[Cite as In re Contempt of Feng, 2011-Ohio-4810.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio

EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION 

No. 95749

IN RE: CONTEMPT OF 

LU-JEAN FENG

In the matter styled: 

Bruce E. Berger, Plainfiff-Appellee 

vs. 

Lu-Jean Feng, Defendant-Appellant 

JUDGMENT: 

AFFIRMED

Civil Appeal from the 

Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas 

Domestic Relations Division 

Case Nos. D-279920 and D-333284 

BEFORE: Rocco, J., Blackmon, P.J., and Stewart, J. 

RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: September 22, 2011 
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ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT

William T. Wuliger 

The Brownwell Building 

1340 Sumner Court 

Cleveland, Ohio 44115 

Joyce E. Barrett 

800 Standard Building 

1370 Ontario Street 

Cleveland, Ohio 44113 

Michael J. Maillis 

Perantinides & Nolan Co., L.P.A. 

300 Courtyard Square 

80 South Summit Street 

Akron, Ohio 44308 

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES

For Bruce E. Berger

Joseph G. Stafford 

Gregory J. Moore 

Stafford & Stafford Co., L.P.A. 

55 Erieview Plaza, 5th Floor 

Cleveland, Ohio 44114 

For Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court

William D. Mason 

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor 

9th Floor Justice Center 

1200 Ontario Street 

Cleveland, Ohio 44113 
3

-iiFor Guardian ad litem

Barbara A. Belovich 

Kronenberg & Belovich Law, LLC 

Suite 605 

Cleveland, Ohio 44113 

KENNETH A. ROCCO, J.: 

{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Dr. Lu-Jean Feng appeals from the order 

entered by the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Peas, Domestic Relations 

Division judge (the “DR court”) that found her in contempt for failing to abide 

by prior court orders that were issued with respect to both a petition for 

domestic violence and the terms of a Shared Parenting Plan (“SPP”). 

{¶ 2} Feng presents five assignments of error. She argues the judge 

that issued the contempt order lacked jurisdiction to do so, the DR court did 

not permit her an opportunity to present a defense, the order is not supported 

by the evidence, the DR court made evidentiary rulings that denied her due 

process of law, and the purge condition was an “impossible” one with which to 

comply. 

{¶ 3} Upon a review of the record, this court finds none of Feng’s 

arguments has merit. The trial court’s order, consequently, is affirmed. 
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{¶ 4} The original underlying case, assigned DR-279920, commenced in 

2001, when Feng’s ex-husband, plaintiff-appellee Dr. Bruce Berger, filed a 

complaint seeking a divorce. The case was assigned to Judge Timothy 

Flanagan, but, in an order dated February 11, 2004, Judge Flanagan 

voluntarily removed himself from the case and referred it to a visiting judge. 

{¶ 5} The visiting judge issued a final decree of divorce on December 29, 

2004. The decree incorporated an SPP for the couple’s two minor children, 

i.e., a daughter born in 1988 and a son born in 1994. By the SPP’s terms, 

Berger was the residential parent and had “final decision-making authority 

on all issues” when the parties could not agree. In relevant part, the SPP 

provided that, during the summer, the parents had alternating full-week 

possession periods, the exchanges would be on Fridays at 6:00 p.m., and for 

all other times not specifically set forth, Berger had possession of the 

children. 

{¶ 6} In February 2009, when the parties’ son was 16-years old, Feng 

filed motions to modify the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities 

and to modify child support.1 Berger responded by filing, inter alia, motions 

to show cause and requests for attorney fees. The DR court appointed 

Barbara A. Belovich to act as both guardian ad litem and attorney for the 

 1By this time, the parties’ daughter was emancipated. 
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parties’ son. 

{¶ 7} The matters proceeded to a trial before a magistrate, held over 

several weeks in the autumn of 2009. Before the magistrate issued a 

decision, the visiting judge became unavailable. Since Judge Flanagan had 

retired from the court, the administrative judge reassigned the case to herself 

for a ruling on the “judgment entry.” 

{¶ 8} On June 17, 2010 the magistrate issued a decision denying Feng’s 

motions. Feng requested an extension of time to file objections to the 

decision, which was granted. 

{¶ 9} On August 9, 2010, attorney William Wuliger filed a notice that he 

was being substituted as the son’s attorney in place of attorney Belovich. 

Wuliger also filed a motion on behalf of the son to set aside the magistrate’s 

report and recommendations. 

{¶ 10} On August 13, 2010, Berger filed an “emergency motion for the 

immediate return” of his son. Berger attached his affidavit, and asserted 

Feng failed to return the parties’ son on August 1, as required by the SPP. 

