No. 81-157
I N THE SUPREME COURT O THE STATE O MONTANA
F F
1981
I N RE THE MARRIAGE OF
P A T R I C I A LOUISE M L O M
AC L ,
P e t i t i o n e r and Respondent,
-vs-
CORNEL HOWARD M L O M
AC L ,
Respondent and A p p e l l a n t .
Appeal from: D i s t r i c t Court of t h e Eighth J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t ,
I n and f o r t h e County o f Cascade, The Honorable
J o e l G. Roth, Judge p r e s i d i n g .
Counsel o f Record:
For A p p e l l a n t :
S t e p h e n E. Hagerman, Great F a l l s , Montana
For Respondent:
Larsen & N e i l l , G r e a t F a l l s , Montana
t'
..
S u b m i t t e d on B r i e f s : November 1 2 , 1 9 8 1
Decided : E B 4 1982
FEB 4 - 1362
Filed:
Mr. J u s t i c e Frank B. M o r r i s o n , J r . , d e l i v e r e d t h e Opinion of
t h e Court.
On J u l y 2 , 1980, P a t r i c i a Malcolm ( m o t h e r ) p e t i t i o n e d
t h e E i g h t h ~ u d i c i a l i s t r i c t f o r d i s s o l u t i o n of h e r m a r r i a g e
D
t o C o r n e l Malcolm ( f a t h e r ) . A temporary o r d e r was i s s u e d by
t h a t c o u r t on September 4 , 1980, g r a n t i n g , among o t h e r
t h i n g s , temporary c u s t o d y of t h e c o u p l e ' s t h r e e c h i l d r e n t o
t h e i r mother. A d e c r e e d i s s o l v i n g t h e m a r r i a g e was g r a n t e d
on J a n u a r y 2 7 , 1981. Following f u r t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n , a n
o r d e r was i s s u e d on F e b r u a r y 9, 1981, whereby t h e mother was
g r a n t e d permanent c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d r e n and t h e f a t h e r was
o r d e r e d t o pay one hundred d o l l a r s p e r c h i l d p e r month a s
c h i l d support.
The f a t h e r a p p e a l s t h i s c u s t o d y o r d e r and c l a i m s t h a t
t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t abused i t s d i s c r e t i o n by g r a n t i n g c u s t o d y
of t h e c h i l d r e n t o t h e i r mother. H e a s s e r t s t h a t permanent
c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d r e n s h o u l d n o t have been g r a n t e d t h e
mother f o r t h e f o l l o w i n g r e a s o n s :
(1) She h a s l i v e d w i t h a n o t h e r man w h i l e s t i l l m a r r i e d
t o h e r husband.
(2) She h a s "abused and n e g l e c t e d " t h e c h i l d r e n by
l o c k i n g them i n a c a r w i t h a loaded gun.
(3) She h a s been i n t r o u b l e w i t h t h e p o l i c e .
(4) She h a s l e f t t h e c h i l d r e n u n a t t e n d e d on s e v e r a l
occasions.
Therefore, a s s e r t s t h e f a t h e r , it i s not i n t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s
of t h e c h i l d r e n t o g r a n t permanent c u s t o d y t o t h e i r mother.
H e r e q u e s t s w e r e v e r s e t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s o r d e r and g r a n t
him c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d r e n .
This Court has long followed t h e r u l e t h a t u n l e s s t h e r e
i s a c l e a r a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n by t h e ~ i s t r i c C o u r t , t h e
t
~ i s t r i c C o u r t ' s c u s t o d y d e c i s i o n w i l l n o t be o v e r t u r n e d on
t
appeal. he t r i a l judge i s i n a b e t t e r p o s i t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e
c h i l d c u s t o d y a s he h a s h e a r d t h e t e s t i m o n y and o b s e r v e d t h e
demeanor of t h e w i t n e s s e s . A l l e n v . A l l e n ( 1 9 7 8 ) , 175 Mont.
527, 575 P.2d 74; I n r e M a r r i a g e of Tweeten ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 172
Mont. 404, 563 P.2d 1 1 4 1 ; I n r e t h e M a r r i a g e of I s l e r ( 1 9 7 7 ) ,
173 Mont. 29, 566 P.2d 55.
W f i n d no c l e a r a b u s e of d i s c r e t i o n by t h e D i s t r i c t
e
Court i n t h i s i n s t a n c e . T h e r e f o r e , we a f f i r m t h e D i s t r i c t
Court's order.
