Malek v. Romano

Summary

The Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands dismissed an appeal from a Superior Court contempt order arising from an alleged interference with parenting time during a child’s trip to Italy. The court held that the order was not final and appealable because it required reimbursement of travel and other expenses without quantifying the amount owed. The case was remanded for further proceedings.

Holdings

1. Although a civil contempt order may be final and appealable when contempt is adjudicated and an appropriate sanction is imposed, an order awarding monetary reimbursement is not final for appellate purposes when the award has not been reduced to a determinate or quantified amount.
2. The Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction because the Superior Court's August 1, 2023 order was not a final order.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Superior Court's civil contempt order was a final, appealable order when it imposed a reimbursement obligation but did not quantify the amount owed.
2. Whether the Supreme Court had appellate jurisdiction under title 4, section 32(a) of the Virgin Islands Code.

Disposition

remanded