In re Estate of Toland ( 2014 )

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IN CLERKS OFFICE
This opinion was filed for record
MI'I8IE COURT, STATE OF WMIII«rr'CCII at ``QQ Q('? on vv...l:d. l140 Wash. App. 1015, 2007
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WL 2379722. 2 Among other things, the Court of Appeals awarded attorney fees to
Etsuko on the ground that the appeal was frivolous.
On October 31, 2007, Etsuko committed suicide. There is some question about
how Paul learned of this, but regardless, there is no question that he and Etsuko's sister,
Y oko Futagi, communicated about Erika coming to live in the United States with Paul.
Erika continued, however, to live in Japan with Etsuko's mother, Akiko Futagi. Akiko
had frequently cared for Erika while Etsuko worked.
In January 2008, Akiko successfully filed for guardianship of Erika and was
appointed guardian. The Estate maintains the guardianship was necessary so that Akiko
could enroll Erika in school and obtain medical care, among other things. The Estate also
maintains that after Etsuko's death, Paul refused to pay child support or to pay the
attorney fees awarded by the Court of Appeals following dismissal of his petition for
dissolution of marriage in Pierce County.
In May 2009, Y oko Futagi filed a probate action in Washington, among other
things, to collect the child support and the attorney fees award for Erika's benefit, as
Erika is Etsuko's sole heir. However, Ms. Futagi could not post bond and the trial court
appointed attorney Bryce Dille to serve as personal representative of the Estate. A
guardian ad litem was appointed to represent Erika's interests, but he has not taken an
active role in the present action.
2
In its decision, the Court of Appeals said that the record showed Paul had engaged in various
legal maneuvers to obtain jurisdiction over his wife and child in the United States, including the
unsuccessful divorce action brought in Virginia. Toland, 2007 WL 2379722, at *8. The Court
of Appeals noted that the trial court found that Paul appeared to be forum shopping. Id.
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The Estate then filed an action seeking to register the Japanese divorce decree for
enforcement of its money judgments, relying on the Uniform Enforcement of Foreign
Judgments Act, chapter 6.36 RCW, and the former Uniform Foreign-Country Money
Judgments Recognition Act, former chapter 6.40 RCW (2008). Paul denied the
judgments were enforceable and moved to dismiss the case or for an order denying
recognition of the Japanese divorce decree. The trial court denied the motion to dismiss,
saying that it could not "find anything facially wrong with the Japanese divorce decree as
it addressed all of the issues, including support, property division, and other matters, the
judgments of which are of valid amounts under Japanese law. The property and support
aspects of the Japanese Divorce Decree need not be re-litigated." Clerk's Papers at 648.
However, neither chapter 6.36 RCW nor chapter 6.40 RCW applied to allow for
recognition of the decree. Chapter 6.40 RCW was repealed by Laws of2009, chapter
363, section 14, effective July 26, 2009. At the same time, the current Uniform Foreign-
Country Money Judgments Recognition Act, chapter 6.40A RCW, was enacted. LAws
OF 2009, ch. 363, §§ 1-13. Like its predecessor, this new act expressly states that it does
not apply to "[a] judgment for divorce, support, or maintenance, or other judgment
rendered in connection with domestic relations." RCW 6.40A.020(2)(c).
The trial court explained, however, that the decree could be recognized ifthe
Estate established that this would be appropriate under the doctrine of comity. Pursuant
to the savings clause in RCW 6.40A.090 and notwithstanding the scope of chapter 6.40A
RCW, the act "does not prevent the recognition under principles of comity or otherwise
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of a foreign-country judgment." RCW 6.40A.090. The trial court also said, though, that
as part of this showing the Estate would have to establish that Paul had received actual
notice of the guardianship action before Etsuko's mother was appointed guardian or show
in some other way that due process and fairness concerns were satisfied.
