State on behalf of Maria B. & Renee B. v. Kyle B.

Nebraska Supreme Court Online Library
www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/
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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
298 Nebraska R eports
STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
State of Nebraska on behalf of M ariah B. and
R enee B., minor children, appellee,
v. Kyle B., appellant.
___ N.W.2d ___
Filed January 26, 2018. No. S-16-1142.
1. Contempt: Appeal and Error. In a civil contempt proceeding where
a party seeks remedial relief for an alleged violation of a court order,
an appellate court employs a three-part standard of review in which (1)
the trial court’s resolution of issues of law is reviewed de novo, (2) the
trial court’s factual findings are reviewed for clear error, and (3) the trial
court’s determinations of whether a party is in contempt and of the sanc-
tion to be imposed are reviewed for abuse of discretion.
2. Contempt: Due Process: Judgments: Appeal and Error. Though the
ability to pay the purge amount in a civil contempt proceeding is a fac-
tual question that is reviewed for clear error, whether the facts result in
a due process violation is a question of law.
3. Contempt: Words and Phrases. Civil contempt requires willful dis-
obedience as an essential element. “Willful” means the violation was
committed intentionally, with knowledge that the act violated the
court order.
4. Contempt. If it is impossible to comply with the order of the court, the
failure to comply is not willful.
5. Words and Phrases: Appeal and Error. Willfulness is a factual deter-
mination to be reviewed for clear error.
6. Contempt: Proof: Evidence: Presumptions. Outside of statutory pro-
cedures imposing a different standard, it is the complainant’s burden
to prove civil contempt by clear and convincing evidence and without
any presumptions.
7. Contempt: Presumptions: Child Support. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-358(3)
(Reissue 2016) provides that a rebuttable presumption of contempt shall
be established if a prima facie showing is made that court-ordered child
or spousal support is delinquent.
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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
298 Nebraska R eports
STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
8. ____: ____: ____. Necessarily, the rebuttable presumption of contempt
provided by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-358(3) (Reissue 2016) encompasses
the essential element of willfulness.
9. Contempt: Evidence: Child Support. In contempt proceedings, both
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-358(3) (Reissue 2016) and logic dictate that a valid
child support order is evidence of the parent’s ability to pay the amount
specified therein.
10. Child Support. The parent’s ability to pay is an important consider-
ation in setting the amount of a child support order.
11. Child Support: Rules of the Supreme Court: Presumptions. Child
support established under the Nebraska Child Support Guidelines is
presumed correct, unless one or both parties present sufficient evidence
to rebut that presumption.
12. Trial: Witnesses: Evidence. Triers of fact have the right to test the
credibility of witnesses by their self-interest and to weigh it against the
evidence, or the lack thereof.
13. Constitutional Law: Criminal Law: Contempt: Due Process. A
criminal or punitive sanction is invalid if imposed in a proceeding
that is instituted and tried as civil contempt, because it lacks the pro-
cedural protections that the Constitution would demand in a criminal
proceeding.
14. Contempt: Sentences. A present inability to comply with a contempt
order is a defense, not necessarily to contempt, but to the sanction of
incarceration.
15. Contempt: Judgments. When a purge order involves payment of
money, the sum required to purge oneself of contempt must be within
the contemnor’s ability to pay within the time period provided in the
order, taking into consideration the assets and financial condition of the
contemnor and his or her ability to raise money.
16. Contempt. Contemnors in civil contempt must carry the keys of their
jail cells in their own pockets.
17. Contempt: Presumptions: Child Support. The statutory presumption
of contempt under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-358(3) (Reissue 2016) is inap-
plicable to the question of whether the purge plan is punitive.
18. Contempt: Judgments. Despite any overlap with the finding of willful
disobedience in the underlying contempt, a court that imposes incarcera-
tion as part of civil contempt proceedings shall make express findings
regarding the contemnor’s ability to comply with the purge order.
