State v. Leverington, 20110152.

• Decision Date: 17 February 2012
• Docket Number: No. 20110152.,20110152.
• Citation: 2012 ND 25,812 N.W.2d 460
• Parties: STATE of North Dakota, County of Cass, ex rel., Maria Janelle SEIBOLD, and KCS, a minor child, Plaintiffs. Maria Janelle Seibold, Appellant, v. Paul Ronald LEVERINGTON, Defendant and Appellee.
• Court: North Dakota Supreme Court

812 N.W.2d 460

2012 ND 25

STATE of North Dakota, County of Cass, ex rel., Maria Janelle SEIBOLD, and KCS, a minor child, Plaintiffs.Maria Janelle Seibold, Appellant,

v.Paul Ronald LEVERINGTON, Defendant and Appellee.

No. 20110152.

Supreme Court of North Dakota.

Feb. 17, 2012.

Julie Ann Oster, Fargo, N.D., for appellant.

Donavin L. Grenz, Linton, N.D., for defendant and appellee.

MARING, Justice.

[¶ 1] Maria Seibold appeals from a district court order denying her motions for a second amended judgment and to hold Paul Leverington in contempt and denying her request for a hearing on her motions. We conclude the court erred in denying Seibold's motions without providing her with sufficient time to schedule a hearing. We reverse the court's order and remand for further proceedings.

I

[¶ 2] Seibold and Leverington have one child together. In 2006, a judgment was entered finding Leverington is the child's natural father, awarding Seibold sole legal and physical custody of the child, and awarding Leverington visitation.

[¶ 3] In 2009, Leverington moved to modify custody. After a hearing, the district court entered an order finding there was a material change in circumstances and it was in the child's best interests to modify custody. The court awarded Leverington sole legal and physical custody of the child and awarded Seibold visitation. The court also addressed the parties' parental rights and responsibilities and ordered that both parents have certain rights and duties related to the child, including the right to access and obtain copies of certain records related to the child and the right to contact the child by phone. An amended judgment was entered in September 2009.

[¶ 4] On March 4, 2011, Seibold moved for a second amended judgment and to hold Leverington in contempt. Seibold requested the court award her additional parenting time for the child, award the parties' joint decisionmaking responsibility for the child, and order the parties to use a parenting time coordinator to settle disputes. Seibold requested the court find Leverington in contempt for not allowing her access to information about the child and reasonable access to the child by telephone, and she requested the court award her compensatory parenting time and attorney's fees for bringing the contempt motion. Seibold filed an affidavit in support of her motions and asked the court to set a date for an evidentiary hearing on her motions.

[¶ 5] On March 17, 2011, Leverington responded to Seibold's motions for contempt and a second amended judgment. Leverington argued Seibold was not entitled to an evidentiary hearing and her motion should be denied because she failed to establish a prima facie case justifying modification of primary residential responsibility and she failed to establish that a material change in circumstances had occurred and that it was in the child's best interests to modify parenting time. Leverington also argued Seibold's motion for contempt was frivolous and without merit.

[¶ 6] On March 21, 2011, the district court denied Seibold's motions without holding a hearing. The court found Seibold failed to establish a prima facie case to modify parenting time, she failed to present substantial evidence that a significant change of circumstances had occurred, and she was not entitled to a hearing on her motion. The court found Seibold had used the court to frustrate Leverington through significant filings, and advised Seibold that the court “will not hesitate to impose attorney's fees in the future, unless a compelling case is made with a motion.” The court denied both Seibold's motion for a second amended judgment and to hold Leverington in contempt.

II

[¶ 7] Seibold argues the district court erred in denying her request for an evidentiary hearing on her motions for contempt and a second amended judgment.

A

[¶ 8] Seibold argues the district court erred in denying her motion for contempt without holding an evidentiary hearing. She contends Leverington has failed to comply with the amended judgment, which provides that both parties have the right to access the child's educational and medical records and the right to have access to the child by telephone. She claims she provided notice of her request for a hearing, she did not waive her right to a hearing, and she is entitled to a hearing under N.D.C.C. § 27–10–01.3.

[¶ 9] Section § 27–10–01.3(1)(a), N.D.C.C., provides the procedure for imposinga remedial sanction for contempt and states:

The court on its own motion or motion of a person aggrieved by contempt of court may seek imposition of a remedial sanction for the contempt by filing a motion for that purpose in the proceeding to which the contempt is related. The court, after notice and hearing, may impose a remedial sanction authorized by this chapter.

