IN THE NEBRASKA COURT OF APPEALS
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND JUDGMENT ON APPEAL
(Memorandum Web Opinion)
HORN V. SHELL-HORN
NOTICE: THIS OPINION IS NOT DESIGNATED FOR PERMANENT PUBLICATION
AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY NEB. CT. R. APP. P. § 2-102(E).
RYAN B. HORN, APPELLEE,
V.
MELINDA SHELL-HORN, NOW KNOWN AS MELINDA SHELL, APPELLANT.
Filed October 17, 2017. No. A-17-009.
Appeal from the District Court for Douglas County: HORACIO J. WHEELOCK, Judge.
Affirmed.
Angela Lennon, of Koenig & Dunne, P.C., L.L.O., for appellant.
Anthony W. Liakos, of Govier, Katskee, Suing & Maxell, P.C., L.L.O., for appellee.
MOORE, Chief Judge, and BISHOP and ARTERBURN, Judges.
BISHOP, Judge.
Melinda Shell-Horn appeals from the decision of the district court for Douglas County
modifying custody of one of the parties’ two children to joint physical custody. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
Melinda and Ryan B. Horn were married in 2002 and have two children, Truman (born in
2002) and Eleanor (born in 2005). The divorce decree was filed in March 2013. Pursuant to the
divorce decree and the parenting plan prepared by the court, and relevant to this appeal, the parties
were awarded joint legal custody of the children, with physical custody awarded to Melinda. Ryan
was awarded regular parenting time which followed a two-week schedule:
Week one: Dad will have parenting time on Monday beginning at 3:00 p.m. and
concluding on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m., and continue Thursday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. and
ending at 7:00 p.m. with one of the children on a rotating basis.
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Week two: Dad will have parenting time on Tuesday beginning at 3:00 p.m. and
concluding on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. and shall continue on Friday beginning at 3:00 p.m.
and concluding at [sic] Monday at 8:00 a.m.
In addition, Dad will have parenting time with each child individually, on a rotating
basis, during Week Two beginning Monday at 3:00 p.m. and concluding on Tuesday at
8:00 a.m.
The court also set forth a holiday parenting time schedule. Pursuant to a subsequent order filed in
May 2013, the parties were given a “right of first refusal,” and had the “option but not the duty”
to parent the children when the possessory parent was not available.
In April 2016, Melinda filed an application to modify the decree alleging there had been a
material change in circumstances. Relevant to this appeal, Melinda alleged the original parenting
plan schedule was no longer appropriate because Ryan’s new employment required him to be away
from Omaha, Nebraska (where the parties lived), on a regular basis. She therefore sought a revision
of the parenting plan.
In his answer and “counter complaint,” Ryan alleged there had been a material change in
circumstances justifying modification of the decree and asked the court to award the parties joint
physical custody of the two minor children “with an equal time sharing schedule of alternating
weeks.” Ryan did not specifically set forth the alleged material change in circumstances.
Trial took place on September 30, 2016. Because the only issue on appeal relates to a
change in physical custody, we summarize only the testimony relevant to that issue.
Melinda testified that pursuant to the March 2013 decree, she has primary physical custody
of Truman, 13 years old, and Eleanor, 11. She explained that under the decree, Ryan has parenting
time every other weekend, “and then after Ryan’s weekend he has them Monday nights and then
Tuesday evenings, and then he’s supposed to have them a Thursday evening. Then my weekend’s
after that. Then he has them Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday evening.” She then clarified
that “he takes one child every other Monday and I keep one child every other Monday.”
Ryan testified that one or two years prior to the modification trial, he and Melinda
informally modified the parenting schedule in the decree to eliminate the afternoon only parenting
time (according to the decree, this would be the Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. during week 1), and
instead do an extra overnight one-on-one every two weeks. He offered their modified schedule
into evidence (exhibit 28), and it was received without objection. According to exhibit 28, their
parenting schedule is as follows:
Week 1
Dad Mon 3 pm - Tues 8 pm
Mom Tues 8 pm - Thurs 3 pm
Dad Thurs 3 pm - Fri 8 am - 1 child
Mom Thurs 3 pm - Fri 8 am - 1 child
Mom Fri 3 pm - Mon . . . 3 pm
Week 2
Dad Mon 3 pm - Tues 8 am - 1 child
Mom Mon 3 pm - Tues 8 am - 1 child
Dad Tues 8 pm - Wed 3 pm
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Mom Wed 3 pm - Fri 3 pm
Dad Fri 3 pm - Mon 8 am
He said they had been following the modification, but “when it comes to nights where it’s
Eleanor’s turn for that one[-]on[-]one, Melinda often denies it.” However, Truman is “pretty
forceful” about getting his one-on-one overnight with Ryan.
