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You can search the entire site. or go to the recent opinions, or the chronological or subject indices. Brian Ott v. Haley Runa (5/8/2020) sp-7450
Notice: This opinion is subject to correction before publication in the PACIFIC REPORTER.
Readers are requested to bring errors to the attention of the Clerk of the Appellate Courts,
303 K Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, phone (907) 264-0608, fax (907) 264-0878, email
corrections@akcourts.us.
THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
BRIAN OTT, )
) Supreme Court No. S-17551
Appellant, )
) Superior Court No. 3AN-17-06688 CI
v. )
) O P I N I O N
HALEY RUNA, )
) No. 7450 - May 8, 2020
Appellee. )
)
Appeal from the Superior Court of the State of Alaska, Third
Judicial District, Anchorage, Thomas A. Matthews, Judge.
Appearances: Joshua P. Fink, The Law Office of Joshua P.
Fink, LLC, Anchorage, and Randi R. Vickers, Rockville,
Maryland, for Appellant. Notice of nonparticipation filed by
Jacob A. Sonneborn, Law Office of Jacob Sonneborn,
Anchorage, for Appellee.
Before: Bolger, Chief Justice, Winfree, Stowers, Maassen,
and Carney, Justices.
WINFREE, Justice.
I. INTRODUCTION
Parents separated when their child was not yet two years old. Following
contentious divorce proceedings, the superior court awarded equally shared physical
custody and joint legal custody of the child. After trial, but before the court had issued
its child custody decision, the mother filed a motion to relocate with the child. The court
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declined to address the relocation motion in its custody decision. Following evidentiary
hearings on the relocation motion, adifferent judgeawarded themother primary physical
custody. The father appeals, arguing that the court made several errors when making its
custody modification decision. Seeing no error, we affirm the decision.
II. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS
A. Background Facts And Pretrial Proceedings
Brian Ott and Haley Runa were married in September 2014 in North
Carolina. They lived in Washington for a time then moved to Anchorage, where their
daughter was born in September 2015. Brian and Haley separated in January 2017;
Haley moved into a basement apartment in their home, and Brian continued living in the
main house. They began an informal 50/50 custody arrangement, with exchanges
happening every three days.
Haley filed a divorce complaint in May, seeking primary physical custody.
Brian filed an answer in August, requesting shared physical custody. Around this time
Haley refused to return the daughter to Brian's custody when it was time for his three-
day rotation. Brian moved to reinstate their informal custody arrangement; Haley
opposed, citing "multiple acts of domestic violence" and contending that Brian "should
be allowed only supervised visitation" until he completed a domestic violence
intervention course and addressed his substance abuse issues. The superior court entered
a temporary interim custody order in late August, reinstating the informal 50/50 custody
arrangement on the conditions that Brian's custody be supervised by his sister at all
times, that he refrain from consuming alcohol during his custody time, and that he not
have any direct contact with Haley regarding custody exchanges.
Brian and Haley reached an interim custody agreement, and the court
incorporated it in a September interim order. Under that agreement, Haley had sole legal
andprimary physical custody;Brian had visitation oneweek monthlywith oneadditional
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three-day period monthly. Brian agreed to have an alcohol assessment, follow any
treatment recommendations by the assessor, and undergo random urinalysis testing
during his one-week visitations and on the final day of every three-day custodial period.
Although not mentioned in the interim order, Brian later completed a 36-week domestic
violence intervention program and a 12-hour co-parenting course. The interim order
granted Haley possession of the marital home beginning in November.
B. Trial Proceedings And Order
The superior court held evidentiary hearings over four days in July and
August 2018. Haley noted in her trial brief that she had begun considering moving out
of state, and she requested "a ruling that she be allowed to do so without a return to
court." The court noted on the trial's final day that it would not be considering the
possibility of Haley relocating.
In December, after the trial concluded but before the superior court issued
its custody decision, Haley filed a motion to relocate with the daughter. Haley indicated
that she "desire[d] to leave the state to move to Washington where her boyfriend
reside[d]" and that she "[did] not feel that she [could] wait longer to begin the process
of allowing for a determination of [her daughter's] best interests given her intent to
relocate." In an attached affidavit, Haley attested that she had a boyfriend who owned
a home in Washington and lived there with his son; that Haley and the daughter would
live with him; that he "puts a lot of effort into [the daughter] and has taken care of her
when [Haley has] been at work," and the daughter "thinks he's great"; that Haley's
boyfriend "offered and is comfortably able to financially support [Haley] until [she is]
able to find a job"; that she had identified possibilities for work; that she had investigated
preschools and identified an option near her boyfriend's home; and that she had begun
establishing a community in his area, including his friends and family.