The Estate retained a Japanese lawyer, Mr. Y orimichi Ishikawa, as an expert in
Japanese family law, whose undisputed testimony established that Paul received no
notice of the guardianship proceedings because such notice is not required under
Japanese law. He also testified that the guardianship does not preclude Paul from seeking
custody of Erika in Japan. Paul moved for summary judgment dismissing the Estate's
action seeking recognition of the Japanese divorce decree. He argued dismissal was
required as a matter of law because he did not receive notice of the guardianship
proceedings. In response, the Estate argued that recognition of the divorce decree under
comity principles should not be precluded because of a guardianship that occurred almost
two years after the divorce decree was final. In addition, the Estate pointed out that
Paul's own expert in a custody action he brought in Maryland agreed that the
guardianship proceeding did not prejudice Paul's right to seek custody in Japan.
The trial court granted Paul's summary judgment motion, explaining in an oral
ruling that comity was denied principally because of the lack of notice in the
guardianship proceedings.
The Estate appealed. The Court of Appeals affirmed. Estate of Toland v. Toland,
170 Wash. App. 828, 286 P.3d 60 (2012). The court concluded that the divorce decree by
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itself satisfied comity principles. However, like the trial court the Court of Appeals
determined that comity should not be applied because Akiko became Erika's guardian
without notice to Paul of the guardianship proceedings. The Court of Appeals said that
considering the divorce decree alone would require ignoring the practical and harmful
consequences of the guardianship proceeding. Id. at 839. The court concluded that under
due process principles, Paul would have been entitled to notice of the guardianship
proceedings, see Cleveland Bd. of Educ. v. Loudermill, 470 U.S. 532, 542, 105 S. Ct.
1487, 84 L. Ed. 2d 494 (1985); that as the sole surviving parent, Paul would be entitled
under Washington state law to control of Erika absent some justification for withholding
custody, RCW 26.16.125; and that his substantive due process interests in his child would
be abridged if the decree is recognized, see Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 65, 120 S.
Ct. 2054, 147 L. Ed. 2d 49 (2000). Estate ofToland, 170 Wash. App. at 839-40.
We note that the present action was consolidated in the Court of Appeals with
Paul's appeal of summary judgment dismissing his petition, under the Trust and Estate
Dispute Resolution Act (TEDRA), chapter 11.96A RCW, to intervene in the probate
action brought by the Estate. He argued that he was entitled to intervene as an interested
party because he is the only parent of the heir of the Estate, Erika. Among other things,
he asked to be appointed custodian of the inheritance. The trial court denied intervention
on the ground that Paul had a conflict of interest since he owed the Estate money. The
Court of Appeals reversed, holding that because TEDRA is intended to apply broadly and
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Paul fs the father of the sole minor heir of the estate, he is an interested party under the
act. Our review in the present case does not concern the motion to intervene or TEDRA.
Finally, while matters were proceeding in Washington, as indicated, Paul brought
a custody action in Maryland against Akiko Futagi in October 2009. The custody action
was dismissed after the Maryland trial court found jurisdiction was not proper under the
Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (ch. 26.27 RCW), and held
inapplicable an exception that permits exercise of jurisdiction over a complaint when the
child custody laws of a foreign country violate fundamental principles of human rights.
Maryland's highest court affirmed the trial court decision, holding that Akiko's
appointment as guardian did not implicate fundamental principles of human rights
because it did not sever Paul's right to custody. Toland v. Futagi, 425 Md. 365, 40 A.3d
1051 (2012). The court pointed out that a guardian's role is separate and distinct from
that of a child's custodian. !d. at 390. The Japanese decree of guardianship was not
equivalent to custody, as both parties' expert witnesses attested (Akiko Futagi submitted
Mr. Ishikawa's same testimony that was presented in the present action), and Paul
remained able to seek Erika's custody in Japan. Id. Accordingly, the guardianship did
not implicate fundamental principles of human rights. Id.
The Maryland court determined, in response to Paul's arguments grounded in the
whole of Japanese custody law, including the methods and criteria involved in awarding
custody, that any question about Erika's custody was not ripe and would require the court
to render an advisory opinion based on a future matter, which it would not do. Id.
