Marriage of Heenan & Wallace ( 2021 )

03/23/2021
DA 20-0333
Case Number: DA 20-0333
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2021 MT 73N
IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF:
JEFFERY PATRICK HEENAN,
Petitioner and Appellant,
and
SARAH KATE WALLACE,
Respondent and Appellee.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Fourth Judicial District,
In and For the County of Missoula, Cause No. DDR-17-0194
Honorable John W. Parker, Presiding Judge
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
André Gurr, Melissa Stones-Smith, Garden City Law, PLLC, Kalispell,
Montana
For Appellee:
Klaus D. Sitte, ASUM Legal Services, Missoula, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: January 20, 2021
Decided: March 23, 2021
Filed:
cir-641.—if
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice Jim Rice delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 Pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c), Montana Supreme Court Internal Operating
Rules, this case is decided by memorandum opinion and shall not be cited and does not
serve as precedent. Its case title, cause number, and disposition shall be included in this
Court’s quarterly list of noncitable cases published in the Pacific Reporter and Montana
Reports.
¶2 Jeffery Patrick Heenan appeals the Fourth Judicial District Court, Missoula
County’s (District Court) “Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Decree of Dissolution
and Order Adopting Parenting Plan” and “Final Parenting Plan.” We restate the issues as
follows:
1. Did the District Court err in its adoption of the final parenting plan, including
permitting Wallace to relocate and requiring Heenan’s visitation to be supervised?
2. Did the District Court err in its division of the marital estate and the
determination of child support?
¶3 We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings.
¶4 The procedural history of this case is extensive and involves proceedings in multiple
venues. Heenan and Wallace met in 2011 and married in June 2016, giving birth to D.H.
later that year, while living in Billings. Wallace decided to return to school for physical
therapy, and she applied to Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho and the University
of Montana in Missoula. After Idaho State University accepted Wallace, Heenan and
Wallace purchased a foreclosed home in Pocatello for approximately $38,000. During
Wallace’s pregnancy in 2016, Heenan, with the help of his parents, renovated the Pocatello
2
home, investing an estimated $21,052 in supplies and labor. Heenan, a flooring contractor,
painted walls, removed carpet, repaired plumbing, and replaced the subfloor.
¶5 Wallace elected instead to enroll at the University of Montana, where she had
previously been waitlisted. In August 2016, Heenan and Wallace entered a rental lease
agreement in Missoula. Heenan paid the monthly rent. A couple weeks later, while
Wallace was preparing to move to Missoula, the Billings Police Department responded to
a dispute between Heenan and Wallace, reporting that Heenan was intoxicated and had
threatened movers with a rifle. Heenan and Wallace agreed to separate for a short period
of time. The couple eventually moved to Missoula together, but, in February 2017, they
decided to separate permanently.
¶6 On February 27, 2017, Wallace petitioned for a temporary order of protection (TOP)
from the Missoula City Municipal Court. Wallace stated she felt threatened and
intimidated by Heenan’s behavior, alleging he had threatened violence against Wallace and
D.H., destroyed property in the Missoula rental, and was verbally abusive towards Wallace,
particularly by his claiming that she was mentally ill. The Municipal Court issued an ex
parte TOP and hearing notice. After a couple of pleadings and orders, including a
continuance, the issue proceeded before the District Court, which set a hearing for June 9,
2017.
¶7 In March 2017, Wallace applied for child support with the Child Support
Enforcement Division of the Department of Public Health and Human Services (CSED).
Heenan filed this proceeding with the District Court. CSED was not notified of the
3
dissolution proceeding. Heenan’s initial attorney withdrew in April 2017, citing a
breakdown in communication.
¶8 At the June 9, 2017 TOP hearing, the District Court adopted an interim parenting
plan negotiated by new counsel and stipulated to by Heenan and Wallace, effective until
July 15, 2017. Under the agreement, Heenan was granted scheduled visitation with D.H.,
with all communications between Heenan and Wallace to take place on Our Family
Wizard, a parenting application. The District Court dismissed the TOP and entered a “Civil
No Contact” order in its place, although the oral order did not specify an expiration date.
