In re the Marriage of: Kelli Benjamin and Greg Benjamin ( 2017 )

FILED
OCTOBER 5, 2017
In the Office of the Clerk of Court
WA State Court of Appeals, Division III
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
DIVISION THREE
IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE ) No. 34799-1-111
OF )
)
KELLI BENJAMIN, )
I )
I
l Respondent, ) UNPUBLISHED OPINION
)
I and
GREG BENJAMIN,
)
)
)
)
Appellant. )
FEARING, C.J. - Greg Benjamin appeals from the trial court's denial of his
motion to vacate a dissolution decree and parenting plan entered in 2009. We affirm.
PROCEDURE
Only the facts transpiring after litigation began bear relevance to this appeal. On
September 3, 2008, Kelli Benjamin petitioned for dissolution of her marriage to Greg
Benjamin and filed a proposed parenting plan for the care of the couple's six-year-old
daughter. On the same day, Kelli requested an ex parte restraining order against Greg.
Kelli alleged she feared Greg's presence due to his history of violence, pending assault
charges, and verbal threats. The court granted the restraining order and scheduled a show
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cause hearing for September 16, 2008. The court continued the hearing twice because
Kelli was unable to serve Greg.
On October 10, 2008, Kelli Benjamin sought a court order permitting service of
Greg Benjamin by mail at his last known address on East 8th Avenue, in Spokane. She
requested service by mail because she could not locate Greg within Washington State and
because he concealed himself to avoid service of process. In support of her application,
Kelli filed a sheriffs return of service, wherein Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich
certified that, after three attempts, he was unable to serve Greg at the 8th Avenue address.
The trial court granted Kelli's request. The court's order provided that Kelli must
complete a return of service form to confirm the mailing. Our record lacks any return of
service.
The trial court continued a hearing on Kelli Benjamin's petition for dissolution of
marriage and proposed parenting plan three more times because Greg Benjamin remained
unserved. Based on both parties' failure to respond to requests by the court regarding the
status of the pending dissolution case, the court ordered Kelli and Greg Benjamin to
appear on January 22, 2009 and show cause why the case should not be dismissed. The
court dismissed the case on January 23, 2009. The order of dismissal confirmed the court
mailed a copy of the order to Kelli. The order did not confirm its mailing to Greg.
On March 13, 2009, Kelli Benjamin moved the court to vacate its dismissal. The
court found good cause to grant her motion and vacated the dismissal.
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On May 7, 2009, Kelli Benjamin asked the court for an order allowing service by
publication. She again averred that she could not find Greg Benjamin in this state and he
concealed himself to avoid service of summons. Kelli declared that she "tried to serve
[Greg] by paying police, certified mail and had other copies of divorce made for others to
serve [him] and cannot locate him." Clerk's Papers (CP) at 71. She also certified that
she mailed a copy of the summons in an envelope addressed to Greg's residence. Kelli
did not disclose the identities of those individuals who attempted service on Greg. The
court granted Kelli's motion to publish service.
Kelli served Greg by publication in the Liberty Lake Splash on six consecutive
weeks from May 14, 2009 through June 18, 2009. The Liberty Lake Splash is a weekly
newspaper with general circulation in Liberty Lake and growing city's environs in
Spokane County. In May 2001, Spokane County approved the Liberty Lake Splash as a
legal newspaper. Kelli submitted to the court proof of service by publication in the form
of a declaration from Joshua Johnson, the publisher of the Liberty Lake Splash.
On August 7, 2009, Kelli Benjamin filed a motion for default based on Greg
Benjamin's failure to appear. The trial court issued an order of default on the same day.
On August 27, 2009, the court entered a decree of dissolution. The decree
continued the restraining order against Greg and prohibited him from entering his
daughter's home or school or coming within two city blocks of her. On August 27, the
trial court also entered Kelli's proposed parenting plan. The plan placed the daughter
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with Kelli and restricted Greg's residential time with the daughter based on a history of
acts of domestic violence. The parenting plan recorded that Greg's conduct might
adversely affect his daughter because of domestic abuse that created the danger of serious
damage to the child's psychological development. The parenting plan, however, granted
Greg residential time with his daughter every other Thanksgiving, every Christmas Eve,
every Father's Day, and every other one of her birthdays.