{¶ 11} On August 16, 2010, the visiting judge recused himself from the 

divorce case. On August 19, 2010, the administrative judge issued a journal 

entry noting the foregoing development, and assigning the divorce case to 

another judge’s docket “(via electronic Judge roll) to resolve all pending and 
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future issues.” (Emphasis in original.) See Loc.R. 2(A)(3). On August 25, 

2010, attorney Wuliger, purporting to be acting as the son’s attorney, filed an 

objection to the assignment. 

{¶ 12} On August 26, 2010, the DR court issued a journal entry that 

granted Berger’s emergency motion for the return of his son. The court 

noted therein that the existing SPP remained in effect “while the pending 

objections filed with regard to the Magistrate’s Decision of June 17, 2010 are 

considered.” The DR court ordered Feng to “immediately return the parties’ 

minor child” to Berger’s possession. 

{¶ 13} On September 8, 2010, Berger filed a Petition for a Domestic 

Violence protection order (a “CPO”) against Feng, which was assigned Case 

No. DV-333284; this is the underlying case to the instant appeal. The 

administrative judge issued an order “pursuant to Loc.R. 26(A)(3)” noting 

that the divorce case had been “assigned” to a particular judge, and it was “in 

the best interest of continuity” to “reassign Case No. DV 333284 to the 

docket” of that same judge. Following an ex parte hearing, the DR court 

granted the petition. 

{¶ 14} The September 8, 2010, CPO prevented Feng from having any 

contact with Berger and their son, and also suspended her visitation rights 

with her son. The order further required the son to attend the Hyde School 
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in Connecticut. Berger had chosen this school for their son over Feng’s 

opposition. The CPO prohibited Feng from preventing or interfering with 

the son’s attendance at Hyde. 

{¶ 15} By September 16, 2010, Wuliger was representing Feng; he filed 

on her behalf a petition for a CPO against Berger; this petition was assigned 

Case No. DV-333399. The DR court made no determination on this petition. 

{¶ 16} On September 20, 2010, a full hearing began on Berger’s domestic 

violence petition. Since the substitution-of-counsel notice for the son was 

filed without leave and because the son already had representation, the DR 

court prohibited Wuliger from acting as the son’s counsel. Wuliger 

thereupon stated he was acting as Feng’s attorney. 

{¶ 17} During this hearing, Feng testified that her son had been missing 

since September 8. Feng also testified that she did not know his 

whereabouts. At the close of the hearing, the DR court nevertheless ordered 

Feng to produce the son the next day, or Feng would be held in contempt of 

court. 

{¶ 18} The following day when proceedings resumed, the DR court issued 

a written order requiring Feng to produce the son in court by 4:00 p.m. The 

hearing proceeded. The son failed to appear. 

{¶ 19} At that time, the DR court found Feng in contempt and sentenced 
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her to three days in jail. The court found that Feng was deliberately 

withholding the son’s location. The court also required Feng to reappear on 

September 24, 2010 but told Feng she could purge the contempt by producing 

the son. 

{¶ 20} Feng’s attorney, Wuliger, immediately filed the instant appeal. 

Feng’s sentence was stayed, and she was released from jail on September 22, 

2010 after posting bond.2 The record indicates that the parties’ son was 

located on September 26, 2010 and that he returned to Berger’s custody.3

{¶ 21} The record further reflects that the outstanding issues in the 

underlying three cases could not thereafter immediately be resolved by the 

DR court because Feng filed an affidavit of disqualification with the Chief 

Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court on November 19, 2010. The supreme 

court denied the application on February 13, 2011. 

{¶ 22} Feng appeals from the contempt finding in DV-333284 and 

presents five assignments of error. 

 2 The record reflects that, in spite of the filing of the instant appeal, 

proceedings resumed on September 24, 2010 with the son’s whereabouts still 

unknown. The hearing, however, halted when Feng’s attorney accused the DR 

court of prejudging the issues and asked for her recusal. 

3On October 29, 2010, despite his status as Feng’s attorney, Wuliger filed a 

petition in this court for a writ of habeas corpus on the son’s behalf. See App. No. 

95941. 
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{¶ 23} “I. Because the trial court was improperly assigned to 

this case, the contempt order issued was voidable. 

{¶ 24} “II. The trial court abused its discretion in holding 

Appellant in summary contempt with no opportunity to present a 

defense. 

{¶ 25} “III. The evidence was insufficient to support the trial 

court’s contempt finding and/or the contempt finding was against the 

manifest weight of the evidence. 

{¶ 26} “IV. The trial court abused its discretion vis - a - vis 

erroneous evidentiary decisions which effectively denied Appellant 

her constitutional right to due process of law. 