Melinda testified about both parties’ work schedules. She is a registered nurse at Children’s
Hospital and works a “part-time flex-up” schedule of 32 to 40 hours per week. Her schedule allows
her to work around both children’s schedules and Truman’s doctors’ appointments. For nearly two
years, Ryan has worked in public relations for a company based out of Washington, D.C., which
requires erratic and extensive travel. As a result of his travel for work, Ryan has had to cut his
parenting time short on multiple occasions. When Ryan misses parenting time, Melinda keeps the
children because she “[doesn’t] want someone else taking care of [her] children.” Her “flex-up”
work schedule allows her to do this, but she has to regularly cut back on or increase hours in order
to accommodate Ryan’s schedule.
Ryan testified he works for Sandler-Innocenzi, which has a home office in Washington,
D.C. Travel is a regular part of his job, but it is “fairly predictable.” In a normal month he travels
25 to 30-pecent of the business days; 80 to 90-percent of his travel is to the company’s Washington
D.C. office, where he travels to one week of every month (Monday morning to Friday evening),
and those trips are booked three to six weeks in advance. Additionally, “[t]here [were] probably
four or five trips this year where we had a chance to pitch business in other cities, and . . . those
did come up on fairly short notice.” The parties’ “crazy parenting plan” is not only difficult and
unpredictable for the children, but also is “not ideal” for Ryan’s travel schedule. And when Ryan
has had to go out of town for travel, Melinda has “without fail refused to trade parenting days”
with him.
Melinda offered exhibit 16 into evidence, showing the various dates in 2016 she claims
Ryan missed parenting time or appointments; the exhibit was received without objection.
However, Ryan testified exhibit 16 was not accurate, and gave some examples of dates he was
with the children when Melinda claimed he was not; he also offered photographic evidence and
screenshots of text messages to support his testimony, which were received without objection.
Melinda also testified about Truman’s health condition and his care needs. Truman was
born with a “chromosomal deletion, called 22q,” and “with that comes a lot of variations similar
to a child with [D]own syndrome.” He has epilepsy related to his condition, and also has “a very
weak airway which causes it to collapse.” He wears a “CPAP” (continuous positive airway
pressure) to hold his airway open at night. Truman “doesn’t produce enough growth hormones,
and he gets severe abdominal and head migraines. He has some learning disabilities and behavioral
inconsistencies . . . so he’s behaviorally behind” and has had a tutor since the first grade.
Additionally, his condition causes him to be very impulsive, and he needs someone to watch him.
Truman has a lower immune system and requires weekly “Hizentra infusions” (which Melinda
described as “basically somebody else’s B cells”) to prevent him from getting sick and having
seizures. The actual infusion takes 90 minutes, but the entire process takes 2 to 3 hours
(medications 30 minutes prior to infusion, and hydrating before and after infusion). Melinda
attended training so Truman could receive his infusions at home beginning in February 2016 (prior
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to this, Truman had been receiving monthly infusions in the hospital). Ryan did not attend the
training; he testified he was not aware there was a training session, but said he would be willing to
be trained. Melinda also gives Truman his growth hormone injections five days a week.