On October 10, 2009, Kelli Benjamin filed a petition to extend the domestic
violence protection order. The Spokane Police Department attempted to serve Greg
Benjamin with the petition on four occasions to no avail. A police officer attested that
"[Greg's] truck was at the address every time I went there. The one time someone came
to the door they were uncooperative. I sat at the address for 1 Yi hours with no luck." CP
at 244. The trial court ordered that Kelli serve the extension request by mail. The court
entered three ex parte orders for renewal of the order due to a lack of service on Greg.
Then on November 5, 2009, the trial court dismissed Kelli's petition for renewal because
Kelli did not attend court that day.
On October 13, 2015, six years after entry of the dissolution decree and parenting
plan, Greg Benjamin filed a petition to modify the parenting plan. On December 8, 2015,
the trial court found adequate cause for the petition and, as of June 29, 2016, trial was
pending. With his petition, Greg averred that he had visited twice a week with his
daughter at his home for eight to nine years.
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On May 23, 2016, Greg Benjamin filed a motion to vacate the August 27, 2009
dissolution order and parenting plan entered by default. In addition to noting clerical
errors in the documents, Greg argued that Kelli did not exercise reasonable diligence in
attempting to personally serve him and that Kelli misled the court regarding her ability to
serve him. In support of his contention, Greg attached an insurance check from 2010
addressed to both himself and Kelli and a 2007 computer entry from Oz Fitness that
indicated he remained on Kelli's account as her husband. Greg claimed he did not learn
of the dissolution proceedings until October 5, 2015. In response to Greg Benjamin's
motion to vacate, the court ordered a show cause hearing.
Kelli Benjamin filed a counter-motion for attorney's fees due to Greg's bad faith
and intransigence in bringing the motion to vacate without a legal basis. She contended
that Greg did not file the motion within a reasonable time and not within a year. In a
supporting declaration, Kelli denied that Greg lacked knowledge of the dissolution
proceedings and cited to a declaration dated October 13, 2015 wherein Greg allegedly
admitted that he knew about the divorce and "' did not want to rock the boat.' " CP at
131. Our record lacks an October 13, 2015 declaration.
During oral argument on Greg Benjamin's motion to vacate, Greg maintained that
he knew not of the dissolution proceedings until October 15, 2015 when Kelli personally
served him with the 2009 dissolution orders. Greg stated that he lacked any reason to
believe Kelli attained a divorce. He emphasized a series of alleged facts: (1) he remained
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in contact with Kelli by attending dinners and games with their children, (2) he remained
on Kelli's Oz Fitness account as her husband until 2014, (3) he frequented Oz Fitness
almost every day to exercise and Kelli worked at Oz Fitness, (4) his sisters worked with
Kelli at Oz Fitness, but she never asked them to serve him, (5) until August 2010, he
maintained the same permanent residence on 8th A venue, the home he shared with Kelli
and their children, and (6) he never received the 2009 pleadings by mail.
At the show cause hearing, Kelli Benjamin's counsel informed the trial court that
Greg Benjamin conceded, in a previous declaration, knowledge of the finality of the
divorce as late as 2012. Counsel argued, based on this acknowledgment, that the passage
of time barred Greg from vacating the default because (i) he did not file his motion within
one year, and (ii) even if Kelli committed fraud, Greg did not bring his motion within a
reasonable amount of time.
The trial court denied Greg Benjamin's motion to vacate because Greg failed to
establish a basis for vacation under CR 60. In its written order denying the motion, the
court found that (1) Kelli published service, during May and June 2009, in an approved
newspaper for Spokane County, (2) Kelli oddly failed to file proof of mailing after
obtaining two orders to serve by mail, but this failure likely does not show that Kelli
misled the court or committed fraud, (3) the sheriff's office and the police department
similarly experienced difficulty in completing service of process on Greg, and (4) in a
domestic violence proceeding, Greg was personally served and did not appear.
