Amanda R. Cowan, V. Joshua T. Cowan ( 2023 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
AMANDA R. COWAN, No. 83082-1-I
(Consolidated with
Respondent, No. 83860-1-I and
No. 84148-3-I)
v.
DIVISION ONE
JOSHUA T. COWAN, ORDER WITHDRAWING AND
SUBSTITUTING OPINION
Appellant.
The panel having determined that the opinion should be withdrawn and
substituted, it is hereby
ORDERED that the opinion of this court in the above-entitled case filed
August 28, 2023 be changed as follows.
Page 20, line 3 shall be changed to: A court abuses its discretion when it
does not follow the statutory procedures or modifies a parenting plan for reasons
other than the statutory criteria.
The remainder of the opinion shall remain the same.
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
AMANDA R. COWAN,
No. 83082-1-I
Respondent, (Consolidated with
No. 83860-1-I and
v. No. 84148-3-I)
DIVISION ONE
JOSHUA T. COWAN,
PUBLISHED OPINION
Appellant.
COBURN, J. — A mother obtained a one-year Domestic Violence Protection
Order (DVPO) against the father following a spanking incident of one of their children.
Neither parent petitioned to modify their then-existing parenting plan. At a later
relocation trial, the court granted the mother’s requests to preclude the father from
introducing any evidence challenging the spanking incident while also imposing
mandatory conditions against the father that mirrored those from the DVPO. The court
granted the relocation and considered the father’s abusive use of conflict but not the
spanking incident in its consideration of relocation factors. The father appeals both the
trial court’s order on relocation and modification of the parenting plan.
We hold that a DVPO is not the type of “court order” contemplated by RCW
Citations and pincites are based on the Westlaw online version of the cited material.
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26.09.525(2) to determine whether the presumption in favor of relocation applies. The
trial court also abused its discretion in precluding the father, under res judicata,
collateral estoppel, and law of the case from introducing evidence challenging the
spanking incident in the relocation trial. Because the errors were harmless as to the
relocation order, we affirm the trial court granting the mother’s request to relocate the
children. However, because the court modified the parenting plan beyond what is
permitted pursuant to a relocation, we reverse that order. The current residential
schedule will remain until the trial court can enter a parenting plan consistent with this
opinion on remand.
FACTS and PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In 2019, Joshua and Amanda Cowan separated after being married for 10 years.
A court entered an agreed permanent parenting plan in 2020 ordering equally sharing
residential time with their three children. 1 The order provided,
Both parents will have equal 50/50 share custody of the children.
While the parenting time calendar is not an equal time share schedule,
both parents have agreed that this is what makes the most sense for the
children for the foreseeable future so one parent can work full time while
the other parent is the primary caregiver. If either parent decides that they
would like to petition the court to change the schedule, they should be
granted up to 50% of the children’s time per this agreement. At all times,
the parent that has the children will be the primary caregiver. Outside of
vacations, neither parent will have a significant other taking care of the
children except with one-off, extenuating circumstances that do not extend
overnight.
The agreed parenting time calendar provided that the children were with Amanda 2 16
out of 28 nights, or approximately 57 percent of the residential time.
1
Joshua asserts the parenting plan was entered at the same time as the agreed
dissolution of the marriage. The order of dissolution is not in the record.
2
Because the parties share the same last name, we refer to them by their first name for
clarity.
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In April 2021, under a separate cause number, Amanda filed for a domestic
violence protection order (DVPO) against Joshua based on a March 15 event. She
recalled that the children came home from a weekend with Joshua. When she was
giving her 2-year-old daughter, E.C., a bath, she noticed severe bruising on her hip and
thigh. Amanda called Joshua and he explained he had to “spank her” repeatedly
because she was not obeying him and kept getting out of bed. Amanda sent a picture
of the bruising to her pediatrician, who contacted Child Protective Services (CPS). CPS
then contacted the police. The court entered a temporary DVPO, prohibiting contact
between Joshua and the children.
In May, Amanda filed a notice of intent to move the children to St. George, Utah.
She provided the reasons for the move: (1) to provide a better environment for her
children; (2) she could no longer afford to live in the greater Seattle area; (3) she had a
job offer in St. George; and (4) she could afford a new townhome in St. George. In the
attached proposed parenting plan, Amanda requested the court prohibit Joshua from
having any contact with the children pending the outcome of the CPS and police
investigation from the spanking incident. Amanda also requested Joshua be evaluated
for substance abuse and anger management and/or domestic violence, that he start
and comply with treatment as recommended by the evaluation, that he provide a copy
of the evaluation and compliance reports, and that his residential time be suspended for
noncompliance.
Amanda planned to move in August. She indicated that she planned to reside
with her parents in Union, Washington, in between selling her home in King County and
moving to Utah.