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ANALYSIS
As noted, the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act does
not apply to govern whether the Japanese divorce decree will be given recognition in this
state. However, its savings clause permits recognition of a foreign judgment under
principles of comity. RCW 6.40A.090.
"Comity is a recognition which one nation extends within its own
territory to the legislative, executive, or judicial acts of another. It is not a
rule of law, but one of practice, convenience, and expediency. Although
more than mere courtesy and accommodation, comity does not achieve the
force of an imperative or obligation. Rather, it is a nation's expression of
understanding which demonstrates due regard both to international duty
and convenience and to the rights of persons protected by its own laws."
Mayekawa Mfg. Co. v. Sasaki, 76 Wash. App. 791,799, 888 P.2d 183 (1995) (quoting
Somportex Ltd. v. Phila. Chewing Gum Corp., 453 F.2d 435,440 (3d Cir. 1971)); New W
Fisheries, Inc. v. Dep 't of Revenue, 106 Wash. App. 370, 379, 22 P.3d 1274 (2001) (same).
The comity doctrine allows a court, acting within its discretion, to give effect to
the law and resulting orders of another jurisdiction out of deference and respect,
considering the interests of each jurisdiction. Haberman v. Wash. Pub. Power Supply
Sys., 109 Wash. 2d 107, 160, 744 P.2d 1032, 750 P.2d 254 (1987); MacKenzie v. Bartha!,
142 Wash. App. 235, 240, 173 P.3d 980 (2007). Under the Restatement (Second) of
Coriflict of Laws§ 98 (1971 & Supp. 1989) (amended 1988)), "[a] valid judgment
rendered in a foreign nation after a fair trial in a contested proceeding will be recognized
in the United States so far as the immediate parties and the underlying claim are
concerned." The foreign court must have had jurisdiction and there must have
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been opportunity for a full and fair trial abroad before a court of competent
jurisdiction, conducting the trial upon regular proceedings, after due
citation or voluntary appearance of the defendant, and under a system of
jurisprudence likely to secure an impartial administration of justice between
the citizens of its own country and those of other countries, and there is
nothing to show either prejudice in the court, or in the system of laws under
which it is sitting, or fraud in procuring the judgment.
Hilton v. Guyot, 159 U.S. 113, 202, 16 S. Ct. 139, 40 L. Ed. 95 (1895); RESTATEMENT§
98 cmt. c ( 1971 ). A judgment is valid if the court had jurisdiction, there was notice, and
the court was competent. Rains v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 98 Wash. App. 127, 135,
989 P.2d 558 (1999); RESTATEMENT§ 92 (1971). 3
If a foreign judgment is so contrary to the laws and policies of a state that
enforcing it would seriously interfere with the state's policies or laws or is prejudicial to
the state's interests, then comity does not apply. Hilton, 159 U.S. at 165. 4 However, the
mere fact that the law of the foreign jurisdiction and our own law are different does not
establish a violation of this state's public policy. Richardson v. Pac. Power & Light Co.,
11 Wash. 2d 288, 301, 118 P.2d 985 (1941).
3
Under section 92:
A judgment is valid if
(a) the state in which it is rendered has jurisdiction to act judicially in the
case; and
(b) a reasonable method of notification is employed and a reasonable
opportunity to be heard is afforded to persons affected; and
(c) the judgment is rendered by a competent court; and
(d) there is compliance with such requirements of the state of rendition as
are necessary for the valid exercise of power by the court.
4
Hilton also sets forth a reciprocity requirement for comity to apply, but this requirement is no
longer followed in most states, including Washington. See Tonga Air Servs., Ltd. v. Fowler, 118
Wash. 2d 718, 726, 826 P.2d 204 (1992).
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When comity principles support recognition of a foreign judgment, the judgment
will generally be given the same effect as the judgment of a sister state. Rains, 98 Wn.
App. at 135 (citing RESTATEMENT§ 117 cmt. c (1971)).
