Counr

FounrnDrcrrucrJUvENILE
FonUrnuCouxtv,Srlre or Urlx

ln the interestof:

COURT'SDECISIONREGARDING
"MOTION TO MAKE FINDINGSAND
OF LAw'
CONCLUSIONS
WOLFERTS,Sydney(5-24-1999)

andI102019
Case
NumbenI102018

WOLFERT$,Daniellc(l 0-29-2000)

JudgeBrentH. Bartholomew

yearsold.
Childrcnundereighteen
Normally,a motion for morespecificfindingswould be frled after this Court's written
wasinstructedby this Courtto
orderhadbeenissued.Ron Wilkinson,BrianWolferts'attorney,
preparea proposedorderfrom thehearingheldJuly I t,2014, andto dateit hasnot beenfiled.
its previousdecisionsandactionsfor this matter
this Courthasdecidedto address
Nonethelessn
of Law."'
in this"Court'sDecisionRegarding'Motionto MakeFinditrgsandConclusions
Mr. Wilkinsonshouldincludein the proposedorderhe preparesthe following findingsof fact
andconcltsionsof law, alongwith any othersthat arepertinentfrom the hearing.
CASE HISTORY
of Abuse& NeglectandTransferof
l. On June26,2014,a"Petitionfor Determination
Custody,andRelatedMatters" wasfiled with this Court(althoughproof of servicehasnot been
submittedto this Court)requestingin part,that it:
a. Alyardlegalcustodyof theminorchildrento Ms, Wolferts,who prcviouslyin
the petitionis identifiedastheminorchildren'smother(seepage3, X 5);
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b. Appointa Guardianad Litem for theminorchildren;and

. . . ."
c. "Requestthat DCFSprovideCPSassistance

1,3,5,and7.
Pages
27A8,nT
Temporary
2. On June30,20l4,a "Verified Motionfor f* ParteEmergency
RestrainingOnder,Appointmentof GAL, andSeningof ExpeditedHearing"wasfiled with this
Court.
documents,on June30,
madein theaforementioned
3. Baseduponth representations
2014,the Courtsignedan "Order GrantingTemporaryRestrainingOrder,Appointmentof GAL,
andSettingof ExpeditedHearing." In part,theCourt'sorderprovidedthat:
courthearing,theminorchildrenshouldremainin the
a. Until the scheduled
custodyof their mother,"who is exercisingher summerparent-timepursuant
to Uah Code$ 30-3-37.'
the minor children.
b. A Guardianad Litem beappointedto represent
c. A hearingbeheldonJulyI1,2014,at 3:30pm.
4. On July 7,2013,an"ExpeditedEr ParteMotionto DismissEx ParteOrdern'and
wasfiled with thisCourtby RonWilkinsonon behalfof his client,
documentation
supporting
BrianlVolferts,father.
to ExpeditedEr ParteMotionto
5. On July 8, 2014,this Courtentercda "Response
Dismis Ex ParleOrder,'nindicating:
ThepleadingssubminedJuly7, 20l4,on behalfof Mr. Wolfertsindicatedthat
SandraDredge,SpecialMaster,hasbeeninvolvedwith the district court case,but theydo
not includea specialmasterordernordo theyspecifyif Ms. Dredgereceiveda copyof

PaBe
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thepleadingsand what her recommendations

for the handlingthe currentsituationwould
be.
Pagel-2.
By doingso,this Court wasseekingverificationandclarification asto whatauthoritythe
specialmasterhadandwhethershewascunently involvedwith the disrict court casbefore
takinganyactionto modiff the original exparte order.
Subsequently,
on July 8, z}l4,"Affrdavit of SandraDredge,"alongwith a copyof the
specialmasterorder,was filed with this Court.
6. On July 8, 2014,this Courtenteredan"Orderon ExpeditedEr Parte Motion to
DismissExParteOrder"aswell asan "OrderAppointingGAL andNoticeofCW-Pretrial
Hearing."
7. On July I l, 2014,thedayof the courthearin&thefollowing werefiled with this
Court:
a. "Notice of Appearanceof JamesG. Clark asCounselfor Petitioner";
b. "Memorandumin Supportof Motion to Snike Affidavit of SandraDredge,"
which indicatedthat Ms. DredgeandRon Wilkinson hadbeene-mailedthat
motionto strikefiled with
documenton July I l, 2014(therewasno separate
this Court, althougbthe memonndumasksfor relieO;and
c. "Declarationof Dr. RandyHyde."
8. Dgringthe hearingheldJuly ll,z}l4,the Courtreafrirmedits previousappointment
of a Guardianad Litem to reprcsentthe minor children.
9. Althoughon July I8,2014, this Courtenteredandsentout a "Utah R. Civ. P. 100

