDCzge16wi4lI2E5XLrfDNuxEfEIvKnPtZ%2FnU2QEQSNCr8QHdFyYxJH71ZVCjx8twnddfHWo2Pgr%2BTyvqbQserdkv54SfIHiO5kXH7KCsKZlB2sloqs%2FrUB5%2FGk0xXXYcJyVSkhryNzd44Nxf4oIJLwLorDaGPmBAE87ETKEkEKrNgZggza28gTc%2FwY0Z1Ja0pp9wxK8kFTJ2NFJD5LasfaedD5%2FYaEqHpbmwd8vlnZchHQRpQ8cUdoV0E1Qr7tzwmZXtmYea%2F1Xqf5JDdSttYaLSeL6Z%2BEaDpGW4FeS1OlyiZ%2BKqmjUGf9oUOXVpv94czinkQVcxbVdI3K3Mi8qQ3BTrcfZD%2BEZaQ8BoYBW8HqtSbCIcDHDHQYTXEYsDq49AGebXMwkkCXKEhril9S5K5uotAzdkqSx0%2FMLacjVXiLHT4RWR%2Fb92lwS%2FFLKUHB3COS76OsGWXW5HuAXjm3Cr6sQXC8y0uS5yMhLV%2BEEJ5KNTOzqC%2F7lvzJ0hpAuYAw9klfqNLztWT0LUVavv2my0brJh1%2B3uxTn6jD22fF%2FlWeFAYBZA5jNMbY0vqdo96z8U3XsYwwIfRPo%2BOUqGKZBx9CKZDQdrRU1EXTDC1ae4BjqyAVvmMgVSmmU0PnXEfIBuiZGc1eBlQwl4PlvtotFIn29ivu2S6tNyA4izEAVcmQJous%2B4U3M4iR9%2FH0iKZKm2p6kdEiiZJBxGDxrJciMfpmXc%2Fwm5JG22JkUHoLqsP5uAUWcUGhRD2FhT%2FW2Ir4RneoeJuOW0y87u1rY3xGSz%2F9Lo0RowO7oTtSMCdjlONjFJYKTpt4eGKYA6y0O7eLHawk8RkiPQETZ%2FbspPPzylFQ0VMmc%3D"><div> <div>8<span> </span> </div> <div>as noted, the division applied a best interests of the <span></span>child standard. </div> <div>Thomas<span>, <span>¶¶ 17, 38 n.7. </span></span> </div> <div>¶ 19<span> </span><span>Here, the magistrate explicitly followed <span>Thomas</span> and properly </span> </div> <div>applied the best interests standard. In reaching her decision, t<span></span>he </div> <div>magistrate found that <span>motherâs </span>neighborhood school has a st<span></span>rong </div> <div>academic program; it <span>is an âIB schoolâ;</span> </div> </div> <div><div>1</div></div> <div> <div> <span>the schoolâs teachings </span> </div> <div>incorporate the use of technology, which will benefit the children; </div> <div>and it has a gifted and talented program. The court f<span></span>ound that </div> <div>there was little evidence that the charter school had any advantag<span></span>es </div> <div>over motherâs neighborhood school <span>and that, although fath<span></span>er later </span> </div> <div>changed his mind about the charter <span>schoolâs academic strengths, </span> </div> <div>his motion stated that L<span>.Z.âs</span> education was clearly lacking at the </div> <div>charter school. </div> <div>¶ 20<span> </span><span>Further, the court found that the children have friends who </span> </div> <div>attend both schools and that this was therefore not a defining </div> <div>issue. The court also found that, although the charter school may </div> <div>have students who live closer to fatherâs home, there was no </div> <div> </div> </div> <div><div>1</div></div> <div> <div> <span>An âIB schoolâ means an international baccalaureate school. </span> </div> <div>Mother testified that this meant that the school had an </div> <div>academically rigorous environment. </div> </div> <a href="#pf9" data-dest-detail='[9,"XYZ",69,121,null]'><div style="border-style:none;position:absolute;left:428.975556px;bottom:667.983889px;width:10.080000px;height:32.870000px;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.000001);"></div></a> </div> <div data-data='{"ctm":[1.277778,0.000000,0.000000,1.277778,0.000000,0.000000]}'></div> </div> <div id="pfa" data-page-no="a"> <div> <img alt="" src="https://icbg.s3.amazonaws.com/media/MM9/Zgu/MM9ZguMTW/pwsU7Hj38Z0aT83wGmUtrM/47S7PRRijEBs%3D?