Gilbert v. Hornack

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE
CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

Dana M. Gilbert, Respondent,

v.

Charles John Hornack, Appellant.

Appellate Case No. 2013-001567

Appeal From Spartanburg County
James F. Fraley, Jr., Family Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2015-UP-104
Submitted January 1, 2015 – Filed March 4, 2015

AFFIRMED

Charles John Hornack, of Duncan, pro se.

Dana M. Gilbert, of Duncan, pro se.

PER CURIAM: Charles John Hornack (Father) appeals the family court's order
of contempt, arguing the family court erred in finding him in willful contempt and
refusing to modify his child support at the contempt proceeding. We affirm
pursuant to Rule 220(b), SCACR.
1. As to whether the family court erred in finding Father in willful contempt for
failing to pay child support1: Frye v. Frye, 323 S.C. 72, 75-76, 448 S.E.2d 586, 588
(Ct. App. 1994) (finding the issue of the father's contempt moot when the father
complied with the contempt order by paying certain medical bills); Jordan v.
Harrison, 303 S.C. 522, 524, 402 S.E.2d 188, 189 (Ct. App. 1991) (finding the
issue of the husband's contempt moot when the husband complied with the
contempt order by paying his child support arrearages and a fine); Chappell v.
Chappell, 282 S.C. 376, 377, 318 S.E.2d 590, 591 (Ct. App. 1984) ("Where one
held in contempt for violation of a court order complies with the order, his
compliance renders the question concerning whether he was in contempt academic
or moot and precludes appellate review of the contempt proceedings.").

2. As to whether the family court erred in refusing to modify Father's child support
obligation at the contempt proceeding: S.C. Code Ann. § 63-17-830(A) (2010)
(providing to request a modification in child support, the parent must file a written
request for modification of an order with the Division); S.C. Dep't of Soc. Servs. v.
Polite, 391 S.C. 275, 280, 705 S.E.2d 78, 81 (Ct. App. 2011) (providing the proper
step to seek modification is to serve the Division by certified mail).

AFFIRMED.2

HUFF, SHORT, and KONDUROS, JJ., concur.

1
Father alleged the family court erred in finding him in willful contempt because
the family court (1) did not consider his return to the rule to show cause, (2)
disregarded the November 2011 temporary order, (3) failed to dismiss the
contempt action when Father purged himself of contempt by paying the arrears and
fine, (4) allowed the clerk of court to present the incorrect file, (5) found Father in
contempt when no evidence supported the finding, (6) did not address Dana
Gilbert's alleged perjury, (7) did not address whether the Child Support
Enforcement Division of the South Carolina Department of Social Services (the
Division) failed to respond to Father's communications, and (8) miscalculated the
arrearages by $35.70.
2
We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.