Find Legal Information

Court of Appeals Division III
State of Washington

Opinion Information Sheet

			

                                                                               FILED
                                                                           MAY 15, 2012
                                                                    In the Office of the Clerk of Court
                                                                  WA State Court of Appeals, Division III

          IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                                     DIVISION THREE

In re the Marriage of:                                    No. 28736-0-III
                                                )
NUTHAVADEE SLANE,                               )
                                                )
                      Respondent,               )
                                                )
              v.                                )         UNPUBLISHED OPINION
                                                )
STEPHEN JAMES SLANE,                            )
                                                )
                      Appellant.                )
                                                )

       Brown, J. ? Pro se, Stephen Slane appeals the trial court's denial of his motion to 

vacate a 2002 child support order and the court's attorney fee award to his former wife, 

Nuthavadee Kukes. In an unpublished opinion, this court affirmed two of the court's 

contempt orders against Mr. Slane.  See In re Marriage of Slane, 2011 WL 2448998 (No. 

28124-8-III, filed June 21, 2011) (Slane I). He contends the court lacked jurisdiction to 

enter the 2002 support order and alleges the court abused its discretion in awarding 

attorney fees under RCW 26.09.160 and CR 11.  We affirm. 

No. 28736-0-III 
In re Marriage of Slane

                                            FACTS

       Ms. Kukes and Mr. Slane were married in 1994. During the marriage they had 

two daughters, ES and PS.  On January 27, 2000, Ms. Kukes filed a marriage dissolution 

in Kittitas County.  Mr. Slane was served with notice of the summons and petition in 

February 2000.  Because he did not respond, a default order was entered in April 2000. 

In December 2000, Mr. Slane relocated to St. Louis, Missouri.  Before leaving, Mr. Slane 

signed as a joinder to the petition for dissolution.  The joinder states, "The respondent 

joins in the petition.  By joining in the petition, the respondent agrees to the entry of a 

decree in accordance with the petition, without further notice." Clerk's Papers at 44.  

       The children then lived with their mother.  The couple's divorce was final in 

January 2002.  The Kittitas County court entered the decree of dissolution, findings of 

fact and conclusions of law, parenting plan, and order of child support.  Prior to 

presentment, Mr. Slane signed the decree, findings and conclusions, and parenting plan.  

Ms. Kukes was awarded custody of the parties' children; Mr. Slane was ordered to pay 

$878 a month in child support.  Ms. Kukes mailed copies of the final dissolution orders to 

Mr. Slane a couple days after entry.  

       In August 2003, the parties agreed to reduce monthly child support to $500.  From 

June 2005 until June 2008, ES resided with Mr. Slane in Missouri.  In July 2008, Ms. 

                                                2 

No. 28736-0-III 
In re Marriage of Slane

Kukes and Mr. Slane agreed PS would visit Mr. Slane in Missouri for a couple weeks.  

Mr. Slane promised to return PS at least two weeks prior to school starting.  Mr. Slane, 

however, did not return PS.  Therefore, in August 2008, Ms. Kukes obtained a contempt 

order in Grant County for Mr. Slane's violation of the parenting plan.  The Grant County 

court found Mr. Slane in contempt of court for nonpayment of child support and ordered 

him to pay Ms. Kukes $26,076 for unpaid child support.  

       In April 2009, the Grant County court again found Mr. Slane in contempt for 

failure to pay child support and entered a second judgment against Mr. Slane in the 

amount of $9,700 for back child support. On April 17, the Grant County court entered a 

temporary parenting plan and temporary order of child support, which increased Mr. 

Slane's child support payments to $1,721 a month.  He appealed the temporary orders 

and two of the three contempt of court findings; this court affirmed in Slane I.

       In May 2009, the Division of Child Support began withholding Mr. Slane's wages 

in the amount of $2,220 a month.  According to Ms. Kukes' trial brief, during July and 

August 2009, through various communications with Ms. Kukes and her counsel, Mr. 

Slane made it clear he intended to "needlessly increase" Ms. Kukes' costs of litigation in 

order to force her to settle the matters pending in Grant County and on appeal.  