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LAW AND ANALYSIS
On appeal, Greg Benjamin contends that the trial court erred when denying his
motion to vacate the court's August 27, 2009 dissolution order and parenting plan. He
argues that Kelli Benjamin fraudulently obtained the default judgment and that Kelli
improperly served him such that the orders are void. Kelli rejects Greg's arguments on
the merits. She also argues that, because Greg failed to personally serve her with the
order to show cause to vacate the decree and because Greg untimely filed the motion to
vacate, this court should not or cannot hear the merits of the motion.
This court reviews a trial court's decision on a motion to vacate an order of default
or default judgment for abuse of discretion. Morin v. Burris, 160 Wash. 2d 745, 753, 161
P.3d 956 (2007). Discretion is abused if it is exercised on untenable grounds or for
untenable reasons. Morin v. Burris, 160 Wash. 2d at 753. A decision is based on untenable
grounds or made for untenable reasons if it rests on facts unsupported in the record or
was reached by applying the wrong legal standard. Mitchell v. Washington State Institute
of Public Policy, 153 Wash. App. 803, 821-22, 225 P.3d 280 (2009).
CR 60, on which the trial court relied, applies to all judgments, not only judgments
obtained by reason of a default by the defendant. CR 60(b) reads, in relevant part:
Mistakes; Inadvertence; Excusable Neglect; Newly Discovered
Evidence; Fraud; etc. On motion and upon such terms as are just, the
court may relieve a party or his legal representative from a final judgment,
order, or proceeding for the following reasons:
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(4) Fraud (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or extrinsic),
misrepresentation, or other misconduct of an adverse party;
(5) The judgment is void;
(7) If the defendant was served by publication, relief may be granted
as prescribed in RCW 4.28.200;
The motion shall be made within a reasonable time and for reasons
( 1), (2) or (3) not more than 1 year after the judgment, order, or proceeding
was entered or taken.
In total, CR 60(b) catalogs eleven grounds for vacation of a judgment, the first
three grounds of which must be brought within one year of the entry of the judgment or
order. The remaining grounds must be brought within a reasonable amount of time,
except under CR 60(b)(5), which impliedly directs a court to vacate a default judgment
that is void regardless if the motion is not brought within a reasonable amount of time.
Greg Benjamin relies on CR 60(b)(4), (5), and (7) in his appeal.
Initially, Kelli Benjamin argues the motion is moot because Greg never personally
served her with the order to show cause. She emphasizes that Greg's return of service
identifies service on Kelli's attorney's office, but she never agreed to service on her
counsel. Nevertheless, Kelli did not raise this argument before the trial court.
A party may not generally raise a new argument on appeal that the party did not
present to the trial court. In re Detention ofAmbers, 160 Wash. 2d 543, 557 n.6, 158 P.3d
1144 (2007). A party must inform the trial court of the rules of law she wishes the court
to apply and afford the trial court an opportunity to correct any error. Smith v. Shannon,
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100 Wash. 2d 26, 37, 666 P.2d 351 (1983). This court may decline to consider an issue
inadequately argued below. International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 46 v. City
ofEverett, 146 Wash. 2d 29, 37, 42 P.3d 1265 (2002); Mid Mountain Contractors, Inc. v.
Department ofLabor & Industries, 136 Wash. App. 1, 8, 146 P.3d 1212 (2006).
We decline to address Kelli Benjamin's argument of improper service. In her
appeal brief, she fleetingly mentions that Greg failed to follow the procedure to vacate
the judgment by personally serving her with process and she contends such failure
renders the motion moot. Kelli, however, does not cite any legal authority. Kelli also
does not explain why she never raised this issue before the trial court.
Kelli Benjamin next challenges the timeliness of Greg Benjamin's motion to
vacate. She contends that Greg did not file his motion within a reasonable time as
required by CR 60(b). We note that the trial court did not address timeliness. CR 60(b)
demands that the movant bring the motion within a reasonable time. What constitutes a
reasonable time must be determined by the facts and circumstances of the case, but the
critical period is the time between when the party becomes aware of the order and when
he or she filed the motion to vacate it. Luckett v. Boeing Co., 98 Wash. App. 307, 312, 989
P.2d 1144 (1999).