Both the trial court and the Court of Appeals found that the Japanese divorce
decree is a valid foreign judgment that satisfies the conditions for comity to apply. This
conclusion is correct. Paul has not shown that the Japanese court issuing the divorce
decree was incompetent. He had the opportunity to contest the decree and in fact did so
with the assistance of a team of Japanese attorneys. The divorce decree is supported by a
lengthy written decision. The fact that damages were awarded for fault (psychological
abuse) that would not be available in our state does not render the decree unfair or so
antithetical to our law and policy as to preclude the decree's recognition as a matter of
comity. Importantly, Paul had a right to appeal the divorce decree but did not do so.
Paul maintains, however, that comity should not apply to the decree. He points
out that Restatement § 98 provides that a foreign judgment may be recognized only
insofar as the immediate parties to the foreign proceedings are concerned. RESTATEMENT
§ 98 (1971). He contends this requirement is not satisfied here because the present action
does not involve Etsuko and himself, but instead involves the Estate and himself. The
Estate, Paul urges, is not an "immediate party" to the decree.
Comment g to Restatement§ 98, as revised in 1988, explains that a foreign
judgment that satisfies requirements for application of comity will be recognized to the
same extent as a sister state judgment so far as the immediate parties and the underlying
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claim are concerned. RESTATEMENT§ 98 & cmt. g (1971 & Supp. 1989). Comment g
notes that beyond this scope, there may be questions about the extent to which persons
other than the parties are bound by the judgment and whether foreign rules of privity,
collateral estoppel, splitting a claim, or res judicata might apply. 5
Emphasizing that we do not strictly follow section 98 and its comments as if they
set out binding state law, we note that with the explanation in comment g, the "immediate
parties" and "underlying claim" limitations on scope are not a bar to recognition of the
divorce decree here. There are no indications of any foreign rules affecting the scope of
the persons or claims affected by the judgments in the divorce decree.
But Paul urges, and the Court of Appeals agreed, that there is a concern about
recognizing the decree here if Akiko could not enforce the decree in Japan, the country
rendering the judgments. Estate of Toland, 170 Wash. App. at 842.
5
Comment g, as revised in 1988, states:
Extent of recognition: A foreign nation judgment which meets the conditions
specified in Comment d will be given the same degree of recognition as a sister
State judgment, subject to the qualification discussed in Comment/, so far as the
immediate parties and the underlying claim are concerned. It is uncertain,
however, whether an American court will always give similar effect to the foreign
mles of privity in determining what persons, other than the parties, are bound by
the judgment (compare § 94, Comment d) and to the foreign mles as to splitting a
claim or as to collateral estoppel (compare§ 95, Comments e and g). Normally,
an American court would apply the foreign rules as to these matters if these rules
are substantially the same as the rules of the American court. It is also uncertain
what effect would be given by an American court to foreign rules of res judicata
with respect to findings by the court that it had jurisdiction over the defendant or
over a thing or status or that it had competence over the subject matter ofthe
controversy (see§§ 96-97).
RESTATEMENT§ 98 cmt. g (Supp. 1989).
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We first note that there is a distinction to be drawn between a judgment that
suffers some defect that makes it unenforceable in the rendering country and the claim
here that mechanisms are not in place for enforcement. This appears to be a pervasive
issue in Japan that extends to civil judgments in general and more particularly to family
court decrees. 6 Next, while Paul is ostensibly relying on Japanese law, the materials he
has submitted are of a more general nature, i.e., law review articles and travel warnings
rather than Japanese statutes or relevant court decisions. Third, even assuming that
Akiko's ability to enforce the child support judgment in the decree is relevant, the record
indicates that the United States military has a policy of facilitating service members'
child support obligations. Although the record is not entirely clear, it suggests that at
least at one point the military inquired and was apparently satisfied that Paul was making
required support payments. Fourth, declining comity on the ground that enforcement is
difficult in Japan would be counter to our own strong state policy favoring satisfaction of
child support obligations and counter to the Japanese court's determination that Paul has
a legal requirement to satisfy unpaid child support. In this respect our state law comports
with the Japanese award of child support.