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In March the superior court issued its final decision without addressing
Haley's motion to relocate. The court found that Brian "has a history of domestic
violence" and that he therefore was subject to the statutory domestic violence
1 But the court also found that Brian overcame the presumption by
presumption.
completing a domestic violence intervention program and refraining from abusing
substances.2 The court found that the evidence did not show by a preponderance that
Brian abused alcohol, that he was in need of alcohol abuse treatment, "or that his use of
alcohol will impact his ability to parent sober[ly] and safely."
The superior court's other findings relating to custody addressed most of
the AS 25.24.150(c) best interests factors.3 The court found that love and affection
1 AS 25.24.150(g) provides that a parent with a history of domestic violence
"against the other parent, a child, or a domestic living partner" may not be awarded sole
or joint legal or physical custody.
2 See AS 25.24.150(h) (establishing conditions under which parent may
overcome domestic violence presumption).
3 AS 25.24.150(c) provides that:
In determining the best interests of the child the court shall
consider:
(1) the physical, emotional, mental, religious, and
social needs of the child;
(2) the capability and desire of each parent to meet
these needs;
(3) the child's preference if the child is of sufficient
age and capacity to form a preference;
(4) the love and affection existing between the child
and each parent;
(5) the length of time the child has lived in a stable,
(continued...)
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existedbetween each parent and their daughterand that both parents "ha[d]thecapability
and desire to meet her needs." The court also found that "remarkably," each parent had
"demonstrated a willingness and ability to facilitate and encourage a close relationship
between [the daughter] and the other parent." The court noted that "there were a few
communications where [Brian] was being difficult or petty" and that he occasionally
would "continue to initiate direct exchanges or try to engage in settlement talks" even
after Haley had requested they not have direct contact. Despite these actions, Haley still
"continued to demonstrate reasonableness and cooperation."
The superior court concluded that, based on the statutory best interests
factors, a 50/50 physical custody arrangement was in the child's best interests. The court
3 (...continued)
satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining
continuity;
(6) the willingness and ability of each parent to
facilitate and encourage a close and continuing relationship
between the other parent and the child, except that the court
may not consider this willingness and ability if one parent
shows that the other parent has sexually assaulted or engaged
in domestic violence against the parent or a child, and that a
continuing relationship with the other parent will endanger
the health or safety of either the parent or the child;
(7) any evidence of domestic violence, child abuse, or
child neglect in the proposed custodial household or a history
of violence between the parents;
(8) evidence that substance abuse by either parent or
other membersofthehouseholddirectlyaffects theemotional
or physical well-being of the child;
(9) other factors that the court considers pertinent.
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ordered shared legal custody but, in the event of a disagreement over important decisions
about the child, Haley would have final decision-making authority.
C. Post-Trial Proceedings And Appeal
Following the March decision, Haley and Brian's case was reassigned to
a different superior court judge. The court scheduled an April evidentiary hearing on the
relocation issue. The relocation hearing spanned three days in April and May, and only
Haley and Brian testified.
Haley testified that her affidavit statementscontinuedto betrue and that she
had made additional employment contacts. She testified that if she were to move to
Washington, she could encourage a relationship between Brian and the daughter by
facilitating electronic communications, accommodating him if he wished to visit in
Washington, and facilitating trips for the daughter to visit in Alaska. She testified that
Brian had been uncooperative and inflexible in custody scheduling and exchanges since
the August 2018 evidentiary hearing and that "he doesn't do things prioritizing what is
best for [our daughter]," but he instead acts in ways intended "to get back at [Haley]."
Haley also testified that custody exchanges had become very difficult, that the daughter
appeared very upset during exchanges, and that Haley believed Brian was trying to
manipulate the daughter to feel that returning to her mother was a bad thing. Haley
further testified that she had asked to switch to only indirect exchanges but that Brian
insisted on continuing direct exchanges. On cross-examination Haley testified that she
had been in contact with firms in Washington about potential jobs, that her boyfriend had
offered to financially support her until she found a job but she also had savings, that she
had begun building a community in Washington, and that she believed she could be a
better mother by living with a supportive partner.