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIA5PHC3MTPTYY6MGS4&Expires=1728709389&Signature=GxapxK6ZU5mMv2g95KKyMLuC7tA%3D&x-amz-security-token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEEQaCXVzLWVhc3QtMSJGMEQCIEf11TU8zMFjxdyYbfaZN3AEhsBQX8P5ktMAVsOHs9ORAiBRKjIJRJyfvaaA7h0jkWnxX8VtNNiEQUvRHIq%2Bg0xuUiq7BQic%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F8BEAAaDDkyNjA0MTIwMzkzNSIMbRaF1%2FA9NZqYnVr%2BKo8FDszdSKPl05IxRL3e5PIHJQCSr%2BsJmUMhYRFeBgP49NYTYQb3gCSieM5Vtm3MLb9auIviOSoRA6K6AOhH2%2Bc01o6O%2FTVKEzBRnLesiI%2FXRa1c%2BdZaMGURw%2Fodz6AD94OL3eZS0ymSHFoqssp5Djts5H8%2FvC3lK5%2BaVX4ZwzvPEQ0BySBQft5nfQgQRSiCwPKvRkaLtYZAt1Eel%2F2vtwd5mwGaysNfIkBuX3Wx4Q8TDvqVrseCeBG7EeOFRx%2Fy1pYY05ZV6knxDCzge16wi4lI2E5XLrfDNuxEfEIvKnPtZ%2FnU2QEQSNCr8QHdFyYxJH71ZVCjx8twnddfHWo2Pgr%2BTyvqbQserdkv54SfIHiO5kXH7KCsKZlB2sloqs%2FrUB5%2FGk0xXXYcJyVSkhryNzd44Nxf4oIJLwLorDaGPmBAE87ETKEkEKrNgZggza28gTc%2FwY0Z1Ja0pp9wxK8kFTJ2NFJD5LasfaedD5%2FYaEqHpbmwd8vlnZchHQRpQ8cUdoV0E1Qr7tzwmZXtmYea%2F1Xqf5JDdSttYaLSeL6Z%2BEaDpGW4FeS1OlyiZ%2BKqmjUGf9oUOXVpv94czinkQVcxbVdI3K3Mi8qQ3BTrcfZD%2BEZaQ8BoYBW8HqtSbCIcDHDHQYTXEYsDq49AGebXMwkkCXKEhril9S5K5uotAzdkqSx0%2FMLacjVXiLHT4RWR%2Fb92lwS%2FFLKUHB3COS76OsGWXW5HuAXjm3Cr6sQXC8y0uS5yMhLV%2BEEJ5KNTOzqC%2F7lvzJ0hpAuYAw9klfqNLztWT0LUVavv2my0brJh1%2B3uxTn6jD22fF%2FlWeFAYBZA5jNMbY0vqdo96z8U3XsYwwIfRPo%2BOUqGKZBx9CKZDQdrRU1EXTDC1ae4BjqyAVvmMgVSmmU0PnXEfIBuiZGc1eBlQwl4PlvtotFIn29ivu2S6tNyA4izEAVcmQJous%2B4U3M4iR9%2FH0iKZKm2p6kdEiiZJBxGDxrJciMfpmXc%2Fwm5JG22JkUHoLqsP5uAUWcUGhRD2FhT%2FW2Ir4RneoeJuOW0y87u1rY3xGSz%2F9Lo0RowO7oTtSMCdjlONjFJYKTpt4eGKYA6y0O7eLHawk8RkiPQETZ%2FbspPPzylFQ0VMmc%3D"><div> <div>9<span> </span> </div> <div>evidence that the children had socialized with any such stu<span></span>dents </div> <div>outside of school during fatherâs parenting time.<span> </span> </div> <div>¶ 21<span> <span>Regarding the schoolsâ locations, the court found that fath<span></span>erâs </span></span> </div> <div>opposition to <span>the location of motherâs </span>neighborhood school was </div> <div>disingenuous because the schools were only five minutes fr<span></span>om each </div> <div>other.</div> </div> <div><div>2</div></div> <div> <div> <span>And though father touted the availability of a carpooling </span> </div> <div>program at the charter school, the magistrate observed that<span></span> there </div> <div>was no evidence he had ever used the program in the past. </div> <div>¶ 22<span> </span><span>Finally, the magistrate noted that there was no credible </span> </div> <div>evidence to show that father would be prevented from <span></span>being </div> <div>involved in the childrenâs schooling or extracurricular activit<span></span>ies if </div> <div>they attend<span>ed</span> <span>motherâs </span>neighborhood school<span>. </span> The magistrate also </div> <div>observed <span>that fatherâs concern over </span>driving distance was an issue of<span></span> </div> <div>fatherâs <span>convenience </span><span>â</span><span> <span>no</span>t a concern about what is in the best </span> </div> <div>interests of the children. Ultimately, the court concluded that it </div> <div>was in the children<span>âs</span> best interests that they attend <span>motherâs </span> </div> <div>neighborhood school for the 2024-2025 school