       In early August 2009, Mr. Slane unsuccessfully moved for contempt in Grant 

County. On August 17, Mr. Slane moved for contempt in Kittitas County and moved to 

                                                3 

No. 28736-0-III 
In re Marriage of Slane

vacate the 2002 decree, parenting plan, and child support order under CR 60(b).  He 

argued all final dissolution orders were void because they did not conform to the joinder, 

Ms. Kukes committed fraud, he was denied notice, insufficient service of process, and 

lack of jurisdiction.  In both the contempt and motion to vacate, Mr. Slane requested 

$36,796 for the overpayment of child support, $4,038.46 for vacation time lost, $3,550 

for attorney fees, jail time for Ms. Kukes, appointment of special counsel to prosecute

Ms. Kukes for contempt of court and perjury, and sanctions against Ms. Kukes' counsel 

for alleged fraud and misconduct.   

       The Kittitas County court denied his motions for contempt and to vacate. The 

court further found Mr. Slane's motions were frivolous and brought without any 

reasonable basis, and awarded Ms. Kukes her attorney fees and costs in the amount of 

$3,920.84 under RCW 26.09.160 and CR 11.  He appealed.     

                                         ANALYSIS

                                        A.  Jurisdiction

       The issue is whether the superior court lacked jurisdiction to enter the 2002 child 

support order.  Mr. Slane contends because he did not receive notice prior to its entry, the

order is void.  

       We review the denial of a motion to vacate under CR 60(b) for "clear abuse of 

discretion." In re Marriage of Flannagan, 42 Wn. App. 214, 222, 709 P.2d 1247 (1985).  

                                                4 

No. 28736-0-III 
In re Marriage of Slane

A trial court abuses its discretion if its decision is manifestly unreasonable or based on 

untenable grounds or reasons.  In re Marriage of Littlefield, 133 Wn.2d 39, 47, 940 P.2d 

1362 (1997).  Matters of jurisdiction, however, are questions of law we review de novo.  

In re Marriage of Robinson, 159 Wn. App. 162, 167, 248 P.3d 532 (2010).

       A judgment is void when the issuing court lacks personal jurisdiction over the 

party or subject matter jurisdiction over the claim. Marley v. Dep't of Labor & Indus.,

125 Wn.2d 533, 539, 886 P.2d 189 (1994). Here, the court undisputedly had jurisdiction 

over Mr. Slane as the result of Ms. Kukes' successful service upon him of the summons 

and petition.  Mr. Slane did not respond and was adjudged to be in default.  A defendant 

adjudged to be in default is not entitled to notice of subsequent proceedings, including the 

application for judgment. Conner v. Universal Utils., 105 Wn.2d 168, 172, 712 P.2d 849 

(1986).

       But "[w]hen more than 1 year has elapsed after service of summons with no 

appearance being made, the court shall not sign an order of default or enter a judgment 

until a notice of the time and place of the application for the order or judgment is served 

on the party in default, not less than 10 days prior to the entry." CR 55(f)(1). Here, the 

default order was entered just 2 months after service.  Mr. Slane later joined in the 

petition. Therefore, CR 55(f) is not applicable.  

       Before presentment, Mr. Slane signed the decree, findings and conclusions, and 

                                                5 

No. 28736-0-III 
In re Marriage of Slane

parenting plan.  This clearly triggered the court's personal jurisdiction over Mr. Slane.  

Indeed, even an informal appearance "acknowledges the court's jurisdiction over the 

matter after the summons and complaint are filed."  Sacotte Constr., Inc. v. Nat'l Fire & 

Marine Ins. Co., 143 Wn. App. 410, 415, 177 P.3d 1147 (2008).

       Accordingly, because Mr. Slane joined in the petition for dissolution and later 

signed the decree, findings and conclusions, and parenting plan prior to presentment, he 

acquiesced to the court's jurisdiction.  Therefore, neither the default judgment nor the 

2002 child support order was void or voidable for lack of jurisdiction. The trial court did 

not abuse its discretion in denying Mr. Slane's motion to vacate.

                                  B.  Attorney Fees at Trial

       The issue is whether the trial court erred in awarding Ms. Kukes attorney fees 

under RCW 26.09.160 and CR 11.      

