Marriage of Plunkett CA4/1

Filed 8/26/15 Marriage of Plunkett CA4/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
In re the Marriage of CHRISTA and
CHAD PLUNKETT.
D066371
CHRISTA PLUNKETT,
Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. ED74842)
v.
CHAD PLUNKETT,
Appellant.
APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Robert O.
Amador, Judge. Affirmed.
Patrick L. McCrary for Appellant.
John J. McCabe, Jr., for Respondent.
Chad Plunkett appeals an order denying his request for attorney fees and child
support and finding that he never provided an accounting of $181,951 in predistribution
community assets. On appeal, Chad1 contends that the trial court erred in:
(1) concluding it was bound by the law of the case on the issue of attorney fees;
(2) finding there was no change in circumstance warranting an award of child support;
and (3) awarding Christa Plunkett $9,750 in attorney fees as a sanction and denying his
attorney fees based on a lack of accounting. We affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Chad and Christa filed a petition for dissolution of marriage on July 21, 2008. On
November 29, 2011, the court issued a statement of decision, which set forth the
following findings: Chad and Christa were married in October 1992 and separated in
July 2008. They had two minor children of the marriage, Cassidy Plunkett and Chad
Plunkett, Jr. (Chad Jr.) Chad and Christa owned three real properties that were acquired
during the marriage. In February 2008, Christa inherited her mother's home.
During the marriage, Christa worked as a hairdresser and Chad maintained,
improved, managed and rented the couples' real properties. They maintained a middle
class standard of living by relying on Christa's income, credit cards, home equity lines of
credit, rental income, and home sale proceeds.
The court found that Chad and Christa had several equity lines of credit secured by
their real property. In the months prior to their separation, between March 2008 and July
2008, Chad withdrew $231,399 in funds against these lines of credit. A substantial
1 As is the custom in family law proceedings, and in the interest of clarity, we refer
to the parties by their first names. (In re Marriage of Dietz (2009) 176 Cal. App. 4th 387,
390, fn. 1.) We intend no disrespect.
2
portion of these funds were deposited into an account in the name of Chad's father.
Christa was unaware that these equity lines of credit had been drawn upon until sometime
after their separation.
The court stated that it was unclear why Chad had made these withdrawals in such
a short period of time, but found that the timing corresponded to a period of conflict in
the marriage, when divorce was being contemplated, and banks were cutting equity lines
of credit due to declining property values. The court found that a significant amount of
the funds were unaccounted for and believed that Chad had used the money to support
himself postseparation. The court stated it was "suspicious of the motivations
surrounding such large draws upon virtually every line of credit the couple had in place
without consultation with Christa in such a short period of time [, and found] the fact that
the funds were deposited into an account to which Christa did not have access[ ]
disturbing."
With respect to income and financial need, the court found that Christa works as a
hairstylist and earns approximately $2,600 per month. Although during the marriage
Chad managed and rented the couples' real properties and worked briefly as a certified
public accountant, the court found that he had "the ability to undertake general labor and
service industry jobs, recognizing he may have some physical limitations."
3
Based on these findings, the court ordered2 the sum of $181,951 to be
characterized as a predistribution of community property assets to Chad. The court
ordered that the parties share joint legal custody of their minor children, with physical
custody of Chad Jr. to Chad and physical custody of Cassidy to Christa, with no
timesharing. The court reserved jurisdiction over child and spousal support. The court
awarded Christa $50,000 in attorney fees and costs, but did not indicate whether it was
based upon the parties' needs and ability to pay or as a sanction based upon Chad's
conduct. Neither party filed any objections to the statement of decision. Thereafter,
when the court entered judgment, it set child support at $0. Chad appealed.
On February 8, 2013, while the appeal was pending, Christa filed a postjudgment
request in the trial court for, among other things, a sanction in the amount of $15,000
against Chad under Family Code section 271.3 Chad also filed a request to modify the
trial court's order with respect to attorney fees, child support, and spousal support and for
a stay pending appeal on May 1, 2013. On March 23, 2013, the court held a hearing in
which the court stayed the proceeding pending the appeal and ordered Chad to make five
job contacts per week.
On August 3, 2013, this court affirmed the trial court's judgment in In re Marriage
of Plunkett (Aug. 8, 2013, D062540 [nonpub. opn.]). On September 19, 2013, the trial
2 The court's orders are set forth in both the statement of decision issued on
November 29, 2011 and the judgment of dissolution issued on June 20, 2012.
