Pursley v. Pursley, 2007-CA-000363-ME.

• Decision Date: 21 November 2007
• Docket Number: No. 2007-CA-000363-ME.,2007-CA-000363-ME.
• Citation: 242 S.W.3d 346
• Parties: Michael PURSLEY, Appellant v. Vicky Carol PURSLEY, Appellee.
• Court: Kentucky Court of Appeals

242 S.W.3d 346

Michael PURSLEY, Appellant v. Vicky Carol PURSLEY, Appellee.

No. 2007-CA-000363-ME.

Court of Appeals of Kentucky.

November 21, 2007.

Brad Goheen, Benton, KY, for appellant.

Lisa A. DeRenard, Benton, KY, for appellee.

Before KELLER and TAYLOR, Judges; HENRY,¹ Senior Judge.

OPINION

TAYLOR, Judge.

Michael Pursley brings this appeal from a January 17, 2007, order of the Marshall Circuit Court, Family Court Division modifying custody and visitation for the parties' daughter. We vacate and remand with directions.

Michael and Vicky Carol Pursley were married in. March 1993, One child, a daughter, was born of the parties' marriage on May 6, 1994. The marriage was dissolved by decree of dissolution on November 4, 2004, by the Marshall Circuit Court. The decree incorporated a settlement agreement whereby the parties agreed to share joint custody of the child with equal time sharing.

On July 28, 2006, less than two years after entry of the decree, Vicky filed a Motion to. Modify Custody. The matter was referred to the Domestic Relations Commissioner (commissioner) for a hearing. Ky. R. Civ. P. (CR) 53.03. At the hearing, testimony included allegations that Michael engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with the parties' twelve-yearold daughter. On October 31, 2006, the commissioner submitted his report recommending that custody be modified to award sole custody of the parties' daughter to Vicky, with Michael being permitted weekly supervised visitation. On November 13, 2006, Michael filed exceptions to the commissioner's recommendation pursuant to CR 53.06(2). By order entered January 3, 2007, the circuit court stated it would "treat the Exceptions [filed by Michael] as a motion to alter, amend or vacate the Recommended Order of the Commissioner, and will refer this matter back to the Family Court. . . ." Subsequently, by order entered January 17, 2007, the family court denied Michael's "Exceptions/Motion to Alter, Amend, or Vacate" and adopted the October 31, 2006, recommended order.² This appeal follows.

Michael contends that the circuit court erred by treating the exceptions filed by Michael as a motion to alter, amend or vacate pursuant to CR 59.05 and by transferring the case to the family court. For the reasons hereinafter elucidated, we agree.

A CR 59.05 motion may only be utilized to seek reconsideration of a "final judgment." The recommended order of a commissioner is not a final judgment, but, rather, a recommendation utilized by the circuit court in reaching a final decision. The circuit court has complete discretion and may reject the recommended order, adopt it in whole, or adopt it in part. CR 53.06(2).

In this case, the circuit court clearly erred by treating the exceptions filed by Michael to the commissioner's recommendation as a CR 59.05 motion. As hereinbefore stated, the recommendation did not constitute a final judgment; thus, CR 59.05 could not be utilized by the circuit court. Rather, considering the procedural posture of this case, we believe the circuit court should have simply reviewed the exceptions, conducted a hearing as required by CR 53.06(2), and entered a final judgment adjudicating the child custody issue.³

While the family court was vested with jurisdiction over domestic issues by Ky. Const., § 112(6) and KRS 23A.100, we do not believe that such jurisdiction was intended to be exclusive.⁴ Rather, we think the circuit court may, in some circumstances, retain jurisdiction to rule on domestic issues already before it, such as child custody. We view this case as a unique circumstance where the circuit court should have retained jurisdiction and not referred it to family court since a commissioner conducted the proceedings, including an evidentiary hearing pursuant to CR 53.

Vicky argues in response that Michael did not adequately preserve this issue on appeal for failure to timely object or raise this argument before the circuit court. After carefully reviewing the record, we agree with Vicky's position that this issue was not properly preserved below. Normally, a reviewing court will not consider for the first time an issue not raised in the court below. Caslin v. General Electric Co., 608 S.W.2d 69. (Ky.App.1980). However, we further believe that the gravity of this error is one of substantial proportions, and, thus, pursuant to CR 61.02 this error may be considered by this Court, and the appropriate relief may be granted upon a determination...