In Re the Marriage of Coogler , 321 Mont. 243 ( 2004 )

No. 03-071
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
2004 MT 122IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF
MARLENE A. COOGLER,
Petitioner and Respondent,
and
JAMES P. COOGLER,
Respondent and Appellant.
APPEAL FROM: District Court of the Sixth Judicial District,
In and for the County of Park, Cause No. DR 2004-04
The Honorable, Wm. Nels Swandal, Judge presiding.
COUNSEL OF RECORD:
For Appellant:
Jennifer Wendt Bordy, Angel Law Firm, Bozeman, Montana; Kevin Brown,
Paoli and Brown, Livingston, Montana
For Respondent:
Julie A. Lichte, Swandal Douglass & Gilbert, Livingston, Montana
Submitted on Briefs: June 12, 2003
Decided: May 6, 2004
Filed:
__________________________________________
Clerk
Justice James C. Nelson delivered the Opinion of the Court.
¶1 James P. Coogler (James) appeals the judgment of the Sixth Judicial District Court,
Park County, entering a Permanent Order of Protection and an Amended Permanent Order
of Protection against him.
¶2 We reverse.
¶3 We address the following issue on appeal: Did the District Court err in entering a
Permanent Order of Protection against James and then amending that Order of Protection
without giving notice to James or conducting a hearing?
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
¶4 On January 7, 2002, Marlene Coogler (Marlene) sought a dissolution of her marriage
to James. James acknowledged service of Marlene’s Petition for Dissolution on January 11,
2002.
¶5 On September 5, 2002, both James and Marlene participated in mediation, wherein
they reached an agreement regarding the division of their marital property.
¶6 On several occasions, Marlene witnessed James inhaling some type of chemical
substance and acting “spacey” and “lethargic” thereafter. Marlene became fearful for her life
as James continued to abuse chemical inhalants. Hence, on September 23, 2002, Marlene
requested a Temporary Order of Protection.
¶7 The District Court entered the Temporary Order of Protection and scheduled a show
cause hearing for September 30, 2002. James was served with the Temporary Order of
Protection on September 24, 2002.
¶8 James violated the terms of the Temporary Order of Protection and was subsequently
arrested. He was incarcerated at the time of the show cause hearing.
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¶9 The District Court ultimately entered a Permanent Order of Protection on September
30, 2002, noting that James was not present. This Order was amended on October 1, 2002,
putting an additional restraint on James not to possess firearms.
¶10 The District Court stated in its Permanent Order of Protection and its Amended
Permanent Order of Protection that the cause between Marlene and James was “coming to
be heard on hearing to show cause,” on September 30, 2002, and October 1, 2002,
respectively. However, the court reporter for the District Court stated in his affidavit that no
hearings were held on September 23, 2002, September 30, 2002, and October 1, 2002.
Hence, no transcripts of the hearings exist.
¶11 Counsel for Marlene stated that she advised James’s counsel of the show cause
hearing, at which time James’s counsel stated that he would not be in attendance.
¶12 James moved the District Court to dismiss the Amended Permanent Order of
Protection, which the District Court denied.
¶13 James now appeals the District Court’s issuance of each of the orders of protection.
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STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶14 We review a district court’s grant or denial of injunctive relief to determine whether
there has been a manifest abuse of discretion. Shammel v. Canyon Res. Corp., 2003 MT 372,
¶ 12, 319 Mont. 132, ¶ 12, 82 P.3d 912, ¶ 12. A “manifest” abuse of discretion is one that
is obvious, evident, or unmistakable. Shammel, ¶ 12.
DISCUSSION
¶15 Did the District Court err in entering a Permanent Order of Protection against
James and then amending that Order of Protection without giving notice to
James or conducting a hearing?
¶16 James argues that under the laws pertinent to the issuance of protective orders, a
district court must comply with specific procedural requirements. Specifically, he argues that
the District Court failed to conduct the requisite hearing in order to determine whether good
cause existed to grant the Permanent Order of Protection against him. The District Court also
erred, he argues, in amending its Order of Protection, as: (1) no request for such an
amendment existed; (2) he did not receive notice before the amendment was issued; and
(3) he did not have an opportunity to be heard on the issue.