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Joshua filed a motion for a temporary order preventing the move with the
children. The court heard his motion on July 15. At the hearing, the court learned that
Amanda had already moved with the children out of King County to Union. Amanda
conceded that she “jumped the gun” and moved without permission of the court, but
explained that the children were not in school and Joshua could not have contact with
the children because of the temporary DVPO. Joshua asked the court to order the
children to be brought back to King County and that Amanda reside there until the
relocation issue was resolved. The court explained that it had no authority to order
Amanda to live in King County, and though it could order the children be returned to
King County, they would not be able to reside with Joshua because of the temporary
DVPO. The court explained that the only reasonable temporary order that the court
could impose given the unusual circumstance was to order Amanda not to leave the
state of Washington with the children on a permanent basis. The parties agreed. 3 At
this hearing Amanda declined to have the DVPO matter and the relocation matter
consolidated.
At the July 21 hearing on the DVPO, a trial court commissioner found that
Joshua’s excessive corporal punishment of E.C. constituted domestic violence. The
commissioner explained that although corporal punishment is legal in Washington,
excessive corporal punishment is not. The court issued a DVPO that expired July 21,
2022. The commissioner limited Joshua’s contact with his children by prohibiting any
overnight visits, but otherwise allowed contact as permitted by the then-existing
parenting plan schedule. The commissioner also ordered Joshua either participate in a
3
Joshua does not appeal the court’s ruling from the July 15 hearing.
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domestic violence perpetrator treatment program or obtain a domestic violence
assessment and comply with its recommendation. The same day, Joshua filed a motion
for revision of the DVPO, and the court denied it. Joshua filed a notice of appeal of that
decision (the first of three consolidated appeals).
In August, Amanda filed an amended notice of intent to move the children to
Utah with an attached proposed parenting plan. She revised her reasons for moving to
be: (1) providing a better environment for the children; (2) moving to Mapleton, Utah to
marry her new fiancé; and (3) moving will allow her to cease working outside the home
and be available for the children. In her attached proposed parenting plan, she
requested that all residential time with Joshua be professionally supervised at his
expense. She maintained her previous evaluation and treatment requests. Joshua filed
an amended objection to Amanda’s request to relocate. Neither she nor Joshua filed a
petition to modify the parenting plan.
Joshua moved to vacate the DVPO under CR 60(b). The court denied the
motion in March 2022. Joshua filed a notice to appeal that decision (the second of his
three consolidated appeals).
In April, the court held a five-day trial regarding the mother’s request to relocate
the children to Utah. Amanda attached the DVPO to her trial brief and requested the
court place RCW 26.09.191 findings and limitations on Joshua and order the same
conditions required by the DVPO. 4 Joshua asserted in his trial brief that he intended to
contest any allegation of child abuse and that he intended to introduce evidence to
4
Amanda also requested RCW 26.09.191 limitations imposed on Joshua for alleged
acts of domestic violence and sexual abuse against Amanda. However, the trial court found
that Amanda failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that there was a history of acts
of domestic violence against her. Amanda did not appeal this ruling.
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dispute that claim. Specifically, Joshua offered that Dr. Carl Wigren, a forensic
pathologist, would testify regarding the lack of evidence of physical abuse and the
deficient criminal and CPS investigation. Joshua would also be calling Dr. Marsha
Hedrick to testify regarding Amanda’s influence on the children’s forensic interviews and
their lack of credibility.
Amanda moved in limine for the court to preclude Joshua from introducing any
evidence related to the excessive spanking incident. Amanda argued under res judicata
that Joshua should not be able to relitigate this issue. Amanda asserted that the DVPO
should stand on its own and that she should be able to rely on it at trial. The court
granted the motion, ruling that it would accept the DVPO finding under res judicata
(claim preclusion), collateral estoppel (issue preclusion), and “the law of the case.” The
court excluded Wigren’s testimony explaining that it was not going to allow Joshua to
“relitigate” the DVPO, and that it accepted the previous DVPO finding that an assault
had occurred because it had “already been proven as the law of the case.” The court
allowed Hedrick to testify about how the relocation might affect the children, but
prohibited any testimony “about whether the assault happened, how the assault might
effect [sic] the children.” The court clarified, however, that while it accepted the fact that
Joshua excessively spanked E.C., how that fact would weigh into the court’s
consideration of RCW 26.09.191 limitations was a matter of the court’s broad discretion.
During the court’s ruling, it stated it needed to first decide if there were going to
be RCW 26.09.191 limitations in a new parenting plan before considering the 11
relocation factors under RCW 26.09.520. The court explained that RCW 26.09.191(n)
provides that the weight to be given to a DVPO is within the court’s discretion. The
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court denied RCW 26.09.191 limitations based on Amanda’s allegations that Joshua
was domestically violent with her. The court acknowledged that the over-spanking of
E.C. occurred but used its discretion to not limit residential time under RCW
26.09.191(2)(n). The court, however, found that Amanda proved that Joshua abusively
used conflict because Joshua indicated he wanted to exchange the children at 4 a.m.
for retaliatory reasons.
The court then considered whether the rebuttable presumption permitting
relocation under RCW 26.09.520 applied in analyzing the required 11 factors. Because
the presumption did not apply if 45 percent or more of the child’s residential time is
spent with each parent, the court considered, among other factors, the “determination
on the amount of time designated in the court order” as required under RCW
26.09.525(2) (emphasis added). The parties disputed at trial whether the court should
consider the designated time in the parenting plan or how the schedule changed under
the DVPO.
