Summary 2013 WY 73

Summary of Decision June 17, 2013

Justice Davis delivered the opinion for the Court. Affirmed.

Case Name: AMY C. ROBERTS v. STEVEN LOCKE

Docket Number: S-12-0224

URL: http://www.courts.state.wy.us/Opinions.aspx

Appeal from the District Court of Albany County, Honorable Jeffrey A. Donnell, Judge

Representing Appellant (Plaintiff/Defendant): Wendy S. Ross and Mary T. Parsons of Parsons & Associates, P.C., Cheyenne, Wyoming

Representing Appellee (Plaintiff/Defendant): Megan L. Hayes and Allen Gardzelewski of Corthell and King, P.C., Laramie, Wyoming

Date of Decision: June 17, 2013

Facts: Appellant Amy Roberts and Appellee Steven Locke divorced in mid-July of 2010. Among their marital assets was a beachfront property in Costa Rica. After a trial, the district court ordered the property sold and the proceeds divided, and later held Roberts in contempt for impeding the sale. She now appeals that order.

Issues: Roberts asks this Court to consider two questions, which we restate as follows: Did the district court have jurisdiction to order Roberts to convey the Costa Rican property to Locke so that he could sell it, with the proceeds of sale to be distributed as provided in the divorce decree? Did the district court abuse its discretion when it found Roberts in civil contempt of court?

In addition, Locke asks us to determine that Roberts lacked reasonable cause for her appeal, and to award him the costs and fees he has expended in responding.

Holdings: Roberts has not shown that the district court abused its discretion in holding her in contempt of court, or that the court lacked jurisdiction to order her to convey her interest in the Costa Rican property to Locke. We therefore affirm and, for the reasons set out above, will award Locke reasonable costs, fees, and damages under W.R.A.P. 10.05. Locke shall submit an appropriate application to this Court within fifteen days from the filing and publication of this opinion.

Summaries are prepared by Law Librarians and are not official statements of the Wyoming Supreme Court

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