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In re the Marriage of Cowger
Bradley Lynn Cowger, Petitioner-Appellee
Leslie Anne Cowger, n/k/a Leslie Anne Nelson, Respondent-Appellant
Attorney for Appellee
Bradley Cowger, self-represented
Attorney for Appellant
Katie Marie Naset
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Polk County, David Porter, Judge. AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED AND REMANDED. Considered by Greer, P.J., Buller, J., and Mullins, S.J. Opinion by Mullins, S.J. (16 pages)
Leslie Cowger appeals a district court ruling modifying the decree dissolving her marriage to Bradley (Brad) Cowger. She argues the court erred by not modifying Brad’s visitation schedule when it modified the decree to provide her sole legal custody and physical care; in calculating child support; and by not ordering Brad to pay her trial attorney fees and the court costs, including guardian ad litem fees. Leslie also requests an award of appellate attorney fees. OPINION HOLDS: We modify the district court’s parenting-time schedule. We also modify Brad’s child-support obligation to reflect errors assigned by Leslie and removal of Brad’s extraordinary-visitation credit. We conclude Leslie was entitled to an award of trial attorney fees in the amount of $12,000 and court costs, including guardian ad litem fees, should have been taxed against Brad, so we modify the court’s ruling accordingly and remand to the district court to enter judgment against Brad for these amounts. Lastly, we find Leslie is entitled to an award of appellate attorney fees, and we remand to the district court to determine a reasonable award. Costs on appeal are taxed to Brad.