The court explained what it viewed as three options. The court stated it could
consider the residential schedule designated under the DVPO. It could also consider
the parenting plan residential schedule and find that it had not been significantly
modified, or it could consider the parenting plan as having been modified by the DVPO.
Under any of the scenarios, the court concluded a presumption supporting relocation
applied because the children spent more than 45 percent of their time with their mother.
The court determined that the DVPO was the controlling court order under RCW
26.09.525. The court reasoned that the DVPO order fell within the definition of “court
order” under RCW 26.09.410, and the DVPO contained a schedule that was the “most
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recent order.” Under the restrictions of the DVPO, the children spent more than 55
percent of their time with their mother.
The court then analyzed the 11 relocation factors under RCW 26.09.520. 5 It
found that factor 1, the nature of the children’s relationship, significantly favored
relocation because Amanda was more involved with the children, was more nurturing,
and had a stronger relationship with them that is of higher quality. It found that factor 2,
prior agreements, was a neutral factor because the court rejected Joshua’s argument
that the parties had moved to a 50/50 parenting schedule. It found that factor 3,
disrupting contact between the children with either parent, heavily favored relocation for
the same reasoning as in factor 1. The court then considered factor 4:
I next must consider whether either parent is subject to limitations under
[RCW] 26.09.191. And here if I allow relocation, there will be a finding of
5
The 11 factors under RCW 26.09.520 are the following:
(1) The relative strength, nature, quality, extent of involvement, and stability of
the child’s relationship with each parent, siblings, and other significant persons in
the child’s life;
(2) Prior agreements of the parties;
(3) Whether disrupting the contact between the child and the person seeking
relocation would be more detrimental to the child than disrupting contact between
the child and the person objecting to the relocation;
(4) Whether either parent or a person entitled to residential time with the child is
subject to limitations under RCW 26.09.191;
(5) The reasons of each person for seeking or opposing the relocation and the
good faith of each of the parties in requesting or opposing the relocation;
(6) The age, developmental stage, and needs of the child, and the likely impact
the relocation or its prevention will have on the child’s physical, educational, and
emotional development, taking into consideration any special needs of the child;
(7) The quality of life, resources, and opportunities available to the child and to
the relocating party in the current and proposed geographic locations;
(8) The availability of alternative arrangements to foster and continue the child’s
relationship with and access to the other parent;
(9) The alternatives to relocation and whether it is feasible and desirable for the
other party to relocate also;
(10) The financial impact and logistics of the relocation or its prevention; and
(11) For a temporary order, the amount of time before a final decision can be
made at trial.
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abusive use of conflict against the father, and I am considering that. But
frankly, I don’t find that that is a determinative factor.
The court found that the RCW 26.09.191 limitation was largely remedied by the
conditions the court placed on the father. The court found that this factor slightly
favored Amanda’s position.
The court then analyzed factor 5, reasons for proposing or opposing relocation.
It found that this factor slightly favored Joshua’s opposition because both parents were
acting in good faith, and the move would negatively impact Joshua’s relationship with
the children. It noted that in the first notice of relocation, Amanda moved the children in
violation of the law by moving the children to a different school district. It found that
factor 6, the effect of the relocation on the children, slightly disfavored relocation
because the move would disrupt the relationship with Joshua and their grandparents on
both sides of the family. It found that factor 7, quality of life available to the children and
Amanda, significantly favored relocation because the move would improve Amanda’s
quality of life romantically, personally, and interpersonally. It found that factor 8, the
availability of alternative arrangements, favored Joshua despite the availability of travel,
video calling, and extended summer visits. It found that factor 9, whether the objecting
person can also move, slightly disfavored relocation because it was not feasible for
Joshua to relocate. It found that factor 10, financial impacts of the relocation, was
neutral because there were no financial impacts either way. It found that factor 11,
regarding the amount of time before trial, was not applicable because the parties had
already been through trial.
The court granted Amanda’s request to relocate with the children. The court
explained the outcome would have been the same if it considered the residential time
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designated in the parenting plan rather than the DVPO. The court also explained that
the factors would still have supported relocation even if Amanda was not afforded the
presumption to relocate.
The court also entered a modified parenting plan. In it, the court noted there
were two reasons supporting limitations on Joshua under RCW 26.09.191:
a. Abandonment, neglect, child abuse, domestic violence, assault, or sex
offense.
A parent has one or more of these problems as follows:
Child Abuse - Joshua Cowan (or someone living in that parent’s
home) abused or threatened to abuse a child. The abuse was:
physical.
b. Other problems that may harm the children’s best interests:
A parent has one or more of these problems as follows:
Abusive use of conflict - Joshua Cowan uses conflict in a way that
may cause serious damage to the psychological development of a
child. . . .