Brian disputedmuch ofHaley'stestimonyregardingtheirexchanges. Brian
also testified at length about his relationship with the daughter, how he supported her
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emotionally and financially, and about the social support his community and family in
Anchorage provided the daughter.
In July 2019 the superior court issued a decision on Haley's motion to
relocate. The court found Haley's motivation for relocating to Washington was
legitimate, finding Brian had "offer[ed] nothing concrete to suggest that Haley is
proposing to move in 'order to prevent Brian's relationship with [the daughter].' " The
court found that Haley was "motivated to start a new life for herself plain and simple."
The superior court conducted a thorough analysis of the AS 25.24.150(c)
best interests factors. The court did not make detailed findings about factors (1) (child's
physical, emotional, mental, religious, and social needs), (3) (child's preference for one
parent), (4) (child's love and affection for each parent), (7) (evidence of domestic
violence), or (8) (substance abuse), noting that these factors were neutral and did not
4 For factor (2), the court found both parents had the
favor one parent over the other.
capability and desire to meet the child's needs, but it also found persuasive Haley's
argument that Brian was "putting on a show" for the court. The court found that Brian's
4 The court noted under factor (7) that the previous judge had found Brian
has a history of domestic violence but met his burden to overcome the domestic violence
presumption and that this factor therefore was neutral. Although in this case the outcome
would not change, we note that the best interests factor found at AS 25.24.150(c)(7) is
distinct fromthe domestic violence presumption described at AS 25.24.150(g). A parent
may overcome the domestic violence presumption, but a history of domestic violence
still may be a relevant factor in determining which custody configuration is in the child's
best interests. See Limeres v. Limeres , 320 P.3d 291, 299 (Alaska 2014) ("Evidence of
domestic violence is important to child custody in two statutory contexts. First, the court
must consider 'any evidence of domestic violence . . . in the proposed custodial
household' in its best interests determination. Second, if the court finds that a parent has
a history of perpetrating domestic violence, a rebuttable presumption arises against
granting that parent custody or unsupervised visitation." (citations omitted) (quoting
AS 25.24.150(c)(7))).
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testimony and demeanor "suggest[ed] that he [was] trying too hard to make a good
impression" and "question[ed] whether Brian would be fully capable and desirous of
being a 'full-time' [d]ad if Haley were in Washington." On the whole, the court found
this factor favored Haley.
Regarding the length of time the child has spent in a stable environment and
the desirability of continuity, factor (5), the court found stability for the child in
Anchorage and, if restricted to geographic location, that this factor would "slightly
favor" Brian. But the court noted that this factor "also considers relational continuity and
stability" and that "[Haley's] relationship appears . . . to be more stable and continuous
than[Brian's]." The court found that, although thechild would besubstantiallyimpacted
by either custody choice, this factor favored Haley.
As to each parent's willingness and ability to allow a close and continuing
relationship between the child and the other parent, factor (6), the court found that this
factor "equally disfavored" both parents, citing both Brian's "tendency toward
manipulative behavior" and Haley's "narrow[] focus on Brian's shortcomings." The
court did not find, as Brian contended, that Haley had been "making a concerted effort
to not allow him to be part of [the daughter's] life," but the court noted concern about
how Haley would behave if she had primary custody.
The court concluded that if Haley were to move to Washington and Brian
were to stay in Anchorage, the child's best interests would be met by Haley having
primary physical custody during the school year. The court granted Brian custody for
up to eight weeks during the summer, initially broken into two four-week segments
separated by a four-week segment with Haley. The court declined to modify legal
custody, continuing the order that the parents share legal custody with Haley having final
say in the event of a disagreement.
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Brian appeals the superior court's order. He contends that the court erred
by failing to give "substantial deference" to the original custody decision, specifically
by impermissibly reweighing evidence regarding his capability and desire to meet the
child's needs and his willingness to foster a relationship between the child and Haley.
Brian also contends that the court erred by failing to consider Haley's alleged "lingering
illegitimate reasons" for moving to Washington, both in its determination on the
threshold legitimacy question and in its best interests analysis. Finally, Brian contends
that the court erred by improperly weighing the emotional and geographic stability
factor, in particular by failing to consider the child's ties to her extended family in
Anchorage. Haley did not participate in this appeal.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
"Trial courts have broad discretion in determining whether a proposed
child-custody modification is in the child's best interests. We will set aside the superior
court's best interests determination only if the trial court abused its discretion or if the
5
fact findings on which the determination is based are clearly erroneous."