¶17 Marlene argues that James had notice of the show cause hearing and chose not to
appear in person or by counsel. And, thus, he cannot now argue that the requisite procedural
requirements were not followed. In addition, Marlene contends that the Permanent Order of
Protection and the Amended Permanent Order of Protection were proper, given that the
District Court had before it: (1) evidence of James’s chemical abuse problem; (2) Marlene’s
affidavit outlining her fears of James; and (3) evidence of James’s repeated violations of the
Temporary Order of Protection.
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¶18 Section 40-15-201(1), MCA, states that “[a] petitioner may seek a temporary order
of protection. . . . ” The petitioner must state in a petition that the petitioner “is in reasonable
apprehension of bodily injury or is a victim of one of the offenses listed in 40-15-102 [such
as stalking as alleged by Marlene here] . . . and is in danger of harm if the court does not
issue a temporary order of protection immediately.” And, “[u]pon a review of the petition
and a finding that the petitioner is in danger of harm,” under § 40-15-201(2), MCA, a “court
shall issue a temporary order of protection that grants the petitioner [the] appropriate relief.”
¶19 Further, § 40-15-202(1), MCA, states that “[a] hearing must be conducted within 20
days from the date that the court issues a temporary order of protection,” wherein “the court
shall determine whether good cause exists for the temporary order of protection to be
continued, amended, or made permanent.” (Emphasis added.)
¶20 Here, although Marlene contends that a show cause hearing was held, the court
reporter for the Sixth Judicial District Court contends otherwise. Specifically, in his
affidavit, the court reporter stated:
That Jennifer Bordy, Attorney for James P. Coogler, filed a Notice of
Appeal herein and thereafter requested a transcript of proceedings to be
prepared by affiant [court reporter] for the dates of September 23, September
30 and October 1, 2002.
That affiant has reviewed the court file and searched through the
stenographic notes and affirms that no court hearings were conducted on those
dates for the above-captioned cause; therefore there is no transcript to prepare.
¶21 In addition to the above-quoted statement, the District Court’s Permanent Order of
Protection stated that:
On 30th day of September, 2002, this Cause [In re the Marriage of Marlene A.
Coogler v. James P. Coogler] coming to be heard on hearing to show cause,
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Respondent failed to appear, and the Court advised of criminal charges filed
on September 30, 2002, against Respondent [James] for felony stalking in
Cause No. 23110:
The Court finds that Petitioner [Marlene] is in danger of harm. [Emphasis
added.]
¶22 The District Court’s Amended Permanent Order of Protection mirrored the above-
quoted language, putting one additional restraint on James, namely that he was prohibited
“from having in his possession any weapons, including but not limited to, firearms and
knives.”
¶23 Marlene’s counsel, in her affidavit, stated the following:
7. I telephoned counsel for Respondent [James], attorney Kevin Brown, on
September 30, 2002, and advised him of Respondent’s incarceration in the
Park County jail.
8. Attorney Kevin Brown informed me that he would NOT appear at the
Show Cause Hearing scheduled for September 30, 2002, in this Court.
9. At 3:00 p.m. on September 30, 2002, I appeared with Petitioner,
MARLENE A. COOGLER, and advised Judge Swandal that attorney Kevin
Brown would not be appearing for the Show Cause Hearing.
10. Judge Swandal decided to delay the start of the hearing for approximately
15-20 minutes in order to give attorney Brown an opportunity to appear if he
so desired.
11. Attorney Kevin Brown did not appear at the Show Cause Hearing.
¶24 Although the District Court stated in both the Permanent Order of Protection and the
Amended Permanent Order of Protection that before the District Court was a hearing to show
cause, the record does not substantiate that a hearing actually occurred. We note that,
according to the court reporter’s records, no “hearings” were conducted on September 23,
2002, September 30, 2002, or October 1, 2002. Hence, no transcripts exist from Marlene’s
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supposed show cause hearings. Under § 40-15-202(1), MCA, a court must hold a show
cause hearing before rendering its decision to deem permanent a temporary order of
protection. A review of the record indicates that such a hearing did not occur. Hence, the
Permanent Order of Protection and the Amended Permanent Order of Protection issued by
the District Court was a manifest abuse of the District Court’s discretion.
¶25 The dissent contends that James, in his reply brief, raised for the first time the
argument that “no hearing had actually been held on September 30, 2002.” However,
contrary to this contention, James moved the District Court to dismiss the Amended
Permanent Order of Protection “pursuant to §§ 40-15-102 and -202, MCA,” in his motion
to Dismiss Amended Permanent Order of Protection, and Supporting Brief. [Emphasis
added.] Thus, James clearly raised his “no hearing had actually been held” argument--an
argument upon which he expounded in his Reply Brief in Support of Motion to Dismiss
Amended Permanent Order of Protection.