The District Court subsequently memorialized the oral order and scheduled a status hearing
for August 17, 2017, and a trial for September 1, 2017. On June 30, 2017, Heenan’s
attorney withdrew, citing ineffectual communications. Upon an unopposed motion by
Heenan’s new counsel, the District Court continued the trial until October 20, 2017.
¶9 On September 27, 2017, Heenan and Wallace stipulated to a stay of the dissolution
proceedings and the CSED action. Heenan and Wallace agreed that Wallace would remain
the primary custodial parent and that a similar visitation schedule with D.H., then 14
months old, would continue. Further parenting issues were to be addressed with attorney
Meri Althauser, who conducted a program to resolve parenting issues, and Heenan and
Wallace agreed to communicate by text and e-mail. The parties each retained the option
of continuing dissolution proceedings. The District Court vacated the schedule. Althauser
later sent a letter stating she would no longer assist the parties.
4
¶10 On October 21, 2017, Heenan and Wallace met for their scheduled exchange time
at the Missoula Alliance Church. Wallace became upset with Heenan when he asked why
D.H.’s diaper was soiled. According to Wallace, Heenan called D.H. “trashy.” When
Wallace began to leave with D.H., Heenan followed her, and Wallace told him to leave her
alone. When their argument created a disturbance, Heenan left and reported the incident
to the Missoula Police Department, while Wallace reported the incident to CSED.
¶11 On January 2, 2018, Wallace petitioned for a second TOP, alleging Heenan was
stalking, sending messages by text, e-mail, and Our Family Wizard telling Wallace she was
mentally ill, and contacting her friends and family to help Wallace realize she was mentally
ill. Wallace alleged other violations of the Civil No Contact order by Heenan, including
breaking into the Missoula rental, calling Child Protective Services to conduct a wellness
check on Wallace, which was later determined to be unsubstantiated, and sending
Wallace’s neighbor to the Missoula rental as hired help. Wallace requested supervised
visitation for Heenan and D.H. The following day, the District Court issued a TOP in
Cause No. DR-18-1, requiring Heenan to stay at least 1,500 feet away from the Missoula
rental, University of Montana campus, and ASUM Childcare. Heenan was permitted to
contact D.H. through supervised visits at Planet Kids in Missoula. The District Court set
a hearing for January 22, 2018 and stated that the TOP “shall continue in full force and
effect until further order of the court.”
¶12 At the hearing, Wallace moved the District Court to continue this matter because
she had retained counsel who could not be present. The District Court granted the motion
5
over Heenan’s objection and reset the TOP hearing for February 6, 2018. On February 6,
Wallace advised the District Court that the dissolution proceeding, then a separate
proceeding, had been stayed, and asked that both matters be continued for three weeks.
The District Court granted the motion over Heenan’s objection, set a joint hearing for both
the dissolution and the TOP for February 23, 2018, and ordered the TOP to remain in effect.
At the hearing, Heenan and Wallace stipulated to appointing of Amy K. Lord of Lord Law
Office, PC, to serve as a Parenting Coordinator, which the District Court granted. The
District Court ordered Lord to implement a temporary parenting plan and to report to the
District Court regarding D.H.’s support and parenting.
¶13 In March of 2018, following no objection from Heenan or Wallace to its calculation,
CSED ordered Heenan to “pay child support in the amount of $544.00 per month starting
in April of 2018.” In August 2018, after no payment had been made, CSED seized
Heenan’s bank account, collecting $1,778.95. Heenan requested an exemption hearing
before CSED, which was held on September 24, 2018. CSED was then first made aware
of the parties’ dissolution proceedings, leading to its ruling:
Ms. Wallace should have advised the CSED of the dissolution action and the
September 2017 [stipulation staying the dissolution and CSED proceedings].
Mr. Heenan also had many opportunities to object to the [Notice and Order
Concerning Support] and to advise the CSED of the District Court action.
The CSED did not know of the parties’ agreement until the recent exemption
hearing. The CSED believes that returning half of the seized amount
($889.46) to Mr. Heenan without him having to prove the income is wages,
and entering a substitute [temporary order] and vacating the [Notice and
Order Concerning Support] appropriately balances various interests.
