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Case No. 21-0418

For summaries from opinions prior to August, 2018, view PDF versions here

Jessica K. Lagatta
v.
Brandon B. Kettler

Appellee

Jessica K. Lagatta

Appellant

Brandon B. Kettler

Attorney for the Appellee

Anjela A. Shutts and Jennifer B. Chavez-Rivera

Attorney for the Appellant

Tammy Westhoff Gentry and Natalie Hedberg

Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals Opinion

Opinion Number:
21-0418
Date Published:
Oct 20, 2021
Summary

            Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Dallas County, Thomas P. Murphy, Judge.  AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED.  Heard by Mullins, P.J., and Schumacher and Ahlers, JJ.  Opinion by Ahlers, J.  (16 pages)

            Brandon Kettler appeals from the ruling on his petition to modify provisions of the decree dissolving his marriage to Jessica Kettler.  Brandon argues: (1) his visitation with the parties’ children should increase; (2) he should remain responsible for the children’s health insurance; (3) his obligations to undergo drug screens and to provide drug test results and mental-health reports to Jessica should terminate after a specified time; and (4) Jessica should not be allowed to suspend his visitation without seeking court approval.  Both parties request appellate attorney fees.  OPINION HOLDS: We modify the ruling to suspend Brandon’s parenting time for two months following a positive drug test.  Due to ongoing concerns about Brandon’s mental health and substance abuse, we otherwise affirm the modification ruling and deny the requests for appellate attorney fees.

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