CURTIS CHARLES HUSKEY, APPELLANT AND CROSS-APPELLEE, V. DEITRA MARIE HUSKEY, NOW KNOWN AS DEITRA MARIE OSTERFOSS, APPELLEE AND CROSS-APPELLANT.
No. S-13-1140
Nebraska Supreme Court
November 7, 2014
289 Neb. 439
Based upon the manner in which these cases became moot, and the distinct possibility that the issue presented is one of last impression, we decline to reach the merits of these appeals under the public interest exception to the doctrine of mootness.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we lack appellate jurisdiction over these appeals because the issue presented is moot. Accordingly, the appeals are dismissed.
APPEALS DISMISSED.
HEAVICAN, C.J., not participating.
___ N.W.2d ___
- Statutes: Appeal and Error. Statutory interpretation presents a question of law, which an appellate court reviews independently of the lower court‘s determination.
- Jurisdiction: Appeal and Error. It is the duty of an appellate court to determine whether it has jurisdiction over the matter before it.
- Constitutional Law: Jurisdiction: Appeal and Error. Except in those cases wherein original jurisdiction is specially conferred by
Neb. Const. art. V, § 2 , the Nebraska Supreme Court exercises appellate jurisdiction, and such appellate jurisdiction can be conferred only in the manner provided by statute. - Appeal and Error. The right of appeal in Nebraska is purely statutory.
Judgments: Words and Phrases. A judgment is the final determination of the rights of the parties in an aсtion. - ____: ____. Every direction of a court or judge, made or entered in writing and not included in a judgment, is an order.
- Jurisdiction: Final Orders: Appeal and Error. In the absence of a judgment or order finally disposing of a case, an appellate court has no authority or jurisdiction to act, and in the absence of such judgment or order, the appeal will be dismissed.
- Actions: Parties.
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-1315(1) (Reissue 2008) is implicated only where multiple causes of action are presented or multiple parties are involved. - Child Custody: Armed Forces: Legislature: Intent: Final Orders. Because a court may dispense only temporary relief pursuant to
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-2929.01(4)(a) (Cum. Supр. 2012), the Legislature did not intend for a truly temporary order entered under that subsection to be characterized as a final order underNeb. Rev. Stat. § 25-1902 (Reissue 2008). - Final Orders: Words and Phrases: Appeal and Error. A substantial right is an essential legal right, not a mere technical right. A substantial right is affected if the order affects the subject matter of the litigation, such as diminishing a claim or defense that was available to an appellant prior to the order from which an appeal is taken.
- Constitutional Law: Appeal and Error. Generally, a constitutional issue not passed upon by the trial court is not appropriate for consideration on appeal.
- Final Orders: Appeal and Error. When multiple issues are presented to a trial court for simultaneous disposition in the same proceeding and the court decides some of the issues, while reserving other issues for later determination, the court‘s determination of less than all the issues is an interlocutory order and is not a final order for the purpose of an appeal.
Appeal from the District Court for Douglas County: J RUSSELL DERR, Judge. Appeal dismissed.
Vanessa J. Gorden and Abigail F. Littrell, of Gorden Law, L.L.C., and Megan McDowell, Senior Certified Law Student, for appellant.
Kelly T. Shattuck, of Vacanti Shattuck, for appellee.
HEAVICAN, C.J., WRIGHT, CONNOLLY, STEPHAN, MCCORMACK, MILLER-LERMAN, and CASSEL, JJ.
CASSEL, J.
INTRODUCTION
A recently enacted statute1 affords procedural proteсtions in cases involving child custody and parenting time to military
BACKGROUND
DIVORCE
In March 2011, a decree was entered dissolving the marriage of Deitra Marie Osterfoss, who was then known as Deitra Marie Huskey, and Curtis Charles Huskey. Osterfoss was awarded sole legal and physical custody of the parties’ two children. Huskey was granted parenting time and ordered to pay child support in the amount of $600 per month.
Osterfoss joined the U.S. Army Reserve shortly after the parties’ divorce. On March 26, 2013, the Department of the Army sent Osterfoss orders requiring her to report to Fort Benning on August 17 for active duty for a period of 1 year, ending August 16, 2014.
PLEADINGS FOR MODIFICATION
On July 2, 2013, Osterfoss filed a “Complaint for Modification,” alleging that her assignment to Fort Benning constituted а material change in circumstances. She requested that the district court modify the parties’ divorce decree and parenting plan for the 2013-14 school year and enter an order permitting her to temporarily relocate the parties’ children to Georgia. In support of her request, she asserted that it would not be in the children‘s best interests to remain in Nebraska with Huskey, because he was in “an unstable relationship with his girlfriend and must move.”