Greg Benjamin filed his motion to vacate on May 23, 2016, more than six years
after the dissolution decree. Greg claims that he did not know about the dissolution until
October 2015. At the advice of counsel, he petitioned the court for modification of the
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parenting plan instead of attempting to vacate the dissolution. At some point thereafter,
Greg parted ways with his counsel and then filed the motion to vacate, which is the
manner in which he claims he originally wanted to proceed. Based on Greg's testimony,
the trial court could reasonably conclude that seven months was a reasonable time
between becoming aware of the final orders, coordinating with legal counsel, and filing
the motion to vacate. Therefore, we affirm the motion to vacate on other grounds.
Greg Benjamin first contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion to
vacate under CR 60(b)(4) because Kelli Benjamin obtained the default judgment decree
by fraudulently declaring that she exerted effort to, but could not, locate him to effectuate
service. He argues that Kelli filed a false affidavit to obtain an order to provide service
by publication when she never mailed the pleadings to him.
Under CR 60(b )(4 ), the trial court may vacate a judgment procured by fraud,
misrepresentation, or misconduct. CR 60(b )( 4) targets judgments unfairly obtained, not
factually incorrect judgments. Peoples State Bank v. Hickey, 55 Wash. App. 367, 372, 777
P.2d 1056 (1989). Stated differently, CR 60(b)(4) concerns itself with procedural, rather
than substantive, fraud. For this reason, a party seeking vacation of a judgment under
CR 60(b )( 4) must demonstrate that the fraud or misrepresentation caused the entry of the
judgment such that the losing party was prevented from fully and fairly presenting its
case or defense. Lindgren v. Lindgren, 58 Wash. App. 588, 596, 794 P.2d 526 (1990);
Peoples State Bank v. Hickey, 55 Wash. App. at 372. The alleged fraud or
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misrepresentation must be established by clear and convincing evidence. Peoples State
Bank v. Hickey, 55 Wash. App. at 372.
The record does not establish, by clear and convincing evidence let alone a
preponderance of evidence, that Kelli Benjamin committed fraud or misled the court.
Greg Benjamin's allegations of fraud or misrepresentation rest almost exclusively on his
self-serving, conclusory declarations. Greg submitted a 2010 insurance check payable to
himself and Kelli and a 2007 computer entry for a fitness membership to Oz Fitness
where Greg is listed as Kelli's husband. The computer entry comes from before the
dissolution. The check established nothing about Kelli knowing the whereabouts of Greg
or whether Greg evaded process services.
The trial court rejected Greg Benjamin's contention that Kelli obtained the default
judgment by fraud. This rejection required the trial court to weigh the credibility of the.
parties. This court does not review credibility determinations on appeal. In re Marriage
ofRideout, 150 Wn.2d 337,350, 77 P.3d 1174 (2003). The trial court did not abuse its
discretion in declining to vacate the decree under CR 60(b)(4).
Greg Benjamin also contends that the trial court should have granted his motion
under CR 60(b )( 5) because the judgment was void. He argues service was ineffective,
and the trial court violated his due process rights by upholding the 2009 orders.
A judgment entered in a proceeding failing to comply with procedural due process
requirements is void. In re Marriage ofEbbighausen, 42 Wash. App. 99, 102, 708 P.2d
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1220 ( 1985). A judgment entered without jurisdiction over the parties is void. Marley v.
Department of Labor& Industries, 125 Wash. 2d 533, 539, 886 P.2d 189 (1994). Proper
service of the summons and complaint is a prerequisite to the court obtaining jurisdiction
over a party, and a judgment entered without such jurisdiction is void. Woodruff v.
Spence, 76 Wash. App. 207, 209, 883 P.2d 936 (1994).
Greg Benjamin first contends that Kelli failed to act with reasonable diligence in
attempting to personally serve him and thus the trial court should not have permitted
service by publication. Prior to serving Greg by publication, Kelli attempted to
personally serve him through the sheriffs department and then by mail.
CR 4( c) permits service of summons to be completed by either (i) the sheriff of the
county wherein the service is made, or (ii) any person over eighteen years of age who is
not a party and is competent to be a witness in the action. Under CR 4(g)(l ), if the
sheriff effectuates service, proof of service is satisfied on the return of the sheriffs
endorsement. Kelli filed a sheriffs return of service wherein Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich
attested that he attempted to serve Greg three times, but was unsuccessful. As a result,
Kelli requested and the court ordered service by mail.