However, consistent with its oral ruling, the court added that it was not imposing RCW
26.09.191(2)(a) residential time limitations by exercising its discretion under RCW
26.09.191(2)(n):
Under RCW 26.09.191(2)(n), the Court expressly finds that based on
significant evidence presented at trial that continued contact between the
father and the children will not cause physical harm to the children and
that the probability that the father’s harmful or abusive conduct to the
children will recur in the future is so remote that it is not in the interests of
the children to apply the limitations in RCW 26.09.191(2)(a).
Nevertheless, the court ordered compliance with the DVPO that was set to expire on
July 21, 2022, as well as adopted conditions that were first imposed under the DVPO:
completing a domestic violence assessment and complying with all recommendations,
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completing “DV Dads,” not using corporal punishment on his children, and using Talking
Parents 6 to communicate with Amanda. The court also ordered Joshua not to drink
alcohol during his residential time or within 12 hours of seeing the children. The court
provided that if Joshua did not follow the treatment requirements or if he violated the
conditions upon him, then his residential time would be suspended.
Joshua appeals the final orders entered in his child relocation case. A
commissioner of this court granted Joshua’s motion to consolidate all three of his
appeals. In total, Joshua appeals the July 21, 2021 DVPO, the denial of his motion for
revision of that order, the denial of his motion to vacate that order, and the 2022
relocation order and modified parenting plan entered after trial. 7
DISCUSSION
Parenting Plan Modification
Joshua first contends that the trial court abused its discretion by excluding, based
on res judicata or collateral estoppel, Joshua’s expert testimony evidence rebutting the
DVPO finding that he excessively spanked the child. We agree.
We review evidentiary rulings for abuse of discretion. Hollins v. Zbaraschuk, 200
Wn. App. 578, 580, 402 P.3d 907 (2017). A trial court abuses its discretion when its
decision is “manifestly unreasonable, or exercised on untenable grounds, or for
untenable reasons.” State ex rel. Carroll v. Junker, 79 Wn.2d 12, 26, 482 P.2d 7756
Talking Parents is an application that will create a record of all communication between
parents.
7
Though Joshua assigns error to the entry of the DVPO, order denying his motion for
revision, and order denying his motion to vacate, he does not provide substantive argument as
to why these orders were improper. Thus, we do not address these claims. RAP 10.3(a)(6)
(requiring an appellant’s brief to provide “argument in support of the issues presented for
review, together with citations to legal authority and references to relevant parts of the record”);
see also Jackson v. Quality Loan Serv. Corp., 186 Wn. App. 838, 845, 347 P.3d 487 (2015).
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(1971). However, whether the court used the correct legal standard is a question of law
reviewed de novo. Dix v. ICT Grp., Inc., 160 Wn.2d 826, 833-34, 161 P.3d 1016 (2007).
The court excluded evidence of the excessive spanking incident on collateral
estoppel, res judicata, and law of the case doctrine. 8 The court explained,
The DVPO is on appeal. And here the mother alleges that the
issue of that assault and what happened, that is alleged in the DVPO
having been found, is collateral estoppel or res judicata.
The laws of the State [of] Washington are quite clear that just
because that issue is on appeal, the DVPO, does not affect its finality in
terms of this hearing. What the court of appeals and the supreme court
have said over and over is it is something that is subject to the collateral
estoppel analysis.
...
In the DVPO you had the same parties, the same standard of proof,
and there was a finding of fact that we’re not going to relitigate the DVPO.
That is the fact that the Court just accepts that there was a finding of an
assault.
The court further explained that what it chose to do with the assault finding was up to its
discretion. Joshua contends that although the trial court and parties used the term res
judicata, the issue is more correctly analyzed under the doctrine of collateral estoppel.
We agree.
The doctrine of res judicata, or claim preclusion, ensures that “every party should
be afforded one, but not more than one, fair adjudication of his or her claim” by
8
The parties spend little effort addressing whether “law of the case” was a proper basis
to preclude Joshua’s evidence. As this court has explained, “‘The term ‘law of the case’ means
different things in different circumstances. First, it refers to the effect of jury instructions in a
trial. Second, it refers to the binding effect of appellate determinations on remand. Third, it
refers to the principle that an appellate court will generally not reconsider the rules of law it
announced in a prior determination of the same case.” Bergerson v. Zurbano, 6 Wn. App. 2d
912, 925, 432 P.3d 850 (2018) (citations omitted). The trial court erred in suggesting the law of
the case doctrine supported the court’s ruling.
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prohibiting the re-litigation of claims that were litigated or could have been litigated in a
prior action. Reeves v. Mason County, 22 Wn. App. 2d 99, 115, 509 P.3d 859 (2022).
Here, Amanda filed the motion to relocate, not Joshua. It was Amanda who requested
RCW 26.09.191 limitations and modification of the parenting plan as part of the
relocation trial. Joshua simply objected to Amanda’s requests.
