In re Marriage of Wnuk and Knauss

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA
No. 21-1876
Filed October 5, 2022
IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF DAVID MICHAEL WNUK
AND KRISTEN MARIE KNAUSS
Upon the Petition of
DAVID MICHAEL WNUK,
Petitioner-Appellee,
And Concerning
KRISTEN MARIE KNAUSS,
Respondent-Appellant.
________________________________________________________________
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, Jeanie Vaudt, Judge.
A mother appeals a child custody decision awarding primary physical care
of her child to his father. AFFIRMED.
Earl B. Kavanaugh of Harrison & Dietz-Kilen, P.L.C., Des Moines, for
appellant.
Jordan Hutchinson of Hutchinson Law Firm, P.L.C., West Des Moines, for
appellee.
Considered by Ahlers, P.J., and Badding and Chicchelly, JJ.
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CHICCHELLY, Judge.
Kristen Marie Knauss appeals, challenging the custody and physical care
provisions of the decree entered November 15, 2021, regarding her child, G.T.W.
The decree maintained joint legal custody while awarding primary physical care to
the child’s father, David Michael Wnuk. Kristen requests that she be awarded
primary physical care and sole legal custody. Having reviewed the record, we
affirm the district court’s decision.
I. Background Facts and Proceedings.
Kristen and Michael began dating in early 2017, married in August, and had
a son in January 2018. Michael filed for divorce in March 2020. Their contentious
relationship has produced many calls to the police and the Iowa Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS). Accusations have flown from both sides,
while the truth has remained elusive. A criminal no-contact order remains in place
protecting Kristen from Michael, which allows in-person exchanges and
communication regarding the minor child.
At the time of trial, Michael was employed full-time as a respiratory therapist.
He was living with his sister and planning to move out upon the sale of the marital
home. Kristen was living in the marital home and planning to move in with her
parents after the sale. Kristen was a registered nurse, but the status of her
professional license is in limbo. In the summer of 2017, she was flagged by her
employer for improper recordkeeping of prescription painkillers. Kristen agreed to
a settlement with the Iowa Board of Nursing (IBON) involving a fine and completion
of continuing educational credits. She began working for a different hospital one
month later. In April 2019, the new employer placed Kristen on unpaid leave.
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Rather than cooperate with their investigation, Kristen resigned at her attorney’s
recommendation. She did not work again until February 2020. She broke her leg
in May and has not worked since then. She learned of a new investigation by the
IBON in November and expressed doubt about her ability to return to a career in
nursing.
Kristen indicated she has been waiting to look for work until her children’s
schedules are settled. She had another custody dispute pending at the time of
trial for a daughter from a previous relationship. She also stated that taking care
of G.T.W., who has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a full-time
job. Kristen admitted to abusing alcohol from late 2019 until approximately the
summer of 2020.
The divorce decree conferred joint legal custody with primary physical care
awarded to Michael. The court ordered Kristen to make monthly child support and
medical support payments to Michael. The visitation schedule provides Kristen
with six overnights during each two-week period. Under Kristen’s timely appeal,
the allocation of physical care and legal custody are at issue.
II. Review.
Our review of custody proceedings is de novo. In re Marriage of Murphy,
592 N.W.2d 681, 683 (Iowa 1999). We give weight to the district court’s factual
findings and credibility determinations, though we are not bound by them. Id.; Iowa
R. App. P. 6.907. “Prior cases have little precedential value, except to provide a
framework for analysis, and we must base our decision on the particular facts and
circumstances before us.” In re Marriage of Will, 489 N.W.2d 394, 397 (Iowa
1992).
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III. Discussion.
The governing factor in child custody determinations is the best interests of
the child. Iowa R. App. P. 6.904(3)(o). Similarly, the objective in assigning physical
care is placement in an “environment most likely to bring the children to healthy
physical, mental and social maturity.” In re Marriage of Bartlett, 427 N.W.2d 876,
877 (Iowa Ct. App. 1988). Iowa Code section 598.41(3) (2020) sets forth a
nonexclusive list of factors for consideration in custody disputes, which include the
suitability of each parent as a custodian, the parents’ ability to communicate,
whether the psychological and emotional needs and development of the child will
suffer from lack of contact and attention from both parents, the previous pattern of
caregiving, each parent’s support of the other, geographic proximity, and safety.
These factors are likewise relevant to determine the allocation of physical care.
See In re Marriage of Hansen, 733 N.W.2d 683, 696 (Iowa 2007). Additional facts
and circumstances are also appropriate to consider, including:
(1) The characteristics of each child, including age, maturity,
mental and physical health.