6
CSED vacated the original support order. Heenan and CSED entered into a stipulation
dismissing the exemption proceedings and converting the proceeding to a temporary
support matter.1
¶14 In early 2019, Heenan moved the District Court to schedule a trial, citing Lord’s
delay in issuing her recommendations and that Heenan had not seen D.H., then 2 ½ years
old, for six months. Lord’s recommendations were reported on February 13, 2019, wherein
she concluded that “DH appears to have a strong, trusting bond with [Wallace]. It is this
parenting coordinator’s perspective that this did not occur by accident, but by the
consistent, loving care.” Lord opined that Heenan “perceives himself to be the victim in
his relationships” with Wallace and D.H., and that Heenan believed Wallace
has systematically manipulated this process against him and believes he has
little to no culpability in the lack of contact and relationship he has with DH.
To the extent he believes he has no responsibility in creating the negative
dynamics, outside of attempting to reconcile prior to this parenting
coordinator’s involvement, he has also done nothing to proactively address
or improve his contact or relationships through any kind of self-work or
therapeutic process.
Lord recommended the parties complete co-parenting classes and that Heenan engage in
therapy “to assess and address his role in the disrupted relationship he has with DH and his
ongoing perceptions he has about [Wallace], with an eye toward reunification with DH.”
1
In February 2020, CSED entered a support order requiring Heenan to pay child support in the
amount of $200 per month, which was ultimately adopted by the District Court in the decree.
Wallace’s briefing states that “without objection” the order was “abstracted to the child support
case against Jeff in Cause Number DR-18-55, Twenty-First Judicial District, Ravalli County.”
CSED also calculated an arrearage of $13,480.53.
7
Lord recommended continued supervised visitation, with increased time for Heenan once
Heenan “has consistently exercised” visitation:
once [Heenan’s] counselor determines [Heenan’s] unsupervised parenting
time poses no risk to DH, this case would be ripe for a more traditional
parenting plan. In the meantime, while this parenting coordinator is not in a
position to investigate or opine on the necessity of a protective order in this
case, it seems appropriate that the court set a hearing to adjudicate the it [sic]
on its merits.
Heenan responded on February 21, 2019, by filing a “Notice of Inaccuracies” objecting to
Lord’s findings, including that he had “thus far stipulated to” the second temporary order
of protection, as Lord indicated. Heenan asserted Lord had only arranged visitation with
D.H. in locations prohibited under the TOP, and then faulted him for “not violating the
temporary order of protection in order to see his daughter.”2
¶15 Lord also noted a “recent development” that Wallace’s standing with the University
of Montana had come into question due to her dismissal from the physical therapy
program.3 On March 29, 2019, Wallace filed a notification that, pursuant to § 40-4-217,
MCA, she intended to “change her place of residence and that of her child as soon as
practical” from the Missoula rental to the parties’ Pocatello home. In a filing on March 11,
2
This filing was later amended by an affidavit from Heenan that asserted the Billings gun incident
occurred because he was “unexpectedly awakened by two (2) men carrying his furniture,” with no
prior notice from Wallace. Heenan denied he struggles with alcohol abuse, contrary to Wallace’s
assertion that both she and Heenan struggle with alcohol. Heenan also asserted that Wallace
unjustifiably refused to allow Heenan install laminate flooring at the Pocatello house, only to later
pay to have them installed by a third-party. At trial, Lord disagreed she had arranged for visitation
at places prohibited by the TOP.
3
This educational matter was pending on appeal with the University of Montana at the time of
trial.
8
2019, Heenan had advised that the following issues were pending before the District Court:
1) a parenting plan, 2) an equitable property settlement, 3) the final amount of child support,
and 4) the temporary order of protection; then, on April 12, Heenan also objected to
Wallace’s intended move.
¶16 On May 23, 2019, the District Court set a “one (1) day trial” for October 4, 2019 at
9:00 a.m. Heenan requested the trial time be extended because his attorney was scheduled
to testify in an unrelated case on the same day, so on September 24, 2019, the District Court
ordered the trial to commence at 10:00 a.m. As the trial opened, the District Court stated:
So as you know, I granted a motion to start the hearing an hour later. That’s
going to somewhat restrict the amount of time we have for testimony. So
I’m going to give each counsel 50 minutes for testimony.
