KANSAS CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES

There are changes affecting both those who pay, and who receive, child support ordered by Kansas courts. Not only have the age brackets and amounts of support changed, but the rules about support in shared custody situations have changed significantly. The guidelines may be found at www.kscourts.org/Rules-procedures-forms/Child-support-guidelines/default.asp .

FATHERS ARE AWARDED CUSTODY IN JOHNSON COUNTY DISTRICT COURT

Mr. Walker represented fathers in four separate District Court cases in which the fathers were awarded residential custody of their children. In one, a paternity case, a single father was awarded primary residential custody of his four year old daughter. In another, a divorcing father was awarded primary residential custody of his four children, ranging in age from 12 to 2. In another, father was awarded sole residential custody of his two sons, ages 6 and 8.

KANSAS TRIAL COURT'S DECISION REGARDING CHILD SUPPORT, MAINTENANCE, AND PROPERTY DIVISION UPHELD

Mr. Walker successfully argued before the Kansas Court of Appeals the trial judge had correctly awarded maintenance and child support, and divided property. The appellate court held, while previous rulings of a trial judge may be numerous and erroneous, they are not alone sufficient to show the required bias or prejudice to disqualify a judge under Kansas statutes. Marriage of Steinbrink.

KANSAS HOME SELLER SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED ON APPEAL

Mr. Walker participated in the successful defense of the trial court's decision in favor of home sellers with a leaky basement, who were sued under theories of breach of contract, fraud by omission, negligent misrepresentation, and the Kansas Consumer Protection Act . McLellan v. Raines, Reece & Nichols Realtors, Inc., Bockelman and Fate (Kansas Court of Appeals).

MODIFICATION OF MAINTENANCE-KANSAS

Mr. Walker successfully argued before the Kansas Court of Appeals that a district court retains the power to modify court-ordered maintenance at any time, despite such right not being specifically mentioned in the trial court's ruling establishing such maintenance. In re Marriage of Ehinger, Syl. 8, 121 P. 3d 467.

EARLY RETIREMENT BENEFITS DIVISIBILITY- KANSAS

Mr. Walker successfully argued before the Kansas Court of Appeals that early retirement benefits in pay status could be considered by the trial court as income, thus included as income in calculating child support and maintenance, but did not as a matter of law have to be considered divisible as property. In re Marriage of Cordray, 2004 WL 1191446, 90 P.3d 379 .

CHILD SUPPORT DECISION OF TRIAL COURT REVERSED ON APPEAL

Mr. Walker successfully argued before the Kansas Court of Appeals that the trial court's failure to consider a father's tax returns and small business income, in calculating child support, was reversible error. This resulted in the case being reversed and remanded to the trial court for further decision. Marriage of Hutson, Case No. 95,690.

POLICY LIMITS SETTLEMENT IN CLOSED-HEAD INJURY CASE

Mr. Walker obtained policy limits plus a personal contribution from the negligent driver, in settling a case for an unhelmeted motorcycle driver who was injured when the other driver turned in front of him, causing permanent closed-head injury.

CLOSED-HEAD INJURY SETTLEMENT REACHED

Another closed-head injury settlement was reached for a tenant injured by a falling cement block in an apartment complex laundry room.

POLICY LIMITS SETTLEMENT REACHED

The firm reached a policy limits settlement in a vehicular collision in which the negligent driver fell asleep at the wheel, causing serious injury to her passenger.

SEMI-CAR COLLISION YIELDS MULTIPLE SIX FIGURE SETTLEMENT

A collision between a semi-tractor-trailer and car, which resulted in non-operated neck and back injuries to the driver of the car, resulted in a multiple six figure settlement for the car's driver, who was represented by Mr. Walker in Jackson County Circuit Court.

SEMI-PICKUP COLLISION RESULTS IN MULTIPLE SIX-FIGURE SETTLEMENT

Mr. Walker helped a man and his wife reach a multiple six figure settlement through mediation, for back and leg injuries the young father suffered, resulting from the collision of a semi-tractor-trailer with the pickup truck he was driving down a country road
in Ray County, Missouri.