3 All references are to the Family Code unless otherwise indicated.
4
court held a hearing and again continued the matter because the Court of Appeal had not
yet issued a remittitur, but the court ordered the parties to produce current income and
expense declarations and for Chad to produce his taxes for the previous year.4
A remittitur was filed on October 8, 2013. On November 21, 2013, in light of the
appellate decision and the direction of the remittitur, Christa requested her costs on
appeal.
On January 30, 2014, the court heard counsels' argument regarding attorney fees
and child support and continued the matter.5 Although Chad's counsel repeatedly argued
that the court could not decide the issues before it without addressing the accounting of
the $231,000 of funds that Chad withdrew from the equity lines of credit6, the court
responded, "I am not going to rehash that," but also stated it would give counsel the
opportunity to finish his argument the next time they were in court.
On February 14, 2014, the trial court held another hearing without a court reporter.
The court issued a statement of decision on March 18, 2014, finding that the court had
not received an accounting of the $181,951 in predistribution community property assets;
4 At the September hearing, Chad's counsel stated that there were four matters
before the court that needed resolution: child support, spousal support, attorney fees on
appeal, attorney fees for the current action, and the accounting.
5 With respect to the court's request that Chad seek employment, it appears that
Chad submitted a series of online requests.
6 Chad's counsel argued that a special master was needed to properly address the
accounting issue and the issues dependent on that accounting. Chad's counsel also
admitted that the appellate court had found that Chad had the missing funds and he could
therefore pay attorney fees.
5
there was insufficient evidence "to establish any change in circumstances from the
statement of decision findings of Judge Gentry on November 29, 2011" that would
warrant modification of the child support order; denying attorney fees for the purpose of
child support because the relative income available to Chad and Christa is "roughly
equal"; and awarding Christa $9,750 in attorney fees as a sanction against Chad under
section 271.
In a supplemental judgment entered on May 23, 2014, the trial court also denied
Chad's and Christa's cross-requests for attorney fees incurred in the appeal based on the
legal doctrine of the law of the case. Chad appeals.
DISCUSSION
Chad contends that the trial court erred as a matter of law in determining that the
issue of attorney fees had been resolved on appeal and it was bound by the law of the
case. Specifically, Chad contends the Court of Appeal only addressed and upheld the
original award of $50,000 in attorney fees to Christa, but not his most current request for
attorney fees incurred by his new attorney on appeal and for subsequent motions.
Therefore, the doctrine of the law of the case is inapplicable.
Chad also contends that he provided an extensive accounting of $181,951 in
predistribution community assets, therefore the court's grant of attorney fees to Christa
and denial of his fees based on a lack of accounting was error.
Chad further contends there was a change in circumstance justifying an award of
child support because at the time of the original judgment on November 29, 2011, Chad
6
and Christa each lived with a minor child and at the time he renewed his request for child
support on May 1, 2013, the child living with Christa was going to turn 18 and be out of
high school in July 2013.
We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Chad's
requests for attorney fees or child support because Chad's financial need and ability to
pay attorney fees and child support were resolved in the initial trial court and the former
appeal. We further conclude that the trial court's finding that Chad did not provide an
accounting of the $181,951 in predistribution community assets is supported by
substantial evidence.
A. Res Judicata and Law of the Case
Only community property which is left unadjudicated by a decree of divorce or
dissolution is subject to future litigation. (In re Marriage of Snyder (1979)
95 Cal. App. 3d 636, 638.) "According to that aspect of the doctrine of res judicata known
as collateral estoppel, a party is collaterally estopped from relitigating an issue
necessarily determined in a prior adjudication if (1) the issue decided in the previous
litigation is identical with that presented in the action in question; (2) there was a final
judgment on the merits in the first action; and (3) the party against whom the plea is
asserted was a party . . . to the prior action. The rule is based upon the sound public
policy of limiting litigation by preventing a party who has had one fair trial on an issue
from again drawing it into controversy." (In re Marriage of Buckley (1982)
133 Cal. App. 3d 927, 935.)
7
In addition, pursuant to the doctrine of the law of the case, " 'the decision of an
appellate court, stating a rule of law necessary to the decision of the case, conclusively
establishes that rule and makes it determinative of the rights of the same parties in any
subsequent retrial or appeal in the same case." (In re Marriage of Balcof (2006)
141 Cal. App. 4th 1509, 1518.) "The doctrine applies only if the issue was actually
presented to and determined by the appellate court. [Citation.]" (People v. Yokely (2010)
183 Cal. App. 4th 1264, 1273 (Yokely).) Any principle or rule of law necessary to the
appellate decision becomes the law of the case and "must be adhered to throughout its
subsequent progress, both in the lower court and upon subsequent appeal." (Tally v.