Ryan testified he visits with Truman’s doctors “as much as possible” but there has been an
ongoing struggle in terms of being informed of appointments. “I’ll give Melinda great credit for
her tenacity in helping Truman, but she has been unwilling to inform me on a regular basis of
what’s going on or hear my opinions on their -- on their care.” While Ryan is aware of most of
Truman’s medications, he is not aware of all of the medications because Melinda will not always
tell Ryan, and will avoid the subject. (On cross-examination, when asked if he was aware of any
legal bar preventing him from discussing medical issues with Truman’s medical providers, Ryan
said he was aware of none. However, he did state that a psychiatrist was not willing to tell him
what medication was prescribed for Truman.) To his knowledge, Ryan has never failed to give
Truman any required medication. However, Ryan stated Truman is 13 years old, and while Ryan
will make sure Truman puts on his CPAP at bedtime, he will not repeatedly check on Truman
throughout the night to make sure he kept it on.
According to Melinda, Eleanor does not have any medical or physical conditions other than
“just a few issues with coping with the divorce.” Both Truman and Eleanor do well in school and
get along with other children. Both are involved in extracurricular activities: Eleanor is a swimmer,
and Truman plays baseball and is in band and chess club.
Melinda thinks a change in physical custody is “a very bad idea” because “[c]hildren need
to know where they’re sleeping every night.” There has already been some disruption because of
Ryan’s travel schedule and the children ask, “Do we get to go to Dad’s?” Melinda has established
a routine with the children at her home, making sure both children brush their teeth and shower,
and Truman wears his CPAP. She stated children their ages (11 and 13) often do not want to follow
a routine and it “requires some insistence that only a mother can give.” She does not believe joint
physical custody, as requested by Ryan, would be appropriate. For the “well-being of both”
children, Melinda requested physical custody remain with her and she “[doesn’t] know how
Truman’s medical needs can be taken care of if it’s not that way.” Her proposal to the court (exhibit
20), was for Ryan to get parenting time “2 evenings per week after school until 8:00 P.M. (unless
extracurricular activities are scheduled)”; Friday after school until Saturday night at 8 p.m. “when
[Ryan] is traveling and gone during the week”; and some additional holidays. Furthermore, she
proposed that Ryan get one overnight if a school holiday occurs during the week.
On cross-examination, Melinda stated she does not want Ryan to have overnight parenting
time during the school week “because of his travel schedule.” She said,
Children need a consistent home and bed to sleep in. Both children have voiced that they
sleep better in their beds at my house, and Truman will wear his CPAP machine at my
house, and that sets him up to have a better day. I live right next to the school. They get
more sleep time, and so it works out better for everyone because I cannot plan around
Ryan’s travel schedule where one week he’s in town, and then the next week he’s not.
When asked if it would be better for the children to have an alternating weekly schedule, where
Ryan only traveled during the week that she had the children, Melinda said, “No, because he works
in PR and is in a service industry, and I don’t know about and he doesn’t know about his travel
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until he gets clients and clients need them, and so it’s last-minute travel, so it would be unfair to
the children.” She continued, “they would think they’re going to be with their dad, and they would
be with me one week, and then it would end up being two weeks with me, and then he would think
that he would need them for two weeks, and they wouldn’t know where they were going.”
Melinda agreed that Ryan is a good father “[w]hen he’s in town,” and the time he spends
with them is quality time. When asked if the children have ever told her they would like to spend
more time with Ryan, Melinda responded, “Only when he’s traveling, and when he tempts them
with going to football games and going out of town and going to the movies.” Counsel followed
up by asking, “So they do want to spend more time with him?” And Melinda responded, “They do
like to spend time with their father.”
Ryan testified that Melinda is a “wonderful mother 85 percent of the time, but she has some
emotional challenges with discipline with Truman and Eleanor both at times.” He claimed both
children are getting to the age where they want to start making their own decisions and spending
more time with their father. Ryan wanted the court to “stop the parenting plan that no one can keep
track of,” and proposed a new parenting plan (exhibit 12), wherein the parties would be awarded
joint physical custody on an alternating weekly schedule. Ryan stated this would allow more
predictability for the children and would also allow him to schedule his work travel during
Melinda’s parenting time.
At the beginning of the modification trial, the court sustained Ryan’s motion, over
Melinda’s objection, to allow the children to testify in camera. However, the court stated it wanted
to hear from the parents first to determine whether the children’s testimony would be necessary.
After the parents’ testimony and discussion with both counsel, the court decided it did not need to
question the children. However, the parties stipulated that if asked, Truman would state he would
like to spend more time with Ryan. There was no mention of what Eleanor’s testimony may have
revealed.