year. </div> <div> </div> </div> <div><div>2</div></div> <div> <div> <span>Indeed, based on the fatherâs hearing exhibits, motherâs </span> </div> <div>neighborhood school appears to be several minutes <span>closer</span> <span>to fath<span></span>erâs </span> </div> <div>home. </div> </div> <a href="#pfa" data-dest-detail='[10,"XYZ",69,121,null]'><div style="border-style:none;position:absolute;left:140.645000px;bottom:668.022222px;width:10.080000px;height:32.860000px;background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0.000001);"></div></a> </div> <div data-data='{"ctm":[1.277778,0.000000,0.000000,1.277778,0.000000,0.000000]}'></div> </div> <div id="pfb" data-page-no="b"> <div><div> <div>10<span> </span> </div> <div>¶ 23<span> </span><span>To the extent that father points to contrary evidence, it was for </span> </div> <div>the magistrate <span>â</span> not us <span>â</span> to resolve any factual conflicts. <span></span> It was </div> <div>the <span>magistrateâs </span>responsibility to determine the credibility of </div> <div>witnesses, the weight to give the testimony, and the inferences t<span></span>o be </div> <div>drawn from the evidence. <span>See In re Estate of Owens</span>,
2017 COA 5<span></span>3, </div> <div>¶ 22; <span>see also In re Marriage of Udis</span>,
780 P.2d 499, 504 (C<span></span>olo. 1989) </div> <div>(presuming that the district court considered all the evidence in<span></span> </div> <div>reaching its decision). We cannot reweigh <span>the courtâs factual </span> </div> <div>determinations when, as here, the record supports them. <span></span> <span>See </span> </div> <div>Owens<span>, <span>¶ 22; <span>see also Hatton</span>, 160 P.3d at 330. </span></span> </div> <div>¶ 24<span> <span>Finally, we reject fatherâs objection to the magistrate </span></span> </div> <div>considering his statements in his motion that the charter school </div> <div>was not up to academic standards. Despite father later changing<span></span> </div> <div>course, which the magistrate acknowledged, the fact remains he </div> <div>made the statements <span>â</span> indeed, he made them under oath because </div> <div>the motion was a verified motion. Father points to no Colorad<span></span>o </div> <div>case law, nor are we aware of any, suggesting that this was an </div> <div>improper consideration. </div> </div></div> <div data-data='{"ctm":[1.277778,0.000000,0.000000,1.277778,0.000000,0.000000]}'></div> </div> <div id="pfc" data-page-no="c"> <div><div> <div>11<span> </span> </div> <div>¶ 25<span> </span><span>Because the record supports the <span>magistrateâs</span> findings, we will </span> </div> <div>not disturb them. <span>See Owens</span>, ¶ 22.<span> </span>And in light of those findings, </div> <div>we cannot say the magistrate abused her discretion. </div> <div>IV.<span> </span><span>Disposition </span> </div> <div>¶ 26<span> </span><span>The order is affirmed. </span> </div> <div>JUDGE PAWAR and JUDGE SCHUTZ concur. </div> </div></div> <div data-data='{"ctm":[1.277778,0.000000,0.000000,1.277778,0.000000,0.000000]}'></div> </div> </div></div></div></div>
Document Info
Docket Number: 24CA0498
Filed Date: 10/10/2024
Precedential Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 10/12/2024