345 P.3d 924

Briana A. NORRIS, Appellant, v. Richard K. NORRIS, Appellee.

No. S-15439.

Supreme Court of Alaska.

March 27, 2015.

*925Megan C. Comolli and Jéson A. Weiner, Gazewood & Weiner, P.C., Fairbanks, for Appellant.

Amy Tallerico, Downes & Tallerico Law Firm, LLC, Fairbanks, for Appellee.

Before: FABE, Chief Justice, WINFREE, STOWERS, MAASSEN, and BOLGER, Justices.

OPINION

STOWERS, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

A married couple moved from Fairbanks to Mississippi to "start a new life" and work on their marriage. After living in Mississippi for a few months the husband filed for divorce, and a Mississippi court entered a temporary child custody order awarding the couple joint physical custody of their child. A few months later the mother fled to Alaska with the child and filed for divorce in the Alaska Superior Court. The superior court dismissed the mother's action, concluding that Mississippi had exclusive jurisdiction over the matter under the. Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)1 We affirm. Mississippi had *926jurisdiction when it issued its temporary child custody order because (1) Alaska did not have home state or recent home state jurisdiction when the father filed his suit in Mississippi, and (2) the child had a significant connection to Mississippi and substantial evidence was available there.

II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS

A. Facts

Richard Keith Norris 2 and Briana Belisle 3 met in Fairbanks while Keith was stationed at Fort Wainwright. Briana had lived in Fairbanks since 2006; Keith was born and raised in Mississippi. The two became romantically involved and had a child, Grant,4 who was born in July 2011 in Fairbanks.5 Briana and Keith married immediately after Grant's birth, but they quickly began experiencing marital problems. The couple decided to move to Keith's hometown in Mississippi to "start a new life" and work on their marriage.

The military moved all of the couple's possessions to Mississippi in July 2012, including their only vehicle. Keith registered the vehi-ele upon arrival, and both parties filled out and submitted change-of-address forms. Briana testified that she only "left a few things" in Fairbanks, including her sneakers and a sewing machine. Both Briana and Keith opened bank accounts in Mississippi, and Briana applied for and received Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) assistance. The parties initially lived with Keith's parents and discussed buying a house. Keith's parents even took them to look at one. But the couple ultimately rented a house for at least a one-year term. Both parties signed the lease. Briana fully unpacked, painted the boys' room, and hung art on the walls. Keith began taking college classes during the day and working at night. Briana found a job working at a delicatessen, but she eventually quit. Briana and Keith found a doctor for the boys, and Grant and Miles saw the doctor a handful of times while in Mississippi.

In early September 2012 Keith moved out of the home and the parties began informally sharing custody of Grant. Briana testified that in September she told Keith that she and the boys were returning to Alaska permanently. She testified that Keith "was not happy about it" and "wanted to get something in writing before we had left." Keith testified that he did not agree to a permanent return. In late September Briana sent him a text message saying that she was taking Grant back to Alaska and was going to "take Keith for everything he was worth." After this, Keith spoke with the police and took custody of Grant to stop Briana from leaving the state with him.

B. Proceedings

Keith filed for divorcee in Mississippi on October 2, 2012. The parties met in court a week later and signed a temporary custody order. Briana alleges that she signed the order under duress, while Keith's former attorney testified that Briana initiated discussion of the temporary order and negotiated its terms with him. The temporary order gave the parties joint legal and physical custody and barred both parents from taking Grant more than 100 miles from the county without written consent from the other parent.

Two months later Briana violated this order by taking Grant to Alaska without Keith's written consent. She filed for divoree in the superior court in Fairbanks on December 26, 2012.6 Keith moved to dismiss the Alaska action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, arguing that Mississippi assumed exclusive jurisdiction over the case by entering the first child custody order.

The superior court held two hearings on the motion before concluding in its oral ruling that Mississippi lacked jurisdiction when *927it issued its October child custody order because Alaska still had home state jurisdiction. The superior court reached this conclusion by including the time Grant lived in Mississippi towards its Alaska home state calculation. But the court offered to revisit the issue of jurisdiction if either party filed a motion for reconsideration.

Keith moved for reconsideration on September 80, 2018. On December 18, 2013, the superior court issued an order stating that it needed to conduct a hearing to decide whether the move to Mississippi in July 2012 was temporary, whether Grant had significant connections to Mississippi, and whether substantial evidence relating to his care was available there in order to determine which state had jurisdiction when Keith filed the first divoree action in Mississippi.

The court held an evidentiary hearing a few days later, on December 17. Several witnesses testified that both before and after the couple arrived in Mississippi, Briana always said the move was permanent. Keith's mother testified that Briana told her that even if Briana's relationship with Keith did not work out, Briana was planning to stay in Mississippi to be close to the boys. One witness testified that Briana wished to "start . somewhere different for her." Multiple witnesses also testified that the couple had discussed purchasing a house in Mississippi, and that onee they rented a house they completely moved in. Keith's mother testified that Briana had sought information about schools for Miles and was trying to get him registered for Head Start in Mississippi. And one witness testified that even during the separation, Briana "had no intentions [of] moving away from Mississippi," had moved her cousin into the house, and was looking for a job.

