Travis T. Hardgraves v. Hannah M. Koerselman

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

No. 16-0574
Filed December 21, 2016

TRAVIS T. HARDGRAVES,
Plaintiff-Appellant,

vs.

HANNAH M. KOERSELMAN,
Defendant-Appellee.
________________________________________________________________

Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, Edward A.

Jacobson, Judge.

Travis Hardgraves appeals from the child support calculation and attorney

fee award in this custody action. REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS.

John S. Moeller of John S. Moeller, P.C., Sioux City, for appellant.

Hannah M. Koerselman, Sioux City, appellee pro se.

Considered by Danilson, C.J., McDonald, J. and Blane, S.J.*

*Senior judge assigned by order pursuant to Iowa Code section 602.9206 (2015).
2

DANILSON, Chief Judge.

Travis Hardgraves appeals from the child support calculation and attorney

fee award in this custody action.1

Prior to trial in this matter, temporary child support for the parties’ child

was based upon a guidelines worksheet that showed Hardgraves’ annual income

was $32,240.00 and Koerselman’s annual income was $15,600.00. Hardgraves

was ordered to pay temporary support of $442.96 per month. After Hardgraves

became unemployed, the temporary child support was reduced to $109 per

month.

At the time of trial, September 16, 2015, neither party reported the same

income as was listed in the guidelines worksheet submitted for the temporary

support hearing. Hardgraves testified he was making $12.31 per hour and

working forty hours per week. The child was covered by Hawk-I insurance and

neither parent paid for that coverage. Hardgraves testified he also had a prior

child support obligation of $150 per month. Koerselman testified she was making

$13.48 per hour and working forty hours a week. The court placed the child in

Koerselman’s physical care and ordered Hardgraves to pay child support of $355

per month. The court also ordered Hardgraves to pay $1500 of Koerselman’s

attorney fees.

1
Hannah Koerselman has not filed a brief with this court. That failure does not entitle
Hardgraves to reversal as a matter of right. See Jefferson Cty. v. Barton–Douglas
Contractors, Inc., 282 N.W.2d 155, 157 (Iowa 1979). However, we confine our
consideration to issues raised in the appellant’s brief. See id. We will not search the
record for a theory upon which to affirm the trial court. Pringle Tax Serv., Inc. v.
Knoblauch, 282 N.W.2d 151, 153 (Iowa 1979); see also State ex rel. Buechler v.
Vinsand, 318 N.W.2d 208, 209 (Iowa 1982).
3

Hardgraves filed a posttrial motion seeking a downward adjustment of the

child support award, observing the court did not make any findings or provide a

support guideline calculation. He also asked that the court vacate the attorney

fee award because the parties’ incomes were very similar and Hardgraves was

not in a position to pay attorney fees.

We are unable to determine how the district court reached the child

support ordered. Hardgraves filed a child support guidelines worksheet with child

support calculated in the sum of $285.60. Koerselman did not file a current child

support guideline worksheet prior to trial. The parties’ pretrial stipulation filed

August 25, 2015, states the parties did not agree on child support and would file

guideline worksheets. Moreover, Hardgraves’ worksheet states Koerselman’s

annual income was $21,246.00, which appears to be taken from her 2014

income tax return but does not seem to reflect her income at the time of trial.2

We therefore remand this matter to the district court for calculation of child

support pursuant to the guidelines.3

“An award of trial attorney fees rests in the sound discretion of the trial

court and will not be disturbed on appeal in the absence of an abuse of

discretion.” McKee v. Dicus, 785 N.W.2d 733, 740 (Iowa Ct. App. 2010).

Custody actions under Iowa Code chapter 600B permit the award of reasonable

attorney fees to the prevailing party. See Iowa Code § 600B.26 (2015). We

2
Koerselman testified she made $13.48 per hour and worked 40 hours per week.
$13.48 x 40 x 52 = $28,038.40. And her financial affidavit filed August 25, 2015, reflects
monthly gross income of $2350, which would provide an annual gross income of
$28,200.
3
If the district court determines a variance from the guidelines is justified, written findings
shall be filed pursuant to Iowa Child Support Guidelines Rule 9.11.
4

acknowledge Hannah was the prevailing party and the attorney-fee award was

modest, but there was no explanation given for the award, nor any record made

by Hannah for us to determine if the award was reasonable. Accordingly, we

remand for a hearing to determine the reasonable amount of attorney fees to be

awarded to Hannah, if any. We do not retain jurisdiction.

REMANDED WITH DIRECTIONS.