"The trial
court's factual findings enjoy particular deferencewhen they are based 'primarily on oral
testimony, because the trial court, not this court, judges the credibility of witnesses and
6
weighs conflicting evidence.' "
"Abuse of discretion is established if the trial court considered improper
factors in making its custody determination, failed to consider statutorily mandated
5 Bruce H. v. Jennifer L. , 407 P.3d 432, 436 (Alaska 2017) (quoting Rego v.
Rego, 259 P.3d 447, 452 (Alaska 2011)).
6 Sheffield v. Sheffield, 265 P.3d 332, 335 (Alaska 2011) (quoting Josephine
B. v. State, Dep't of Health &Soc. Servs., Office of Children's Servs., 174 P.3d 217, 222
(Alaska 2007)).
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7
factors, or assigned disproportionate weight to particular factors while ignoring others."
"A factual finding is erroneous if, 'based on a review of the entire record, the finding
8 We
leaves us with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made.' "
review de novo whether the superior court applied the correct legal standard, "adopting
the rule of law that is most persuasive in light of precedent, reason, and policy."9
IV. DISCUSSION
A parent's anticipated relocation constitutes a substantial change in
circumstances sufficient to justify considering a physical custody modification.10
Evaluating a motion to relocate with a child requires a two-step analysis.11 The superior
court first must assess the legitimacy of the move, and in particular whether the move is
12 Once the court
"primarily motivated by a desire to make visitation more difficult."
determines the reasons for the move are legitimate, the court next considers the child's
7 Joy B. v. Everett B. , 451 P.3d 365, 368 (Alaska 2019) (quoting Hamilton
v. Hamilton, 42 P.3d 1107, 1111 (Alaska 2002)).
8 Bruce H., 407 P.3d at 436 (quoting Rego, 259 P.3d at 452).
9 Id. (quoting Rego, 259 P.3d at 452) (alteration omitted).
10 See id. at 435 ("[B]ecause [the mother] was planning to relocate with their
son, the court determined she had alleged a substantial change in circumstances.");
Nelson v. Nelson, 263 P.3d 49, 52-53 (Alaska 2011) ("Though the change-of-
circumstances rule is 'designed to discourage discontented parents from continually
renewing custody proceedings,' parents should not be discouraged from planning ahead
and seeking to modify custody arrangements in advance of an anticipated move."
(quoting Nichols v. Mandelin, 790 P.2d 1367, 1372 (Alaska 1990))); see also Judd v.
Burns, 397 P.3d 331, 341 & n. 35 (Alaska 2017) (noting that although "an out-of-state
move is a substantial change for physical custody purposes, it is not necessarily a
substantial change for legal custody purposes").
11 Bruce H., 407 P.3d at 437.
12 Id. (quoting Rego, 259 P.3d at 453).
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13
best interests, with no presumption favoring either parent. The child's best interests are
14
evaluated based on the nine factors identified at AS 25.24.150(c).
"The relocating
parent secures primary [physical] custody by showing that living with that parent in a
new environment better serves the child's interests than living with the other parent in
15
the current location."
A. The Superior Court Applied The Correct Legal Standard When
Determining The Legitimacy Of Haley's Relocation.
Brian contends that thesuperior court "misappliedthelegitimacy standard"
by "focusing only on Haley's primary motivation and failing to address her mixed
motives." On multiple occasions we have held that a move is legitimate "if it is not
16
primarily motivated by a desire to make visitation more difficult." Brian cites Eniero
17
v. Brekke for the proposition that a court must "apply a mixed motives analysis to the
legitimacy question," but in that decision we repeated that a move is considered
18
legitimate if it is not primarily motivated to make visitation more difficult.
The superior court found that Haley "was candid and forthright in her
testimony" and that her motivation to move "seems clearly designed to foster a new life
for herself . . . with her new boyfriend." The court concluded that "Haley's motivation
13 Id.
14 See supra note 3.
15 Rego, 259 P.3d at 453.
16 See id., (emphasis added) (citing Moeller-Prokosch v. Prokosch, 27 P.3d
314, 316 (Alaska 2001)); see also Bruce H., 407 P.3d at 437 ("We do not require the
moving parent to prove a compelling reason to move so long as the primary motivation
is not limiting visitation with the other parent.").
