In Re The Parenting And Support Of: O.r.m.-l. Deon Ladson, App. v. Priscilla Maxey, Resp. ( 2014 )

IL E O
COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION 11
20 PP. 10
AN 3: 40
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WAS
DIVISION II
DEON ANDREW LADSON, No. 43733 -3 - II
Appellant,
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
v.
PRISCILLA ELNORA MAXEY,
Respondent.
BJORGEN, J. — Deon Andrew Ladson appeals the trial court' s denial of his motion for
reconsideration of a final order of child support, which requires him to make payments to
Priscilla Elnora Maxey on behalf of their child, ORM - Ladson argues that the trial court erred
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by ( 1) including certain payments Ladson receives from the federal government in his gross
income for the purpose of calculating his child support obligation; ( 2) refusing to grant a
deviation from the child support schedule due to Ladson' s obligation to support children from
other relationships; ( 3) misidentifying Ladson on the order as the respondent rather than the
petitioner; ( 4) including day care fees and private school tuition in Ladson' s transfer payment to
Maxey rather than ordering the amounts paid directly to the providers; and ( 5) failing to properly
apportion certain extraordinary expenses between Ladson and Maxey. We reverse the trial
court' s rulings on long distance transportation costs and on private .school tuition and remand for
further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion on those subjects. We affirm on all other
issues.
No. 43733 -3 - II
FACTS
Ladson petitioned the superior court for a residential schedule and parenting plan in
August 2011 for ORM -L, a child he had fathered with Maxey. In her response, Maxey requested
that the court also determine the parties' child support obligations.
Maxey and Ladson ultimately agreed to a final parenting plan. Because Ladson then
resided in Georgia, the plan provided for very limited visitation with ORM - who continued to
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reside primarily with Maxey in Washington. The plan did not specify transportation
arrangements, however, stating instead that "[ t] ransportation costs are included in the Child
Support Worksheets and /or the Order of Child Support and should not be included here."
Clerk' s Papers ( CP) at 97. The plan provided that major decisions regarding ORM - s health
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care and religious upbringing would be made jointly, but that Maxey had exclusive responsibility
for major education decisions.
The court subsequently held a hearing on the child support issue. Ladson, then residing
in South Carolina, appeared telephonically and argued that he should not have any additional
support obligation becausethe Social Security Administration pays Maxey $234 per month for
ORM - s support on Ladson' s behalf. Maxey testified that she had been paying for ORM - to
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attend private school since 2009, and that " Ladson did verbally agree to send her there," but
Ladson immediately denied that he had so agreed. Verbatim Report of Proceedings ( VRP) ( May
3, 2012) at 6.
After considering additional financial information submitted by Ladson, the court entered
a final order of child support, directing Ladson to pay Maxey $ 1, 000 per month based on the
standard calculation. The order does not separately apportion responsibility for long distance
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transportation expenses, stating that " all payments, except medical, are included in the transfer
payment." CP at 114. The attached child support worksheet, however, shows that the court did
not include long distance transportation expenses in the calculation. The worksheet shows that
the court did include $200 per month for day care and $ 659 per month for "[ e] ducation
e] xpenses," the amount of the private school tuition, in the transfer payment calculation. CP at
124.
Ladson subsequently moved the court to reconsider the decision and requested a
deviation from the standard calculation due to his duty to support other children. In support of
the motion, Ladson contended that the court should not have included his income from social
security and veteran' s affairs disability payments or the private school tuition in the calculation;
that the court should have included uninsured medical and long distance transportation expenses
in the calculation; and that the court should have ordered the day care expenses paid directly to
the providers rather than including them in the transfer payment to Maxey. The court denied
Ladson' s motion for reconsideration, and Ladson appeals.
ANALYSIS
Ladson bases certain parts of his claims on clear misunderstandings of the governing law
and the actions taken by the trial court. He has failed to properly raise other claims by presenting
neither argument nor authority in support of them and makes no showing that another claimed
error amounts to an abuse of discretion. Two claims that Ladson has properly preserved and
argued, however, have merit and require remand. We first address those claims that clearly fail,
then discuss Ladson' s meritorious claims.
