Christopher Ringenberg v. Stephanie Dayle Ringenberg

FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL STATE OF FLORIDA _____________________________

No. 1D17-1577 _____________________________

CHRISTOPHER RINGENBERG,

Appellant,

v.

STEPHANIE DAYLE RINGENBERG,

Appellee. _____________________________

On appeal from the Circuit Court for Columbia County. Paul S. Bryan, Judge.

March 8, 2018

PER CURIAM.

Appellant challenges the trial court’s award of attorney’s fees to appellee and the trial court’s order denying his motion to disqualify their child’s counselor. We reverse the trial court’s award of attorney’s fees because the trial court did not determine appellee’s need or appellant’s ability to pay prior to deciding that appellee was entitled to fees. Routh v. Thompson, 82 So. 3d 157, 158 (Fla. 2d DCA 2012). We affirm the trial court’s order denying appellant’s motion to disqualify the child’s counselor without comment.

AFFIRMED IN PART and REVERSED IN PART. B.L. THOMAS, C.J., and WOLF and RAY, JJ., concur.

_____________________________

Not final until disposition of any timely and authorized motion under Fla. R. App. P. 9.330 or 9.331. _____________________________

Lucas J. Taylor of Sellers, Taylor & Morrison, P.A., Live Oak, for Appellant.

No appearance for Appellee.