In its order filed on October 7, 2016, and relevant to this appeal, the district court found
both parents had proven a material change of circumstances regarding the physical custody of
Eleanor and the parenting plan for both children, but the court did not specify what constituted the
material change in circumstances. The court determined both parents were fit and proper persons
to be awarded the custody and care of the children, and concluded it was in the children’s best
interests for the parties to continue to share joint legal custody. However, the court determined it
was in Eleanor’s best interests that the parents share joint physical custody on a weekly alternating
schedule, with exchanges to occur at 8 a.m. on Mondays. As for Truman, the court stated his
“health issues combined with his need for structure and [Ryan’s] travel schedule have led the Court
to conclude that [Melinda] shall be awarded primary physical custody of Truman.” Ryan was
awarded a parenting time schedule for Truman as follows:
a. Alternating weekends from Friday after school (or at 3:00 p.m. if school is not in
session that day) until Monday at the commencement of school (or at 8:00 a.m. if school
is not in session that day);
b. During the school year: Every Thursday from after school (or at 3:00 p.m. if
school is not in session that day) until Friday at the commencement of school (or at 8:00
a.m. if school is not in session that day);
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c. During the school year: Every Monday from after school (or at 3:00 p.m. if school
is not in session that day) until 8:00 p.m.;
d. During the summer: Joint physical custody with three days with the father and
four days with the mother each week, the specific days to be determined between the
parties. In the event the parties cannot agree on the specific days of the week, the Court
orders that the parties shall have alternating Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 8:00 a.m.
on Saturday morning and ending at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday; the father shall have Wednesday
at 5:00 p.m. through Saturday at 8:00 a.m. and the mother shall have Sunday at 8:00 p.m.
through Wednesday at 5:00 p.m.
The court ordered that Truman’s weekend with Ryan should coincide with the weekend Eleanor
is with Ryan. Again, each party was given the right of “first refusal” should the other parent be
unavailable during his or her scheduled parenting time. And if a parent travels during his or her
parenting time, there will not be any makeup time.
Both parties filed motions for new trial. Ryan alleged “newly discovered evidence” (related
to an incident and Melinda’s behaviors in the days following trial), and Melinda alleged that Ryan
failed to prove a material change in circumstances justifying the custody modification for Eleanor.
Both motions for new trial were ultimately denied. However, the district court’s December 7, 2016,
“order regarding motion for new trial” did set forth specific findings regarding the material change
in circumstances. The court found that both Ryan and Melinda had proven a material change of
circumstances regarding Eleanor’s physical custody. It recalled Ryan’s testimony that both
children had reached an age where they wanted to start making their own decisions and spend
more time with Ryan. And it recalled Melinda’s affirmative response when asked if the children
ever told her they would like to spend more time with Ryan. The court noted Ryan’s testimony
that Melinda is a wonderful mother 85-percent of the time, but had some emotional challenges
with discipline with both Truman and Eleanor at times. The court “had the opportunity to observe
the emotional stress that Melinda was under in order to make the old parenting schedule work and
at the same time take care of Truman’s very serious health condition.” The court “saw that Melinda
was experiencing some troubles with the current parenting time schedule and that a more balanced
schedule would be in the best interests of the children, as well as the parties.” It noted that even
Melinda was requesting a modified parenting time schedule, and when asked her reasoning for
requesting that primary physical custody of the children remain with her, she cited only Truman’s
medical needs, giving no explanation of how that pertained to Eleanor. And “[i]t was crystal clear
to the Court from Melinda’s demeanor and testimony that the current parenting plan and custody
arrangement was not working. Between working, rearing the two children, and taking care of
Truman[,] Melinda was simply overworked and too stressed out to maintain the status quo by
herself.” The court “still finds” that it is in the best interests of Eleanor that the parents share joint
physical custody on a weekly alternating schedule.
Melinda now appeals.
ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
Melinda assigns the district court erred in modifying the custodial arrangement of the
parties’ minor child, Eleanor, to joint physical custody.