No. 43733 -3 - II
I. STANDARD OF REVIEW
We review a trial court' s ruling on a motion for reconsideration for manifest abuse of
discretion. Coggle v. Snow, 56 Wash. App. 499, 504, 784 P.2d 554 ( 1990). Appellate courts also
review child support orders for manifest abuse of discretion, In re Marriage of Griffin, 114
Wash. 2d 772, 776, 791 P.2d 519 ( 1990), and will only reverse if the trial court' s decision was
manifestly unreasonable or was based on untenable grounds or untenable reasons. In re
Marriage ofLittlefield, 133 Wash. 2d 39, 47, 940 P.2d 1362 ( 1997).
A court' s decision is manifestly unreasonable if it is outside the range of
acceptable choices, given the facts and the applicable legal standard; it is based on
untenable grounds if the factual findings are unsupported by the record; it is based
on untenable reasons if it is based on an incorrect standard or the facts do not
meet the requirements of the correct standard.
Littlefield, 133 Wash. 2d at 47. Evidence suffices to support a finding of fact if it is of "sufficient
quantum to persuade a fair -
minded, rational person of the truth of a declared premise." Helman
v. Sacred Heart Hosp., 62 Wash. 2d 136, 147, 381 P.2d 605 ( 1963).
II. THE TRIAL COURT PROPERLY CALCULATED LADSON' S INCOME
Ladson contends that all of his income qualifies as aged and disabled assistance benefits
under RCW 26. 19. 071( 4)( e) and ( f)and argues that the trial court should therefore not have
included it when calculating his gross income for purposes of determining his child support
obligation. As the trial court pointed out to Ladson, the income at issue plainly does not fall
under those statutory provisions, and Ladson' s claim fails.
The relevant statute provides that "[ a] 11 income and resources of each parent' s household
shall be disclosed and considered by the court when the court determines the child support
obligation of each parent." RCW 26. 19. 071( 1). The statute goes on to specify that "[ e] xcept as
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No. 43733 -3 -II
specifically excluded in subsection ( 4) of this section, monthly gross income shall include
income from any source" and gives a nonexclusive list of included types of income. RCW
26. 19. 071( 3). The examples include pension retirement benefits, workers' compensation,
unemployment benefits, social security benefits, and disability insurance benefits. RCW
26. 19. 071( 3)( n), ( o), ( p), ( s), ( t). Another provision specifically allows "[ v] eterans' disability
pensions or regular compensation for disability incurred in or aggravated by service in the United
States armed forces," to be considered " as disposable income for purposes of calculating the
child support obligation." RCW 26. 19. 045.
The provision Ladson relies on specifies types of "income and resources [ that] shall be
disclosed but shall not be included in gross income." RCW 26. 19. 071( 4). The list includes
s] uppleinental security income" and "[ a] ged, blind, or disabled assistance benefits." RCW
26. 19. 071( 4)( e), ( 1).
Although the documents Ladson provided to the court concerning his financial situation
are not in the record, it appears that his income of $6, 316 per month derives from social security
benefits, retirement benefits, and disability benefits from the Department ofVeterans' Affairs.
Disability payments from insurance plans or other contribution -based compensation programs
qualify as gross income for purposes of calculating child support obligations. See In re Marriage
of Maples, 78 Wn. App. 696, 701, 899 P.2d 1 ( 1995), overruled in part on other grounds by In re
Marriage of McCausland, 159 Wash. 2d 607, 152 P.3d 1013 ( 2007). Social security benefits for
persons with disabilities who paid into the social security system during their working careers do
not qualify as "` supplemental security income, "' a federally -funded, means -tested program
equally available to all, regardless of whether they have worked or paid social security tax. See
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Hammond v. Hammond, 26 Wn. App. 129, 131 - 33, 611 P.2d 1352 ( 1980) ( discussing the
distinction between the two programs) ( quoting Mathews v. De Castro, 429 U.S. 181, 186 n.6, 97
S. Ct. 431, 50 L. Ed. 2d 389 ( 1976)). Thus, under RCW 26. 19. 045, . 071( 3)( n), ( s) and ( t), and
071( 4), the trial court properly considered all of the disputed sources in calculating Ladson' s
gross income.