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Notice,"it hasnot yet calledthe HonorableCluistineJohnsorqDistrict Court Judge,to discuss

with herthe meritsof thejuvenile court anddistrict courtcases.On the samedate,this Court
alsosenta copyof Brittany Wolferts' petitionto Child ProtectiveServicesintrke.
10.On July 18,z0l{,James Clark,CounselforBrittany Wolferts,filed a "Motion to
of Law."
MakeFindingsof FactandConclusions
ADDTTIONAL FINDINGS OF FACT
l. On June26,2014,"[a] referralwasmadeto theDivisionof Child andFamily
Servicesprior to filing the "Petition for Determinationof Abuse,NeglectandTransfcrof
Custody,andRelatedMatters." ,Seepage2, fl 3; seealso page6, { 2 I . On that sameday,a copy
of thepetitionwasprovided"to an AssistantAttomeyGeneralfor DCFS." Seeld. page6, !f 21.
2. Brian EdgarWolferts,father,"presentlylives at 6705SW 28o Street,Topekq
Kansas,"havingrelocatedtherefrom PleasantGrove,UtatrCounty,Stateof Utahsinceon or
aboutDecember27,2013. Theminorchildrenhaveresidedwith Mr. Wolfertssincethattime.
Seeid. at page3, T 4.
minor children
3. Ms. Wolferts,mother,is the non-custodialparentof the above-named
andpresentlylivesat l2l5 South620 West,OremnUtalr,alongwith BrittanyWolferts,anadult
minor children. Seetd. at page3, uT5'6.
daughterofthe Wolferts andsisterto the above-named
4. QrrJune15,2007,abifurcateddivorcewasgrantedto Mr. andMs. Wolfertsby the
FourthDisrict Court,Utah County,Stateof Utatr. Seeid. at page4,1l I l. Afterward,
unresolvedissuesweretied andthe final documentsto concludethe Wolferts divorcewere
signedandenteredon December5,2007. Seeid. at page4, flu l l-12.
5. Severalmonthsafter entry of the final divorcedecree,Ms. Wolferts filed to amend

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thedecrce.Seeid. at 4, t[ 14. OnMay 12,2010,afterMs.Wolfertssoughtto modiff thedivorce

litigation,"physicalandlegalcustodyof theWolfertschildrcnwere
and"prolonged
decree
thechildrenresidedwith
EansfEndto Mr. Wolfere. Seeid. at page5,fil l5-16. "Thereafter,
Mr. Wolfertsandhadstatutoryvisitationwith Ms.Wolferts.' Id. atpage5, !J17.
Restraining
6. After it signedandenteredthe"OrderGrantingTemporary
learned
Hearing,"thisCourtsubsequently
of GAL, andSettingof Expedited
Order,Appointment
h ParteMotionto DismissExParteOrder"and
asa resultof thefiling of the*Expedited
documents:
supporting
by anattorneywhentheex-prte motionwas
a. Mr. Wolfertswasrcprcsented
submittedby BrittanyWolfertsthroughherattomey,MattHilton.
in FourthDistrictCourt,
hearingscheduled
b. Thercwasanevidentiary
UtahCounty,Stateof UtahregardingtheaboveAmericanForkDepartment,
4-5,2014.
for September
namedminorchildrenscheduled
c. Thecasenumberfor thedistrictcourtcase.
in thedistrictcourtcase.
d. A specialmasterhadbeenappointed
thedistrictcourtcaseincluding,
regarding
7. Mr. Hiltonknewof specificinformation
of thespccialmaster,and
theappointment
butnotlimitedto: Mr. Wolfertshavinganattorney,
thedisfict courtevidentiaryhearing,ashehadbeeninvolvedwith thedistrictcourtcase.,Sse
Mr. Hiltonfailedto disclosepertinentinformation
FourttrDisnictCourtrccords.Nevertheless,
fromthisCourt.
materialslate
8. ThisCourtrcviewedBrittanyWolferts'motionandthesupporting
numberbecause
at thattimeof Mr. Wolferts'telephone
June30,2014.ThisCourtwasunaware
did
(sohewasnotcont{rcted).
Moreover,thepleadings
it nrasnotincludedin thefiled pleadings
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not includeany informationthat Mr. Wolferts' hadan attomey,nor of attemptsto contagt

Mr. Wilkinson law offrcewasnot contacted).Furthermore,Mr. Hilton
counsel(consequently,
in the materialshe filed that hewashavingseriousmedicalproblemsandwould not
represented
beavailablefor this casefrom that time forward. If this Court hadbeenprovidedMr. Wolferts
telephonenumberor this Court hadknownMr. Wolferts' wasrcpresentedby Mr. Wilkinson's
office, it would havecontactedeitherMr. Wolferts' or Mr. Wilkinson to get thercsideof the
story. ThisCourtsignedtheoriginalexparteorderon June30, 2014,to allow time for Mr.
beforehis family rcunioncommenced.
Wolfelts beingcontracted
9. HadMr. Hilton simultaneouslyfiled Brittany Wolferts' exparte motion with
herpetitionwhenit was filed with theJuvenileCourton June26,20l4-and hadnot witlrheld
pertinentinformationfrom this Court-this Courtwould havehadthe opportunityto discuss
BrittanyWotferts'exparte motion with both attomeysbeforemakinga decision.
CONCLUSIONSOF LAW
This Courtnow makesthe following conclusions:
l. The reasonfor this Court dismissingtheoriginal exWte orderwasthat it was
improperlyobtained.Matt Hilton, BrittanyWolferts' attomey,knew that Mr. Wolfertswas
rcpesentedby legalcounsel,yet this informationwasconcealedfhomthis Court. Hadthis
informationbeenproperlysubmitted,theCourtwould havecontactedMr. WolferG' attomeyand
obtainedrelevantinformationgermaneto whetherit shouldhavesignedthe original exparle
order.
2. BrittanyWolferts alsoknewor coutdhaveeasilyfound out and shouldhaveknown