Collateral estoppel, or issue preclusion, bars re-litigation of the same issue in a
later proceeding after an earlier opportunity to fully and fairly litigate the issue results in
a final decision on the merits. Marriage of Pennamen, 135 Wn. App. 790, 805, 146
P.3d 466 (2006). The party asserting collateral estoppel must prove four elements: (1)
the issue decided in the earlier proceeding was identical to the issue presented in the
later proceeding, (2) the earlier proceeding ended in a judgment on the merits, (3) the
party against whom collateral estoppel is asserted was a party to the earlier proceeding,
and (4) application of collateral estoppel does not work an injustice on the party against
whom it is applied. Id. “Collateral estoppel does not apply when a substantial
difference in applicable legal standards differentiates otherwise identical issues even
though the factual setting of both suits is the same.” Reeves, 22 Wn. App. 2d at 112
(citing Cloud v. Summers, 98 Wn. App. 724, 730, 991 P.2d 1169 (1999)).
Joshua challenges the court’s ruling based on the first factor, arguing the issue
decided in the DVPO was not identical to the issue presented in relocation proceeding
because the procedures and purposes of the proceedings were significantly different.
We agree. For support, Joshua cites to Regan v. McLachlan, 163 Wn. App. 171, 181,
257 P.3d 1122 (2011) (holding that the issue in a prior criminal proceeding, whether the
trial court had jurisdiction, was not identical to the issue in the present civil proceeding,
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whether the defendant was negligent and breached its fiduciary duty), and Standlee v.
Smith, 83 Wn.2d 405, 518 P.2d 721 (1974) (holding that a parolee’s acquittal on
criminal charges did not, on the basis of collateral estoppel, preclude parole revocation
based on the same charges).
Also informative is Pennamen. There, the parties’ marriage was formally
dissolved in 1999 and the court entered a parenting plan at the time of dissolution. 135
Wn. App. at 795. In 2005, the mother requested to relocate the children. The father
separately filed a petition for modification of the parenting plan alleging that the mother
and her fiancé were methamphetamine users, and that the fiancé had a history of
domestic violence and may have abused her and the children. Id. at 796. In response,
the mother got a urinalysis (UA) drug test, tested negative for all substances, and filed
the results of the UA with her reply to the father’s motions. Id. A commissioner denied
the father’s petition for modification of the parenting plan, ruling that there was “no
nexus” between the mother’s prior drug use and the statutory requirements for
modification under RCW 26.09.260. Id. The trial court dismissed the father’s motion for
revision of the commissioner’s decision. Id.
Later at the relocation trial, the mother contended collateral estoppel precluded
the court from considering her past drug use. She argued that because that issue had
already been decided in her favor when the trial court refused to revise the
commissioner’s finding, there was no nexus between her drug use and the statutory
requirements for modifying the parenting plan. Id. at 805. This court held that it was not
improper for the trial court to consider the mother’s past drug use during the relocation
hearing as it must have done under RCW 26.09.520(4), which requires the court to
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consider whether any RCW 26.09.191 limitations apply. Id. at 806. We explained that
the mother’s collateral estoppel argument failed because the issues were not identical.
Id. We noted that RCW 26.09.260 limits the circumstances in which a court may modify
a parenting plan and that “the key issue for the commissioner was whether the
children’s present environment was so detrimental to their well-being that the benefit of
a change in the parenting plan would outweigh the harm from moving the children out of
the mother’s home.” Id. Further, we explained, “This is different from a relocation
proceeding, where the key issue is whether the future detrimental effects of allowing
relocation outweigh the benefits of the move.” Id.
Pennamen is similar to the instant case in that the issues presented in the two
different hearings are not the same issue. A DVPO proceeding is different from a
relocation proceeding substantively and procedurally.
The purpose of chapter 26.50 RCW, Domestic Violence Prevention Act, is to
provide a process by which victims of domestic violence may obtain orders of protection
more efficiently and easily than court orders are generally obtained. Smith v. Smith, 1
Wn. App. 2d 122, 135, 404 P.3d 101 (2017); Marriage of Barone, 100 Wn. App. 241,
247, 996 P.2d 654 (2000). “Conversely, it is relatively difficult to obtain orders that
modify final parenting plans and child support decrees.” Id. “Custodial changes are
viewed as highly disruptive to children, and there is a strong presumption in favor of
custodial continuity and against modification.” Marriage of McDole, 122 Wn.2d 604,
610, 859 P.2d 1239 (1993).
DVPO proceedings allow courts to consider hearsay in a chapter 26.50 RCW
protection order proceeding. Gourley v. Gourley, 158 Wn.2d 460, 464, 145 P.3d 118515
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(2006); ER 1101(c)(4). Whereas, hearsay is not admissible, absent an exception, in a
trial modifying a parenting plan. DeVogel v. Padilla, 22 Wn. App. 2d 39, 59, 509 P.3d
832 (2022). When modifying a parenting plan, The Parenting Act anticipates that the
court will craft a child’s permanent residential schedule based on the best interests of
the child, as they can be determined at the time of trial. Marriage of Abbess, 23 Wn.
App. 2d 479, 485, 516 P.3d 443 (2022) (citation omitted). To impose new RCW
26.09.191 limitations in a parenting plan, the court is required to apply the “civil rules of
evidence, proof, and procedure.” RCW 26.09.191.