It is troubling that a party might preclude comity applying to a judgment based on
the difficulty of collection in the foreign jurisdiction when payment of the underlying
6
Evidently, support is generally voluntary and family court orders are widely recognized as
unenforceable. Colin P.A. Jones, In The Best Interests of the Court: What American Lawyers
Need to Know about Child Custody and Visitation in Japan, 8 ASIAN-PAC. L. & PoL'Y I. 166,
247 & n.314 (2007), cited in Estate ofToland, 170 Wash. App. at 842; see Satoshi Minamikata,
Resolution of Disputes over Parental Rights and Duties in a Marital Dissolution Case in Japan:
A Nonlitigious Approach in Chotei Family Court Mediation, 39 FAM. L.Q. 489, 493-94, 502-03
(Summer 2005), cited in Estate ofToland, 170 Wash. App. at 842.
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obligation has been entirely in the control of the same party who does not want the
judgment recognized. Comity is a doctrine of practice, convenience, and expediency, and
it involves exercising respect for and deference to the legal determinations in another
country. Haberman, 109 Wash. 2d at 160-61.
Finally, and most importantly, the Japanese decree is valid and states a legally
cognizable judgment for child support. Under the specific facts here, we will not refuse
comity on the ground that Akiko might be unable to enforce the decree in Japan.
The next question is whether the trial court abused its discretion as a matter of law
by deciding that whether comity applies depends upon the guardianship proceedings and
whether Paul had notice of these proceedings sufficient to satisfy due process in this
country. "A trial court abuses its discretion by issuing manifestly unreasonable rulings or
rulings based on untenable grounds, such as a ruling contrary to law." Lakey v. Puget
Sound Energy, Inc., 176 Wash. 2d 909, 919, 296 P.3d 860 (2013) (citing Wash. State
Physicians Ins. Exch. & Ass'n v. Fisons Corp., 122 Wash. 2d 299, 339, 858 P.2d 1054
(1993)). We conclude that in basing the decision about comity on the entirely separate
guardianship proceeding, the trial court made an error of law that constitutes an abuse of
discretion.
Akiko obtained the guardianship almost two years after the divorce decree was
:final and only after Etsuko committed suicide. There is nothing on the face of the
guardianship that connects it to the divorce decree judgments. Akiko was not a party to
the divorce decree and is not a named party in estate proceedings here. Put simply, the
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guardianship is unrelated to the divorce decree and has no bearing on the issue of comity
and its application to the divorce decree as a matter of law.
Paul claims, though, that his parental rights were violated by the guardianship
proceeding in the absence of notice to him. The Court of Appeals of Maryland disagreed,
reasoning that a guardianship is distinct from and not equivalent to a custody
determination and the Japanese guardianship did not sever Paul's custodial rights to his
child. Toland, 425 Md. at 390. The court declined to grant Paul's request "to review all
Japanese child custody law, including the methodology and criteria for awarding custody,
even though there was no custodial determination in the present case." !d. The court
concluded that "[a]ny question regarding Erika's custody, which is not ripe, would
require us to render an advisory opinion based upon 'a matter in the future, contingent
and uncertain,' which is 'a long forbidden practice in this State."' !d. (quoting Hickory
Point P'ship v. Anne Arundel County, 316 Md. 118, 129, 557 A.2d 626 (1989)).