19. Contempt: Proof. It is the contemnor who has the burden to assert and
prove the inability to comply with the contempt order as a defense to
incarceration.
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298 Nebraska R eports
STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
20. ____: ____. The burden of both production and persuasion is on the
contemnor to show the present inability to comply.
21. ____: ____. A showing of inability to comply with a purge order
entails attempts to exhaust all resources and assets or borrow sufficient
funds and the inability to thereby secure the funds to comply with
the order.
22. Contempt. The contemnor’s inability to comply with a contempt order
cannot be voluntarily created, for example by not diligently seeking a
job at one’s earning potential.
23. ____. The inability-to-pay threshold for determining that the contemnor
lacks the keys to his or her own jail cell is higher than the indigence
threshold for appointing counsel. Thus, a finding of indigency for
purposes of retaining legal counsel does not preclude a finding that
the contemnor is able to pay whatever purge amount has been set by
the court.
24. Child Support. The support of one’s children is a fundamental obliga-
tion which takes precedence over almost everything else.
Appeal from the District Court for Lancaster County: K evin
R. McM anaman, Judge. Affirmed.
Nancy R. Wynner, of Olson, Zalewski & Wynner, L.L.P.,
for appellant.
Joe Kelly, Lancaster County Attorney, and Jason M. Cooper
and Braden W. Storer, for appellee.
Heavican, C.J., Miller-Lerman, Cassel, Stacy, K elch, and
Funke, JJ.
Heavican, C.J.
NATURE OF CASE
A father appeals from an order of civil contempt for fail-
ure to pay child support. He was found indigent for purposes
of appointment of counsel in the contempt proceedings. He
asserts that he did not willfully disobey the support order.
Further, he argues that the purge plan set forth in the contempt
order is impossible to perform, making it a punitive rather than
coercive sanction. We affirm.
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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
298 Nebraska R eports
STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
BACKGROUND
Paternity and Child
Support Order
In a paternity action filed by the State due to the involve-
ment of the “Title IV-D Division”1 of the Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS), Kyle B. was established
as the father of Mariah B. and Renee B. Genetic testing had
determined with a probability of 99.999 percent that Kyle was
the biological father of the children.
Kyle was ordered to pay $230 in child support per month
beginning on December 1, 2015. The amount of Kyle’s monthly
child support obligation was established in accordance with the
child support guidelines. The district court referee calculated
that Kyle was capable of earning $8 per hour and of work-
ing 40 hours per week, for a total monthly earning capacity
of $1,387. By failing to respond to the State’s request for
admissions, Kyle was deemed to have admitted this earning
potential. Attached to the referee’s report was evidence that
Kyle had earned $4,306.90 working at a roofing company from
October to December 2014 and had earned $3,578.62 working
there from July to September 2014.
Kyle did not attend the hearing at which evidence was
submitted pertaining to paternity and child support, and his
counsel withdrew. Kyle did not appeal from the child sup-
port order.
Contempt Order
On June 7, 2016, the court issued an order for Kyle to
appear at a hearing scheduled for July 7 and show cause why
he should not be in contempt for willfully failing to comply
with the December 2015 order. The order to appear required
Kyle to bring to the hearing his income tax returns for the
past 3 years, as well as his last three wage statements. Kyle
was appointed counsel on July 8, 2016, upon a finding of
1
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-3341(12) (Reissue 2016).
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STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
indigency. On September 12, the court issued another order to
appear, at a hearing scheduled for November 2, on the order to
show cause.
Kyle appeared at the November 2, 2016, hearing, repre-
sented by his appointed counsel. At the hearing, the State
introduced a certified copy of a history of Kyle’s payments
to DHHS. The document demonstrated that Kyle had never
made payments on the December 2015 order and that he was
$2,551.59 in arrears.
Kyle did not submit income tax returns, wage statements,
or any other financial documentation. The only evidence pre-
sented by Kyle at the hearing was his own testimony. Kyle tes-
tified that he was unemployed. Kyle stated that his “last good
job” was working as a “roof loader” for the roofing company.