III. THE TRIAL COURT DID NOT ABUSE ITS DISCRETION IN REFUSING LADSON A DEVIATION
Ladson argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his request for a
deviation from the standard child support calculation due to his duty to support two children
from other relationships. We disagree.
When a parent owes a duty to support children from other relationships, the relevant
statute grants trial courts discretion as to whether or not to deviate from the standard calculation.
RCW 26. 19. 075( 1)( e). A trial court, however, should deviate from the standard support amount
only in exceptional circumstances " where it would be inequitable not to do so." Goodell v.
Goodell, 130 Wn. App. 381, 391, 122 P.3d 929 ( 2005). A trial court may refuse to deviate from
the standard calculation based on a lackof information aboutthe financial circumstances of-the
children from other relationships. Goodell, 130 Wash. App. at 391 -92.
Ladson presented no evidence that any court or government agency had ordered him to
make support payments on behalf of other children or that he in fact makes such payments.
Ladson merely asserts that " I actually send gifts when I can to all my children." Br. of Appellant
at 16. The trial court considered Ladson' s arguments on this issue, and the evidence submitted in
support of those arguments.
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No. 43733 -3 - II
Ladson essentially argued that the payments the Social Security Administration makes on
his behalf to the custodial parents of his other children qualify as child support payments, and
that this should reduce his obligation to support ORM - While such payments would properly
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be deducted from his obligation of support to those other children, the payments do not logically
bear on the question of Ladson' s duty to support ORM - . Maples, 78 Wash. App. at 700 -04. In
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fact, under Maples, the trial court could have considered those payments as income to Ladson,
thus potentially increasing the amount of his support payments to Maxey. 78 Wash. App. at 700-
04.
Under these circumstances, Ladson' s claim that the court abused its discretion in refusing
to deviate from the standard calculation has no merit.
IV. LADSON WAIVED HIS CLAIMS THAT THE COURT ERRED BY NOT ORDERING PAYMENT
DIRECTLY TO PROVIDERS AND BY DESIGNATING MAXEY AS THE PETITIONER ON THE ORDER
Ladson assigns error to the trial court' s decision to include day care fees and private
school tuition in the transfer payment to Maxey, rather than order Ladson to pay the providers
directly. Ladson presents no argument in support of this assignment of error, however, and
directs our attention to no authority requiring trial courts to do so.
We generally consider an assignment of error waived if the party fails to present
argument or authority on the issue in its brief. State v. Harris, 164 Wash. App. 377, 389 n.7, 263
P.3d 1276 ( 2011) ( citing RAP 10. 3( a)( 6); Smith v. King, 106 Wash. 2d 443, 451 -52, 722 P.2d 796
1986)). Seeing no reason to vary this rule, we decline to reach the issue.
Ladson also argues that the trial court erred by " misrepresenting the Petitioner by placing
Ms[.] I the Petitioner." Br. Appellant 1. Curiously, Ladson does
Maxey as such, when am of at
No. 43733 -3 -II
not assign error to the trial court' s order on this ground. Neither does Ladson explain how this
might prejudice him: indeed, Ladson presents no argument on this issue at all.
As an initial matter, the court' s designation is arguably correct: Ladson did not request a
determination of child support in his petition. Rather, Maxey asked the court to address child
support in her response. Regardless, by failing to assign error to the caption and to present
argument and authority in support of the claim, Ladson has waived the issue. We do not address
it further.'
V. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT ALLOCATING LONG DISTANCE TRANSPORTATION COSTS
Ladson argues that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to allocate expenses for
1) day care, ( 2) extraordinary health care, and ( 3) long distance transportation in the order, as
required by RCW 26. 19. 080. Ladson apparently bases his claim regarding the first two expenses
on a misunderstanding of the worksheet attached to the order, which does in fact allocate those
expenses. We agree, however, with Ladson' s claim regarding long distance transportation costs.