A permanent parenting plan may be changed by an agreement, by petition to
modify, and by temporary order. Marriage of Watson, 132 Wn. App. 222, 235, 130 P.3d
915 (2006). A trial court may not modify a parenting plan unless it finds, upon the basis
of facts that have arisen since the prior parenting plan or that were unknown to the trial
court at the time of the parenting plan, that a “substantial change in circumstances” has
occurred. RCW 26.09.260(1). Additionally, under RCW 26.09.260(6),
The court may order adjustments to the residential aspects of a parenting
plan pursuant to a proceeding to permit or restrain a relocation of the
child. The person objecting to the relocation of the child or the relocating
person’s proposed revised residential schedule may file a petition to
modify the parenting plan, including a change of the residence in which
the child resides the majority of the time, without a showing of adequate
cause other than the proposed relocation itself. A hearing to determine
adequate cause for modification shall not be required so long as the
request for relocation of the child is being pursued. In making a
determination of a modification pursuant to relocation of the child, the
court shall first determine whether to permit or restrain the relocation of
the child using the procedures and standards provided in RCW 26.09.405
through 26.09.560. Following that determination, the court shall determine
what modification pursuant to relocation should be made, if any, to the
parenting plan or custody order or visitation order.
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A court may not allow a DVPO to serve as a de facto modification of a parenting
plan. Watson, 132 Wn. App. at 234 (citing Barone, 100 Wn. App. at 247).
Thus, parties may petition to modify a parenting plan when there has been a
substantial change in circumstances or the person objecting to the relocation of the
child or the relocating person’s proposed revised residential schedule may file a petition
to modify the parenting plan. Even when neither party petitions to modify the parenting
plan, a “court order permitting or restraining the relocation of a child may necessitate
modification of an existing parenting plan.” Marriage of Laidlaw, 2 Wn. App. 2d 381,
387, 409 P.3d 1184 (2018). However, the modification must be “pursuant to relocation.”
“Relocations involve new time and distance factors that will inevitably require dramatic
changes to a parenting plan . . . . A trial court decision is not based on untenable
grounds simply because it favors one parent against another.” Marriage of Fahey, 164
Wn. App. 42, 68, 262 P.3d 128 (2011).
Neither party petitioned to modify the parenting plan. The only issue at trial, as
articulated in Pennamen, was “whether the future detrimental effects of allowing
relocation outweigh the benefits of the move.” This is not the same issue as whether a
court should enter a temporary protection order. Certainly, as we observed in
Pennamen, the court could have considered the spanking incident as part of its
consideration of the required factors under RCW 26.09.520(4) as to the issue of
relocation, which means Joshua had the right to contest the issue. The trial court
abused its discretion in its misapplication of res judicata, collateral estoppel, and law of
the case to bar Joshua’s evidence related to the spanking incident.
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As this court recognized in Laidlaw, a relocation order necessitates some
modification of a parenting plan because relocations involve new time and distance
factors that will inevitably require dramatic changes to that plan. Laidlaw, 2 Wn. App. 2d
at 387. However, those changes must be “pursuant to relocation.” RCW 26.09.260(6).
A trial court abuses its discretion when it orders restrictions under RCW 26.09.191
based on the adverse effects of its own temporary orders. Watson, 132 Wn. App. at
235.
In her response brief, Amanda maintained that the final parenting plan entered
after the order to relocate does not include RCW 26.09.191 limitations based on
domestic violence. At oral argument, she argued that a relocation is adequate cause to
modify a parenting plan citing Laidlaw, Marriage of Raskob, 183 Wn. App. 503, 334
P.3d 30 (2014), and Marriage of McDevitt, 181 Wn. App. 765, 326 P.3d 865 (2014).
Wash. Court of Appeals oral argument, Marriage of Cowan, No. 83082-1-I (June 6,
2023), at 12 min., 20 sec., video recording by TVW, Washington State’s Public Affairs
network, https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2023061164.
However, in these cases, the court only altered residential aspects related to the
relocation order. In Laidlaw, the court modified the parenting plan pursuant to the
relocation action by reducing the father’s residential time during the school year based
on a DVPO. 2 Wn. App. at 389. In McDevitt, the court entered a modified parenting
plan pursuant to relocation resulting in more equal visitation and sharing of parental
responsibility. 181 Wn. App. at 773. In Raskob, the court entered a modified parenting
plan entering a provision requiring the mother to provide the father with notice if she
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decided to relocate outside of the child’s school boundaries—which constitutes as a
residential aspect. 183 Wn. App. at 516. These cases are inapposite.
Here, the trial court announced that it was exercising its discretion under RCW
26.09.191(2)(n) to not limit residential time under RCW 26.09.191(2)(a) because of
physical abuse of a child. The court explained,
I find that the – there has been evidence presented, significant evidence
that continued contact between the father and the children will not cause
physical harm to the children, and that the probability of the parent’s
harmful or abusive conduct will recur is so remote that it would not be in
the children’s best interests to apply the limitations of subsection [RCW
26.09.191](a). So while I do find that that happened, and that there was
an assault, I find that there are no limitations that are necessary, other
than those that I’m going to put in this order . . . .
