Is illegally obtained evidence admissible in a custody proceeding?

Vintage photograph of women with headset listening to a recording

Abid vs. Abid (Child Custody) (Nev. Supreme Ct. – Dec. 7, 2017)

In this child custody proceeding, a father surreptitiously recorded his child and ex-wife’s conversations by hiding a recording device in the child’s backpack. Because neither the child nor the mother consented to this recording, the father’s actions likely violated NRS 200.650, which prohibits the surreptitious recording of nonconsenting individuals’ private conversations. The question presented is whether the district court abused its discretion by providing the recordings to a psychologist appointed by the court to evaluate the child’s welfare.

Sean and Lyudmyla Abid divorced in 2010. Their stipulated divorce decree awarded them joint legal and joint physical custody of their one-year old child. In 2015, Sean moved to modify those terms to get primary physical custody.

On at least two separate occasions, Sean placed a recording device in the child’s backpack as the child traveled to Lyudmyla’s home. The child and Lyudmyla were unaware of the device, and neither consented to Sean recording their conversations. Sean then edited the recordings, removed what he claimed to be irrelevant material, and destroyed the originals. Claiming that the recordings demonstrated Lyudmyla’s attempts to manipulate the child, Sean moved to admit them into evidence in the custody proceeding. Lyudmyla objected on grounds that Sean violated NRS 200.650 in recording her and the child’s private conversations.

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Nevada Appellate Courts Advance Opinions for December 7, 2017

Nevada Appellate Courts Advance Opinions for December 7, 2017

MULLNER (TROY) VS. STATE

  • Can a court consider felony convictions originating from juvenile offenses in habitual criminal sentencing.

IN RE: PARENTAL RIGHTS AS TO T.L.

  • When does a parent lack standing to challenge a court’s placement decision following the termination of his or her parental rights.

AGWARA VS. STATE BAR OF NEVADA

  • Can an attorney assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to quash subpoenas issued by the State Bar that seek production of client accounting records and tax records.

NEVILLE, JR. VS. DIST. CT. (TERRIBLE HERBST, INC.)

  • Does NRS Chapter 608 provide a private right of action for unpaid wages.

ABID VS. ABID (CHILD CUSTODY)

  • Is illegally obtained evidence admissible in a child custody proceeding.

DOE VS. STATE, LEGISLATURE OF THE 77TH SESSION

  • Does Nevada’s medical marijuana registry violate the Due Process, Equal Protection, or Self-Incrimination Clauses of the United States or Nevada Constitutions.

Visit the Nevada Appellate Report for more legal news.

Nevada Appellate Courts Advance Opinions for September 14, 2017

Nevada Appellate Courts Advance Opinions for September 14, 2017

FACKLAM VS. HSBC BANK USA

  • Does NRS 11.190(1)(b)’s statute of limitations for contract actions apply to nonjudicial foreclosures.

DITECH FINANCIAL, LLC VS. BUCKLES

  • Does NRS 200.620, which requires both parties to consent to the recording of a telephone call, apply to the recording of interstate calls when the act of recording takes place outside Nevada.

THOMAS (LACY) VS. DIST. CT. (STATE)

  • When a defendant requests a mistrial, does double jeopardy bar reprosecution when a prosecutor intentionally proceeds in a course of egregious and improper conduct that causes prejudice to the defendant.

 PROPERTY PLUS INV.’S, LLC VS. MORTG. ELEC. REGISTRATION SYS., INC.

  • Is an HOA limited to only one superpriority lien per parcel of property forever.
  • Does an HOA lien survive bankruptcy even though the homeowner’s personal obligation is extinguished upon a Chapter 7 discharge.

IN RE: DISH NETWORK DERIVATIVE LITIG. C/W 69012

  • What is the appropriate legal standard for a district court’s consideration of a company’s board of directors created special litigation committee’s (SLC) motion to defer to the SLC’s recommendation that derivative claims should be dismissed.

O.P.H. OF LAS VEGAS, INC. VS. OREGON MUT. INS. CO.

  • Does NRS 687B.360 require an insurance policy cancellation notice to contain a statement of a policyholder’s right to request additional information to be effective.
  • Under Nevada law, does an insurance broker who obtains an insurance policy for a client have a duty to monitor the client’s premium payments and to alert the client when the policy is about to be canceled for nonpayment of premiums.

PARAMETRIC SOUND CORP. VS. DIST. CT. (RAKAUSKAS)

  • Do shareholders lack standing to sue a corporation and its directors because the shareholders’ claims are derivative, not ones asserting direct injury.

PALIOTTA VS. STATE, DEP’T OF CORRECTONS

  • Did the State’s complete denial of an inmate’s request for either an Egyptian or kosher diet substantially burden the exercise of the inmate’s religious beliefs.

FRANCHISE TAX BD. VS. HYATT

  • Does the exception to government immunity for intentional torts and bad faith conduct survive the Nevada Supreme Court’s adoption of the federal test for discretionary function immunity.
  • Based on comity, is it reasonable to provide the Franchise Tax Board of the State of California (FTB) with the same protection of California law, to grant FTB immunity from punitive damages.
  • Are medical records mandatory in order to establish a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Visit the Nevada Appellate Report for more legal news.