The worksheet the trial court used to calculate the transfer payment amount shows that
the court allocated boththe education and day care expenses between Ladson and Maxey
according to each one' s proportional share of their combined net income. Ladson' s brief does
not make clear why he believes the court did not allocate these expenses.
Similarly, the child support order includes a section addressing uninsured health care
expenses. Ladson points out that the court did not enter numbers in the blanks provided for the
percentage of such expenses each parent would have to pay. However, the order clearly states
1
We do note, however, that the court rules allow a litigant to move the trial court to correct
clerical mistakes in an order at any time. CR 60. If Ladson thinks the caption erroneous, that
procedure would seem a more appropriate avenue for relief.
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No. 43733 -3 - II
that " unless stated otherwise" responsibility for those expenses is allocated according to " the
petitioner' s [ and respondent' s] proportional share of income from the Worksheet." CP at 119.
As just discussed, the court completed the relevant portion of the worksheet and entered the
proportional shares on the line referenced. Thus, we reject Ladson' s claim that the court did not
properly allocate the day care and uninsured health care expenses.
The portion of the' order addressing long distance transportation expenses, on the other
hand, merely states that " all payments ... are included in the transfer payment." CP at 114. The
parenting plan, which clearly contemplates that the residential schedule and visitation
arrangements will require long distance transportation, states that such transportation costs " are
included in the Child Support Worksheets and /
or the Order of Child Support." CP at 97. On the
worksheet used to calculate the transfer payment amount, however, the trial court left the space
for long distance transportation costs blank.
The child support statute provides that
d] ay care and special child rearing expenses, such as tuition and long- distance
transportation costs to and from the parents for visitation purposes, are not
included in the economic table. These expenses shall be shared by the parents in
the same proportion as the basic child support obligation.
RCW 26. 19. 080( 3). Thus, apportionment of these costs is mandatory.
Our decision in In re Paternity ofHewitt, 98 Wash. App. 85, 88 -90, 988 P.2d 496 ( 1999),
controls. The Hewitt court interpreted the statutory language to also require apportionment of
the travel costs a parent incurred due to the fact that the child could not travel alone, regardless
of any difference in the parents' financial circumstances, unless the court properly finds grounds
for a deviation. 98 Wash. App. at 89 -90 ( holding that, because the court did not deviate from the
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standard calculation, it "abused its discretion in requiring [the father] to pay more than his
proportional share of the travel expenses ").
As discussed, the trial court did not purport to deviate from the standard calculation, nor
did it allocate the costs of long distance transportation in proportion to Ladson' s and Maxey' s
respective shares of their combined income. This would leave Ladson responsible for all such
costs. Under RCW 26. 19. 080( 3), as interpreted in Hewitt, the trial court abused its discretion
when it failed to allocate the long distance transportation costs in proportion to the basic child
support obligations.
VI. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ORDERING LADSON TO PAY PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION
Ladson argues that the trial court erred by ordering him to pay a share of ORM - ' s
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private school tuition without entering any findings in support of such an obligation. Because
needed findings were not entered and, if implied, were not supported by substantial evidence in
the record, Ladson' s argument has merit.
Although "[ t]here is no per se prohibition against the award of private school tuition for a
minor child, we have held that _
w]here acceptable public schools are available, and there is no showing of
specialcircumstances justifying the need for private school education, the
noncustodial parent should not be obligated to pay for the private education of his
or her minor children.
In re Marriage of Stern, 57 Wn. App. 707, 720, 789 P.2d 807 ( 1990). Special circumstances that
could support imposing such an obligation include " family tradition, religion, and past
attendance at a private school." Stern, 57 Wash. App. at 720. Furthermore, we have also held that,
where a parent objects to paying private school tuition, the court must consider and make
findings as to the objecting parent' s ability to pay. State ex rel. J.V G. v. Van Guilder, 137 Wash.