Ganahl (1907) 151 Cal. 418, 421.) "[T]he law-of-the-case doctrine governs only the
principles of law laid down by an appellate court, as applicable to a retrial of fact . . . ."
(People v. Boyer (2006) 38 Cal. 4th 412, 442.) "[S]ufficiency of the evidence is a
question of law to which the doctrine of law of the case applies." (In re Marriage of
Steinberg (1977) 66 Cal. App. 3d 815, 821 (Steinberg).)
However, "during subsequent proceedings in the same case, an appellate court's
binding legal determination 'controls the outcome only if the evidence on retrial or
rehearing of an issue is substantially the same as that upon which the appellate ruling was
based. [Citations.]' [Citation.]" (People v. Barragan (2004) 32 Cal. 4th 236, 246-247.)
"Where, on remand, 'there is a substantial difference in the evidence to which the
[announced] principle of law is applied, . . . the [doctrine] may not be invoked.'
[Citation.]" (Ibid.) "The doctrine is one of procedure that prevents parties from seeking
8
reconsideration of an issue already decided absent some significant change in
circumstances." (Yokely, supra, 183 Cal.App.4th at p. 1273.)
Due to these doctrines, Chad is barred from resurrecting the issues of the
availability of $181,951 in assets and his ability to pay attorney fees and child support
therefrom, because these issues were adjudicated and decided on the merits in the initial
trial court and the subsequent appeal with the same result. The initial trial court
adjudicated Chad's ability to pay attorney fees and child support and the merits of
characterizing $181,951 as a predistribution of community assets to Chad. Based on its
findings, the court attributed the missing $181,951 to Chad, awarded Christa $50,000 in
attorney fees and costs, and set child support at $0.
In the subsequent appeal, this court affirmed the trial court's findings in all
respects. In that appeal, Chad asserted in relevant part that the trial court (1) failed to
make appropriate findings in its award to Christa of attorney fees based upon her need
and his ability to pay; (2) erred in not granting attorney fees to him based upon his need
and ability to pay; (3) erred in charging him with a preliminary distribution of community
funds; (4) erred in not giving him credit for living expenses he paid from those funds; and
(5) erroneously failed to make findings and orders concerning child and spousal support.
This court specifically concluded that the trial "court did not err in charging Chad
with preseparation assets" because:
"It is undisputed that Chad withdrew over $231,000 from the parties'
equity lines of credit within three months prior to the separation in
July 2008. During trial, Chad identified the specific withdrawals
from the lines of credit during those three months. In his
9
preliminary declaration of disclosure, Chad acknowledged there was
$186,000 remaining from his withdrawal from one line of credit.
The evidence of Chad's secret withdrawals was detailed in the
statement of decision in support of [the lower court's] finding that
Chad would be charged with a preliminary distribution of
community funds removed from the various accounts in the sum of
$181,951."
This court also concluded that the trial court did not err in finding that the
$181,951 in withdrawn funds evidenced Chad's ability to pay attorney fees and supported
the award of $50,000 in attorney fees to Christa and the denial of Chad's attorney fees.
Upon review of the trial court record, this court found that:
"[T]he record reflects that the court had an adequate basis to either
award fees to Christa based upon need, or as a sanction against
Chad. As to need-based fees, the court found that Christa made
$2,600 a month as a hairstylist and that Chad had the ability to earn
money consistent with "general labor and service industry jobs."
The [lower] court further attributed $181,951 in withdrawn funds to
Chad as a preliminary distribution of community assets, further
evidencing an ability to pay. [¶] Moreover, there was ample
evidence from which the court could base an award of attorney fees
under section 271, which does not necessitate a showing of need by
the requesting party. The trial in this matter centered in large part on
Chad's withdrawal of over $231,000 from the couple's equity lines of
credit without notice to, or permission from, Christa. In its
statement of decision, the court found these actions "suspicious" and
"disturbing." These findings amply support the court's imposition of
attorney fees under section 271 and a denial of fees to Chad."