In our view, the Maryland court appropriately declined to address custody matters
that were not ripe for review. Although we are not faced with a custody action, similar
concerns are present in that Paul asks that we decline to permit any recognition of a
Japanese court decree based on a view of the entirety of Japanese law and practice
involving children of Japanese and non-Japanese parents and the possibility of future
impropriety in his own case if he tried to obtain custody in Japan. Paul wants us to
assume that the guardianship effectively determines custody, that his parental rights have
been violated, and that his rights would be trammeled should he try to pursue a custody
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claim in Japan. Like the Maryland court, we do not consider the guardianship to be
conclusive on the matter of custody, particularly in light of his own expert witness's
testimony. And unlike the circumstances in much of the secondary authority Paul cites,
this case does not present questions of custody as between a Japanese and non-Japanese
parent. 7
The trial court's grant of summary judgment was based on its erroneous
consideration of the guardianship proceedings. As the court determined, absent
consideration of the guardianship, the divorce decree meets the requirements for comity
to apply. Upon reversing summary judgment, we may direct summary judgment in favor
of the nonmoving party if there are no disputed material facts and as a matter of law the
nonmoving party is entitled to summary judgment. See, e.g., Impecoven v. Dep 't of
Revenue, 120 Wash. 2d 357, 365, 841 P.2d 752 (1992); Rubenser v. Felice, 58 Wash. 2d 862,
866, 365 P.2d 320 (1961). The Estate is entitled to summary judgment on the issue
whether the divorce decree should be recognized as a valid foreign judgment.
The dissent complains about our grant of summary judgment in favor of the
nonmoving party, saying that Paul has not had the opportunity to respond to a motion for
7
We also decline to address the matter of child abduction. We do not agree that when Etsuko
and Paul separated and she took Erika with her to live at Akiko's home, Etsuko "abducted"
Erika. Unlike the usual cases discussed in the materials that Paul has submitted, Etsuko did not
abscond with Erika or secrete her away. She informed Paul where she was and the two of them
were after the separation, and she and Paul proceeded through mediation together, where he had
visitation rights that he did not fully execute. While the secondary authority that Paul submits
indicates there is a problem with international child abductions to Japan, it is not an issue that we
need address in this case.
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summary judgment. However, this will often be the case when a reviewing court
concludes that summary judgment should be granted in favor of the nonmoving party.
The dissent believes, though, that Paul should have the chance to produce
evidence showing possible disputed issues of material fact and, in particular, evidence
showing whether entering the foreign order would be repugnant to public policy or be
unjust. Dissent at 3.
But fact questions that the dissent thinks are material concern whether the
Japanese court would respect Paul's rights as a parent if he had sought custody or
whether, if he obtained an order giving him custody, he would be able to enforce it. The
dissent thinks that depending on whether Paul can prove his allegations, it may be unjust
or repugnant to public policy to require Paul to pay the judgment under the divorce
decree.
But this case concerns the question whether the divorce decree entered two years
before the guardianship proceeding will be recognized. Paul had notice of the divorce
proceedings, was a party to the litigation, was represented by a Japanese firm familiar
with Japanese divorce law, and had the assistance of four attorneys. Notwithstanding the
money judgment under the decree, he chose not to appeal the divorce judgment, although
he had the opportunity to do so, and thus did not challenge the child support awarded in
8
the decree. Paul has never actually sought custody of Erika.
8
It is also important to bear in mind that under Washington law, payment of a child support
obligation cannot be conditioned on custody or visitation privileges. E.g., Ma(fait v. Malfait, 54
Wn.2d 413,417-18, 341 P.2d 154 (1959) ("[t]he question of custody and support of children is
not to be determined upon the basis of the desires of the parties or used as a penalty or reward for
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As a matter of law, the divorce decree should be recognized under well~settled
principles of comity.
CONCLUSION
The Japanese divorce decree is a valid foreign judgment that meets requirements
for comity, as both the trial court and the Court of Appeals correctly determined. As a
matter of law the trial court abused its discretion when it nevertheless declined to accord
comity to the divorce decree based upon guardianship proceedings occurring almost two
years after the divorce decree was final. Accordingly, the trial court improperly granted
summary judgment dismissal to Paul Toland and the Court of Appeals erroneously
affirmed that decision. We reverse the Court of Appeals and remand with directions that
summary judgment be granted in favor of the Estate and the divorce decree be recognized
as a valid judgment in this state.
their conduct"; the father's obligation to provide payments for the support of his child is not
contingent upon the continued exercise of a granted right of visitation); Wheeler v. Wheeler, 37
Wash. 2d 159, 222 P.2d 400 (1950) (the father's inability to visit the children does not relieve him
from paying support).