(2) The emotional, social, moral, material, and educational needs
of the child.
(3) The characteristics of each parent, including age, character,
stability, mental and physical health.
(4) The capacity and interest of each parent to provide for the
emotional, social, moral, material, and educational needs of
the child.
(5) The interpersonal relationship between the child and each
parent.
(6) The interpersonal relationship between the child and its
siblings.
(7) The effect on the child of continuing or disrupting an existing
custodial status.
(8) The nature of each proposed environment, including its
stability and wholesomeness.
(9) The preference of the child, if the child is of sufficient age and
maturity.
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(10) The report and recommendation of the attorney for the child
or other independent investigator.
(11) Available alternatives.
(12) Any other relevant matter the evidence in a particular case
may disclose.
In re Marriage of Winter, 223 N.W.2d 165, 166–67 (Iowa 1974). Fairness to the
parents is not an appropriate basis for resolution. See Hansen, 733 N.W.2d at
695.
Here, neither parent established a particularly favorable case for their
suitability as the primary caretaker. The district court found “any expressions of
remorse by either party for past bad behavior toward each other not credible.” The
court also found none of the parties’ character witnesses credible and gave their
respective statements no consideration. However, the court noted “Michael took
slightly more accountability than Kristen for his part in the parties’ past actions that
were contrary to G.T.W.’s best interest” and “he appears to be the more stable
parent currently.” Overall, the decree presents an implied credibility finding in favor
of Michael, which we do not find occasion to disturb.
Although Kristen has been a primary caregiver leading up to the trial, the
general preference for continuity does not dictate that she remain the custodial
parent. See In re Marriage of Decker, 666 N.W.2d 175, 178 (Iowa Ct. App. 2003).
Moreover, she and Michael shared parenting responsibilities during their marriage.
In fact, Michael became the primary caretaker in the months leading up to his
departure from the marital home and took G.T.W. to medical appointments. Under
Kristen’s subsequent care, G.T.W. missed check-ups and was not seen by his
pediatrician for more than one year. “[P]ast caretaking patterns likely are a fairly
reliable proxy of the intangible qualities such as parental abilities and emotional
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bonds that are so difficult for courts to ascertain.” Hansen, 733 N.W.2d at 696(citation omitted).
Kristen testified that she would tell Michael things that were not true in order
to gain his attention. A report from her emergency hospital visit in August 2020
stated that she admitted to taking thirty Xanax that day. Kristen testified that she
made this statement but that it was not true. She stated that her alcohol
consumption caused a bad reaction with her prescription medication. She was
evasive regarding the investigation into her professional performance. Kristen
focused on her disdain for Michael evidently making the anonymous report to the
IBON rather than acknowledging any role her actions might have played in its
investigation. On the other hand, Michael has not exhibited problems with alcohol
or other substances. He demonstrated structure and stability, and he worked
overtime to financially support his son. Given Kristen’s history of substance abuse
and lack of accountability, we find the district court acted equitably in awarding
primary care to Michael. See In re Marriage of Harris, 499 N.W.2d 329, 331–32
(Iowa Ct. App. 1993) (expressing concern for the mother’s “inability to accept
responsibility for her own actions,” problems with alcohol, and lack of financial
stability).
At this time, Kristen also requests sole legal custody. However, in light of
the record and overall placement, we decline to alter the joint custody decreed by
the district court. After all, “[j]oint custody is favored whenever reasonable and in
the child’s best interest.” In re Marriage of Brainard, 523 N.W.2d 611, 614 (Iowa
Ct. App. 1994) (citations omitted). While domestic abuse weighs against joint
custody, there was not a finding of domestic abuse against Michael. See id. at
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615. Michael consented to the no-contact order, and there was discord as to who
was the primary aggressor. “Hostility between parents and their inability to
effectively communicate . . . may preclude an award of joint custody.” Id. at 614.
However, we believe the parties will continue to act in the best interests of their
child. See id. (“Although the marriage has been plagued by antagonism, violence
and ineffective communication, [the parties] have generally shown devotion toward
their children.”). Although Michael’s concerns regarding his son’s diagnosis and
insurance coverage caused discord with Kristen, they were not unreasonable
under the circumstances. Because the court ruled consistently with the best
interests of the child, we affirm its physical care and custody determinations.
Both parties request appellate attorney fees. Considering the merits each
side presented, we decline to award attorney fees to either party.
AFFIRMED.