As to child and spousal support, this court further found there was substantial
evidence to support the trial court's decision to set child support at $0 because:
"At trial, the court had before it both Chad's and Christa's income
and expense declarations. Both declarations set forth, in detail, the
nature and extent of each party's income and respective financial
need. In the statement of decision, the court detailed the work
history of the parties, including Chad's college history and prior
10
work as an accountant. The court also noted in its statement of
decision that Chad had the skills and ability to secure employment.
Thus, there [was] substantial evidence in the record to support the
court's decision concerning child and spousal support."
As a matter of law, these conclusions regarding Chad's financial resources, needs
and ability to pay attorney fees and child support must be adhered to in any subsequent
proceeding on these same issues. Therefore, to the extent the trial court order being
appealed here is consistent with these previous decisions in attributing $181,951 in
withdrawn funds to Chad and thus relies on these funds as evidence of his ability to pay
child support and attorney fees, it is not error.
B. Accounting
Absent a showing of facts that would manifest an injustice resulting from the
application of the doctrines of res judicata or the law of the case, these prior court rulings
constitute the conclusive and binding determination of Chad's financial resources, needs,
and abilities.7 We find that Chad has made no such showing.
7 Chad does not contend that the prior judgment was procured by fraud or perjury.
"Section 2120 et seq. authorizes a dissolution judgment to be vacated, irrespective of res
judicata concerns, where the judgment was procured by fraud or perjury. In such cases,
the interest in assuring finality of judgments is outweighed by other considerations."
(Rubenstein v. Rubenstein (2000) 81 Cal. App. 4th 1131, 1152.)
Moreover, the doctrine of the law of the case can be disregarded to avoid an unjust
decision, but for the " 'unjust decision' exception to apply, 'there must at least be
demonstrated a manifest misapplication of existing principles resulting in substantial
injustice.' " (Yu v. Signet Bank/Virginia (2002) 103 Cal. App. 4th 298, 309.) Since we
conclude that Chad failed to provide an accounting of the missing funds, we find no
injustice in applying the law of the case here.
11
Chad contends in this appeal that he provided an extensive accounting of $181,951
in predistribution community assets, therefore the court's grant of attorney fees to Christa
and denial of his fees based on a lack of accounting was error. The trial court, however,
found it had not been provided with an accounting of the $181,951 predistribution of
community property assets even though Chad claimed "that he has used it for living
expenses" and produced "Income and Expense documents filed in April 2013 and
October 2013." Based on the information provided, the court concluded that there was
insufficient evidence establishing "any change in circumstances from the statement of
decision findings of Judge Gentry on November 29, 2011."
Due to the lack of accounting, the court also found that the award of attorney fees
to Christa as a sanction would not impose an unreasonable burden on Chad. Specifically,
it stated that absent the attribution of the $181,951 missing assets to Chad, it "would find
it difficult to not find that the sanction would impose an unreasonable financial burden"
on Chad.
We presume the trial court's judgment is correct, indulge every intendment and
presumption in favor of its correctness, and start with the presumption that the record
contains evidence sufficient to support the judgment. (In re Marriage of Arceneaux
(1990) 51 Cal. 3d 1130, 1133; Foreman & Clark Corp. v. Fallon (1971) 3 Cal. 3d 875,
881.) "Where findings of fact are challenged on a civil appeal, we are bound by the
'elementary, but often overlooked principle of law, that . . . the power of an appellate
court begins and ends with a determination as to whether there is any substantial
12
evidence, contradicted or uncontradicted,' to support the findings below. [Citation.] We
must therefore view the evidence in the light most favorable to the prevailing party,
giving it the benefit of every reasonable inference and resolving all conflicts in its favor
in accordance with the standard of review so long adhered to by this court."
(Jessup Farms v. Baldwin (1983) 33 Cal. 3d 639, 660.)
First, we note that Chad, in his briefing to this court, states that the trial court did
not have an accounting in February 2014, because "that accounting had been a part of the
original judgment and the issue was not before the court as the amount that Chad was to
be charged with had been determined." Yet, based on the accounting Chad provided to
the initial trial court, that court found that it "[could not] account for a significant amount
of the funds drawn from the equity lines of credit and [believed that] Chad [had used the
money] to support himself post-separation."