Section 27–10–01.3(1)(a), N.D.C.C., requires notice and a hearing on a motion for imposing a remedial sanction for contempt. Rule 3.2, N.D.R.Ct., applies to motions for contempt and provides the procedure for submitting a motion and requesting a hearing on the motion. See Lawrence v. Delkamp, 2006 ND 257, ¶ 9, 725 N.W.2d 211. Under N.D.C.C. § 27–10–01.3 and N.D.R.Ct. 3.2(a)(3), a timely request for oral argument on a motion for contempt must be granted, if the requesting party schedules and serves notice of the hearing. See also Dietz v. Dietz, 2007 ND 84, ¶ 21, 733 N.W.2d 225;Lawrence, 2006 ND 257, ¶ 9, 725 N.W.2d 211.

[¶ 10] Seibold's motion and brief included a request for a hearing on the motion. Seibold provided notice of her request for a hearing and there is nothing in the record to indicate she waived a hearing on the motion. We conclude Seibold was entitled to a hearing on her motion for a remedial sanction to hold Leverington in contempt.

B

[¶ 11] Seibold argues the district court erred in denying her request for an evidentiary hearing on her motion for a second amended judgment. She contends the court applied the wrong standard in denying her motion to modify parenting time because she was not required to establish a prima facie case justifying modification. She claims she was entitled to a hearing on her motion and the court erred in summarily deciding the motion.

[¶ 12] The district court has continuing jurisdiction to modify parenting time after an initial judgment is entered. N.D.C.C. § 14–05–22; see also Prchal v. Prchal, 2011 ND 62, ¶ 10, 795 N.W.2d 693. Modifications of parenting time are governed by N.D.C.C. § 14–05–22(2) and standards set forth in caselaw. Prchal, at ¶ 11. “ ‘To modify parenting time, the moving party must demonstrate a material change in circumstances has occurred since entry of the previous parenting time order and that the modification is in the best interests of the child.’ ” Id. (quoting Dufner v. Trottier, 2010 ND 31, ¶ 6, 778 N.W.2d 586). A “material change in circumstances” for purposes of modifying parenting time is an important new fact that was unknown at the time of the prior custody decree or parenting time order. Wolt v. Wolt, 2011 ND 170, ¶ 19, 803 N.W.2d 534.

[¶ 13] A district court has authority to modify an award of primary residential responsibility under N.D.C.C. § 14–09–06.6. However, a party seeking modification of residential responsibility is not entitled to a hearing on his or her motion unless the party establishes a prima facie case justifying modification. N.D.C.C. § 14–09–06.6(4). We have explained the requirements for a prima facie case:

“A prima facie case does not require facts which, if proved, would mandate a change of custody as a matter of law. A prima facie case only requires facts which, if proved at an evidentiary hearing, would support a change of custody that could be affirmed if appealed. A prima facie case is only enough evidence to allow the fact-trier to infer the fact at issue and rule in the party's favor. It is a bare minimum.”Wolt, 2011 ND 170, ¶ 8, 803 N.W.2d 534 (quoting Green v. Green, 2009 ND 162, ¶ 7, 772 N.W.2d 612). The limitations for obtaining an evidentiary hearing on postjudgment modifications of primary residential responsibility do not apply to modifications of parenting time under N.D.C.C. § 14–05–22. Wolt, at ¶¶ 19, 21;see also Prchal, 2011 ND 62, ¶ 19, 795 N.W.2d 693;Simburger v. Simburger, 2005 ND 139, ¶ 13, 701 N.W.2d 880.

[¶ 14] The district court summarily denied Seibold's motion for a second amended judgment to modify parenting time, ruling, “[Seibold] failed to establish a prima facie case. [Seibold] has failed to present substantial evidence that a significant change of circumstance has occurred. [Seibold] is not entitled to an evidentiary hearing on this matter.”

[¶ 15] The court misapplied the law and erred in ruling Seibold was not entitled to an evidentiary hearing because she failed to establish a prima facie case for modification. Seibold did not move to modify primary residential responsibility; rather, she moved to modify parenting time. A parent moving for modification of parenting time under N.D.C.C. § 14–05–22 is not required to establish a prima facie case justifying modification. See Wolt, 2011 ND 170, ¶ 19, 803 N.W.2d 534. Seibold requested a hearing on her motion and there is nothing in the record to indicate she waived a hearing on this issue. We conclude Seibold was not required to establish a prima facie case and she was entitled to schedule and serve notice of a hearing on her motion to modify parenting time.

C

[¶ 16] Although Seibold was entitled to a hearing on her motions to hold Leverington in contempt and to modify parenting time, she was also required to comply with the procedural requirements of N.D.R.Ct. 3.2 for requesting a hearing. Rule 3.2(a), N.D.R.Ct., provides:

(1) Notice. Notice must be served and filed with a motion. The notice must indicate the time of oral argument, or that the motion will be decided on briefs unless oral argument is timely requested.

(2) Briefs. Upon serving and filing a motion, the moving party must serve...