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App. 417, 429 -30, 154 P.3d 243 ( 2007) ( holding that " part of determining which extraordinary
expenses will be allowed must involve a determination of the objecting parent' s ability to pay ").
We generally construe the absence of a finding in a court order against the party having
the burden of proof on the relevant factual issue, unless undisputed evidence in the record
compels otherwise. Mitchell v. Straith, 40 Wn. App. 405, 412, 698 P.2d 609 ( 1985); Lobdell v.
Sugar `N Spice, Inc., 33 Wn. App. 881, 887, 658 P.2d 1267 ( 1983). Where the trial court enters
no findings on a particular matter, however, " an appellate court may look to the oral opinion to
determine the basis for the trial court' s resolution of the issue. Griffin, 114 Wash. 2d at 777.
Although the trial court did grant Maxey sole authority to make major educational
decisions concerning ORM - the court entered no findings on the need for private schooling or
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on Ladson' s ability to pay. Even were we to imply such findings, substantial evidence does not
appear in the record to support them. No evidence appears concerning the availability of
acceptable public schools, other than the fact that Maxey and ORM -L reside in Tacoma. Maxey
does not allege that ORM - has unusual educational needs the public schools could not meet.
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Nor doesthe record contain any evidence on Ladson' s ability to paythe tuition costs other than
the amount of his income itself and the fact that Ladson' s new wife has a job.
The only evidence concerning the other factors consists of the following exchange
between Maxey and Ladson at the child support hearing:
Maxey: I do pay for [ ORM -L]' s Christian private school. She' s been going
there since 2009 which Mr. Ladson did agree to.
No. 43733 -3 - II
Ladson: I did not. That was your decision.
VRP( May3, 2012) at6.
The trial court did not explain its decision orally and entered no findings on the matter.
In a letter informing the parties of its decision, the trial court merely stated that the transfer
payment amount " includes the day care and education cost." CP at 102. Thus, the evidence in
the record is inadequate to persuade a rational, fair -
minded person of the need for private
schooling, and thus fails to provide an adequate basis for a finding of special circumstances
justifying an obligation to pay such expenses. See In re Marriage of Vander Veen, 62 Wash. App.
861, 865 -67, 815 P.2d 843 ( 1991) ( finding substantial evidence supporting the trial court' s award
of private school tuition based on extensive testimony concerning several of the Stern factors).
As the parent requesting assistance with private tuition costs, the burden plainly lay on
Maxey to make a showing justifying the imposition of such an obligation on Ladson. Under
Lobdell and Mitchell, we must therefore construe the absence of findings against Maxey. Under
Stern and J.V.G., furthermore, a sufficient showing would include not only evidence of special
circumstances, but also evidence of a lack of adequate public schools and evidence that Ladson
has the ability to pay. Thus, even were we to consider the fact that ORM - has apparently
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attended the school since 2009 as a special circumstance tending to justify an obligation to pay
private school tuition, that circumstance would not by itself suffice because the record reveals
nothing about the adequacy or availability of public schools or about Ladson' s ability to pay.
The trial court erred in ordering Ladson to pay private school tuition without making
appropriate findings based on evidence in the record. The remedy, however, presents an
interesting question. The Stern court simply reversed the relevant portion of the order without
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further instructions, apparently precluding further consideration of the matter by the trial court.
57 Wash. App. at 720. The J.V.G. court, however, ordered the trial court to reconsider the matter
and enter appropriate findings on remand. 137 Wn. App. at 431. Given the sparseness of the
record and the parties' obvious unfamiliarity with the law, we hold that remand for a hearing and
entry of appropriate findings is the more appropriate remedy here.
CONCLUSION
We reverse the trial court' s rulings on long distance transportation costs and on private
school tuition and remand for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion on those
subjects. We affirm on all other issues. On remand, the trial court must properly allocate the
long distance transportation costs, hold a hearing on the issue of Ladson' s obligation to pay for
private school tuition, and enter an amended order with appropriate findings and conclusions.
A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW
2. 06. 040, it is so ordered.
We concur:
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