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STANDARD OF REVIEW
An appellate court reviews child custody determinations de novo on the record, but the trial
court’s decision will normally be upheld absent an abuse of discretion. Flores v. Flores-Guerrero,
290 Neb. 248, 859 N.W.2d 578 (2015). An abuse of discretion occurs when a trial court bases its
decision upon reasons that are untenable or unreasonable or if its action is clearly against justice
or conscience, reason, and evidence. Id.
Parenting time determinations are also matters initially entrusted to the discretion of the
trial court, and although reviewed de novo on the record, the trial court’s determination will
normally be affirmed absent an abuse of discretion. State on behalf of Maddox S. v. Matthew E.,
23 Neb. App. 500, 873 N.W.2d 208 (2016).
In child custody cases, where the credible evidence is in conflict on a material issue of fact,
the appellate court considers, and may give weight to, the fact that the trial judge heard and
observed the witnesses and accepted one version of the facts rather than another. Robb v. Robb,
268 Neb. 694, 687 N.W.2d 195 (2004).
ANALYSIS
Ordinarily, custody of a minor child will not be modified unless there has been a material
change in circumstances showing that the custodial parent is unfit or that the best interests of the
child require such action. Heistand v. Heistand, 267 Neb. 300, 673 N.W.2d 541 (2004). First, the
party seeking modification must show a material change in circumstances, occurring after the entry
of the previous custody order and affecting the best interests of the child. Next, the party seeking
modification must prove that changing the child’s custody is in the child’s best interests. State on
behalf of Jakai C. v. Tiffany M., 292 Neb. 68, 871 N.W.2d 230 (2015). A material change in
circumstances means the occurrence of something which, had it been known at the time of the
initial decree, would have persuaded the court to decree differently. See Heistand v. Heistand,
supra.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-2923(6) (Reissue 2016) provides that in determining custody and
parenting arrangements:
[T]he court shall consider the best interests of the minor child, which shall include, but not
be limited to, consideration of . . . :
(a) The relationship of the minor child to each parent prior to the commencement
of the action or any subsequent hearing;
(b) The desires and wishes of the minor child, if of an age of comprehension but
regardless of chronological age, when such desires and wishes are based on sound
reasoning;
(c) The general health, welfare, and social behavior of the minor child;
(d) Credible evidence of abuse inflicted on any family or household member . . . ;
and
(e) Credible evidence of child abuse or neglect or domestic intimate partner
abuse. . . .
Other pertinent factors include the moral fitness of the child’s parents, including sexual conduct;
respective environments offered by each parent; the age, sex, and health of the child and parents;
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the effect on the child as a result of continuing or disrupting an existing relationship; the attitude
and stability of each parent’s character; and parental capacity to provide physical care and satisfy
educational needs of the child. Robb v. Robb, supra.
Material Change in Circumstances.
Initially we note that only Eleanor’s physical custody is at issue on appeal and our analysis
is limited accordingly.
Melinda argues “there was no evidence presented regarding a material change of
circumstances, and thus a modification of physical custody was not warranted.” Brief for appellant
at 13. More particularly, she argues “there has not been a material change of circumstances with
regard to [Ryan’s] work and travel schedule” because “[h]is employment has not changed” and
“[h]is travel schedule has not changed.” Id at 16. This is contrary to her own assertion in her
complaint to modify in which she sets forth as one of the material changes in circumstances
justifying modification: “Both parties now have different employment.”
Further, both Melinda and Ryan testified the current parenting plan authored by the court
was not working, particularly in light of the travel required by Ryan’s new job which he obtained
after the 2013 decree. Ryan’s travel schedule caused him to miss some scheduled parenting time
with the children. Melinda would then take on more parenting time with the children, because she
did not want others to watch her children. Melinda’s proposed solution was for her to maintain
physical custody of the children, and reduce Ryan’s parenting time. Ryan’s proposed solution was
for the court to award joint physical custody of the parties’ children on an alternating weekly
schedule, which would allow more predictability for the children and allow him to plan his work
travel during weeks when he did not have parenting time.