Second, our review of the record demonstrates that the trial court's finding of a
lack of accounting is supported by substantial evidence. On September 23, 2013, Chad
filed a declaration detailing his financial circumstance. He stated that his parents were
supporting him and that he was living in a home they purchased. He stated that he filed
for bankruptcy because he had no money and no assets. He also stated that his parents
paid for his postjudgment legal fees and fees to file for bankruptcy.
According to the income and expense declaration dated April 30, 2013, Chad has
been unemployed since 1987, has assets amounting to $5,000, and monthly living
expenses of $2,460. He owed his parents $9,000 in rent and $30,000 for appeal and
13
living expenses. He paid $6,900 in attorney fees and owed his attorney $7,000. The
income and expense declaration, dated October 16, 2013, set forth all of the same
information except that he then owed his parents $13,000 in rent and his attorney
$11,000.
Upon review of the record, we agree with the trial court that the evidence does not
provide an accounting of the missing funds. Since the documents reflect that his parents
pay for his rent and living expenses and some of his legal fees, at most, these income and
expense declarations account for only $6,900 he paid in attorney fees. There is no
apparent source of income, nor evidence of how $181,951 was spent. In fact, all of his
liabilities remain delinquent. His rent increases and remains unpaid. His expenses for
litigation and living expenses remain stagnant at $30,000 but unpaid. His attorney fees
also remain unpaid.
We thus conclude Chad failed to account for the missing funds. What is more,
given Chad's failure to demonstrate a change in financial position from when the prior
courts reviewed this accounting issue, the trial court was not at liberty to ignore the
missing assets in evaluating Chad's most recent requests for attorney fees and child
support. We further conclude that because of the lack of accounting, the trial court did
not abuse its discretion in awarding attorney fees to Christa due to Chad's abusive
litigation practices.8
8 An award of sanctions pursuant to section 271 is reviewed under the abuse of
discretion standard. (In re Marriage of Sorge (2012) 202 Cal. App. 4th 626, 652.) The
14
C. Attorney Fees and Child Support
In the absence of new evidence indicating a change in Chad's financial position,
the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Chad's requests for attorney fees or
child support because the principal issues before the court were previously adjudicated
and decided on the merits in prior proceedings upon substantially the same evidence.9
The trial court here was tasked with reassessing Chad's financial resources, needs
and abilities to determine whether he should be awarded (a) attorney fees for the appeal,
record reflects that sanctions were warranted here because of Chad's attempts to prolong
this "long and tortured" case. In this regard, the court stated:
"The parties have failed to cooperate and have fought six protracted
years of litigation. When [Chad] received an adverse decision he
filed bankruptcy proceedings to attempt to discharge his debts and
make [Christa] 'win' a hollow victory. He filed an appeal and lost on
[sic] very issue. He failed to agree to a single item in the proposed
accounting and filed a motion for a special master to be appointed.
The main purpose was to fight the initial battle again as well as to
argue that the issues were too complicated to be handled by this
Court. When the issues were in fact gone over by this Court in the
trial, the matters were dealt with rather expeditiously. This litigation
is the type of litigation which Family Code 271 was enacted to
prevent and sanctions are necessary to prevent future abusive
litigation. The Court 'may base an award of attorney's fees and costs
on the extent to which the conduct of each party or attorney furthers
or frustrates the policy of law to promote settlement of litigation and,
where possible, to reduce the cost of litigation by
encouraging . . . cooperation between parties and attorneys.' "
9 Steinberg, supra, 66 Cal.App.3d at p. 821 ("since sufficiency of the evidence is a
question of law to which the doctrine of law of the case applies, the reviewing court
would first be required to decide whether the evidence presented at the third trial was
'materially' or 'essentially' or 'substantially' different from that presented at the second
trial to decide whether the first appellate decision controlled.")
15
(b) attorney fees incurred in pursuing a modification of the previous child support order
and subsequent motions, and (c) child support.
1. Attorney Fees on Appeal
Attorney fees on appeal from a marriage dissolution proceeding may be awarded if
four conditions are met: "(1) the requesting spouse must show a need for the award;
(2) the paying spouse must have the ability to pay the fees; (3) the appeal must be taken
in good faith; and (4) there must be reasonable grounds for the appeal, although this does
not imply that the requesting spouse must prevail on appeal." (In re Marriage of Davis
(1983) 141 Cal. App. 3d 71, 78.) "The granting or denial of counsel fees on appeal in
divorce litigation is within the sound discretion of the trial court and an order made either
way will not be reversed in the absence of an abuse of discretion." (Hunter v. Hunter
(1962) 202 Cal. App. 2d 84, 92.)
