Troy Benton Searles v. Amy Cashio Searles ( 2023 )

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL
FIRST CIRCUIT
2023 CU 0112
TROY BENTON SEARLES
VERSUS
AMY CASHIO SEARLES
Judgment Rendered: AUG 31 2023
On Appeal from the Family Court
In and for the Parish of East Baton Rouge
State of Louisiana
Docket No. 161194
Honorable Erika L. Green, Judge Presiding
Clifton J. Ivey, Jr. Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellee
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Troy Benton Searles
Randall 3. Cashio Counsel for Defendant/ Appellant
Baton Rouge, Louisiana Amy Cashio Searles
BEFORE: McCLENDON, HOLDRIDGE, AND GREENE, 33.
J
McCLENDON, J.
In this child custody and child support dispute, the mother appeals the trial court's
judgment designating the father as domicillary parent retroactive to the date of demand;
and
modifying the existing support order; applying that modification retroactively;
calculating credits and arrearages based on the retroactivity of the custody award. For
the reasons that follow, we reverse in part, amend in part, affirm in part, and remand.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Amy Cashio Searles and Troy Benton Searles were married in 2004, and two
children were born of the marriage. Troy filed a petition for divorce from Amy in 2007.
The parties were divorced by a judgment signed on March 24, 2008. The parties were
awarded joint shared custody of their two minor children, and Troy was ordered to pay
child support to Amy.'
The prior custody and support orders were in effect on August 13, 2019, when
Troy fled a rule to show cause seeking a modification of his child support obligation by
including extraordinary medical expenses and other extraordinary expenses in the child
support calculation. Troy also sought to be designated as the domiciliary parent. In
response to Troy's rule, Amy filed an answer and a reconventional demand. Therein,
Amy raised the peremptory exception raising the objection of no cause of action to Troy's
request for modification of his child support obligations, asserting that Troy failed to
allege facts constituting a material change in circumstances. After a hearing, the trial
court sustained the exception and granted Troy ten days to amend his pleadings " to
specifically assert a cause of action for a modification of child support."
Troy filed an amended and supplemental rule to show cause on January 29, 2021.
Therein, Troy alleged that the parties began deviating from the prior custodial schedule
in 2019, resulting in the children gradually spending less time in Amy's physical custody
and more time with Troy. Accordingly, Troy requested the trial court to " modify the
1 we note that the parties reference an April 22, 2008 judgment that established custody and child support,
and that said judgment does not appear in the record. However, the judgment is not required for a complete
review of the issues raised in this appeal.
2
current custody order based on this change as well as recalculate the support order given
that the parties do not share the equal physical custody of their children."
The matter proceeded to trial on January 28, 2022, and continued over several
dates in May and June of 2022. On lune 24, 2022, the trial court issued its ruling in open
court. The trial court modified custody from joint shared custody to joint custody with
Troy designated as the domiciliary parent. The trial court made the change in custody
retroactive to August 13, 2019, the filing date of Troy's original rule to show cause. The
trial court also recalculated the basic child support obligation based on the retroactive
change in custody and ordered Amy to pay Troy $ 146. 90 per month retroactive to August
13, 2019. As a result, the trial court found there were arrearages in child support owed
by Amy to Troy due to the retroactivity of the award of custody and support. The trial
court found the arrearages to be $ 5, 141. 50. Additionally, the trial court ordered the
parties to pay their respective share of $5, 422. 23 in extraordinary expenses accrued since
August 13, 2019, with Amy's share being $ 271. 11. Finally, the trial court found that Troy
was entitled to a credit in the amount of $26, 257.O0 for 35 months of child support paid
by him since August 13, 2019, due to the retroactivity of the custody modification and
resulting retroactive support award.
The trial court signed a judgment reflecting this ruling on August 22, 2022. Amy
appealed, assigning the following errors for review:
1. The trial court legally erred by making the custody modification
retroactive;
2. The trial court legally erred by awarding basic child support when no
judicial demand existed;
3. The trial court legally erred by making a child support modification
retroactive based solely upon a custody modification;
4. The trial court abused its discretion in failing to consider a parent's ability
to pay, unemployment status, and numerous delays or continuances
when making a child support modification retroactive;
5. The trial court legally erred when it granted a child support credit against
a non- existent child support obligation;
6. The trial court legally erred when it committed errors of calculation;
7. The trial court legally erred when it failed to use decretal language in its
judgment; and
3
8. The trial court legally erred when its judgment failed to contain language
that comports with La. R. S. 9: 315. 6.