That job ended in November 2015 when he was laid off for
the winter.
Kyle testified that he had been applying for three jobs per
week for the past 2 months, as required by a workforce devel-
opment program he was participating in. The most recent jobs
he applied for were at a supermarket, a home improvement
store, and a discount department store. Kyle explained that he
had not applied for work at a fast food restaurant or for other
food service work, because he was still “trying to get [his]
food handler’s permit to go that route.”
Kyle refused to describe how many and what jobs he had
applied for in the approximately 10-month period between the
November 2015 layoff and beginning the workforce develop-
ment program. After repeated evasiveness on Kyle’s part, the
court instructed him to “calm[] down” and “listen carefully”
to the State’s questions. But Kyle still refused to describe in
detail his search for employment, stating, “I’m not gonna sit
here and just keep beating around the bush about I’m not try-
ing to get a job or this or that.”
Kyle stated that he had done some subcontracting work
since being laid off at the roofing company. He did not say
how long he had worked as a subcontractor, nor how much he
had earned.
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STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
Kyle indicated that he had not pursued more subcontract-
ing work because he was disabled. Kyle testified that he had a
“third grade reading and writing disability” and “a back prob-
lem and a neck problem” related to a fall out of a tree in 2005.
Kyle testified that he had applied for disability benefits the day
before the hearing.
Kyle testified that he paid $506 per month for rent and utili-
ties. He spent an unknown amount on cigarettes. He also had a
third child, a 6-month-old daughter, to support.
Kyle explained that he had not paid child support for Mariah
and Renee because he was struggling financially. Kyle elabo-
rated that during the times that he was employed as a subcon-
tractor, it was not “that much money or that much work.”
What money he had made “[p]robably” went toward his rent
and utilities. Beyond Kyle’s odd jobs, the mother of Kyle’s
6-month-old daughter had been paying their rent, utilities, and
other expenses with her Social Security income. That relation-
ship had recently ended, however, and Kyle testified that he
had “no money” at the time of the hearing.
Kyle did not clearly indicate whether he had applied for or
received unemployment benefits at any point since he was laid
off in November 2015. He testified that he was not receiving
any assistance at the time of the hearing.
Kyle expressed that the amount of the support order was
too high. Kyle indicated that the amount of the support order
may have been set too high because he had failed to attend the
paternity hearing in December 2015. He claimed he had missed
the hearing because he did not receive the paperwork inform-
ing him of the court date. Though Kyle claimed he had since
brought the amount of the child support order to the court’s
attention two or three times, there is no evidence that Kyle
moved for modification of the order.
Kyle did not deny being aware of the December 2015 child
support order as of its effective date. He specifically acknowl-
edged that he was aware of the child support order, though his
testimony was imprecise as to when. He said:
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STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
Well, I think the first time that I was aware that I was
starting to pay child support, the guy who was represent-
ing me did not give me the paperwork to where I was
supposed to make the payment to the child support, this
and that. I don’t know. It’s my first time going through
this stuff. I got reading and writing and disability prob-
lems myself. I’ve just been trying to figure out — it’s
been set at such a high — such high — like 200-whatever
dollars, and I’ve been telling them that it’s been hard for
me to afford to pay my own bills and to still be able to
afford to pay the child support.
Kyle did not assert that ignorance of the order was the reason
for his failure to pay child support.
The court found Kyle in willful contempt of the December
2015 order. In its written contempt order, the court specifically
found that during the period applicable to the contempt cita-
tion, Kyle had the ability to pay the support ordered. Pursuant
to the contempt order, Kyle was committed to 60 days’ jail
time, to be suspended as long as he paid to the clerk of the
court “$230.00 a month on current child support and $100.00
[a month] on arrearage, commencing January 1, 2017.” In the
event that Kyle complied with this payment schedule for 18
months, he would be purged of contempt. In the event com-
mitment was issued as a result of noncompliance, he would be
released and purged of contempt upon payment of $1,000. The
court did not set forth an explicit finding that Kyle was at that
time able to pay the purge amount. Nor does the record reflect
that the court pronounced its order in Kyle’s presence.