The court then proceeded to impose the following conditions:
• The father must comply with all terms of the DVPO.
• The father shall complete domestic violence assessment at a state
certified agency within 30 days of today’s date, unless such an
assessment was previously completed for the DVPO, and also timely
follow all recommendations of the assessor.
• The father shall complete DV Dads and commence DV Dads within 30
days after completing the recommendations of the assessor, or sooner
if his DV batterer’s counselor indicates he can start DV Dads earlier.
• The father shall not use corporal punishment on his children at any
time.
• The father shall not drink alcohol or use any mind-altering substances
within 12 hours of any of his residential time and shall not drink any
alcohol or use any mind-altering substances during his residential time.
• The father must abide by the restrictions on communications with the
mother in Section 14 of this Parenting Plan (Talking Parents,
appropriate child focused communication, etc.)
If the father does not follow the treatment requirements above or violates
any of the conditions imposed on him within this Order, then the father’s
residential time with his children is suspended pending further order of the
court.
The court did not merely modify “residential aspects” as contemplated by RCW
26.09.260(6). Instead, the court imposed limitations on Joshua’s residential time that
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was tied to completion of conditions imposed based on the existence of a DVPO that
Joshua could not contest at trial. A court abuses its discretion when it does not follow
the statutory procedures or modifies a parenting plan for reasons other than the
statutory criteria. Watson, 132 Wn. App. at 230.
In light of the above, we reverse the parenting plan order entered following trial.
However, because we affirm the relocation order as discussed below, the residential
schedule shall remain until the trial court can enter a parenting plan consistent with this
opinion on remand.
Order Granting Relocation
Joshua contends that the trial court improperly analyzed two of the relocation
factors. We disagree.
The RCW 26.09.520 factors to be considered in determining whether the harm of
a proposed relocation outweighs its benefits are not weighted or listed in any particular
order. Abbess, 23 Wn. App. 2d at 486. Joshua only challenges the court’s analyses of
factors 4 and 7.
Under factor 4, Joshua contends that the trial court lacked statutory authority to
contemplate new RCW 26.09.191 restrictions during its analysis of whether to allow the
relocation of a child.
We will only reverse a trial court’s order permitting relocation of children upon a
finding of manifest abuse of discretion. Marriage of Horner, 151 Wn.2d 884, 893, 93
P.3d 124 (2004). A trial court abuses its discretion if its decision is based on untenable
grounds or reasons. Id. (citing State v. Brown, 132 Wn.2d 529, 572, 940 P.2d 546(1997)).
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RCW 26.09.191 restrictions limit a parent’s residential time with a child, including
physical abuse of the child and abuse of conflict that psychologically harms the child.
RCW 26.09.191(2)(a), (3)(e).
The fourth relocation factor provides that the court must consider “[w]hether
either parent or a person entitled to residential time with the child is subject to limitations
under RCW 26.09.191.” RCW 26.09.520(4). Joshua argues that “is subject to” means
that the court must consider only RCW 26.09.191 limitations currently in place per the
existing parenting plan, not future RCW 26.09.191 restrictions in a modified parenting
plan. We disagree.
As previously discussed, this court in Pennamen, held that where “RCW
26.09.520(4) requires the court to consider whether either parent is subject to RCW
26.09.191 limitations, which include a long-term impairment resulting from drug abuse
that interferes with the performance of parenting functions,” the trial court “properly
viewed the mother’s history of methamphetamine use as relevant to the question
whether the detrimental effects of the relocation outweighed the benefits” when
considering factor 4. 135 Wn. App. at 804. Nothing in that case suggested that a court
had previously imposed RCW 26.09.191 limitations against the mother. This court
rejected the mother’s argument that the mere consideration of the existence of RCW
26.09.191 limitations under RCW 26.09.520(4) equated to a modification of the
parenting plan. Id. at 807.
While it was not improper for the trial court to consider the spanking incident, as
discussed above, it was improper for the trial court to bar Joshua from admitting
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evidence as to that issue. However, as Joshua conceded during oral argument, 9 the
trial court did not base its relocation decision on the spanking incident. The court
explained that “there has been evidence presented, significant evidence that continued
contact between the father and the children will not cause physical harm to the children,
and that the probability of the parent’s harmful or abusive conduct will recur is so remote
that it would not be in the children’s best interests to apply the limitations of subsection
[RCW 26.09.191](a).” When the trial court considered factor 4, it explained:
I next must consider whether either parent is subject to limitations
under [RCW] 26.09.191. And here if I allow relocation, there will be a finding
of abusive use of conflict against the father, and I am considering that. But
frankly, I don’t find that that is a determinative factor.
Under Pennamen, the trial court was able to consider the abusive use of conflict
limitation when considering factor 4 of the relocation factors. Notably, Joshua does not
challenge insufficient evidence supported the court’s determination of the abusive use
of conflict. The court did not abuse its discretion by considering the RCW 26.09.191
limitation in its analysis while making its relocation determination.