MOTIONS FOR TEMPORARY OR EXPEDITED RELIEF
Osterfoss moved the district court for temporary orders and/or an expedited trial. In her motion, she clarified that she was not seeking to permanently relocate the children to Georgia, but sought only a temporary order. The court overruled Osterfoss’ motion and granted Huskey temporary custody. The court further suspended Huskey‘s child support obligation while the children were in his possession and ordered Osterfoss to pay child supрort.
TRIAL
Trial began on December 5, 2013. The district court first conducted an in camera interview of the parties’ children. The parties’ 12-year-old daughter testified that she wanted to go to Georgia with Osterfoss. The parties’ 6-year-old son similarly testified that he desired to be with Osterfoss.
Huskey testified that he was currently living with his girlfriend and their 13-month-old daughter in Waverly, Nebraska. The parties’ children had been living with him since the middle of August 2013 pursuant to the grant of temporary custody. Huskey described that he and the children had become “a lot closer.” And his employment as a sergeant for the
As to Osterfoss’ allegation that Huskey and his girlfriend had an unstable relationship, Huskey testified that his relationship with his girlfriend was secure. He further explained that any discussion of a future move was for the purpose of being closer to Gretna, Nebraska, in order to minimize travel time to the children‘s school.
Huskey agreed that he and Osterfoss had generally “gotten along” and been able to cooperate with respect to the children‘s best interests. As to her parenting of the children, Huskey stated that he had “some issues,” but that “for the most part, [Osterfoss] did a good job” and that he considered her to be a good parent. He further confirmed that both he and Osterfoss possessed good relationships with the children and indicated that the children missed Osterfoss.
However, Huskey described that Osterfoss had frustrated his parenting time “[v]ery early on” and that he had filed contempt proceedings against her. But he testified that he and Osterfoss had “gotten over that.” He also confirmed that he did not believe Osterfoss would frustrate his parenting time if she was permitted to relocate the children to Georgia.
As to his concern for the children‘s welfare, Huskey testified that he believed the parties’ daughter would have problems adjusting to life in Georgia. He explained that their daughter is shy, reserved, and slower at making friends. However, Huskey expressed that the parties’ son would adjust because he is “pretty good at adjusting.”
Osterfoss testified that she believed the children would benefit from relocating to Georgia. She explained that the children would receive educational benefits because the schools in Georgia have greater diversity. And relocating would permit the children to remain with her, which would provide them continuity, because she had been their primary care provider since their birth. She further confirmed that she
Osterfoss also expressed concern as to Huskey‘s care of the children. She explained that she would be able to spend time with the children every day after work, but that Huskey was required to leave the children in the care of others. She also claimed that she was required to purchase a cell phone for the parties’ daughter because Huskey was not permitting Osterfoss to speak with her.
A portion of Osterfoss’ testimony also concerned Huskey‘s child support obligatiоn under the divorce decree. On cross-examination, Huskey‘s counsel asked her, “You‘ve requested in your response to the counterclaim that child support change permanently, is that correct, the amount that . . . Huskey pays to you?” Osterfoss responded affirmatively. Osterfoss testified that Huskey‘s hourly wage at the time of the parties’ divorce was $16. However, Huskey testified that at the time of trial, his hourly wage had increased to approximately $23 per hour.
DISTRICT COURT‘S ORDER
At the conclusion of trial, the district court made an oral pronouncement that the children would be permitted to relocate to Georgia with Osterfoss for the remainder of her temporary assignment. Osterfoss’ counsel then inquired as to how child support would be treated, asking, “[A]re we assuming we‘re going back, then . . . to the old order as far as child support then?” The court responded, “Right.”
The district court entered a written order on December 17, 2013, sustaining Osterfoss’ motion for temporary removal. In its order, the court observed that it construed Osterfoss’ complaint as a request for temporary removal pursuant to
APPEAL
Huskey filed a timely notice of appeal, and the case was assigned to the docket of the Nebraska Court of Appeals. Osterfoss cross-appealed. Huskey filed a petition in this court to bypass the Court of Appeals, and Osterfoss filed a motion for summary dismissal, alleging a lack of appellate jurisdiction. Osterfoss also filed a motion for attorney fees incurred in association with the appeal. We granted Huskey‘s petition to bypass and overruled Osterfoss’ motion for summary dismissal. However, we ordered the parties to further brief the issue of appellate jurisdiction. After briefing was completed, we heard oral arguments.
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
Huskey assigns, rеworded, that the district court erred in (1) interpreting
In her cross-appeal, Osterfoss assigns that the district court erred in failing to modify Huskey‘s child support obligation.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
[1] Statutory interpretation presents a question of law, which we rеview independently of the lower court‘s determination.4
ANALYSIS
[2] Before we are able to address the merits of the parties’ assignments of error, we must determine whether this
The order implemented
(1) The Legislature finds that for children of military parents it is in the best interests of the child to maintain the parent-child bond during the military parent‘s mobilization or deployment.