Kyle timely appeals the contempt order.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Kyle assigns that the district court abused its discretion in
(1) finding him in civil contempt; (2) imposing an unreason-
able, arbitrary, capricious, and punitive sanction; and (3) set-
ting for the purge plan payment amounts that were impossible
to perform.
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Nebraska Supreme Court A dvance Sheets
298 Nebraska R eports
STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[1] In a civil contempt proceeding where a party seeks reme-
dial relief for an alleged violation of a court order, an appellate
court employs a three-part standard of review in which (1) the
trial court’s resolution of issues of law is reviewed de novo, (2)
the trial court’s factual findings are reviewed for clear error,
and (3) the trial court’s determinations of whether a party is in
contempt and of the sanction to be imposed are reviewed for
abuse of discretion.2
[2] Though the ability to pay the purge amount is a factual
question that we review for clear error, whether the facts result
in a due process violation is a question of law.3
ANALYSIS
Kyle appeals from a contempt order imposed to enforce
the prior judgment of paternity and child support.4 The parties
agree that the underlying proceedings were instituted and tried
as civil contempt. Kyle’s attorney asserts on appeal that the
district court erred in finding Kyle in contempt because he did
not willfully disobey the support order and, further, that the
court erred in setting a purge amount that resulted in a puni-
tive rather than coercive sanction. Kyle asserts that for these
reasons, the district court’s order was unreasonable, arbitrary,
and capricious.
Willful
[3-5] We first address whether the court clearly erred in
finding that Kyle’s violation of the child support order was
2
Hossaini v. Vaelizadeh, 283 Neb. 369, 808 N.W.2d 867 (2012).
3
See, United States v. Armstrong, 781 F.2d 700 (9th Cir. 1986); Arbor
Farms v. GeoStar Corp., 305 Mich. App. 374, 853 N.W.2d 421 (2014);
Reed v. Reed, 265 Mich. App. 131, 693 N.W.2d 825 (2005); In re Wilson,
879 A.2d 199 (Pa. Super. 2005).
4
See Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. v. Kreikemeier, 279 Neb. 661, 782 N.W.2d
848 (2010), disapproved on other grounds, Hossaini v. Vaelizadeh, supra
note 2.
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STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
willful. Civil contempt requires willful disobedience as an
essential element.5 “Willful” means the violation was commit-
ted intentionally, with knowledge that the act violated the court
order.6 If it is impossible to comply with the order of the court,
the failure to comply is not willful.7 Willfulness is a factual
determination to be reviewed for clear error.8
[6-8] Outside of statutory procedures imposing a differ-
ent standard, it is the complainant’s burden to prove civil
contempt by clear and convincing evidence and without any
presumptions.9 But, as this is a case involving child sup-
port payable to DHHS, the presumption set forth in Neb.
Rev. Stat. § 42-358(3) (Reissue 2016) is applicable. Section
42-358(3) provides in part that “[a] rebuttable presumption
of contempt shall be established if a prima facie showing is
made that the court-ordered child or spousal support is delin-
quent.” Necessarily, the rebuttable presumption of contempt
provided by § 42-358(3) encompasses the essential element
of willfulness.10
It is undisputed that the State made such a prima facie show-
ing that Kyle was delinquent in his court-ordered child sup-
port by providing a certified copy of payments, balances, and
arrearages maintained by the Title IV-D Division of DHHS.11
5
Hossaini v. Vaelizadeh, supra note 2.
6
Sickler v. Sickler, 293 Neb. 521, 878 N.W.2d 549 (2016). See, also,
Hossaini v. Vaelizadeh, supra note 2.
7
Novak v. Novak, 245 Neb. 366, 513 N.W.2d 303 (1994), overruled on
other grounds, Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. v. Kreikemeier, supra note 4.