At the end of the case, based upon my review of the file, the main thing I’m
going to need to hear, based on where I see the lines of battle, is interplay
between your testimony and the Montana Supreme Court case precedent
addressing notice of intent to move as it relates to the constitutional right to
travel. That is where I see the fault lines, in the case, based upon everything
you’ve filed.
. . .
It’s going to be 50 minutes per side, which is going to allow me to entertain
a small amount of oral argument at the end.
And then what I plan to do is make a ruling, from the bench, in terms of
findings, conclusions, and order. And I’m going to ask the - - the prevailing
party to give me orders electronically so we can keep things rolling.
Before testimony, Heenan’s counsel summarized:
So, Your Honor, I think, in this case, the issues are an appropriate parenting
plan, and we have Amy Lord here to testify to that. We also have the issue
of the temporary restraining order, whether that should be vacated. We’d
also have the issue of child support, which was reserved pursuant to a
9
stipulation with CSED. And then we have the issue of the house in Idaho
and what should be done with that.
¶17 Heenan, Lord, Cecilia Totten, who is Wallace’s mother, and Alex Nixon, a character
witness for Heenan, testified. Wallace’s counsel discussed Wallace’s plan to move to
Pocatello, including that Wallace had already lined up a counselor there and would resume
counseling as soon as she could move, that she would follow all recommendations made
by her current counselor, and utilize FaceTime for visitations between Heenan and D.H.
The District Court concluded the hearing at noon:
As I was reviewing the file, I thought we were going – I thought the lines of
battle were going to be whether or not there was going to be a move, and
there’s so much underlying tension and challenges to be dealt with that
occupied the entire time. Further, we had to truncate the hearing due to
[Heenan’s attorney’s] obligation in another department.
. . .
I want to tell you what the interim orders are going to be. I’m going to order
both parties to submit your proposed findings and conclusions . . . one week
from today. I want to get the interim parenting plan issued quickly. I’m
going to order simultaneous briefing. . . . I’ll set a page limit, ten pages per
party. The two issues I want to hear about are the implications of the
constitutional right to travel, in a family law case, and the governing case
standards for modifying child support arrearages.
I’m going to set a status hearing in early to mid-December. . . . I’m going to
want to hear how everyone’s living with the interim parenting plan by then.
And in my written order from this hearing, I’m going to set a final hearing to
clean up any remaining business. That will happen at - - either in late
February or early March, depending on my other obligations.
So I had hoped we - - we were going to be coping with a smaller list of issues
for today. That’s as much progress as we can make, given the fact that the
scope of the issues was somewhat larger, and we had to shave off an hour out
of respect for a proceeding in another department in this district.
10
¶18 On May 19, 2020, despite acknowledging an insufficiency of time to address the
issues and indicating “a final hearing” would be held to “clean up any remaining issues,”
the District Court entered findings of fact, conclusions of law, decree and a Final Parenting
Plan that ostensibly decided all pending issues. The District Court did not address the
second TOP, but relied upon it in the parenting plan, citing it as one reason supervised
visitation between Heenan and D.H. remained necessary. The District Court found it was
in D.H.’s best interest to primarily reside with Wallace, and permitted Wallace to relocate
to Pocatello with D.H. The District Court awarded Wallace a 65% interest and Heenan a
35% interest in the Pocatello home, stating the division was made “in lieu of any
maintenance award,” but providing no analysis of maintenance or apportionment, or a
mechanism for how the parties would obtain their respective interests in the home. Finally,
the District Court ordered Heenan to “pay the child support in the amount determined by
the CSED in February of 2020 of $200 per month from that date onward, and the full back
support amount of $13,480.53, which began accruing prior to the stipulated stay between
the parties.”
¶19 Heenan appeals. Following withdrawal by his trial counsel, Heenan initiated the
appeal to this Court pro se in June of 2020. He subsequently obtained new counsel.
¶20 This Court generally reviews issues in dissolution actions for an abuse of discretion.
