Ryans v. State Ex Rel. Stoudmire

Michael Ryans ("the father") was adjudicated to be the father of Veronica Grace ("the child") in 1985; he was ordered to pay child support. The father unsuccessfully sought a modification of his child-support obligation in 1992. In 2002, the State of Alabama, on behalf of the child's mother, Pennie Stoudmire, filed an action in the juvenile court of Jefferson County, Bessemer Division, seeking to have the father held in contempt for failing to pay child support and to establish a total child-support arrearage of over $10,000, not including interest. The father moved to dismiss the action,…