8
See, In re Interest of Thomas M., 282 Neb. 316, 803 N.W.2d 46 (2011);
State on behalf of Lockwood v. Laue, 24 Neb. Ct. App. 909, 900 N.W.2d 582
(2017). See, also, e.g., In re Hollis, 150 B.R. 145 (D. Md. 1993); People
v. Penson, 197 Ill. App. 3d 941, 557 N.E.2d 230, 145 Ill. Dec. 460 (1990);
McLarty v. Walker, 307 S.W.3d 254 (Tenn. App. 2009).
9
Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. v. Kreikemeier, supra note 4.
10
See D’Angelo v. Guarino, 88 So. 3d 683 (La. App. 2012).
11
See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-3342.01 (Reissue 2016).
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STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
We conclude that the district court did not err in finding that
Kyle’s testimony failed to rebut the presumption of contempt
established pursuant to § 42-358(3).
Contrary to the assertions of Kyle’s attorney on appeal, Kyle
did not indicate at the contempt hearing that he was ignorant of
the fact that he was violating a court order. The only testimony
regarding Kyle’s lack of knowledge related to his failure to
attend the paternity hearing. Kyle’s testimony that he was con-
fused at some point about where he was supposed to send his
payments did not rebut the presumption of willfulness; instead,
it demonstrated his knowledge of the support order.
Neither do we find merit to Kyle’s argument that the district
court erred in concluding that it was possible to comply with
the support order. Kyle argues that the district court erred in
finding his conduct willful because there was no evidence
that he was able to pay the court-ordered child support. But
the State presented evidence establishing a presumption that
Kyle was able to comply with the 2015 order when it made
a prima facie showing that the court-ordered child support
was delinquent.12
[9] Other jurisdictions hold under either common law or a
statutory presumption that a child support order calculated in
accordance with applicable guidelines creates a presumption
that the parent was able to pay the amount so ordered during
the time period subject to contempt.13 The parent rebuts this
presumption of ability to pay by demonstrating that circum-
stances beyond the parent’s control have intervened since the
time the child support order was entered.14 We similarly hold
that in contempt proceedings, both § 42-358(3) and logic dic-
tate that a valid child support order is evidence of the parent’s
ability to pay the amount specified therein.
12
See § 42-358(3).
13
See, Polli v. Vina, 557 So. 2d 55 (Fla. App. 1989). See, also, 18 U.S.C.
§ 228(b) (2012).
14
See Polli v. Vina, supra note 13.
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STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
[10,11] The Nebraska Court of Appeals applied a similar
presumption in In re Interest of Noelle F. & Sarah F.15 when
it held that a child support order issued in accordance with the
Nebraska Child Support Guidelines presupposed a financial
ability that, absent other evidence, defeated a claim of indi-
gence for purposes of appointment of counsel. We have con-
sistently held that in determining the amount of a child support
award, the trial court must consider the status, character, and
situation of the parties and attendant circumstances, including
the financial condition of the parties and the estimated cost of
support of the children.16 In other words, the parent’s ability
to pay is an important consideration in setting the amount of
the child support order.17 We have also held that child support
established under the Nebraska Child Support Guidelines is
presumed correct, unless one or both parties present sufficient
evidence to rebut that presumption.18
The best way to rebut the presumption of an ability to pay
established by a child support order issued in accordance with
the Nebraska Child Support Guidelines is evidence to dem-
onstrate a change of circumstances. Though not decisive in a
contempt proceeding, procedures exist for parents whose situ-
ation has changed to timely file a complaint for modification
of the child support order pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-364
(Reissue 2016) or to ask DHHS to consider referring the child
support order to the county attorney or authorized attorney for
filing an application for modification under Neb. Rev. Stat.
§ 43-512.15 (Reissue 2016).19
15
In re Interest of Noelle F. & Sarah F., 3 Neb. Ct. App. 901, 534 N.W.2d 581
(1995).
16
Faaborg v. Faaborg, 254 Neb. 501, 576 N.W.2d 826 (1998).