Under CR 4( d)( 4), service by mail is permitted under "circumstances justifying
service by publication" and if the serving party demonstrates, by affidavit, facts showing
that service by mail is just as likely to give actual service by publication. An affidavit
filed in support of service by mail must contain every requirement found in RCW
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4.28.100, except for the requirement that the plaintiff must first mail a copy of the
summons and complaint to defendant prior to obtaining an order to allow service by mail.
Jones v. Stebbens, 122 Wash. 2d 471, 481, 860 P.2d 1009 (1993). An affidavit is sufficient
where it clearly shows all the conditions required, although it does not literally follow the
wording of the statute. Jones v. Stebbens, 122 Wash. 2d at 482 (citing Jesseph v. Carroll,
126 Wash. 661,666,219 P. 429 (1923)).
Former RCW 4.28.100 (2005) provides in relevant part:
When the defendant cannot be found within the state, and upon the
filing of an affidavit of the plaintiff, his agent, or attorney, with the clerk of
the court, stating that he believes the defendant is not a resident of the state,
or cannot be found therein, that he has deposited a copy of the summons ...
and complaint in the post office, directed to the defendant at his place of
residence, unless it is stated in the affidavit that such residence is not
known to the affiant, and stating the existence of one of the cases
hereinafter specified, the service may be made by publication of the
summons, by the plaintiff or his attorney in any of the following cases:
(2) When the defendant, being a resident of this state, has departed
therefrom with intent to defraud his creditors, or to avoid the service of a
summons, or keeps himself concealed therein with like intent.
Kelli Benjamin's declaration showed facts satisfying the requirements of RCW
4.28.100. The facts demonstrated that Greg Benjamin, a Washington resident, concealed
himself for the purpose of avoiding service and that Kelli exercised reasonable diligence
to locate Greg by hiring the sheriffs office, who made three attempts at service.
Greg Benjamin correctly notes that Kelli Benjamin never filed proof of service by
mail. Nonetheless, the lack of a return of service is irrelevant. Under CR 4, failure to
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make proof of service does not affect the validity of the service. CR 4(g)(7); Jones v.
Stebbens, 122 Wash. 2d at 482 (1993). When the petitioner serves process by publication or
mailing, the failure to file proof of notice amounts to a mere irregularity. Jones v.
Stebbens, 122 Wash. 2d at 482 (citing Crider v. Othello, 9 Wn. App. 536,538,513 P.2d 571
(1973)).
The record demonstrates that, after Kelli Benjamin sought to serve by mail, Greg
Benjamin remained unserved. Accordingly, Kelli requested to serve Greg by publication.
We now evaluate the validity of service by publication.
The trial court allowed service on Greg Benjamin by publication in accordance
with former RCW 4.28.100. We already cited portions of the statute, but repeat some
portions here:
When the defendant cannot be found within the state, and upon the
filing of an affidavit of the plaintiff, his agent, or attorney, with the clerk of
the court, stating that he believes that the defendant is not a resident of the
state, or cannot be found therein, and that he has deposited a copy of the
summons (substantially in the form prescribed in RCW 4.28.110) and
complaint in the post office, directed to the defendant at his place of
residence, unless it is stated in the affidavit that such residence is not
known to the affiant, and stating the existence of one of the cases
hereinafter specified, the service may be made by publication of the
summons, by the plaintiff or his or her attorney in any of the following
cases:
(2) When the defendant, being a resident of this state, has departed
therefrom with intent to defraud his creditors, or to avoid the service of a
summons, or keeps himself concealed therein with like intent;
(4) When the action is for (a) establishment or modification of a
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parenting plan or residential schedule; or (b) dissolution of marriage, legal
separation, or declaration of invalidity, in the cases prescribed by law.
The court order authorizing publication did not identify any subsection of the statute.