Other witnesses testified that the move was temporary. A few testified that Briana was worried that the heat in Mississippi could aggravate a medical condition she had. One witness testified that "[they were fighting all the time. ... This was like a last-ditch try to keep their marriage going." Briana testified that she intended the move to be a six-month trial run and that she planned to return to Alaska with the boys if her relationship with Keith did not work out. But none of the witnesses could point to any specific plans to return to Alaska at the time of the move; "[als far as [one witness] knew, they were leaving [Alaska] for good," and: another witness explained that "they didn't. know what was going to happen when they got [to Mississippi]."

Keith and his mother testified that Grant and Miles saw Keith's parents at least every other day. The boys spent holidays with family members, and Keith's aunts and uncles on both sides of his family frequently visited their house. One of Keith's friends testified that Grant often played with his son. Grant also attended church with Keith and would "interact with the congregation there during summer school and daycare."

The superior court issued a written decision on January 2, 2014, dismissing the Alaska case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The court found that the move to Mississippi was permanent because the parties moved all of their possessions, enrolled the children in child care, found jobs, entered into a long-term lease, and applied for state assistance. The superior court also found that Grant had a significant connection to Mississippi and that substantial evidence was available there. Based on these findings of fact,7 the superior court concluded that when *928the Mississippi action was filed, neither Alaska nor Mississippi was Grant's home state 8 because the parties had permanently moved to Mississippi but had not yet been in residence there for six months. The court concluded that under these circumstances Mississippi would have jurisdiction because Grant had a significant connection to that state and substantial evidence was available there. The superior court concluded that Mississippi had exclusive jurisdiction under the UCCJEA as the first court to issue a child custody determination. Briana appeals.

III. STANDARD OF REVIEW

"Whether a court can exercise jurisdiction under the UCCJEA is a question of law, which we review de novo."9 We review any underlying factual determinations for clear error"10 "A factual finding is clearly erroneous when a review of the record leaves the court with a definite and firm conviction that the superior court has made a mistake." 11 "The trial court's factual findings enjoy particular deference when they are based primarily on oral testimony, because the trial court, not this court, judges the credibility of witnesses and weighs conflicting evidence." 12

We review the superior court's procedural decisions for abuse of discretion.13

IV. DISCUSSION

Briana argues that (1) Alaska has jurisdiction because Mississippi did not have jurisdiction under the UCCJEA when it issued its initial custody order and (2) the superior court abused its discretion during the reconsideration proceedings by holding an eviden-tiary hearing and in the timing of its reconsideration.

A. The Superior Court Did Not Err When It Concluded That Mississippi Had Exclusive Jurisdiction.

The superior court correctly recognized that whether it had jurisdiction was linked to whether the parties' move to Mississippi in July 2012 was permanent. Generally, a state may make a child custody determination only if another state has not already done so, or if the other state did not have proper jurisdiction when it issued its custody order.14 At the time Briana filed her action in Alaska, Keith had already filed an action in Mississippi and remained in that state; thus, Alaska can only take jurisdiction if the Mississippi court did not have jurisdiction when the first action was filed.

There are three relevant ways in which a court can gain jurisdiction.15 First, a *929court has jurisdiction if the state in which the court sits "is the home state of the child on the date of the commencement of the proceeding.16 Second, a court has jurisdiction when the court's "state was the home state of the child within six months before the commencement of the proceeding and the child is absent from this state but a parent or person acting as a parent continues to live in this state." 17 "[HJome state" is defined as "the state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least six consecutive months, including any temporary absences of the child or parent or person acting as a parent, immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding." 18 Thus, a state may retain home state jurisdiction if all the parties are absent from the state, but only if the absence is a "temporary absence."19 " Finally, a court can have Jurisdiction when no other state has jurisdiction under the first two provisions, so long as the child and at least one parent have a significant connection to the state and substantial evidence relevant to the child's care is located in the state.20

1. Grant did not have a home state when the Mississippi action was filed.

Briana argues that the superior court erred when it concluded that Alaska was not Grant's home state because the move to Mississippi was a "temporary absence." Keith replies that when the couple permanently moved to Mississippi in July 2012, Alaska lost home state jurisdiction. If the absence from Alaska was temporary, then Alaska was Grant's home state for the duration of his time in Mississippi; if the move was permanent, then Alaska lost home state Jurisdiction when Grant left the state in July 2012.21 The superior court found "it more likely true than not true that the parties intended their move to Mississippi to be permanent when they left Alaska in July 2012." 22