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WE CONCUR:
19
In re Estate of Toland, No. 88045-0 (Wiggins, J., concurring in part/dissenting in part)
No. 88045-0
WIGGINS, J. (concurring in part/dissenting in part)-1 disagree with the majority
opinion because it grants summary judgment to a nonmoving party. Paul Toland, the
party against whom the majority enters summary judgment, did not receive notice that
the court was considering summary judgment against him. This absence of notice
deprived him of the opportunity to demonstrate triable issues. Without knowing what
facts would have existed if PauP had had the opportunity to respond, the majority
enters summary judgment.
The Washington State Court Rules do not authorize courts to grant summary
judgment to nonmoving parties. The rules permit summary judgment if "there is no
genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the moving party is entitled to a judgment
as a matter of law." CR 56(c) (emphasis added). This is in contrast to the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure. See Fed. R. Civ. P. (FRCP) 56(f)(1 ). In 2010, the United
States Supreme Court amended the federal rules to address granting summary
judgment to nonmoving parties. See FRCP 56 Advisory Committee Notes, 2010
Amendments. The amended rules provide, "After giving notice and a reasonable time
1 Like the majority, we refer to the Tolands by their first names, meaning no disrespect.
In re Estate of Toland (Wiggins, J., concurring in part/dissenting in part)
to respond, the court may ... grant summary judgment for a nonmovant .... " FRCP
56(f)(1 ). Paul had neither notice nor a reasonable time to respond. Therefore, we
should not enter summary judgment against him. While I agree with the majority that
the trial court erroneously granted summary judgment in his favor, I would remand the
case to the trial court. Consequently, I concur in part and dissent in part.
I first discuss comity because whether Paul is "entitled to judgment as a matter
of law" depends on our analysis of the doctrine and its exceptions. I conclude by
analyzing whether the parties are entitled to summary judgment.
I. Comity
Our decision depends heavily on the doctrine of comity. Comity is the
recognition of a foreign state's legislative, executive, or judicial acts by our State.
Mayekawa Mfg. Co. v. Sasaki, 76 Wash. App. 791, 799, 888 P.2d 183 (1995); see
Haberman v. Wash. Pub. PowerSupp/ySys., 109Wn.2d 107, 160-61,744 P.2d 1032,
750 P.2d 254 (1987). It is not a rule of law. Mayekawa Mfg., 76 Wash. App. at 799.
Rather, we extend comity out of deference and respect and for the purposes of
practice, convenience, and expediency. Haberman, 109 Wash. 2d 160-61. It is not an
imperative or obligation upon our courts but lies within their discretion. /d.; New W.
Fisheries, Inc. v. Dep't of Revenue, 106 Wash. App. 370, 379, 22 P.3d 1274 (2001);
MacKenzie v. Bartha/, 142 Wash. App. 235,240, 173 P.3d 980 (2007); State v. Medlock,
86 Wash. App. 89, 96, 935 P.2d 693 (1997).
While comity is not a rule of law, case law has developed well-established
principles for the doctrine. As a general rule, "'[a] valid judgment rendered in a foreign
nation after a fair trial in a contested proceeding will be recognized in the United States
2
In re Estate of Toland (Wiggins, J., concurring in part/dissenting in part)
so far as the immediate parties and the underlying cause of action are concerned."'
Rains v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Setvs., 98 Wash. App. 127, 135, 989 P.2d 558 (1999)
(quoting RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF CONFLICT OF LAWS§ 98 (1971 )).
However, we will not recognize otherwise valid foreign orders if they are
repugnant to the public policy of our state or '"inflict an injustice on our own citizens."'
MacKenzie, 142 Wash. App. at 240 (quoting Reynolds v. Day, 79 Wash. 499, 506, 140
P. 681 (1914)). When deciding whether to extend comity, we examine whether there
was evidence of "prejudice in the court" or, under the law, "fraud in procuring the
judgment, or any other special reason why the comity of this nation should not allow
it full effect .... " Hilton v. Guyot, 159 U.S. 113, 202-03, 16 S. Ct. 139, 40 L. Ed. 95
(1895).