Joshua also contends that the trial court incorrectly analyzed factor 7, comparing
the current and proposed geographic locations. The court analyzed the differences
between the intended residence in Mapleton, Utah, and the children’s then-current
temporary residence in Amanda’s parents’ home in Union, Washington. Amanda had
sold her previous home in Maple Valley and did not live there at the time of trial.
Joshua argues, without any supporting authority, that because Amanda moved the
children to Union without authority of the court, the court should have compared the
9
Wash. Court of Appeals oral argument, Marriage of Cowan, No. 83082-1-I (June 6,
2023), at 4 min., 23 sec., video recording by TVW, Washington State’s Public Affairs network,
https://tvw.org/video/division-1-court-of-appeals-2023061164.
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children’s prior residence in King County instead of Union. Factor 7 expressly requires
the court to consider the “current and proposed geographic locations.” RCW
26.09.520(7) (emphasis added). The court did not abuse its discretion in analyzing
factor 7.
Presumption
Lastly, Joshua contends that the trial court erred in its application of the
presumption in favor of relocation because the DVPO residential schedule should not
have been considered as it is not an “order” contemplated by RCW 26.09.410(1). We
agree.
The Child Relocation Act (CRA) “governs the process for relocating the primary
residence of a child who is the subject of a court order for residential time.” Abbess, 23
Wn. App. 2d at 485-86 (citing Marriage of McNaught, 189 Wn. App. 545, 553, 359 P.3d
811 (2015)). The CRA creates a rebuttable presumption that the intended relocation for
the child will be permitted when the relocating parent enjoys the majority of the
children’s time. Id. at 487 (citing RCW 26.09.520; McNaught, 189 Wn. App. at 553).
The challenging parent, here Joshua, may rebut the presumption by demonstrating by a
preponderance of the evidence that the detrimental effect of the relocation outweighs
the benefit of the child and the relocating person. Id. (citing RCW 26.09.520;
McNaught, 189 Wn. App. at 553-54). If both parents have “substantially equal
residential time,” the presumption favoring relocation does not apply. Abbess, 23 Wn.
App. 2d at 487. “Substantially equal residential time” includes any arrangement in
which the child spends 45 percent or more of the time with each parent. Id. (citing RCW
26.09.525(2)). Generally, the court determines whether the parties have substantially
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equal residential time based on “the amount of time designated in the court order.” Id.
(citing RCW 26.09.525(2)(b)).
The trial court considered the DVPO as the determinative “court order” that
governed the children’s residential time and supported the application of the rebuttable
presumption in favor of relocation. However, as observed by the trial court, even if the
parenting plan was the proper “court order,” the rebuttable presumption would still favor
relocation because Amanda had custody of the children 57 percent of the time, and thus
Joshua only had 43 percent custody—lower than the 45 percent threshold. We
nevertheless take this opportunity to hold that the “order” as contemplated in RCW
26.09.525(2)(b) cannot be an order that is not otherwise defined in RCW 26.09.410(1).
When interpreting a statute, we first look to its plain language. HomeStreet, Inc.
v. Dep’t of Revenue, 166 Wn.2d 444, 451, 210 P.3d 297 (2009) (citing State v.
Armendariz, 160 Wn.2d 106, 110, 156 P.3d 201 (2007)). “‘Where statutory language is
plain and unambiguous, a statute’s meaning must be derived from the wording of the
statute itself.’” Id. (quoting Human Rights Comm’n v. Cheney Sch. Dist. No. 30, 97
Wn.2d 118, 121, 641 P.2d 163 (1982)).
A “‘Court order’ means a temporary or permanent parenting plan, custody order,
visitation order, or other order governing the residence of a child under this title.” RCW
26.09.410(1) (emphasis added). A DVPO restricts a person’s ability to have contact
with someone else. And while a court may take into consideration the existence of a
parenting plan in how the court chooses to restrict parents’ ability to contact their
children, that does not turn a DVPO into a court order that governs the residence of a
child. This holding does not prohibit any party from properly petitioning to modify a
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parenting plan based on the same underlying facts that support a DVPO. Nor does this
holding prevent a trial court from considering RCW 26.09.191 limitations under its factor
4 analysis under RCW 26.09.520 in a relocation trial.
Though the trial court erred in determining applicability of the rebuttable
presumption in favor of relocation based on the DVPO, the error was harmless because
the rebuttable presumption would still have applied based on the permanent parenting
plan where the children spent about 57 percent of the residential time with Amanda.
CONCLUSION
Although the trial court abused its discretion in precluding Joshua from
introducing evidence challenging the spanking incident, the error was harmless as to
the decision to grant Amanda’s request to relocate the children because the spanking
incident did not play a factor in that decision. Thus, we affirm the relocation order, but
where neither party petitioned to modify the parenting plan, we reverse the parenting
plan because the trial court abused its discretion in modifying the parenting plan beyond
the limited modification allowed for pursuant to a relocation. Because we affirm the
relocation, the residential schedule will remain until the trial court on remand can
consider and enter a new parenting plan consistent with this opinion.
WE CONCUR:
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