(2) In a custody or parenting time, visitation, or other access proceeding or modification involving a military parent, the court shall consider and provide, if appropriate:
(a) Orders for communication between the military parent and his or her child during any mobilizаtion or deployment of greater than thirty days. Such communication may be by electronic or other available means, including webcam, Internet, or telephone; and
(b) Parenting time, visitation, or other access orders that ensure liberal access between the military parent and the child during any military leave of the military parent during a mobilization or deployment of greater than thirty days.
(3) A military parent‘s military membership, mobilization, deployment, absence, relocation, or failure to comply with custody, parenting time, visitation, or other access orders because of military duty shall not, by itself, be sufficient to justify an order or modification of an order involving custody, parenting time, visitation, or other access.
(4) If a custody, child support, or parenting time, visitation, or other access proceeding, or modification
thereof, involves a military parent and is filed after the military parent‘s unit has received notice of potential deployment or during the time the military parent is mobilized or deployed: (a) The court shall not issue a custody order or modify any previous custody order that changes custody as it existed on the day prior to the military parent‘s unit receiving notice of potential deployment, except that the court may issue a temporary custody order or temporary modification if there is clear and convincing evidence that the custody change is in the best interests of the child;
(b) The court shall not issue a child support order or modify any previous child support order that changes child support as it existed on the day prior to the military parent‘s unit receiving notice of potential deployment, except that the court may issue a temporary child support order or temporary modification if there is clear and convincing evidence that the order or modification is required to meet the child support guidelines established pursuant to section 42-364.16; and
(c) The court shall not issue a parenting time, visitation, or other access order or modify any previous order that changes parenting time, visitation, or other access as it existed on the day prior to the military parent‘s unit receiving notice of potential deployment, except thаt the court may enter a temporary parenting time, visitation, or other access order or modify any such existing order to permit liberal parenting time, visitation, or other access during any military leave of the military parent.
(5) If a temporary order is issued under subsection (4) of this section, upon the military parent returning from mobilization or deployment, either parent may file a motion requesting a rehearing or reinstatement of a prior order. The court shall rehear the matter if the temporary order was the initial order in the proceeding and shаll make a new determination regarding the proceeding. The court shall reinstate the original order if the temporary order was a modification unless the court finds that the
best interests of the child or the child support guidelines established pursuant to section 42-364.16 require a new determination. (6) Upon finding an (a) unreasonable failure of a non-military parent to accommodate the military leave schedule of the military parent, (b) unreasonable delay by the nonmilitary parent of custody, child support, parenting time, visitation, or other access proceedings, (c) unreasonable failure of the military parent to notify the nonmilitary parent or court of release from mobilization, or (d) unreasonable failure of the military parent to provide requested documentation, the court may order the offending party to pay any attorney‘s fees of the other party incurred due to such unreasonable action.
(7) This section does not apply to permanent change of station moves by a military parent.
(Emphasis supplied.) The plain language of this statute shows that it contemplatеs various orders, some temporary and some final. Before addressing the specific jurisdictional issue involving
[3,4] Except in those cases wherein original jurisdiction is specially conferred by
[5-7]
[8] Apart from the existence of a final judgment, the two statutes primarily relevant to the issue of appellate jurisdiction are
Section 25-1902 defines the three types of final orders that may be reviewed on appeal: (1) an order which affeсts a substantial right and which determines the action and prevents a judgment, (2) an order affecting a substantial right made during a special proceeding, and (3) an order affecting a substantial right made upon summary application in an action after a judgment is rendered.
We have observed that an order modifying custody arises from a special proceeding, falling within the second category of
Turning to the specific statutory provision before us, we observe that in enacting
The Legislature made clear that any relief to be afforded under
[9] Because a court may dispense only temporary relief pursuant to
In Steven S. v. Mary S.,19 we determined that an order making a temporary custody determination and suspending the mother‘s right to visitation did not affect a substantial right. Our conclusion was based upon two factors: (1) The order disturbed the mother‘s relationship with her children for only a brief period of time, and (2) the order was not a permanent disposition.20
In Carmicheal v. Rollins,21 we reinforced the principle that an order affecting custody only temporarily does not affect a substantial right. In that case, we observed that the temporary grant of custody to the father during the mother‘s military deployment period of 400 days was not а final order.22 We noted that the grant of custody to the father was temporary and that custody would revert to the mother upon her return from active duty.23
The order before us did not affect a substantial right. It did not make a permanent disposition. Pursuant to
Because the order was properly characterized as a “temporary” order under
However, in holding that the order before us is not subject to appeal, we acknowledge the danger that a court might enter a final order disguised as a temporary order under
[11] And we do not pass upon the constitutionality of
Because the appeal was taken from an order that wаs not final, we must dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. And we are therefore without power to grant Osterfoss’ motion for attorney fees. We overrule the motion for attorney fees without prejudice to the reassertion of the request before the district court.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that the Legislature did not intend for appellate review of truly temporary orders entered pursuant to
APPEAL DISMISSED.