Based on the totality of the cireumstances, the superior court did not clearly err when it found that the move from Alaska to Mississippi was permanent. While the record contains some evidence supporting an intention to move temporarily, the majority of the evidence points to a permanent move. The parties moved all of their belongings to Mississippi, re-registered their car, found work, applied for public assistance, enrolled the children in daycare, found a doctor for the children, and entered into a lease of at least a year's duration in Mississippi. Credible witnesses testified that the parties had discussed buying a house in Mississippi. And most of the witnesses, even the ones who testified the move was temporary, indicated that the parties were moving to Mississippi to start over and work on their marriage.23

*930Because the move was permanent, Grant had not lived in Alaska for "six consecutive months ... immediately before the commencement" of the child custody proceeding in Mississippi in October 2012.24 Thus, at the time the Mississippi proceeding was filed, Alaska was not Grant's home state. But Mississippi was not Grant's home state either, because Grant had only lived in Mississippi for three months at the time the Mississippi proceeding commenced, not the six months required for home state status."25 The superior court did not err when it concluded that Grant did not have a home state when the October 2012 Mississippi proceedings were initiated.

2. Mississippi had jurisdiction when Keith filed the first proceeding.

Neither of the UCCJEA's first two jurisdictional bases apply to this case. Under the first-home state jurisdiection-a court that is the home state of the child may make a custody decision,"26 but as explained above, Grant did not have a home state in October 2012. The second jurisdictional basis-recent home state jurisdiction-confers jurisdiction on a state when that state "was the home state of the child within six months before the commencement of the proceeding and the child is absent from this state but a parent or person acting as a parent continues to live in this state." 27 Although Alaska had been Grant's home state within the last six months, no "parent or person acting as a parent continue[d] to live in [Alaska]" when the Mississippi action was filed; thus, this provision is also inapplicable to ground jurisdiction in Alaska.

Under the third jurisdictional basis, a state may make an initial child custody determination when another state does not have jurisdiction under either home state jurisdiction or recent home state jurisdiction.28 But "the child ... and at least one parent [must] ... have a significant connection with [the] state other than mere physical presence," and "substantial evidence [must bel available in [the] state concerning the child's care, protection, training, and personal relationships."29 In Steven v. Nicole we affirmed the superior court's finding that substantial evidence was available in Alaska even though the children had not lived here full-time for eight years.30 The children still visited Alaska, and we held that evidence relevant to the mother's lifestyle and home in Alaska would be relevant to the proceeding.31 And in Mikesell v. Waterman we intimated that substantial evidence existed in New Mexico although the child no longer lived there.32 The child still visited New Mexico on vacation, had previously lived there, and one of the parents still lived there.33

Here the superior court found that Grant had a significant connection to Mississippi *931and that substantial evidence of his care, protection, training, and personal relationships could be found there.34 Briana argues that these findings are clearly erroneous.35 But the superior court's findings are supported by the record. At the time the Mississippi action was filed, Grant and both his parents lived in Mississippi. Grant has extended family in Mississippi, whom he saw regularly. He had a primary doctor and a daycare center that he attended. And he had a friend he played with and other children and adults he associated with at summer school. The superior court did not clearly err in finding that Grant had a significant connection to Mississippi and that substantial evidence would be available there.

Because Grant had a significant connection to Mississippi and substantial relevant evidence was located there, Mississippi had jurisdiction when Keith initiated the October 2012 child custody action. And onee a child custody proceeding had "been previously commenced in a court of another state having jurisdiction substantially in conformity with this chapter," Alaska no longer could exercise jurisdiction.36 The superior court did not err by dismissing the case after it concluded that it did not have subject matter jurisdiction.

B. The Superior Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion During Its Review Of The Motion For Reconsideration.

Briana argues that the superior court should not have accepted new evidence on reconsideration and that the motion was deemed denied by operation of Alaska Civil Rule 77(k)(4) because the court issued its decision more than 80 days after she filed her response brief. Neither argument has merit.

Here, the superior court realized it had incorrectly analyzed the issue and also realized that it needed to conduct an eviden-tiary hearing to resolve lingering factual issues. Although reconsideration should not be "used as a means to seek an extension of time for the presentation of additional evidence on the merits of [a] claim," 37 the superior court must "be allowed to reconsider and reverse an earlier ruling if convinced that the earlier ruling was erroneous." 38 Regarding Briana's second argument, the parties were well informed a ruling on the motion would be forthcoming and the 30-day time period set out in Rule 77(k)(4) was not applicable because the court may address questions of subject matter jurisdiction at any time.39 The superior court did not abuse its discretion by holding an evidentiary hearing or ruling on the motion more than 80 days after Briana filed her response brief.

v. CONCLUSION

We AFFIRM the superior court in all respects.

Norris v. Norris
345 P.3d 924

Case Details

Name
Norris v. Norris
Decision Date
Mar 27, 2015
Citations

345 P.3d 924

Jurisdiction
Alaska

References

Referencing

Nothing yet... Still searching!

Referenced By

Nothing yet... Still searching!