17
See id. See, also, Bird v. Bird, 205 Neb. 619, 288 N.W.2d 747 (1980).
18
See, State on behalf of A.E. v. Buckhalter, 273 Neb. 443, 730 N.W.2d 340
(2007); Sylvis v. Walling, 248 Neb. 168, 532 N.W.2d 312 (1995).
19
See, also, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-512.12 (Reissue 2016).
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STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
Kyle failed to demonstrate a change of circumstances
defeating the presumption of his ability to pay in accordance
with the support order. Viewed in the light most favorable to
the prevailing party, Kyle’s unsupported claims of unemploy-
ment and disability stated nothing new or different. Other than
his testimony that he had applied for three jobs per week for
the past 2 months with no success, Kyle did not present any
evidence that his ability to earn $8 per hour and work 40 hours
per week had diminished since the date of the support order.
Instead, he was evasive when asked to specify how many jobs
and what kind of jobs he had applied for during the 11 months
he failed to pay child support, and none he described appeared
to be in a field he had experience in. Given that Kyle was
working as a roof loader with the same alleged disabilities
until his seasonal layoff in November 2015, Kyle failed to
adequately explain why he has not since sought employment
in a similar field.
Kyle’s testimony that he suffered disabilities that diminished
his earning capacity was simply as follows: “I was actually
taking on some jobs through a subcontractor subcontracting
work and finishing up some work there. But physically with
my disability and this and that, I try to do things hands-on so
—.” Kyle presented no medical documentation or expert tes-
timony supporting his assertion that he suffered from reading
and writing disabilities and “a back problem and a neck prob-
lem” which prevented him from earning income sufficient to
pay his child support obligations.
Furthermore, as this testimony illustrates, Kyle was vague
as to the extent he had actually earned income doing subcon-
tracting work during the 11 months that the support order had
been in effect. Kyle failed to comply with the court’s prior
order that he submit at the hearing his tax returns and wage
statements. Kyle failed to provide the court with any employ-
ment records. The court reasonably could have made a nega-
tive inference from Kyle’s disobedience of the court’s order.
Though Kyle stated that his support was sometimes supplied
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STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
entirely by the mother of his 6-month-old daughter, such testi-
mony does not establish his inability to become employed; nor
do his obligations toward that child relieve him of the duty to
support Mariah and Renee.20
[12] Triers of fact have the right to test the credibility of
witnesses by their self-interest and to weigh it against the
evidence, or the lack thereof.21 In this case, Kyle’s testimony
was woefully inadequate when weighed against the presump-
tion inherent to the child support order that he was capable of
paying it. The district court did not clearly err in finding that
during the period applicable to the contempt citation, Kyle had
the ability to pay the support ordered by the December 2015
order. By explicitly finding that Kyle had the ability to pay
and implicitly finding that Kyle had knowledge of the sup-
port order, the district court found that Kyle’s disobedience
was willful. The court did not clearly err in these findings
and did not abuse its discretion in determining that Kyle was
in contempt.
A bility to Comply With
Purge Order
[13,14] We turn next to whether the court erred in setting a
purge amount in excess of Kyle’s present ability to pay, thereby
making the sanction of incarceration punitive. A criminal or
punitive sanction is invalid if imposed in a proceeding that
is instituted and tried as civil contempt, because it lacks the
procedural protections that the Constitution would demand in
a criminal proceeding.22 A present inability to comply with a
contempt order is a defense, not necessarily to contempt, but
20
See Richardson v. Anderson, 8 Neb. Ct. App. 923, 604 N.W.2d 427 (2000).
21
Ohnstad v. Omaha Public Sch. Dist. No. 1, 232 Neb. 788, 442 N.W.2d 859
(1989); First Nat. Bank of Omaha v. First Cadco Corp., 189 Neb. 734, 205
N.W.2d 115 (1973).
22
Sickler v. Sickler, supra note 6.