LAW AND DISCUSSION
The older child of the parties, B. S., was a minor at the time of the hearing and at
the time the judgment was rendered in this matter, but has since attained the age of
majority. See LSA- C. C. art. 29. It is well- settled that courts will not decide abstract,
hypothetical, or moot controversies, or render advisory opinions with respect to
controversies. Guidry v. Guidry, 2019- 0534 ( La. App. 1 Cir, 9/ 26/ 19), 2019 WL 71770934 n. 4, writ denied, 2020- 00141 ( La. 2/ 26/ 20), 347 So. 3d 878. Therefore, any issues
concerning B. S.' s legal and physical custody are now moot, and the custody issues in this
appeal affect only the remaining minor child, K. S. 2
Decretal Language and LSA R,S, 9.313.6
We first address Amy's argument that the trial court's 2022 judgment contains
insufficient decretal language because, in the absence of proper decretal language, the
appellate court lacks jurisdiction to review the merits. See Hill International, Inc. v.
TS Realty Corp., 2021- 0157 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 12/ 30/ 21), 342 So. 3d 322, 327.
Amy maintains the judgment is deficient because it does not include a value for
Karsyn' s school uniforms" and fails to distinguish " school activities" from " extracurricular
activities" in its award of extraordinary expenses. We disagree. A valid final judgment
must be precise, definite, and certain. Id. at 326. The specific nature and amount of
damages must be determinable from a judgment so that a third person is able to
determine from a judgment the amount owed without reference to other documents. Id.
Amy points out that the trial court failed to include a value for " Karsyn' s school uniforms"
when calculating the total amount of extraordinary expenses owed and asserts that this
omission is fatal to the finality of the judgment. She argues that "[ t] o calculate this
expense would require reference to extrinsic documents in order to discern the court' s
ruling thereby invalidating this portion of the judgment." While we acknowledge Karsyn' s
2 The initials of the minor children, parents, and certain other adults will be used in this opinion to protect
the privacy of the parties involved. See Uniform Rules - Courts of Appeal, Rules 5- 1 and 5- 2. State In
Interest of M. O., 2019- 0130, 2019- 0131 ( La. App. 1 Or. 7/ 30/ 19), 2019 WL 3422685, * 1 n. 1, writ denied,
2019- 01406 ( La. 9/ 17/ 19), 279 So. 3d 377.
51
school uniforms were not assigned a value, this does not invalidate the total amount the
trial court found to be owed in extraordinary expenses. The total amount the parties
must pay is explicitly stated and therefore determinable from the judgment. In fact, the
judgment specifically states that Amy's portion of those expenses totals $ 271. 11. 3
Amy also argues that the language of the judgment does not comport with LSA-
R. S. 9: 315. 6, as it fails to distinguish " school activities" from " extracurricular activities."
Amy frames this assignment of error as a decretal language issue affecting the finality of
the judgment. She asserts the wording of the judgment is imprecise because "[ i] t is
impossible to discern if the trial court intended to draw a distinction between `` school
activities' and ' extracurricular activities[.]"' However, we find this assignment of error
does not relate to decretal language but rather to the proper application of LSA- R. S.
9: 315. 6. In this regard, LSA- R. S. 9: 315. 6 allows certain enumerated extraordinary
expenses incurred on behalf of the child to be added to the basic child support obligation,
including expenses of tuition, registration, books, and supply fees required for attending
a special or private elementary or secondary school to meet the needs of the child. LSA-
R. S. 9: 315. 6 also provides for special expenses incurred for child rearing intended to
enhance the health, athletic, social, or cultural development of a child, including but not
limited to camp, music or art lessons, travel, and " school sponsored extracurricular
activities." LSA- R. S. 9: 315. 6( 1) & ( 3).