RCW 4.28.100(4) authorizes service by publication in dissolution proceedings. In re
Marriage of Powell, 84 Wn. App. 432,437,927 P.2d 1154 (1996). Reliance on
subsection (4), the pendency of a dissolution action, however, does not secure personal
jurisdiction such that the court could resolve all issues in a dissolution. In re Marriage of
Logg, 74 Wash. App. 781, 786, 875 P.2d 647 (1994). Accordingly, Kelli must rely on
RCW 4.28.100(2) to establish personal jurisdiction. In re Marriage ofLogg, 74 Wn.
App. at 786.
RCW 4.28.100 permits summons by publication if (i) the defendant cannot be
found in the. state, (ii) the plaintiff files an affidavit stating that she believes the defendant
cannot be found in the state, (iii) a copy of the summons has been mailed to the
defendant's address, if known, and (iv) the plaintiffs affidavit declares that the
defendant, being a resident of the state, departed therefrom with intent to defraud his
creditors, to avoid the service of a summons, or keeps himself concealed therein with like
intent. In re Marriage of Logg, 74 Wash. App. at 785. Kelli Benjamin averred that Greg
Benjamin could not be found in the state and concealed himself to avoid service of the
summons. Kelli stated she unsuccessfully attempted to locate Greg and serve him by
"paying police, certified mail and had other copies of [the] divorce made for others to
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serve [him]." CP at 71. She also certified that she deposited a copy of the summons in
the post office, directed to Greg's place of residence. Accordingly, Kelli complied with
the dictates ofRCW 4.28.100.
Evidence supported Kelli Benjamin's declaration that Greg concealed himself to
avoid service by summons. In the related domestic violence proceeding, the Spokane
Police Department attempted to serve Greg at his 8th Avenue address on four separate
occasions with no luck. A sheriff deputy attested that he saw Greg's truck on each
occasion. On one occasion, someone answered the door but refused to cooperate. On
another occasion, the deputy sat at the address for one and one-half hours.
Greg Benjamin challenges Kelli's use of the Liberty Lake Splash for publication.
RCW 4.28.110 establishes the manner of publication and form of summons. Publication
must be in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the plaintiff filed suit.
The Liberty Lake Splash fulfilled this requirement. The newspaper's publisher declared
that he published Kelli's summons for six consecutive weeks from May 14, 2009 through
June 18, 2009, fulfilling another statutory dictate. Greg does not challenge the contents
of the summons published. Therefore, Kelli satisfied the publication requirements.
Greg Benjamin last assigns error to the trial court's denial of his motion to vacate
under CR 60(b )(7). CR 60(b )(7) allows a trial court to relieve a party from a final order
if the defendant was served by publication as prescribed in RCW 4.28.200, but not in a
dissolution action. Nevertheless, Greg fails to follow RAP 10.3(a)(6)'s requirement to
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include in his brief an argument in support of this final assignment of error, together with
citations to legal authority and references to relevant parts of the record. He omits any
reference to RCW 4.28.200's exclusion of marriage dissolution actions. This court does
not consider conclusory arguments that are unsupported by citation to authority. Joy v.
Department ofLabor & Industries, 170 Wn. App. 614,629,285 P.3d 187 (2012).
Passing treatment of an issue or lack of reasoned argument is insufficient to merit judicial
consideration. West v. Thurston County, 168 Wash. App. 162, 187, 27 5 P .3d 1200 (2012);
Holland v. City of Tacoma, 90 Wash. App. 533, 538, 954 P.2d 290 (1998). Therefore, we
decline to review this issue.
Kelli Benjamin requests attorney fees be awarded against Greg. She wrote in her
brief:
Ms. Benjamin requests pursuant to RAP 14 that her attorney fees be
paid to her. Attorney fees are appropriate as this appeal presented no
genuine issues of merit for review.
Amended Resp't Br. at 10. RAP 14.3(a) only allows statutory attorney fees, not
reasonable attorney fees, along with other costs. Since Kelli prevails on appeal, we grant
her costs available under RAP 14.3(a). Our court commissioner will determine the
amount of costs on the filing of a cost bill.
CONCLUSIONS
We affirm the trial court's denial of Greg Benjamin's request to vacate the 2009
dissolution decree and parenting plan. We grant Kelli Benjamin's request for costs on
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appeal.
A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW
2.06.040.
WE CONCUR:
Pennell, J.
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