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STATE ON BEHALF OF MARIAH B. & RENEE B. v. KYLE B.
Cite as 298 Neb. 759
to the sanction of incarceration.23 Though the ability to pay
the purge amount is a factual question that we review for clear
error, whether the facts result in a due process violation is a
question of law.24
[15,16] When a purge order involves payment of money,
the sum required to purge oneself of contempt must be within
the contemnor’s ability to pay within the time period provided
in the order, taking into consideration the assets and finan-
cial condition of the contemnor and his or her ability to raise
money.25 For the punishment to retain its civil character, the
contemnor must, at the time the sanction is imposed, have the
ability to purge the contempt by compliance and either avert
punishment or, at any time, bring it to an end.26 Contemnors
in civil contempt must carry the keys of their jail cells in their
own pockets.27
[17] Though related and involving similar evidence, the
due process question of whether Kyle is able to pay the
purge amount is not the same as whether Kyle willfully vio-
lated the December 2015 child support order and was thereby
in contempt. The statutory presumption of contempt under
§ 42-358(3) does not determine the question of whether the
purge plan is punitive. And while a presumption of an abil-
ity to pay the child support order made in accordance with
the Nebraska Child Support Guidelines may be relevant, it is
not conclusive as to the reasonableness of the purge amount.
Kyle’s ability to pay in accordance with the child support order
was evaluated over the 11-month period since its issuance,28
23
See id.
24
See, United States v. Armstrong, supra note 3; Arbor Farms v. GeoStar
Corp., supra note 3; Reed v. Reed, supra note 3; In re Wilson, supra
note 3.
25
See id.
26
Id.
27
See id.
28
See id.
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but whether the purge plan was punitive was evaluated at the
time of the order of contempt. A past ability to comply with an
order does not show a present ability to purge the contempt.29
But past failure coupled with unpersuasive or unsupported
claims of present inability is sufficient.
[18] We reiterate our recent holding in Sickler v. Sickler30
that, despite any overlap with the finding of willful disobedi-
ence in the underlying contempt, a court that imposes incar-
ceration as part of civil contempt proceedings shall make
express findings regarding the contemnor’s ability to comply
with the purge order. Such a finding is required because of
“the importance of the ability to comply in distinguishing
between civil and criminal contempt and its due process
implications.”31
While the district court stated in its order that Kyle had the
ability to pay the support obligation, it failed to explicitly find
that Kyle had the present ability to comply with the contempt
order. Kyle does not assign as error the court’s failure to make
a specific finding regarding his ability to comply with the
contempt order, however. And we find no plain error, because
the record supports the court’s implicit conclusion that Kyle
failed to prove an inability to comply.
[19-22] It is the contemnor who has the burden to assert
and prove the inability to comply with the contempt order as
a defense to incarceration.32 The burden of both production
and persuasion is on the contemnor to show the present inabil-
ity to comply.33 Such a showing entails attempts to exhaust
all resources and assets or borrow sufficient funds and the
inability to thereby secure the funds to comply with the purge
29
Sickler v. Sickler, supra note 6.
30
Id.
31
Id. at 543, 878 N.W.2d at 566.
32
See Sickler v. Sickler, supra note 6.
33
Id.
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order.34 In general, the contemnor’s inability to comply cannot
be voluntarily created, for example by not diligently seeking a
job at one’s earning potential.35
As already discussed, the evidence suggested that Kyle was
able to work as a roof loader despite his claimed disabilities.
The district court did not find credible Kyle’s testimony to
the contrary.
Kyle’s evidence that he was unable to comply consisted of
his self-serving and vague testimony that he had unsuccessfully
applied for work during the prior 2 months. The only specific
testimony regarding Kyle’s recent attempts to gain employ-
ment were that he had applied for three jobs per week and that
his most recent three applications were in retail—a field that
there was no evidence he had experience in. Kyle provided
scant evidence he was incapable of finding work similar to
his “last good job” as a roof loader, which he had been able to
perform despite the disabilities alleged at the hearing. Kyle’s
failure to find a job in the 2 months preceding the hearing did
not foreclose the district court from finding that Kyle would be
able to obtain full-time employment within the 2-month grace
period of the contempt order.
