Nathaniel D. v. Kristy W. CA2/3

INTRODUCTION

Father Nathaniel D. appeals from the court’s order finding that Mother Kristy W. would be the primary caregiver of the child and from an order denying his motion to stay Mother’s request for child support. Father contends that the trial court erred when it refused to take testimony from Father and his witnesses at the custody hearing, when it refused to find that Mother’s request for child support was barred by res judicata or claim preclusion, and when it denied Father’s request to issue a statement of decision upon denying Father’s request to stay the child support hearing. We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion as it had good cause to refuse the testimony. As to the trial court’s decision denying Father’s motion to stay the child support hearing, res judicata and collateral estoppel were inapplicable and the court was not required to issue a statement of decision on this motion. We affirm on all grounds.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Father and Mother have a five-year-old child together and are unmarried. Although they lived together for the first three years of the child’s life, Mother moved out of the home with the child in 2012.…