Opinion
Case Nos. 20000611-CA, 20000936-CA.
Filed July 19, 2001. (Not For Official Publication)
Third District, Salt Lake Department, The Honorable Glenn K. Iwasaki.
Russell J. Diefenderfer and Paula J. Diefenderfer, Salt Lake City, Appellants Pro Se.
Jay Mohlman, Bountiful, for Appellees.
Before Judges Jackson, Bench, and Thorne.
MEMORANDUM DECISION
On December 15, 2000, this court issued an order consolidating the appeals of Russell and Paula Diefenderfer (the Diefenderfers), Case No. 20000611, and Gary and Kathleen McFadden (the McFaddens), Case No 20000936, for purpose of decision. We address the cases in that order.
The Diefenderfers appeal from an order determining that funds totaling $1,008.22, on deposit in their bank account at Key Bank, are subject to garnishment.
The McFaddens appeal from a subsequent order determining that funds totaling $1,158.57, on deposit in the Diefenderfers' bank account at Key Bank, are not subject to garnishment in their entirety because those funds were wages derived from personal services.
We affirm the trial court's rulings in both instances.
I. The Diefenderfers' Appeal, Case No. 20000611
The Diefenderfers argue that funds totaling $1,008.22, on deposit in their bank account, are exempt from garnishment because they constitute "wages . . . from personal services." Utah R. Civ. P. 64D(d)(4)(iv), (vii). While the Diefenderfers raise an interesting claim, we decline to consider it because (1) they have not adequately briefed the claim, see State v. Yates, 834 P.2d 599, 602 (Utah Ct.App. 1992); and (2) they have failed to marshal the evidence supporting the trial court's order. See Moon v. Moon, 1999 UT App 12, ¶ 24, 973 P.2d 431 (stating that the duty to marshal the evidence when challenging the trial court's findings of fact is a critical requirement of appellate advocacy).
In Smith v. Smith, 1999 UT App 370, 995 P.2d 14, we explained that "[b]riefs that are not in compliance with Rule 24 [of the Utah Rules of Appellate Procedure] may be disregarded or stricken sua sponte by the court." Id. at ¶ 8 (citing Utah R. App. P. 24(j)). "An issue is inadequately briefed when `the overall analysis of the issue is so lacking as to shift the burden of research and argument to the reviewing court.'" Id. (citation omitted).
In the present matter, the Diefenderfers fail to cite any relevant legal authority in their brief supporting their claim. Indeed, they merely rehash the argument they made to the trial court. See id. at ¶ 13. As such, the Diefenderfers have "shift[ed] the burden of research and argument to [this court]." State v. Thomas, 961 P.2d 299, 305 (Utah 1998). Accordingly, because the Diefenderfers have inadequately briefed their claim, we decline to consider it.
We also conclude that the Diefenderfers have failed to satisfy the marshaling requirement. In Moon, we explained that "a critical requirement of appellate advocacy . . . [is] the duty to marshal the evidence when challenging the trial court's findings of fact." Moon, 1999 UT App 12 at ¶ 24. Further, we explained that "[w]hen an appellant fails to meet the heavy burden of marshaling the evidence, . . . we assume that the record supports the findings of the trial court." Id. (internal quotations and citations omitted).
Here, the Diefenderfers not only reargue the same facts and evidence previously considered by the trial court, they also fail to marshal "`every scrap of competent evidence introduced at trial which supports the very findings the [Diefenderfers] resist.'" Id. Accordingly, because the Diefenderfers fail to satisfy the marshaling requirement, "we assume that the record supports the findings of the trial court." Id. (internal quotations and citation omitted).
II. The McFaddens' Appeal, Case No. 20000936
The McFaddens argue that funds totaling $1,158.57, on deposit in the Diefenderfers' bank account, "lose their identity as wages or disposable earnings once they are deposited in a bank account." While they too present an interesting claim, we do not reach the merits of the McFaddens' claim because they have also failed to satisfy the marshaling requirement. See id.
The judgments of the trial court are therefore affirmed.
William A. Thorne, Jr., Judge.
WE CONCUR: Norman H. Jackson, Associate Presiding Judge and Russell W. Bench, Judge.