2. Attorney Fees Incurred for Child Support
A court may award attorney fees incurred in any proceeding subsequent to the
entry of a dissolution judgment if it finds there is a "disparity in access to funds to retain
counsel" after considering the respective incomes and needs of the parties. (§ 2030.) The
statute requires that the award be "just and reasonable under the relative circumstances of
the respective parties" and for the court to consider the "need for the award to enable each
party, to the extent practical, to have sufficient financial resources to present the party's
case adequately." (§§ 2030, 2032.) We review a trial court's order on a request for
16
attorney fees under section 2030 for abuse of discretion. (In re Marriage of Cheriton
(2001) 92 Cal. App. 4th 269, 283.)
Here, the record shows that the issue of Chad's need for and ability to pay attorney
fees was reheard in the most recent trial court proceeding upon substantially the same
evidence. The trial court ordered the parties to produce current income and expense
declarations and for Chad to produce his taxes for the previous year. The court was
"provided with multiple Income and Expense documents filed in April 2013 and October
2013 as well as declarations of the parties and information regarding [Chad's] medical
and educational status." Nevertheless, the court found that it had not "received an
accounting of the 'pre-distribution of the community property assets' $181,951" and did
not find that "sufficient evidence ha[d] been presented to establish any change in
circumstances from the statement of decision findings of Judge Gentry on November 29,
2011."
After reviewing all of the evidence regarding Chad's and Christa's incomes, assets,
and liabilities, the court also found that Christa was in a better financial position due to
the unexpected inheritance she received. However, the court determined that Chad was
"in an equal position to continue the fight and does so regardless of the consequences.
First by the support of his family and second by his unaccounted for pre-distribution of
community property assets $181,951."
17
Based on these findings, the court denied Chad's request for attorney fees on
appeal based on the law of the case and denied Chad $2,360 in attorney fees incurred in
the child support request because Chad's and Christa's incomes were "roughly equal."
We conclude that the trial court was bound by the appellate court's conclusion that
the missing $181,951 is evidence of Chad's need and ability to pay for attorney fees.
Hence, it correctly applied the law of the case in this respect. Nevertheless, the trial court
weighed Christa's and Chad's relative circumstances and determined that they were
roughly equal. Considering the court was bound to consider the $181,951 available to
Chad but also evaluated Christa's financial position and found no disparity in access to
funds to retain counsel, we do not find that the court abused its discretion in denying
Chad attorney fees for the appeal or his pursuit of child support.
3. Child Support
"A child support order may be modified when there has been a material change of
circumstances. [Citation.] The party seeking the modification bears the burden of
showing that circumstances have changed such that modification is warranted.
[Citation.] The ultimate determination of whether the individual facts of the case warrant
modification of support is within the discretion of the trial court. [Citation.] The
reviewing court will resolve any conflicts in the evidence in favor of the trial court's
determination." (In re Marriage of Cryer (2011) 198 Cal. App. 4th 1039, 1054 (Cryer).)
"The amount of child support normally payable is calculated based on a
complicated algebraic formula found at Family Code section 4055 . . . . The formula
18
support amount is "presumptively correct" in all cases (see §§ 4057, subd. (a), 4053,
subd. (k)), but "may be rebutted by admissible evidence showing that application of the
formula would be unjust or inappropriate in the particular case, consistent with the
principles set forth in Section 4053 . . . ." [Citation.] (Cryer, supra, 198 Cal.App.4th at
pp. 1047-1048.)
Section 4053 sets forth a number of principles, foremost among them being the
protection of the child's best interest: "The guideline seeks to place the interests of
children as the state's top priority." Among other principles, section 4053 also provides,
"(a) [a] parent's first and principal obligation is to support his or her minor children
according to the parent's circumstances and station in life"; "(d) [e]ach parent should pay
for the support of the children according to his or her ability"; and "(f) [c]hildren should
share in the standard of living of both parents. Child support may therefore appropriately
improve the standard of living of the custodial household to improve the lives of the
children."