The mother t e s t i f i e d t h a t s h e and h e r c h i l d r e n l i v e d
w i t h a n o t h e r man b e f o r e s h e o b t a i n e d a d i s s o l u t i o n of h e r
marriage. She a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e c h i l d r e n were l o c k e d
i n h e r c a r w i t h a l o a d e d gun i n c i d e n t t o h e r a t t e m p t t o
r e g a i n c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d r e n from t h e i r f a t h e r . The gun
was i n i t i a l l y p o i n t e d by t h e mother a t t h e f a t h e r and a n o t h e r
man, a f t e r which it was p l a c e d i n t h e m o t h e r ' s p u r s e and
l o c k e d by h e r i n t h e c a r . The mother had a l s o l o c k e d h e r
c h i l d r e n i n t h e c a r t o keep them from t h e i r f a t h e r .
Although t h e c o u r t condoned n e i t h e r of t h e s e a c t i o n s on
t h e p a r t of t h e m o t h e r , i t h e l d t h a t t h e s e i n s t a n c e s d i d n o t
n e c e s s a r i l y p r o v e t h a t s h e was " t o t a l l y u n f i t and i n c a p a b l e
of b e i n g awarded c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d r e n . " W e agree.
Evidence was p r e s e n t e d which e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e
f a t h e r had a s s a u l t e d t h e mother on s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s . She
was a f r a i d of him. This evidence, coupled with t h e unusually
e m o t i o n a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s s u r r o u n d i n g t h e u s e of t h e gun,
l e a d s u s t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e r e was no c l e a r a b u s e of
d i s c r e t i o n by t h e t r i a l c o u r t r e g a r d i n g t h i s d e t e r m i n a t i o n .
The c o n t a c t s t h e mother h a s had w i t h t h e p o l i c e s t e m
from t h e above d e s c r i b e d gun i n c i d e n t and a t r e s p a s s . The
D i s t r i c t C o u r t d i d n o t a b u s e i t s d i s c r e t i o n by f a i l i n g t o
deny c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d r e n t o t h e i r mother a s a r e s u l t of
the police contact.
F i n a l l y , e v i d e n c e was p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l c o n f i r m i n g
t h a t t h e one t i m e t h e c h i l d r e n were l e f t a l o n e a t n i g h t , a
n e i g h b o r p e r i o d i c a l l y checked on them. W e do n o t condone
l e a v i n g young c h i l d r e n a l o n e a t n i g h t w i t h o u t a b a b y s i t t e r
p r e s e n t i n t h e home. However, i n l i g h t of t h e t o t a l e v i d e n c e
p r e s e n t e d a t t r i a l , we do n o t f i n d t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t
abused i t s d i s c r e t i o n on t h e b a s i s of t h a t s i n g l e i n c i d e n t .
The b e s t i n t e r e s t of t h e c h i l d i s t h e primary f a c t o r t o
be c o n s i d e r e d when d e t e r m i n i n g c u s t o d y of t h e c h i l d . Section
40-4-212, MCA, states:
"40-4-212. B e s t i n t e r e s t of c h i l d . The c o u r t
s h a l l determine custody i n accordance w i t h t h e
b e s t i n t e r e s t of t h e c h i l d . The c o u r t s h a l l
consider a l l relevant f a c t o r s including:
" ( 1 ) t h e w i s h e s of t h e c h i l d ' s p a r e n t o r
p a r e n t s a s t o h i s custody;
" ( 2 ) t h e w i s h e s of t h e c h i l d a s t o h i s c u s t o -
dian;
" ( 3 ) t h e i n t e r a c t i o n and i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p of
the child with h i s parent o r parents, h i s sib-
l i n g s , and any o t h e r p e r s o n who may s i g n i f i c a n t -
ly affect the child's best interest;
" ( 4 ) t h e c h i l d ' s a d j u s t m e n t t o h i s home,
s c h o o l , and community; and
" ( 5 ) t h e m e n t a l and p h y s i c a l h e a l t h of a l l
individuals involved."
F a c t o r number one i s i r r e l e v a n t i n t h i s d i s p u t e a s b o t h
p a r e n t s wish t o have c u s t o d y of t h e i r c h i l d r e n . I n addition,
t h e t r i a l c o u r t found b o t h p a r e n t s t o b e i n good h e a l t h and
none of t h e c h i l d r e n t o have c u r r e n t r e l e v a n t p h y s i c a l o r
m e n t a l h e a l t h problems. T h e r e f o r e , f a c t o r number f i v e i s
a l s o irrelevant t o t h i s dispute.
Evidence r e c e i v e d a t t r i a l s u p p o r t s t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s
c u s t o d y d e t e r m i n a t i o n when i t i s a p p l i e d t o f a c t o r s two,
t h r e e and f o u r . When i n t e r v i e w e d by Family C o u r t S e r v i c e s ,
b o t h s i x y e a r o l d Shawndel Malcolm and e i g h t y e a r o l d Ray
Shawn Malcolm e x p r e s s e d t h e d e s i r e t o r e s i d e w i t h t h e i r
mother. Although b o t h c h i l d r e n s t a t e d t h e y l o v e d t h e i r
f a t h e r and would l i k e t o s e e him o f t e n , t h e y b o t h e x p r e s s e d
a f e a r of him. Three y e a r o l d Sheronda Malcolm i s t o o young
t o express a preference.