It appears from the language of the judgment that the trial court was referring to
extracurricular activities within the framework of school -related activities. However, to
the extent the judgment did not specifically so state and based on the clear language of
LSA- R. S. 9: 315. 6, we hereby amend said judgment to read, in pertinent part, as follows:
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
the Court orders the following expenses be borne by the parties according
to their proportionate shares of income ( Amy Searles 5%, Troy Searles
95%): school related expenses including uniforms, school activities,
tutoring, graduation, extraordinary medical expenses, and school
All fees must be paid to the vendor or
sponsored extracurricular activities.
reimbursed within fourteen ( 14) days' notice. However, Troy Searles shall
be one hundred percent ( 100%) liable for school tuition.
3 To the extent Amy argues this amount is not supported by the evidence, we decline to make that
determination. The amount of extraordinary medical expenses and other extraordinary expenses was not
listed as an assignment of error, and the designated record does not include evidence or transcripts from
the proceedings.
5
Retroactivity of the Custody Award
Next, Amy asserts that the trial court's ruling applying its custody award
retroactively to August 13, 2019, is legally incorrect. We agree. While a judgment
modifying a final child support judgment shall be retroactive to the date of judicial
demand, pursuant to LSA- R. S. 9: 315. 21( C), there is no corresponding statute allowing
for an award of child custody to be made retroactive. Therefore, the earliest that the
custody award could become effective was the date of the in -court ruling modifying same.
Further, we find there was no extra -judicial agreement. In order for an extra-
judicial agreement to be effective, it shall be made in writing or recited in open court, in
which case the recitation shall be susceptible of being transcribed from the record of the
proceedings. LSA -GC. art. 3072. Although the parties were in fact exercising physical
custody consistent with the new custody order prior to the 2022 ruling, there is no
evidence in the record of the parties complying with the formal requirements for an extra-
judicial stipulation or agreement. Accordingly, we find the trial court legally erred in
making the award of custody retroactive to the date of judicial demand. Instead, the
trial court's designation of Troy as domiciliary parent can only be applied prospectively
beginning on June 24, 2022, the date of the trial court's ruling in open court modifying
custody.
ModiFcation of the Child Support Order
Amy's remaining assignments of error hinge on the propriety of the trial court's
modification of the basic child support obligation. An award of child support may be
modified if the circumstances of the child or of either parent materially change. LSA- C. C.
art. 142; LSA- R. S. 9: 311( A). What constitutes a change in circumstances warranting
modification of child support is determined on a case- by- case basis and falls within the
great discretion of the trial court. Kott v. Kott, 2020- 0873 ( La. App. 1 Cir. 4/ 16/ 21),
324 So. 3d 165, 174. On appeal, a trial court's child support judgment will not be reversed
except for abuse of discretion. Id.Amy first contends that Troy did not seek modification of or an award of basic child
support. Therefore, Amy maintains the trial court legally erred in modifying the basic
child support award absent judicial demand. However, the pleadings demonstrate
0
otherwise. In his amended and supplemental rule to show cause, Troy specifically alleged
that the parties began deviating from the prior custodial schedule in 2019 and requested
that the trial court " modify the current custody order based on this change as well as
recalculate the support order given that the parties do not share the equal physical
custody of their children." Troy also prayed that the trial court order Amy to show cause
why the current child support order should not be modified as pled for in the amended
and supplemental rule to show cause.4 Therefore, we find this assignment of error
without merit.
Amy next argues the trial court erred by making the support award retroactive.
The retroactivity of a child support award is governed by LSA- R. S. 9: 315. 21, which states,
in pertinent part:
C. Except for good cause shown, a judgment modifying or revoking a final
child support judgment shall be retroactive to the date of judicial demand,
but in no case prior to the date of judicial demand.
E. In the event that the court finds good cause for not making the award
retroactive to the date of judicial demand, the court may fix the date on
which the award shall commence, but in no case shall this date be a date
prior to the date of judicial demand.
The Louisiana Supreme Court explained that retroactivity of child support " is not in the
nature of a penalty, but merely a judicial recognition of a pre- existing entitlement."
Vaccari v. Vaccari, 2010- 2016 ( La. 12/ 10/ 10), 50 So. 3d 139, 142.
