Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District / Oct 6, 2020
RAYMOND WINFREY, Respondent vs. CHEYENNE N. CAHALAN, Appellant
Mother Cheyenne Cahalan appealed the denial of her post-judgment motion to set aside a judgment modifying child custody, arguing the trial court erred by not appointing a guardian ad litem (GAL). Mother contended that allegations of child abuse, made for the first time in her post-judgment motion, mandated a GAL appointment under section 452.423.2. The appellate court affirmed, holding that Mother's vague allegations of "questionable bruises" and "possible abuse" lacked the specificity required to trigger the mandatory GAL appointment.