In re Marriage of Elder & Mahlum, 2020 MT 91, ¶ 10, 399 Mont. 532, 462 P.3d 209(apportionment of marital property) (citations omitted); In re Solem, 2020 MT 141, ¶ 6,
400 Mont. 186, 464 P.3d 981 (parenting plan) (citations omitted); In re Marriage of Banka,
11
2003 MT 84, ¶ 13, 315 Mont. 97, 67 P.3d 885 (child support) (citations omitted). A trial
court abuses its discretion when it exercises granted discretion based upon clearly
erroneous findings of fact,4 erroneous conclusions or application of law,5 or acts arbitrarily
without employment of conscientious judgment or exceeds the bounds of reason resulting
in substantial injustice. In re Elder, ¶ 10 (citations omitted).
¶21 1. Did the District Court err in its adoption of the final parenting plan, including
permitting Wallace to relocate and requiring Heenan’s visitation to be supervised?
¶22 As an initial matter, Heenan argues the District Court’s management of the hearing
process and entry of “Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Decree of Dissolution and
Order Adopting Parenting Plan” and “Final Parenting Plan” without conducting a final
hearing compromised the fairness of the proceeding and violated his right to due process,
undermining the District Court’s rulings on all issues. He also challenges the sufficiency
of the District Court’s findings to support its rulings. Acknowledging the hearing was
“truncated,” Wallace responds that the District Court nonetheless was presented with
substantial credible evidence to support its findings.
4
M. R. Civ. P. 52(a)(6). Findings are clearly erroneous if not supported by substantial evidence,
Interstate Prod. Credit Ass’n v. Desaye, 250 Mont. 320, 323, 820 P.2d 1285, 1287 (1991), meaning
“evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion; it consists of
more than a mere scintilla of evidence but may be somewhat less than a preponderance.” Fiedler
v. Fiedler, 266 Mont. 133, 138, 879 P.2d 675, 678 (1994). We leave factual findings undisturbed
if supported by substantial evidence, the trial court has not “misapprehended the effect” of the
evidence, and the Court is not left with a “definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been
committed.” Richards v. Trusler, 2015 MT 314, ¶ 12, 381 Mont. 357, 360 P.3d 1126 (citing
Desaye, 250 Mont. at 323, 820 P.2d at 1287) (brackets and quotations omitted).
5
Reviewed for correctness. Giambra v. Kelsey, 2007 MT 158, ¶ 28, 338 Mont. 19, 162 P.3d 134(citations omitted).
12
¶23 Trial courts are faced with difficult challenges in the administration of heavy
caseloads. Limitation upon the length of case presentation is a necessary management tool
and is commonly employed. We recognize that trial courts have, and must have,
“broad discretion to oversee trial administration,” and are “in the best position to consider
the most fair and efficient procedure to conduct the litigation.” In re Marriage of Williams,
2018 MT 221, ¶ 22, 392 Mont. 484, 425 P.3d 1277. In balance, “[d]ue process requires
notice and the opportunity to be heard ‘at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner.’”
Steab v. Luna, 2010 MT 125, ¶ 22, 356 Mont. 372, 233 P.3d 351 (citation omitted). We
agree with Wallace that the District Court, as it intended, received substantial evidence
during the hearing on the parenting plan, particularly regarding Wallace’s move to
Pocatello, and we address those issues below. However, Heenan makes a compelling
argument that his opportunity to present the remainder of his case was eliminated in
contradiction to the District Court’s instructions and his reasonable expectations. While
we loath requiring further proceedings in a small marital estate, this due process concern,
combined with insufficient findings in several regards, requires us to conclude that further
proceedings are necessary, and we remand on those issues, as explained herein.
¶24 Regarding the parenting plan, Heenan does not directly challenge the District
Court’s determination that it is in D.H.’s best interest for D.H. to primarily reside with
Wallace but takes issue with Wallace’s relocation to Pocatello and challenges the
imposition of supervised visitation. On the latter question, citing § 40-4-218(2), MCA,
Heenan argues that the District Court failed to make findings that supervised visitation
13
furthers D.H.’s “physical health [or] emotional development,” and that this is not an
“extraordinary circumstance” justifying supervision restrictions. “A district court has
broad discretion when considering the parenting of a child, and we must presume the court
carefully considered the evidence and made the correct decision.” In re Solem, ¶ 6 (citing
In re G.M.N., 2019 MT 18, ¶ 11, 394 Mont. 112, 433 P.3d 715).