       We review a trial court's decision to award attorney fees, including sanctions 

under CR 11, for an abuse of discretion.  Skimming v. Boxer, 119 Wn. App. 748, 754, 82 

P.3d 707 (2004).  Absent a showing of an abuse of discretion, we will not disturb the trial 

court's decision.  Clarke v. Equinox Holdings, Ltd., 56 Wn. App. 125, 132, 783 P.2d 82 

(1989).  Under RCW 26.09.160(7), "Upon motion for contempt of court . . . if the court 

finds the motion was brought without reasonable basis, the court shall order the moving 

party to pay to the nonmoving party, . . . reasonable attorneys' fees." Similarly, CR 11

                                                6 

No. 28736-0-III 
In re Marriage of Slane

permits sanctions, including attorney fees, when an attorney advances litigation lacking a 

legal or factual basis without adequate investigation of the legal and factual bases for a 

case.  Roeber v. Dowty Aerospace Yakima, 116 Wn. App. 127, 141, 64 P.3d 691 (2003).  

       First, Mr. Slane argues he had a reasonable basis for his contempt motion because 

Ms. Kukes committed perjury in her dissolution filings.  Perjury does not constitute 

contempt of court unless two additional elements are present: "(1) the court must have 

judicial knowledge of the falsity and (2) the false testimony must obstruct the court in 

performance of a judicial function."  Moreman v. Butcher, 126 Wn.2d 36, 41, 891 P.2d 

725 (1995).  Here, the Kittitas County court could not judicially know any information 

regarding the parties was false unless testimony was taken to establish the falsity. It was 

not.  Therefore, it was not a direct contempt.  Further, assuming Ms. Kukes' information 

was false; nothing shows it obstructed the court performing its duty. We note this alleged

contemptuous conduct occurred nearly eight years ago, rendering it unlikely to have 

affected the court's recent ruling.   

       Second, Mr. Slane argues Ms. Kukes was in contempt of court for fraudulently

claiming ES on her tax return.  Ms. Kukes inadvertently claimed ES on her tax return in 

2005.  She never claimed ES in any other year.  And, Mr. Slane did not move for

contempt until more than four years later. Thus, his claim is frivolous. Moreover, 

because all these alleged contemptuous actions occurred several years ago, no compliance 

                                                7 

No. 28736-0-III 
In re Marriage of Slane

could be compelled.  In re Marriage of Farr, 87 Wn. App. 177, 187, 940 P.2d 679 (1997) 

(contempt proceedings are "for the purpose of coercing compliance with a parenting 

plan").

       Third, Mr. Slane moved for contempt in Kittitas County only after he was found in 

contempt three times and his child support was increased from $500 to $1,721 by the 

Grant County court.  Coincidentally, he requested judgment against Ms. Kukes in the 

exact amount entered against him in Grant County.  Mr. Slane requested jail time and 

appointment of "special counsel" to prosecute Ms. Kukes, and sanctions against Ms. 

Kukes' counsel.  His actions could reasonably appear intimidating and purposeful to 

increase her litigation costs.  And, Mr. Slane filed his motion for contempt in Kittitas 

County only after receiving several adverse rulings in Grant County and immediately 

after two of his contempt motions were denied in Grant County.  His motion practices 

suggest spiteful forum shopping.

       Given all, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion by finding Mr. 

Slane's motion for contempt of court was brought without reasonable basis and, therefore

awarding attorney fees and costs to Ms. Kukes was not error.

                                C.  Attorney Fees on Appeal

       Ms. Kukes requests attorney fees on appeal under CR 11 and RCW 26.09.160(7).  

As discussed above, CR 11 permits sanctions, including attorney fees, when a party 

                                                8 

No. 28736-0-III 
In re Marriage of Slane

advances litigation lacking a legal or factual basis.  Similarly, under RCW 26.09.160(7), 

"Upon motion for contempt of court . . . if the court finds the motion was brought without 

reasonable basis, the court shall order the moving party to pay to the nonmoving party . . . 

reasonable attorneys' fees."  

       Given our circumstances, we conclude this appeal meets the tests of both CR 11 

and RCW 26.09.160(7).  Accordingly, we impose attorney fees reasonably incurred by 

Ms. Kukes to defend against Mr. Slane in this appeal in amounts to be set by our court 

commissioner, provided Ms. Kukes complies with RAP 18.1.  

       Affirmed.     

       A majority of the panel has determined this opinion will not be printed in the 

Washington Appellate Reports, but it will be filed for public record pursuant to RCW 

2.06.040.

                                                    _________________________________
                                                    Brown, J.

We concur:

_______________________________
Korsmo, C.J.

_______________________________
Siddoway, J.

                                                9