Here, the majority holds that the trial court abused its discretion by considering
the guardianship proceeding when denying comity. Majority at 14. The majority fails
to cite any case law stating that a court may not look to facts occurring after entry of
a foreign judgment or to subsequent proceedings. The majority simply concludes
that the guardianship proceeding is unrelated to the divorce, the proceeding "has no
bearing on the issue of comity," and the trial court abused its discretion by considering
the proceeding. /d. I disagree.
A trial court should be free to examine all relevant facts when deciding whether
to exercise its discretion and grant comity. 2 Our court should not limit the equitable
2 A judge could reasonably conclude that the guardianship proceeding is potentially relevant
to whether an exception to comity applies. Both proceedings concerned Paul's rights as a
parent.
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In re Estate of Toland (Wiggins, J., concurring in part/dissenting in part)
factors a trial court may consider in deciding whether to grant comity. Here, the trial
court should have been free to examine all relevant facts, including the guardianship
proceeding. Instead, the majority looks only for a valid judgment. See majority at 17.
It refuses to examine whether Paul's parental rights were otherwise violated.
II. Neither Party Is Entitled to Summary Judgment
Summary judgment is appropriate only if the moving party establishes that no
genuine issue as to any material fact exists and the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. CR 56(a), (c). We grant motions only if reasonable
people could reach one conclusion based on the evidence when viewing the facts in
the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Korslund v. DynCorp Tri-Cities Servs.,
Inc., 156 Wash. 2d 168, 177, 125 P.3d 119 (2005).
Here, I agree with the majority that Paul is not entitled to judgment as a matter
of law but disagree with the majority's reasoning. It was not an error for the trial court
to consider the guardianship proceeding; nonetheless, the proceeding did not entitle
Paul to judgment as a matter of law. The evidence before the court, when viewed in
the light most favorable to the estate, does not rise to such an extreme level of injustice
as to invoke an exception to comity. Therefore, I would reverse the order granting
Paul summary judgment.
However, the majority goes beyond simply reversing the order granting
summary judgment. It holds that the Estate is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
I disagree with its assessment.
Paul had no notice or opportunity to respond to a motion for summary judgment
by offering evidence of a genuine issue of material fact. The majority effectively holds
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that Paul could never prove that enforcing the divorce decree would trigger an
exception to comity. This confuses a discretionary doctrine with a strict rule of law. It
also assumes that we have a complete record.
We do not have a complete record. Paul limited his motion for summary
judgment and the attached affidavit to a very narrow issue. The issue was in response
to the court's ruling that it would not register the divorce decree unless, at a minimum,
the estate proved that Paul was given notice of the guardianship proceeding. Paul
was not afforded notice, so he filed for summary judgment on this lone issue,
submitting a two-and-a-half-page affidavit.
Summary judgment should be granted only after Paul has a full and fair
opportunity to show a genuine issue of material fact. See Priestley v. Headminder,
Inc., 647 F.3d 497, 504 (2d Cir. 2011); Moton v. Cowart, 631 F.3d 1337, 1343 (11th
Cir. 2011); Penobscot Indian Nation v. Key Bank of Me., 112 F.3d 538, 562 (1st Cir.
1997) (Courts may grant summary judgment sua sponte. "Two conditions, however,
circumscribe the district court's exercise of this power: first, discovery must be
'sufficiently advanced that the parties have enjoyed a reasonable opportunity to glean
the material facts;' second, the district court must 'give[] the targeted party appropriate
notice and a chance to present its evidence on the essential elements of the claim or
defense."' (alteration in original) (quoting Berkovitz v. Home Box Office, Inc., 89 F.3d
24, 29 (1st Cir. 1996))). For these reasons, we should reverse summary judgment
and remand the case to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this
opinion.
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I concur in part and dissent in part.
6