17 192 P.3d 147 (Alaska 2008).
18 Id. at 150.
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for the move is legitimate." Based on our clearly established legal standard, the court did
not err when making this determination.
B. The Superior Court Did Not Fail To Consider Secondary Motives In
Its Best Interests Analysis.
Brian contends that the superior court also erred by failing to consider
Haley's alleged motive to limit his visitation with the daughter in its best interests
analysis.
Brian is correct that we have held secondary "illegitimate" reasons for a
move need not be ignored for purposes of the best interests analysis simply because the
19
primary motivation was found to be legitimate.
But the superior court considered
whether Haley's move might be partly motivated by limiting the daughter's contact with
Brian. The court found Haley's testimony "candid and forthright," and it found Brian's
"vague assertions" about her illegitimate motivations were without merit. The court also
expressly found that Haley was not, as Brian claimed, "making a concerted effort to"
exclude Brian from the daughter's life.
The record supports the superior court's findings. In Haley's affidavit and
testimony, she provided detailed descriptions of her relationship with her boyfriend; her
job prospects in Washington; her investigation into school quality and identification of
a promising preschool near her boyfriend's house; and the community she had begun to
establish in the area. Only twice did Haley's testimony raise the possibility that she
wished to isolate the daughter from Brian. First, during a custody hearing prior to the
divorce trial when discussing Brian's domestic violence history, Haley testified that she
did not want the daughter "to be raised knowing that it's okay to treat people in an
19 See id. ("[W]e have not suggested that the best interests analysis cannot
take into account how a move would exacerbate problems such as a parent's willingness
to foster communication between the child and the other parent.").
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abusive way" and did not "want her to learn to be abused, basically." Haley continued:
"I don't want my daughter to grow up thinking that. I don't want her to think that this
is okay. I don't want her to be exposed to these behaviors." Later, during the relocation
hearing, Haley testified that she "think[s] he's controlling and manipulative" and that she
is "concerned about what he's going to do to [the daughter]."
We have found an illegitimate motive after a parent "repeatedly changed
her plans" and "did not provide contact information or adequate notice of her move to
20 we considered the parent's repeated unwillingness to support a relationship
the court";
between a child and the other parent, such as a history of cancelling scheduled
visitations, as evidence of an improper motive.21 We also have inferred an improper
motive from a parent's inability to articulate strong reasons for moving and an
22 We have not inferred an improper motive merely
underdeveloped employment plan.
from one parent's hostility toward the other or from one parent's fear of the other
parent's influence on a child, and we decline to do so here.
The superior court considered all the evidence when it declined to find that
Haley deliberately sought to limit Brian's ability to see the daughter. And the court
expressly considered whether each parent would facilitate a relationship between the
20 Mengisteab v. Oates, 425 P.3d 80, 86 (Alaska 2018).
21 Id.
22 See Eniero, 192 P.3d at 153 (imputing illegitimate motive to mother who
planned to work for her father's air charter business, which owned only one airplane and
had not secured any contracts or FAA approval). Brian contends that Haley's not yet
having secured employment is analogous to Eniero's ill-conceived employment plan.
But Haley testified that she had savings to support herself, that her boyfriend had offered
financial support, and, most importantly, that she had a career with a long history of
stable employment and already had established a number of job prospects. This
argument is meritless.
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child and the other parent, finding that there were concerns about both parents; this
seems to be the more appropriate focus of Brian's argument. Because the record
supports the court's finding that Haley was not motivated by "illegitimate" secondary
motives, the court did not err by "failing to use the mixed motives analysis" in its best
interests determination.
C. The Superior Court Did Not Fail To Give Substantial Deference To
The Original Custody Order.
We have held that a superior court considering a custody modification
request "must give deference to the findings made in the original custody
23
determination."
This rule is intended to prevent a court changing a custody
24
determination based solely on reweighing the original custody proceeding evidence.
Brian contendsthat the court impermissibly reweighed evidence regarding the capability
and desire of each parent to meet the daughter's needs, given the original findings that
"love and affection exists between [the child] and both of her parents" and that both
parents "have the capability and desire to meet her needs." Brian suggests that in light
of these findings the court erred by finding the "capability and desire of each parent to
meet [the daughter's] needs" factor favored Haley.