¶25 The District Court found that “evidence was presented regarding the physical abuse
or threat of physical abuse” by Heenan against Wallace, and that “credible evidence was
presented [of] instances of heavy drinking” by Heenan. The District Court noted that
Heenan had a “disrupted relationship” with D.H. and had failed to exercise parenting time
when he had the opportunity, despite Heenan’s protestations about visitation arrangements.
By the time of trial, Heenan had not visited D.H., who was then 3 years old, in about 16
months. The District Court entered its reasons for imposing an initial program of
supervised visitation within the parenting plan, which it also expressly incorporated into
the decree, including its concern about the “allegations of physical and/or emotional safety
and family violence.” The District Court also reasoned that “an Order of Protection has
been issued,” which Heenan challenges as having never had a hearing and having expired
as a matter of law. It is correct the District Court did not address the status of the long-
pending TOP within the dissolution decree, and we must presume it is not currently valid
for lack of requisite process. However, that does not alter the fact that the TOP was
previously issued in the proceeding and continued over many months upon the parties’
stipulation to remain in effect pending Lord’s recommendations. Consequently, it was a
14
factor appropriately considered by the District Court in determining to impose supervised
visitation. It should be noted that the District Court also provided a process for supervised
visitation to terminate after Heenan exercises time with D.H. and a determination by
counsellors that “unsupervised parenting time poses no risk to D.H.” We would think that
Heenan would be anxious to reinitiate visitation with D.H., demonstrate his good faith and
maturity under an initial period of supervision, and advance in his relationship with D.H.
over time. He has that opportunity, as does Wallace to demonstrate she will cooperate with
Heenan’s visitation as promised. We therefore conclude the statutory requirements were
satisfied and that the District Court did not abuse its discretion by ordering that Heenan
would reinitiate his visitation with D.H. under a program of supervision.
¶26 Next, when a parent desires to relocate, courts must consider competing
constitutional rights (e.g., right to travel vs. right to parent) reconciled with a state’s
compelling interest to further the best interest of the child. In re Solem, ¶¶ 9-12 (citations
omitted). We have explained:
A restriction on a parent’s fundamental right to travel must be imposed
cautiously and only where there is sufficient proof that the restriction is in
the best interests of the child. The parent seeking the restriction must provide
case-specific proof that the restriction is in the child’s best interest: that is,
legitimate, case-specific reasons and evidence pertaining to the particular
child, rather than general discussion about the effects of relocation on
children of separation or divorce.
In re M.C., 2015 MT 57, ¶ 14, 378 Mont. 305, 343 P.3d 569 (citations and quotations
omitted).
15
¶27 Heenan correctly notes that the District Court did not provide a balancing analysis
of the parties’ constitutional rights. However, the District Court ordered post-trial briefing
on the issue, and it is clear that the District Court considered the impacts of the move. After
de novo review of the constitutional principles at issue, we conclude upon this record that
the District Court’s failure to provide the additional legal analysis in this case was harmless
error. The factual backdrop here strongly supports the District Court’s decision. The
District Court found that Wallace “provides continuity and stability of care” for D.H., as
well as the child’s “development needs.” At the hearing, Wallace’s mother provided a
firsthand account regarding D.H.’s life in Pocatello:
[Wallace] wants to move to Pocatello because that’s where her house is and
it - - it would be the least expensive place for her to live. And she’s traveled
back and forth to Pocatello with D.H., and I’ve gone a couple of times and
D.H. sees it as - - as her home.
. . .
[T]hey have already put in a little garden. And D.H., right when we got there,
she hopped to the backyard, got the hose out, and she started watering her
plants and telling me about her plants and just showed me, again, her room,
and, you know, just how she was going to put her toys in there when she
moved there. She’s already mentally prepared herself for being there.
¶28 The clear determination that Wallace must be the primary physical custodian and
that Heenan did not have a consistent relationship with D.H., requiring supervised
visitation, weighs strongly in favor of Wallace’s constitutional right to relocate with D.H.