¶26 Based on the foregoing, we reverse the District Court’s order granting both the
Permanent Order of Protection and the Amended Permanent Order of Protection. We order
that the District Court vacate both the Permanent Order of Protection and the Amended
Permanent Order of Protection.
¶27 Reversed.
/S/ JAMES C. NELSON
We Concur:
/S/ W. WILLIAM LEAPHART
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/S/ PATRICIA O. COTTER
/S/ JIM REGNIER
/S/ JIM RICE
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Justice John Warner dissenting.
¶28 I dissent.
¶29 The Court is correct that § 40-15-202(1), MCA, requires a hearing before a permanent
order of protection may be issued. However, contrary to the Court’s determination, the
record is conflicting concerning whether such hearing was in fact held. The court reporter’s
records show no hearing. Also, no minute entry appears in the District Court record.
However, the Permanent Order of Protection clearly states that a hearing was held on
September 30, 2002. The Amended Permanent Order of Protection which gave rise to this
appeal affirmatively states that a hearing was held October 1, 2002.
¶30 On October 28, 2002, Mr. Coogler’s counsel filed in the District Court a motion and
supporting brief to dismiss the Amended Permanent Order of Protection that is in question
here. In this motion counsel cited § 40-15-202, MCA, and argued that said order should be
dismissed because Mr. Coogler was not able to attend the hearing that was held on
September 30. Counsel did not argue that the hearing was never held. Counsel also argued
that the affidavit in support of the motion was insufficient. Mr. Coogler did not argue to the
District Court either that the order in question should be dismissed because there was no
hearing as required by statute, or that the District Court could not legally amend the order the
next day.
¶31 On November 4, 2002, Ms. Coogler, through counsel, filed an affidavit and a brief
resisting Mr. Coogler’s motion. Her counsel met the arguments presented.
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¶32 Two weeks later, by Order dated November 17, 2002, and filed November 18, 2002,
at 9:45 a.m. the District Court, having no idea that Appellant would later contend either that
there had been no hearing held as required by § 40-15-202(1), MCA, or that it did not have
the authority to amend its order, denied the motion to dismiss the Amended Permanent Order
of Protection. In doing so the District Court stated that Mr. Coogler could renew the motion
when a stalking charge involving Ms. Coogler was resolved. Then, in a reply brief belatedly
filed later that same day at 1:35 p.m., Mr. Coogler’s counsel for the first time alleged that no
hearing had actually been held on September 30, 2002. Still, there was no contention that
the District Court did not have authority to enter the Amended Permanent Order of Protection
on October 1.
¶33 Rather than bring these new contentions to the attention of the District Court, counsel
for Mr. Coogler filed a notice of appeal on December 16, 2002. In his opening brief on
appeal Mr. Coogler renews the contention which the District Court had no opportunity to
consider, i.e., that there was no hearing on September 30, 2002. Also, for the first time in
his opening brief, Mr. Coogler argues the District Court did not have authority to enter the
Amended Permanent Order of Protection. In response, counsel for Ms. Coogler simply states
that there was too a hearing.
¶34 What the Court has now done is reverse the District Court because of a confused
record that it had no opportunity to correct. The general rule is that we will not address an
issue raised for the first time on appeal because it is unfair to fault the trial court on an issue
it was never given the opportunity to consider. In re Marriage of Killpack, 2004 MT 55, ¶
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10, 320 Mont. 186, ¶ 10, 87 P.3d 393, ¶ 10; Renner v. Nemitz, 2001 MT 202, ¶ 15, 306 Mont.
292, ¶ 15, 33 P.3d 255, ¶ 15. In this case the general rule is especially applicable as the
District Court, had it been asked, could have made clear whether a hearing did in fact occur
on September 30, 2002.
¶35 Under the circumstances, it is a mystery to me why counsel wasted our time and their
clients’ money on this appeal rather than file a simple motion under Rule 59(g), M.R.Civ.P.,
or why they did not even ask the District Court to prepare a statement of the record pursuant
to Rule 9(d), M.R.App.P. However, they did not. I am forced to dissent from the Court’s
decision to reverse the District Court’s Amended Order of Protection based on arguments
never presented to it.
/S/ JOHN WARNER
I join in the foregoing dissent of Justice Warner.
/S/ KARLA M. GRAY
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