Thesuperior court determinedthat this factor favored Haleyin part because
Brian's "testimony and demeanor in court" indicated he was "putting on a show" and
"trying too hard to make a good impression." Apparently on this basis, the court
questioned "whether Brian would be fully capable and desirous of being a 'full-time'
[d]ad if Haley were in Washington." Nothing in these findings indicates that the court
was re-evaluating the divorce trial evidence. Unlike our Gratrix v. Gratrix finding that
23 Gratrix v. Gratrix, 652 P.2d 76, 81 (Alaska 1982).
24 Id.
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the court had made no mention of the previous custody determination and had reweighed
25
evidence of a parent's "lifestyle and general social mores,"
in this case the court's
26
finding appears to be based on its perception of Brian's credibility.
Brian also contends that the superior court failed to give sufficient weight
to the original findings regarding his fitness as a father. As in Gratrix, in this case "there
was no discussion" of the findings in the previous order relating to Brian's desire and
capability to meet the daughter's needs. Brian's argument fails, however, because the
original finding that he had the capability and desire to meet the daughter's needs is not
inconsistent with the court's finding that this factor nonetheless favored Haley. As we
have previously noted, courts making best interests determinations in cases involving a
27 Although
parent's relocation "must assume that the legitimate move will take place."
courts consider the same best interests factors as in custody cases not involving
relocation, the inquiry is decidedly different. In cases involving a parent's relocation to
distances too great for shared custody to be practical, the court must grant primary
28 Courts often find both parents sufficiently satisfy the
physical custody to one parent.
25 Id. at 81-82.
26 Cf. Bruce H. v. Jennifer L., 407 P.3d 432, 437 (Alaska 2017) ("When a
legitimacy finding is based on a court's assessment of a parent's credibility, we 'give it
particular deference.' " (quoting Kristina B. v. Edward B., 329 P.3d 202, 214 (Alaska
2014))).
27 Id. at 437 (quoting Rego v. Rego, 259 P.3d 447, 453 (Alaska 2011)).
28 See Rego, 259 P.3d at 453 ("The relocating parent secures [primary]
physical custody by showing that living with that parent in a new environment better
serves the child's interests than living with the other parent in the current location."). We
use "primary" and "shared" custody in their generic meanings here, without regard to the
formulaic meanings of the terms in Alaska Civil Rule 90.3(a)-(b) (defining various
custody forms for child support calculations).
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----------------------- Page 16-----------------------
best interests factors to warrant joint custody, but a court adjudicating a case involving
one parent's relocation is required to determine which parent better satisfies those
factors. It therefore is entirely consistent for a court to order joint custody when both
parents live in the same community, but nonetheless find that factors favor one parent
over the other if one parent chooses to relocate.
That situation was precisely what the superior court faced in this case. The
court found that "both parties have the capability and desire to meet [the daughter's]
29 but, expressing some uncertainty about Brian, the court found that this factor
needs,"
favored Haley. Similarly,thecourt found thatthechild "would be substantially impacted
by either custody choice" but that this factor nonetheless favored Haley. The court
concluded that "[s]o long as the parties both live in the same geographical area, then they
should continue to share physical custody 50/50 as ordered," but that "[u]pon [Haley's]
move to Washington, [Haley] will be awarded primary physical custody."
D. The Superior Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion By Failing To
Consider The Importance Of The Child's Extended Family Ties In
Anchorage.
Finally, Brian contends that the superior court erred by failing to
sufficiently consider the emotional stability extended family in Anchorage provided the
daughter. Brian notes our recent Saffir v. Wheeler30
decision, "acknowledg[ing] that the
child's relationship with extended family could be properly considered as part of [the
31 Brian contends that "[i]f a relationship can
emotional and geographic stability factor]."
be considered, then it is relevant, and failure to consider it is error."
29 See AS 25.24.150(c)(2).
30 436 P.3d 1009 (Alaska 2019).
31 Id. at 1013 n.12.
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This argument fails because the superior court considered all the available
evidence, including testimony about the child's community of family and friends, when
it concluded that "[t]he impact on [the child] of separating her from [Haley] appears to
be greater (all other things being equal) than the impact of separating [her] from[Brian]."
Having considered the evidence before it, the court did not err by finding this factor
favored Haley.
V. CONCLUSION
We AFFIRM the superior court's order modifying custody.
-17- 7450
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