"In light of these principles, departure from the standard child support formula
may be appropriate when application of the formula 'would be unjust or inappropriate due
to special circumstances in the particular case' (§ 4057, subd. (b)(5)), so long as the
variance is consistent with section 4053." (Cryer, supra, 198 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1047-
1048.) This special circumstances exception gives the trial court "considerable discretion
to approach unique cases on an ad hoc basis." (Id. at p. 1049; In re Marriage of Fini
(1994) 26 Cal. App. 4th 1033, 1043 [stating that "the court, in child support cases, is not
19
just supposed to punch numbers into a computer and award the parties the computer's
result without considering circumstances in a particular case which would make that
order unjust or inequitable."].)
A trial court's determination of whether modification of a child support order is
warranted is reviewed for an abuse of discretion. (In re Marriage of Bodo (2011)
198 Cal. App. 4th 373, 384.) When applying the abuse of discretion standard, the
reviewing court is limited to "determining whether the court's factual determinations are
supported by substantial evidence and whether the court acted reasonably in exercising its
discretion." (In re Marriage of De Guigne (2002) 97 Cal. App. 4th 1353, 1360.)
Thus, " '[w]e do not substitute our judgment for that of the trial court, but confine
ourselves to determining whether any judge could have reasonably made the challenged
order. [Citation.]' [Citation.]" (In re Marriage of Henry (2005)126 Cal.App.4th 111,
116.)
Given that a trial court has significant discretion to depart from the standard child
support formula upon a finding of special circumstances affecting the equities of the case,
we find that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Chad child support.
Although Chad did allege a change in circumstance, the fact that the child living with
Christa was about to turn 18 and be out of high school,10 the trial court had broad
10 Cryer, supra, 198 Cal. App. 4th 1039, 1048 ("The trial court (at least implicitly)
acknowledged there was a change in circumstances . . . Sarah's time share had decreased
from 65 percent to 4 percent.")
20
discretion to determine whether the modification of the child support order was
warranted. The record shows that the trial court exercised its discretion in denying
modification of the child support order by taking into account the special circumstance of
this case, the missing assets, which would make rigid application of the child support
formula unjust. (See, e.g., In re Marriage of Berger (2009) 170 Cal. App. 4th 1070, 1084
[explaining that "a court may deem assets a 'special circumstance' that may justify a
departure from the guideline figure for support payments."].) The court explained:
"The Court has two options before it. The first is to simply impute
minimum wage income of $1,387 to Mr. Plunkett and impute $1,000
per month income for the rent that he received. This Court does not
believe that the rent is actually a loan but is actually a gift and
imputation of $1,000 per month is appropriate.
"The Court finds income of Ms. Plunkett to be $2,606 per month and
interest and dividends of $1,800 per month based on her Income and
Expense declaration of September 9, 2013. The attached
Dissomaster printout calculation shows child support of $808 per
month if the court were to use that calculation.
"However, the information that continues to be missing is the
missing $181,951 and its availability for support and the Court
would consider that a maximum child support contribution due. If
the Court simply followed that logic the Court could order five
months of support for a maximum Judgment of $4,040 for the period
May 1, 2013 through October 18, 2013.
"However, the Statement of Decision filed November 29, 2011 lines
11/22 and affirmed on page 11 and 12 of the appeal stating there is
substantial evidence to support the Courts award of setting child and
spousal support at zero was based upon a four day trial.
"The Court has been provided with multiple Income and Expense
documents filed in April 2013 and October 2013 as well as
declarations of the parties and information regarding the
Respondents medical and educational status. The Court has never
21
received an accounting of the 'pre-distribution of the community
property assets' $181,951. Respondent . . . argues that he has used it
for living expenses.
"This Court does not find that sufficient evidence has been presented
to establish any change in circumstances from the statement of
decision findings of Judge Gentry on November 29, 2011."
The court clearly exercised its discretion in deviating from the standard child
support formula, and instead denied the request based on the missing funds. The court's
statements reveal that, in denying Chad child support, it appropriately took into account
the $181,951 in missing assets and the prior courts' findings regarding these funds. We
thus conclude that these missing funds are a special circumstance which justified
departing from the standard child support formula, and that the best interests of the child
living with Chad were not compromised by the court's decision since it directs the
missing assets to be allocated to that child's care. Therefore, the trial court did not abuse
its discretion in denying modification of the child support order.
22
DISPOSITION
The order is affirmed. Respondent is entitled to recover costs on appeal.
HUFFMAN, J.
WE CONCUR:
BENKE, Acting P. J.
O'ROURKE, J.
23