R e p o r t s from s c h o o l t e a c h e r s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e c h i l d r e n
a r e well adjusted t o t h e i r present school s i t u a t i o n s .
Neighbors of t h e Malcolms t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e Malcolm c h i l d r e n
a r e w e l l behaved and a r e v e r y s u i t a b l e p l a y m a t e s f o r t h e i r
own c h i l d r e n . The c h i l d r e n seem t o be w e l l a d j u s t e d t o
t h e i r c u r r e n t home, s c h o o l and community.
O t h e r t e s t i m o n y of n e i g h b o r s and f r i e n d s of t h e Malcolms,
a s w e l l a s S h e r o n d a ' s day c a r e t e a c h e r , a t t e s t e d t o t h e f i n e
i n t e r a c t i o n and i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p between P a t r i c i a Malcolm
and h e r c h i l d r e n . She was w i l l i n g t o change jobs when t h e
new work h o u r s a t h e r former job i n t e r f e r e d w i t h t h e t i m e
s h e had t o spend w i t h h e r c h i l d r e n . The c h i l d r e n were
r e p o r t e d t o be c l e a n , n e a t and happy. Evidence was r e c e i v e d
i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e mother p a r t i c i p a t e d w i t h h e r c h i l d r e n i n
numerous a c t i v i t i e s s u c h a s s k a t i n g , swimming and t r i p s t o
t h e park.
Evidence was a l s o r e c e i v e d c o n c e r n i n g t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p
of C o r n e l Malcolm w i t h h i s c h i l d r e n . Although h e a p p a r e n t l y
d i d n o t spend a s much t i m e i n t e r r e a c t i n g w i t h h i s c h i l d r e n
a s d i d t h e i r m o t h e r , t h e t i m e s t o g e t h e r were e n j o y a b l e t o
a l l parties. H e was found by t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t t o b e a f i t
and l o v i n g f a t h e r . However, t h e f i n d i n g t h a t a p a r e n t i s
b o t h f i t and c a p a b l e d o e s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y mean i t would be
i n t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s of t h e c h i l d t o be p u t i n t h a t p a r e n t ' s
custody. - - M a r r i a g e - I s l e r , s u p r a ; I n t h e M a t t e r of
In re of
t h e Adoption of Redcrow ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 172 Mont. 366, 5 6 3 P.2d
1121.
O t h e r f a c t o r s s u p p o r t e d by t h e e v i d e n c e and c o n s i d e r e d
by t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 40-4-212, MCA,
s u p p o r t t h e c o u r t ' s d e t e r m i n a t i o n t h a t t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s of
t h e c h i l d r e n would be s e r v e d by g r a n t i n g permanent c u s t o d y
of them t o t h e i r mother. They a r e :
" 1 ) The f a t h e r f a i l e d t o pay s u p p o r t f o r t h e
c h i l d r e n a s t e m p o r a r i l y o r d e r e d by t h e c o u r t .
"2) The f a t h e r had t o be o r d e r e d by t h e c o u r t
t o deliver the children's clothing, furniture
and household cooking u t e n s i l s t o t h e mother.
" 3 ) The f a t h e r seldom v i s i t e d t h e c h i l d r e n
f o l l o w i n g t h e s e p a r a t i o n of t h e husband and
wife.
"4) The f a t h e r r e f u s e d t o p e r m i t t h e mother
t o have a m i l i t a r y i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c a r d s o
t h a t s h e c o u l d shop a t t h e b a s e commissary
and b a s e exchange f o r food and c l o t h i n g f o r
the children."
Although t h e s e a c t s were a p p a r e n t l y i n t e n d e d t o i r r i t a t e
and i n c o n v e n i e n c e t h e m o t h e r , t h e y a l s o a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t e d
the children. They were p r o p e r l y c o n s i d e r e d by t h e t r i a l
c o u r t and s u p p o r t t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n made.
The D i s t r i c t C o u r t found t h a t " t h e p r e p o n d e r a n c e of t h e
e v i d e n c e e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e p e t i t i o n e r i s a good mother t o
t h e c h i l d r e n , a d e q u a t e l y c a r e s f o r them, l o v e s them, wants
t o b e t h e c u s t o d i a n of t h e c h i l d r e n , and i s a b l e t o p r o v i d e
f o r t h e i r needs and t o p r o v i d e a home f o r t h e m . ' V e f i n d
ample e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o r t t h i s f i n d i n g and t h e r e f o r e a f f i r m
t h e permanent c u s t o d y o r d e r of t i s t r i c t Court. F
We Concur: