In re Marriage of Liu

Full Case Summary

Case Summary: In re Marriage of Meng Liu

Background

Meng Liu and Jonathan Cox were married on August 8, 2013, and have two children: C.C. (born August 2014) and R.C. (born April 2016). Liu filed for dissolution of marriage on May 1, 2018.

Trial Details

A bench trial occurred on April 18, April 19, and June 17, 2024, with related orders filed in the court docket.

Judgment and Parenting Responsibilities

On July 3, 2024, the trial court determined parental responsibilities, allowing the mother four consecutive weeks of summer parenting time, including travel to China, while the father received two uninterrupted weeks. The court mandated cooperation on submitting passport applications for their children.

Subsequent Motions

Cox sought to vacate the passport order on July 18, 2024, and to modify the parenting plan on August 12, 2024, while Liu filed a motion for Cox to sign passport applications on September 2, 2024. A hearing on October 10, 2024, resulted in Cox's motions being denied and Liu's motion being granted, requiring passport applications to be completed by November 6, 2024.

Appeal Process

Cox filed a notice of appeal on November 1, 2024, regarding the October ruling. By November 15, 2024, the court signaled the docket would be accelerated. The record on appeal was due by December 6, 2024, but Cox's motion to stay was denied on December 17, 2024.

Dismissal Motion and Brief Compliance

Liu filed a motion for dismissal on January 13, 2025, citing failure to provide the record. The trial court ordered the record to be filed, which was completed by February 6, 2025. The appellant's brief, due on February 27, 2025, was noncompliant due to missing elements as required by Illinois Supreme Court Rules 341 and 342, leading to a show cause order on February 28, 2025. A late brief was submitted without court permission on March 7, 2025, along with an appendix on March 12, 2025.

Review Outcome and Conclusion

The appellate court deemed the brief inadequate as it lacked legal citations and failed to articulate coherent arguments regarding the trial court's decisions on parenting time. As a result, the appeal was dismissed due to noncompliance with procedural rules.