Niemyjski v. Niemyjski

OPINION

RIORDAN, Justice.

Charlenea Niemyjski (Petitioner) instituted a contempt proceeding against Tadeusz Niemyjski (Respondent) for failure to pay child support. After a hearing for which Respondent was given notice and at which he was represented by counsel, the court found that Respondent was in arrears in the amount of $1,300 for failure to make the thirteen previous $100 monthly child support payments ordered by the court. The court held the Respondent in contempt, imposed a ten day jail sentence, fined the Respondent $500 and ordered the Respondent to pay a portion of Petitioner’s attorney’s fees. Respondent appeals the imposition of the jail sentence. We affirm.

Two points are raised on appeal:

I) The Respondent was.denied due process.

II) The trial court abused its discretion in ordering Respondent incarcerated.

I. Due Process

The Respondent claims that the trial court held him in criminal contempt of court. He is mistaken. In State v. Rael, 97 N.M. 640, 642 P.2d 1099 (1982), we held that a contempt action for child support enforcement is civil and not criminal. The act for which the Respondent is held in contempt is his failure to pay child support in compliance with the trial court order.

We examine the question of whether the imposition of a jail sentence as a contempt penalty can be imposed in a civil contempt proceeding. The Respondent, citing Jencks v. Goforth, 57 N.M. 627, 261 P.2d 655 (1953), argues that any penalty imposed in a civil contempt case must be purgeable and must impose the least burdensome sanction necessary to achieve the purpose of the contempt finding. The Respondent is mistaken in his reliance on Jencks. First, the Jencks case must be read in conjunction with New Jersey Zinc Co. v. Local 890 of International Union, etc., 57 N.M. 617, 261 P.2d 648 (1953), which was decided the same day by this Court and was related to the decision in Jencks. Secondly, the Jencks case recognized the authority of the court in a civil contempt case to impose both a fine and jail sentence. The Court had even previously upheld the civil contempt finding and the imposition of a fine and suspended jail sentence involving the parties the previous year in New Jersey Zinc Co. v. Local 890 of International Union, etc., 56 N.M. 447, 245 P.2d 156 (1952).

More recently, we again recognized that it is permissable for the trial court to impose a remedial penalty in a civil contempt case. See Murphy v. Murphy, 96 N.M. 401, 408, 631 P.2d 307, 314 (1981), where we stated:

There can be no doubt that the court could hold respondent in civil contempt of court for violating a court order that previously directed him to take certain action. * * * Nor is there any doubt that the judge could enforce such orders by * * * jail sentence. * * *

If the Respondent’s position were to be adopted by us, it would throw the entire system of enforcement of child support or other court ordered payments into chaos. Any person ordered to make payments could merely ignore the court order until enforcement is sought knowing he could not be jailed for his refusal to obey the court order. We cannot follow such illogical reasoning that strips the court of the authority to enforce its orders.

II. Abuse of Discretion

The Respondent alleges that the court abused its discretion by imposing a jail sentence because Respondent’s financial condition shows his inability to pay, citing, Matter of Hooker, 94 N.M. 798, 617 P.2d 1313 (1980).

In Matter of Hooker, we held that “the elements necessary for a finding of civil contempt are: (1) knowledge of the court’s order, and (2) an ability to comply.” Id. at 799, 617 P.2d at 1314. First, Respondent clearly knew of his court order requiring needed child support payments. Secondly, having reviewed the transcript of the hearings in this case, there is sufficient evidence that Respondent was financially able to comply with his child support obligation and willfully refused to pay. For example, the record shows that during the period of January 1, 1981 to April 20, 1981, his gross income was in excess of $11,000 even though his liability for child support during this time would have been only $400. Respondent claims that he used all his funds for business and personal living expenses. If he did so, it was bad judgment on his part and clearly a willful violation of his obligation. It is unfortunate that he ignored his most important single obligation, namely the support of his minor child.

On appeal, this Court will view the evidence in a light most favorable to support the findings and conclusions of the trial court. We will not reverse unless convinced that the findings and conclusions cannot be sustained either by evidence or permissable inferences therefrom. Lewis v. Barber’s Super Markets, Inc., 72 N.M. 402, 384 P.2d 470 (1963).

Finally, the present child support proceeding is civil in nature. Raei, supra. A court may punish civil contempt by means of a jail sentence in particular proceedings. See Local 890 of International Union of Mine, etc. v. New Jersey Zinc Co., 58 N.M. 416, 272 P.2d 322 (1954); Murphy v. Murphy, supra; Rael, supra. The jail sentence imposed on Respondent was remedial and imposed as punishment for non-compliance with payment in the past thirteen months.

We find that the court did not abuse its discretion in imposing a jail sentence. Indeed, because the Respondent had been before the trial court on three occasions since 1976 for failure to pay support, the judge would have been neglecting his duty had he not taken action to impress upon the Respondent the seriousness of his obligation.

The judgment of contempt ordering ten days in jail is affirmed.

PAYNE and FEDERICI, JJ., concur. EASLEY, C. J., and SOSA, Senior Justice, dissent.