Troy did not make judicial demand for a modification of basic child support in his
original rule as recognized by the trial court when it sustained Amy's peremptory
exception raising the objection of no cause of action. Further, while Troy's amended and
supplemental rule, which was filed on January 29, 2021, did include a judicial demand
for " recalculat[ ion]" of the support order, that demand was based solely on his
simultaneous request for a change in custody. It was that change in the custody
arrangement and the designation of Troy as the domiciliary parent that warranted a
4 We question whether the amended and supplemental rule to show cause filed on January 29, 2021, was
actually an amended pleading that would relate back to the date of the original filing of the rule to show
cause filed on August 13, 2019. See LSA- C. C. P. art. 1153. We also question whether the pleading was an
amended and supplemental pleading that raises issues that were not exigible at the time of filing of the
original pleading. See LSA- C. C. P. art. 1155. There is no relating back in a supplemental pleading since
the cause of action was not in existence at the time of the original pleading.
7
modification of child support, and this change did not occur until the trial court's ruling in
open court on June 24, 2022. In other words, Troy did not have a " pre- existing
entitlement" to support prior to the modification in custody. Therefore, we find the trial
court's award of basic child support payments to Troy from Amy in the amount of $ 146. 90
5
per month applies prospectively only from the June 24, 2022 award of custody.
In light of this decision, we also reverse the trial court's award of arrearages to
Troy. Since the trial court's award of custody does not apply retroactively, Amy's child
support obligation did not begin until the date of the change in custody by the trial court.
Accordingly, Amy did not owe any arrearages for past due support prior to the change in
6
custody. Likewise, the trial court's award of a child support credit in favor of Troy is
reversed, as this credit was based on the legally erroneous retroactive modification of
custody.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we reverse that part of the August 22, 2022 judgment
that made the modification of custody retroactive to August 13, 2019. We also reverse
that part of the judgment that made the child support award in favor of Troy Benton
Searles retroactive to August 13, 2019, as the support award was based on the erroneous
retroactive modification of custody. Accordingly, we vacate the trial court's awards of
arrearages and a child support credit in favor of Troy Benton Searles. We remand this
matter to the trial court for recalculation of child support retroactive to June 24, 2022,
the date of the trial court's ruling in open court modifying custody. We also amend the
trial court's August 22, 2022 judgment to read, in pertinent part, as follows:
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that
the Court orders the following expenses be borne by the parties according
to their proportionate shares of income ( Amy Searles 5%, Troy Searles
95%): school related expenses including uniforms, school activities,
tutoring, graduation,
extraordinary medical expenses, and school
sponsored extracurricular activities. All fees must be paid to the vendor or
reimbursed within fourteen ( 14) days' notice. However, Troy Searles shall
be one hundred percent ( 100%) liable for school tuition.
5 As to the trial court's retroactive award of extraordinary medical expenses and other extraordinary
expenses per LSA- R. S. 9: 315. 5 and 9: 315. 6, while not explicitly assigned as error, we nevertheless note
that these expenses were not calculated into the trial court``s award of the basic child support obligation.
6
Similarly, Amy's assignment of error related to errors of calculation in arrearages is rendered moot.
NO
In all other aspects, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed. All costs of this appeal
are assessed against Plaintiff -Appellee, Troy Benton Searles.
JUDGMENT REVERSED IN PART; AMENDED IN PART; AFFIRMED IN
PART; AND REMANDED.
1 47
STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL
FIRST CIRCUIT
2023 CU 0112
TROY BENTON SEARLES
VERSUS
AMY CASHIO SEARLES
6 GREENE, ]., concurring.
I respectfully concur. Louisiana Revised Statutes 9: 315. 6 provides:
By agreement of the parties or order of the court, the following
expenses incurred on behalf of the child may be added to the basic child
support obligation:
1) Expenses of tuition, registration, books, and supply fees required
for attending a special or private elementary or secondary school to
meet the needs of the child.
2) Any expenses for transportation of the child from one party to the
other.
3)Special expenses incurred for child rearing intended to enhance the
health, athletic, social, or cultural development of a child, including but
not limited to camp, music or art lessons, travel, and school sponsored
extracurricular activities.
Louisiana Revised Statutes 9: 315. 6 does not specifically provide for the award of
uniforms, tutoring, and graduation expenses, although there may be case law that
provides otherwise.