Furthermore, although Kyle testified that he did not own a
vehicle or his home, and that he had “no money,” Kyle failed
to make a full accounting of his assets. Instead, he disobeyed
the court’s order to produce his tax documents.
Finally, Kyle presented no evidence whatsoever of an inabil-
ity to borrow sufficient funds to comply with the purge order.
[23] It is true that the district court found Kyle indigent
on July 8, 2016, for purposes of the appointment of counsel.
Kyle relies on this finding in asserting that it was impossible
for him to pay the purge amount. But the inability-to-pay
threshold for determining that the contemnor lacks the keys to
34
Id.
35
See Jenkins v. State, 60 Neb. 205, 82 N.W. 622 (1900).
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his or her own jail cell is higher than the indigence threshold
for appointing counsel.36 Thus, a finding of indigency for pur-
poses of retaining legal counsel does not preclude a finding
that the contemnor is able to pay whatever purge amount has
been set by the court.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-3901(3) (Reissue 2016) defines indi-
gent as “the inability to retain legal counsel without prejudic-
ing one’s financial ability to provide economic necessities for
one’s self or one’s family.” A court may find indigency for
purposes of appointment of counsel based alone on a situation
where expenses exceed income, and a person is not required to
prejudice one’s financial ability to provide economic necessi-
ties for oneself or one’s family in order to be determined indi-
gent for that purpose.37 Nor must a person dispose of all his or
her assets or have exhausted all possible sources of borrowing
money before being eligible for appointment of counsel.38
[24] In contrast, as stated, an inability to comply with a
purge order entails having exhausted all assets and opportu-
nities to borrow sufficient funds.39 Moreover, a purge order
involving simply the arrears owed in child support promotes
rather than prejudices the contemnor’s provision for his or her
family. As we have said before, “[t]he support of one’s chil-
dren is a fundamental obligation which takes precedence over
almost everything else.”40
We read the contempt order as including the $230 monthly
support obligation as part of the purge amount. It may have
36
See In re Mancha, 440 S.W.3d 158 (Tex. App. 2013). See, also, Lamb v.
Eads, 346 N.W.2d 830 (Iowa 1984). But see, Turner v. Rogers, 564 U.S.
431, 131 S. Ct. 2507, 180 L. Ed. 2d 452 (2011); Andrews v. Walton, 428
So. 2d 663 (Fla. 1983); State ex rel. Shaw v. Provaznik, 708 S.W.2d 337
(Mo. App. 1986).
37
See State v. Masilko, 226 Neb. 45, 409 N.W.2d 322 (1987).
38
Id.
39
See Sickler v. Sickler, supra note 6.
40
State v. Reuter, 216 Neb. 325, 328, 343 N.W.2d 907, 910 (1984).
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been the court’s intention to impose as the purge amount $100
monthly in arrearages and to simply reiterate that Kyle must
continue his underlying monthly support obligation during
that time. But that does not appear on the face of the order to
be what the court did. While we recognize the purge order in
this respect is irregular, in that it includes future child support
installments which have not yet accrued, Kyle does not chal-
lenge the propriety of including in the purge amount his ongo-
ing monthly obligation. The question presented is whether it
was impossible to comply with the order. The record supports
the court’s conclusion that Kyle did not demonstrate inability
to pay $330 monthly for 18 months, beginning approximately
2 months from the time of the contempt hearing, or, alterna-
tively, inability to pay $1,000 once jailed.
We find no merit to Kyle’s claim that the contempt order
impermissibly imposed a criminal or punitive sanction in a
civil proceeding.
CONCLUSION
There is no merit to Kyle’s assignments of error challenging
the underlying finding of contempt and the reasonableness of
the purge amount. We affirm the order of contempt.
A ffirmed.
Wright, J., not participating.