Melinda also argues there was “no material change in circumstances regarding Eleanor’s
wishes or preferences.” Brief for appellant at 18. We recognize that at the end of trial the parties
stipulated that if asked, Truman would state he would like to spend more time with Ryan, but there
was no mention of what Eleanor’s testimony would have revealed. However, Ryan testified the
“children” wanted to spend more time with their father. And Melinda testified the children do like
to spend time with Ryan. Furthermore, when asked if the “children” have ever told her they would
like to spend more time with Ryan, Melinda responded, “Only when he’s traveling, and when he
tempts them with going to football games and going out of town and going to the movies.” Despite
the caveat Melinda placed on her answer, there is evidence from both parties the “children,” which
would include Eleanor, would like to spend more time with their father.
It is evident from the court’s October and December 2016 orders that, among other factors,
it took into account Ryan’s travel schedule and the parties’ testimony about the “children’s”
(including Eleanor’s) wishes when finding a material change in circumstances regarding the
physical custody of Eleanor. After our de novo review of the record, we conclude the district court
did not abuse its discretion in finding there had been a material change in circumstances.
Best Interests.
Melinda and Ryan presented conflicting testimony regarding whether a change in custody
would be in Eleanor’s best interests. In contested custody cases, where material issues of fact are
in great dispute, the standard of review and the amount of deference granted to the trial judge, who
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heard and observed the witnesses testify, are often dispositive of whether the trial court’s
determination is affirmed or reversed on appeal. Floerchinger v. Floerchinger, 24 Neb. App. 120,
883 N.W.2d 419 (2016). The trial court in this case had an opportunity to observe the testimony
of both parties. The court acknowledged that “Ryan [and] Melinda are two exceptional parents
who put their children first.”
In addition to Ryan’s travel schedule and the wishes of the “children” (which would include
Eleanor), the district court had an opportunity to consider other best interests factors, including
Eleanor’s general health, welfare, and social behavior; the respective environments offered by each
parent; the attitude and stability of each parent’s character; and parental capacity to provide
physical care and satisfy educational needs of the child.
Melinda argues that although she testified to some difficulties dealing with Truman’s
health issues, “there was absolutely no evidence presented that Truman’s health issues were
distracting from the relationship between Eleanor and [Melinda], or that she has failed to meet
Eleanor’s needs.” Brief for appellant at 22. Ryan’s response was that the testimony demonstrated
the prior parenting time schedule was not working and the children had indicated a desire to spend
more time with him. He also points out that the court had the opportunity to observe Melinda’s
demeanor at trial, which prompted a finding that she was under emotional stress.
Melinda further argues that at trial, “When asked ‘what would you like [the judge] to do in
making his decision . . .’ , [Ryan’s] exact response started with the phrase ‘I’d like to change the
parenting plan’, and ended with, ‘that would be my suggestion for the parenting plan’”; therefore,
“Ryan was not asking for a change in physical custody.” Reply brief for appellant at 10. However,
Melinda’s argument is not supported by the record. Ryan specifically requested an award of joint
physical custody in his “Counter Complaint.” In addition to the testimony set forth previously,
Ryan also testified he would like the court to “stop the parenting plan that no one can keep track
of,” and he proposed a new parenting plan (exhibit 12), wherein the parties would be awarded joint
physical custody on an alternating weekly schedule.
The district court found, “it is clear that . . . Melinda was experiencing some troubles with
the current parenting time schedule and that a more balanced schedule would be in the best interests
of the children, as well as the parties.” And the “Court had the opportunity to observe the emotional
stress that Melinda was under in order to make the old parenting schedule work and at the same
time take care of Truman’s very serious health condition.” It found “no reason why Melinda should
have to do the majority of Eleanor’s rearing by herself, and be the primary caretaker for Truman.”
Further, “[i]t was crystal clear to the Court from Melinda’s demeanor and testimony that the current
plan and custody arrangement was not working. Between working, rearing the two children, and
taking care of Truman[,] Melinda was simply overworked and too stressed out to maintain the
status quo by herself.” We give great deference to the trial judge, who heard and observed the
witnesses testify. Floerchinger v. Floerchinger, supra. Upon our de novo review, we cannot say
the district court abused its discretion when it awarded joint physical custody of Eleanor to the
parties.
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CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, we affirm the district court’s decision to award the parties
joint physical custody of Eleanor.
AFFIRMED.
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