Opinion
No. 5-503 / 05-0303
Filed September 28, 2005
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Lucas County, Gary G. Kimes, Judge.
David Hager appeals from the district court's decision declining his application to modify his dissolution decree, failing to find Amanda Hager in contempt, and granting sole custody to Amanda. AFFIRMED.
Thomas Lenihan, West Des Moines, for appellant.
Andrew Howie and Ryan Weese of Hudson, Mallaney Schindler, P.C., West Des Moines, for appellee.
Heard by Huitink, P.J., and Zimmer and Hecht JJ.
David Hager appeals from the district court's: (1) denial of his motion for modification of decree of dissolution of marriage; (2) failure to find Amanda Hager in contempt for denying David visitation; and (3) grant of sole legal custody of the children to Amanda and modification of David's visitation rights.
I. Background Facts Proceedings
David Hager and Amanda Hager, n/k/a Amanda Atwell, are the parents of Sara Jane Hager and Elizabeth Rae Hager. The parties' marriage was terminated by decree in October 2000. The original decree granted Amanda and David joint legal custody and Amanda primary physical care of the children. On March 10, 2004, David filed for modification of child custody, and on March 11, 2004, Amanda filed for modification of visitation. On March 25, 2004, Amanda filed an application for order to show cause seeking to find David in contempt for failing to pay child support, and on April 29, 2004, David filed an application for order to show cause seeking to find Amanda in contempt for denying David his visitation privileges and failing to comply with the property award provisions stated in the dissolution decree. All motions were consolidated. In November 2004 a trial was held.
In a ruling entered on December 20, 2005, the court found that since the dissolution decree was entered the children have been subjected to a Department of Human Services' (DHS) investigation on three separate occasions arising out of David's false allegations of abuse and inappropriate behavior by Amanda. David subjected the children to an additional investigation by DHS when he told the children he would kill their mom. The trial court found that throughout these investigations DHS has found the children were safe with Amanda.
Amanda has full-time employment with Griffin Nursing Center in Knoxville, Iowa, and returned to school to complete her degree in nursing. Her husband has full-time employment with Hy-Vee and volunteers as a firefighter. She and her husband have a regular daily routine with the children regarding school and after school activities. The children are involved in 4H and Camp Fire Kids. The children have their own rooms. Amanda assists the children with their school work and projects and attends school functions and meetings with the children's teachers.
The court also determined that since the dissolution David has been convicted of a variety of crimes, including harassment of Amanda. Additionally, David has not been able to maintain a stable residence since the dissolution or maintain a job since 2002. The court concluded that David's conduct with Amanda has affected the children and the children fear David. Amanda was not held in contempt because the court determined that David was not denied access to information about the children's schooling and the days he was denied visitation were days he was not entitled to visitation. Concerning the contempt allegations against David, the court found David was $21,902.94 in arrears on his child support payments.
The court concluded that David failed to meet his burden on his request for modification of custody and failed to show Amanda willfully and wantonly denied him visitation. The court awarded Amanda sole legal custody and sole primary care. The court allowed David visitation.
On January 3, 2005, David filed a motion to enlarge and amend. On January 18, 2005, the court denied David's motion. On February 16, 2005, David filed a notice of appeal.
On appeal, David asserts the following issues:
"I. Whether the trial court erred in dismissing the father's application to cite the mother in contempt for repeated denials of visitation with the parties' minor children."
II. "Whether the trial court erred in dismissing respondent's application for modification to be awarded sole legal custody and primary physical care of the parties' minor children."
III. "Whether the trial court erred in granting the mother's application for modification, as amended, awarding the mother sole legal custody of the parties' minor children, and further, restricting the father's right, privilege and duty of visitation."
II. Standard of Review
"Review in equity cases shall be de novo." Iowa R. App. P. 6.4; see In re Marriage of Daniels, 568 N.W.2d 51, 54 (Iowa Ct.App. 1997). Although we are not bound by the district court's findings, we give them deference because the district court evaluated the parties with a firsthand view of their demeanors. Id. "Prior cases have little precedential value; we must base our decision primarily on the particular circumstances in this case." Id.; In re the Marriage of Weidner, 338 N.W.2d 351, 356 (Iowa 1983). Our "first and foremost consideration in determining custody is the best interest of the child involved." Iowa R. App. P. 6.14(6)( o).
III. Merits
We review a trial court's refusal to find contempt in a dissolution proceeding for substantial evidence in the record supporting the trial court's finding. In re Marriage of Hankenson, 503 N.W.2d 431, 433 (Iowa Ct.App. 1993) (citing In re Marriage of Wegner, 461 N.W.2d 351, 354 (Iowa App. 1990)). "An individual may not be punished for contempt unless the allegedly contumacious actions have been established by proof beyond a reasonable doubt." Hankenson, 503 N.W.2d at 433 (citing In re Marriage of Anderson, 451 N.W.2d 187, 191 (Iowa Ct. App. 1989)).
A person can be held in contempt if a person "willfully disobeys the order or decree." Iowa Code § 598.23(1) (2005). "[C]onduct that is intentional and deliberate with a bad or evil purpose, or wanton and in disregard of the rights of others, contrary to a known duty, or unauthorized, coupled with an unconcern whether the contemner had the right or not" constitutes the willful disobedience necessary for a showing of contempt. Wegner, 461 N.W.2d at 353 (citing Amro v. Iowa Dist. Court, 429 N.W.2d 135, 140 (Iowa 1988)).
David asserts that the trial court erred for not holding Amanda in contempt for failure to abide by the visitation terms in the dissolution decree. According to the record, Amanda denied David visitation before the original dissolution trial, and after the court admonished her for denying David visitation, Amanda complied with the visitation terms in the decree. In his motion to show cause, David provided dates on which Amanda allegedly failed to allow David visitation. Through David's own testimony, he admitted that the dates cited were not dates on which he was entitled to visitation. The only evidence supporting his assertions was a log kept by Deputy Kerns at the sheriff's office where the visitation exchanges occurred. This log only substantiated that Amanda did not provide David visitation on the days he was not entitled to visitation. Therefore, the trial court was correct to refuse to hold Amanda in contempt.
Modification of custodial terms of a dissolution decree may be ordered only when there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the time of the original decree and the substantial change was not contemplated by the court at the time of the decree. Dale v. Pearson, 555 N.W.2d 243, 245 (Iowa Ct.App. 1996). "The change must be more or less permanent and relate to the welfare of the children. Id.; In re Marriage of Walton, 577 N.W.2d 869, 870 (Iowa Ct.App. 1998). The burden rests with the parent requesting the change of custody to prove that he or she is more able to attend to the children's well-being. Dale, 555 N.W.2d at 245; Frederici, 338 N.W.2d 156, 158 (Iowa 1983). "This strict standard is premised on the principle that once custody of children has been determined, it should be disturbed only for the most cogent reasons." Dale, 555 N.W.2d at 245 (citing In re Petition of Anderson, 530 N.W.2d 741, 741-42 (Iowa App. 1995)).
In other words, the party applying to change the custodial provision of the dissolution decree must show by a preponderance of the evidence that conditions have so materially and substantially changed since the decree was entered "that the children's best interests make it expedient to make the requested change." In re Marriage of Frederici, 338 N.W.2d at 158; In re Marriage of Smiley, 518 N.W.2d 376, 378-79 (Iowa 1994). The burden of proof cannot simply be met by demonstrating one home is better, but by providing evidence that the person requesting modification can offer superior care and "[i]f both parents are found to be equally competent to minister to the children, custody should not be changed." In re Marriage of Whalen, 569 N.W.2d 626, 628 (Iowa Ct.App. 1997); In re Marriage of Smith, 491 N.W.2d 538, 541 (Iowa Ct.App. 1992).
We have held that "if the rights of the noncustodial parent are jeopardized by the conduct of the custodial parent, such acts could provide an adequate ground for a change of custody." In re Marriage of Quirk-Edwards, 509 N.W.2d 476, 480 (Iowa 1993) (citing In re Marriage of Gratias, 406 N.W.2d 815, 817-18 (Iowa Ct. App. 1987)). A parent's refusal to allow the other parent to have "contact with the child `is a most serious reflection on [that parent's] capacity to retain custody.'" In re Marriage of Gonzales, 373 N.W.2d 152, 154 (Iowa Ct.App. 1985) (quoting Spotts v. Spotts, 197 N.W.2d 370, 372 (Iowa 1972)).
David argues that the trial court was wrong to dismiss his application for modification because Amanda has failed to make the children accessible to him on days he is entitled to visitation. As we have previously discussed, David's claim that Amanda denied him visitation is not supported. Moreover, David has not shown any support for the proposition that he has a superior ability to parent. Specifically, David has not shown he could provide for the children's daily needs, because he has not maintained a residence and he has subjected the children to investigations by DHS by making false allegations. Considering the record does not support David's allegations and David fails to meet the needs of the children, the trial court was correct to find David did not show a substantial change in circumstances or that he has a superior ability to parent his children.
Turning to David's argument that the trial court erred in granting Amanda's application for modification of custody, we consider whether the record supports a change is circumstances to warrant awarding Amanda sole legal custody and restricting David's visitation rights. Since the dissolution decree, David has made false allegations to DHS and, as a result, his children were subject to multiple investigations. David has made threats against Amanda in front of the children. Additionally, since the dissolution, David has been convicted of harassment in the third degree for making a multitude of harassing telephone calls and voice mail messages directed at Amanda. Amanda and her husband provide a caring and nurturing home. Amanda and her husband work together to get the children to and from school. They attend school functions and parent-teacher meetings. The children have a good relationship with Amanda's husband. As a result of the evidence in the record, the trial court did not err in determining that Amanda had shown a substantial change in circumstances warranting an award of sole legal custody to Amanda and a restriction of David's visitation.