Marriage of Thompson

Filed 1/27/22

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT

(El Dorado) ----

In re the Marriage of JOHN RICHARD and OLIVIA C091168

MELO THOMPSON.

JOHN RICHARD THOMPSON, (Super. Ct. No. PFL20190260)

Appellant,

v.

OLIVIA MELO THOMPSON,

Respondent.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of El Dorado County, Jamie L. Pesce, Judge. Affirmed.

Suzanne M. Nicholson and Hoffman & Hoffman, Joseph A. Hoffman for Appellant.

William W. Sardam for Respondent.

1 After husband John Thompson petitioned for separation from Wife Olivia Thompson in California, wife petitioned for dissolution of marriage in Massachusetts. Husband then amended his California petition to seek dissolution. Wife, in turn, filed a request for order to quash and abate the California proceedings, arguing her dissolution proceeding in Massachusetts was first and was a better suited forum. The trial court ordered the California case abated and stayed, finding wife’s dissolution petition was first in time, the court lacked personal jurisdiction over wife, and “equitable factors” weighed in favor of…