Relying mostly on general child development research, Heenan offers little of
“case-specific proof that the restriction [upon relocation] is in the child’s best interests,” In
re M.C., ¶ 14, particularly in light of D.H.’s lack of significant visitation with Heenan in
16
the recent past. As the District Court noted, “[Wallace’s] move would limit contact with
[Heenan], who has had limited contact with the minor child while living within easy driving
distance.” Heenan’s initiation of limited, supervised visitation with D.H. can be effectively
accommodated despite the distance. We conclude that, although its analysis was
insufficient, the District Court did not commit reversible error by granting Wallace’s
request to move to Pocatello.
¶29 2. Did the District Court err in its division of the marital estate and the
determination of child support?
¶30 The District Court apportioned the most significant asset of the marital estate, the
Pocatello home, by distributing 65% to Wallace and 35% to Heenan. The District Court
offered no findings or rationale for this determination other than to say that it was made
“in lieu of any maintenance award.” No specific findings were entered about the statutory
factors regarding eligibility for maintenance under § 40-4-203, MCA, the value of the
property, other marital properties or the parties’ debts, or the property apportionment
factors under § 40-4-202, MCA. The District Court noted that Heenan and his immediate
family invested into the foreclosed property yet said nothing about the weight or
consideration given to that investment. The order made no provision concerning how the
parties would obtain their respective interests in the house. See Schwartz v. Harris, 2013
MT 145, ¶ 35, 370 Mont. 294, 308 P.3d 949 (recognizing that a district court “fail[ed] to
provide a sufficient framework for implementing the distribution of the estate.”) Any
possibility that the Pocatello home could assist in resolution of any child support arrearage
was apparently not considered. While findings about each of the various statutory factors
17
are not necessarily required in every case, “[f]indings must be sufficient, however, to
permit review without speculation into a district court’s reasoning,” Crowley v. Crowley,
2014 MT 42, ¶ 26, 374 Mont. 48, 318 P.3d 1031. Here, we are unable to determine whether
the District Court properly considered the governing factors or otherwise erred in
apportioning the marital estate.
¶31 Regarding child support, which the parties had reserved upon a stipulation with
CSED, Heenan argues his trial attorney “was notified” and “prepared for a one-day trial,”
and adds:
[T]he District Court erred by determining arrears without conducting [a] final
and complete hearing. [Heenan’s attorney] expressly clarified the parties had
reserved the arrears issue for the District Court’s determination. The District
Court expressly acknowledged the issue. Cutting the October 4, 2019
hearing short, the Court assured a full, complete, and final hearing would be
ordered for a later date. However, the Court never did so, thus depriving
[Heenan] of a meaningful opportunity to be heard on the issue.
¶32 The record supports Heenan’s contentions. The trial was scheduled for one day,
then was shortened to two hours on the morning of trial, with 50 minutes allotted to each
side to present their case. Heenan’s trial counsel, Mars Scott, said, “I can move pretty fast,
Your Honor, but I am a little concerned. But I will move really, really fast, but I think I
might need more time than 50 minutes.” Wallace’s trial counsel, Klaus Sitte, explained
that Patrick Quinn, legal counsel for CSED, was present to testify regarding the reserved
child support issue. The District Court noted that the support question was an “intriguing”
issue, but time did not permit Quinn to be called. A “final hearing” was promised “to clean
up any remaining business,” but, without further notice, a final decree was entered.
18
¶33 We cannot help but be concerned that due process was not fully afforded under these
circumstances and believe remand is necessary for supplemental proceedings on the
financial issues, including the distribution of the marital estate and child support. On
remand, the District Court need not discard the evidence already taken or the findings
entered except as warranted upon such supplemental proceedings that are necessary for the
parties to reasonably complete their presentations, and for entry of sufficient findings for
review.
¶34 We have determined to decide this case pursuant to Section I, Paragraph 3(c) of our
Internal Operating Rules, which provides for memorandum opinions. This appeal presents
no constitutional issues, no issues of first impression, and does not establish new precedent
or modify existing precedent. In the opinion of the Court, the case presents questions
controlled by settled law or by the clear application of applicable standards of review.
¶35 Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for further proceedings consistent
herewith.
/S/ JIM RICE
We concur:
/S/ MIKE McGRATH
/S/ DIRK M. SANDEFUR
/S/ JAMES JEREMIAH SHEA
/S/ BETH BAKER
19