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by counselbeforeseekinganexparte order. Brittany lives with

Mr. Wolfertswasrepresented
her rnother,usedthe sameattorneyasher mother,andwasseekingcustodyof the minor childrn
for Ms. Wolferts.
3. Eventhoughthe original exparte orderwasdismissed,Mr. Wolferts missedthe
familyrcunionwith his childrenandthechildrenremainedwith Ms. Wolferts. In essence,
BrittanyWolfertsstill got relief shesought-preventingMr. Wolferts from taking the minor
childrenon his family reunion.
4, On July 8,2014,anorderwasenteredappointinga Guardianad Litem to represent
wasconfirmedat thehearingon July I l, 2014. The
theminorchildrenandthatappointment
Cowt expectsthe GAL to talk with the minor children,aswell Briilany Wolferts andthe parents
permission,andtakeappropriateactionon behalfof the minor
with their respectivecounselns
children.
thehearingon July I l, 2014 wasnot vacatedis becausethis
5. Oneof the neasons
Courthadno way of knowing until the day of the hearingthat Brittany Wolferts wasrepresented
thatcounsel
by counsel.In a pleadingfiled on herbehalfby Mr. Hilton, Brittanyhadrequested
becourtappointedfor her, which cannotbedonefor non-statecommencedactions. Another
ad
purposethe July I I hearingfulfilled wasto confirmthat this Court still expectedthe Guarrdian
Litemto look afterthe bestinterestsof thechildren.
6. Withholdinginformationfrom this Court,thetirning of Brittany Wolferts' er patle
motion,andher attemptingto seekcustodyof the minor childrenfor her motherthroughthc
juvenileappearsas if Brittany Wolfertswasattemptingto fonrm shopfor her mother.

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aresticken is irrelerrantto this

7. Whetheror not the specialmaster'stpcommendations
Court'sdismissingthe original exparle orderandcannotcircumventthat relevantinformation
withtreldfrom this Court andBrittany Wolfertsappearsto havebeenforum shoppingfor her
mom. This Court hasnot ruled on the requestto strikethe specialmaster'saffidavit becausethe
time for respondinghasnot expiredanda requestfor a decisionhasnot beenfiled.
8. At thehearingon July I l, 2014,thisCourtwasprematurein schedulinga prefial
datewithout servicebeingproperlyrendereduponMr. Wolferts,so it is reasonableandproper
anotherpretrialdatemay be scheduledfor a
for tfiat pretrialdateto be vacated.Nevertheless,
dateandtime afterMr. Wolfertshasbeenproperlyservedandgiventhe requisitetime to respond
to BrittanyWolferts'petition.
9. UtattR. Civ. P. 100(b) and(c) states:
Thejudge or commissionerassignedto a casein which child custody,chrld
support,or parent lime is an issueshall communicateand consultwith any other
juiie or commissionassigned
to anyotherpendingcaseinvolvingthesameissues
parties
or their children. The objectiveof the communication
andthe same
thecasesbeforeonejudgeor
is to theconsiderthe feasibilityof consolidating
hearingsandorders.
or of coordinating
commissioner
rnayallow the partiesto participatein the
Thejudgesandcommissioners
communicaiion.If the partieshavenot participatedin the communication,the parties
shall begiven noticeand theopportunityto presentfactsandargumentsbeforea
thecalies.
decisionto consolidate
(EnPhasisadded-)
Thedistrict court andjuvenile casesboth addrcssthe issueof what time the sameminor
childrenshouldspendwith their parents.This Courthasnot yet discussedthe merig of either
casewith JudgeJohnson.Thercis no reasonto do so until hlr. Wolfertshasbeenproperly
servedandthe time haselapsedfor respondingto Brituny Wolferts' mostrecentpleading.See
..Motionto Make FindingsandConclusionsof Law," C. Communicationwith JudgeJohnson,
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andsonsulf'with
bustodyor parenttimeissues,thejudgesof pendingcases"shallcommunicate
is to avoidduplicateor
of suchcommunication
oneanother.",See
fl (a). Thepurpose
In theptrocess,
thejudgesmayor maynot"allow thepartiesto
contradictory
courtrneasures.
participate
/d.
in thecommunication."
Datedthis 27

dayof July,2014.
BY THECOURT:

Filed:28JULY2014
FOURTHDISTRICTJUVENILECOURT

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