{¶ 27} “V. The trial court abused its discretion in ordering a 

purge condition that was unreasonable and impossible to comply 

with.” 

{¶ 28} Feng argues in her first assignment of error that, because her 

divorce case was originally assigned to a particular judge of the DR court, the 

divorce case should have been transferred to his successor, rather than 

assigned again by electronic roll. She contends the new assignment violated 

the Ohio Supreme Court Rules of Superintendence and the Local Rules of the 

Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court. Based on this contention, Feng 
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maintains that the DR court that presided over the instant case was never 

properly assigned and, as a result, its judgment is voidable. Feng’s 

argument is rejected for the following reasons. 

{¶ 29} First, Feng filed her notice of appeal only from the contempt 

citation. That citation was issued in DV-333284, not in the underlying 

divorce case. This court lacks jurisdiction to rule on matters not set forth in 

the notice of appeal. App.R. 12(A)(1)(a); see also, Myers v. Myers, 

Muskingum App. No. CT2005-0005, 2005-Ohio-7040. 

{¶ 30} Second, the record reflects the administrative judge complied with 

the local rules of court in dealing with Berger’s petition. Loc.R. 26(A)(3) 

provides: 

{¶ 31} “A Petition for Domestic Violence which is being filed post-decree 

shall be assigned to a new judge and new case number at the time of filing. * * 

* the ex parte hearing on the Petition for Domestic Violence shall be before 

the judge who has continuing jurisdiction over the divorce/legal separation 

unless that Judge is unavailable.” (Emphasis added.) 

{¶ 32} Berger’s petition in the instant case received a new case number 

and was assigned to the administrative judge. The administrative judge 

then determined that Berger’s petition, DV-333284, should be assigned for 

hearing to the same judge to whom the underlying divorce case had been 
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assigned. Since this procedure complied with the local rules, Feng’s 

argument fails. 

{¶ 33} Third, the record reflects Feng never objected to the assignment, 

either in the underlying divorce action or in the instant case. Wuliger filed 

an objection in the divorce case, but it purported to be only on the son’s 

behalf; Wuliger did not at that time represent Feng. 

{¶ 34} Under these circumstances, Feng waived the argument she 

presents in her first assignment of error. Buttolph v. Buttolph, Wayne App. 

No. 09CA0003, 2009-Ohio-6909, ¶13-14. It is, accordingly, overruled. 

{¶ 35} Feng next argues that the DR court erred by failing to afford her 

any opportunity to present a defense to the contempt citation. In so arguing, 

Feng asserts the DR court wrongly deemed the matter to involve “direct” 

contempt, when it could only have been indirect contempt. Both the 

argument and the assertion are misplaced. 

{¶ 36} Contempt is defined as a disregard of, or disobedience to, an order 

or command of judicial authority. State v. Flinn (1982), 7 Ohio App.3d 294, 

455 N.E.2d 691. This court cannot reverse a finding of contempt by a trial 

court unless that court abused its discretion. State ex rel. Ventrone v. Birkel 

(1981), 65 Ohio St.2d 10, 417 N.E.2d 1249. 

{¶ 37} An abuse of discretion consists of more than an error of judgment; 
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it connotes an attitude on the part of the trial court that is unreasonable, 

unconscionable, or arbitrary. Rock v. Cabral (1993), 67 Ohio St.3d 108, 616 

N.E.2d 218. In applying this standard of review, an appellate court is not 

free to substitute its judgment for that of the trial court. In re Jane Doe 1 

(1991), 57 Ohio St.3d 135, 566 N.E.2d 1181, citing Berk v. Matthews (1990), 

53 Ohio St.3d 161, 559 N.E.2d 1301. 

{¶ 38} In Strauss v. Strauss, Cuyahoga App. No. 94129, 2010-Ohio-6166, 

¶9-10, this court recently distinguished direct and indirect contempt as 

follows: 

{¶ 39} “A court may find the offending party in contempt for either direct 

or indirect actions that constitute disobedience to an order. Pirtle v. Pirtle, 

2nd Dist. No. 18613, 2001-Ohio-1539. While a direct contempt occurs within 

the court’s presence or with the court’s personal knowledge of facts relating to 

the act, indirect contempt is ‘misbehavior that occurs outside the actual or 

constructive presence of the court.’ Id. One accused of indirect contempt is 

entitled to a ‘hearing on the charge, at which the court must investigate the 

charge, hear any answer or testimony that the accused makes or offers, and 

then determine whether the accused is guilty.’ Id. 

{¶ 40} “Although punishment is inherent in contempt, courts will 

categorize the penalty as either civil or criminal based on the character and 
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purpose of the punishment. In re J.M., 12th Dist. No. CA2008-01-004, 

2008-Ohio-6763, citing Brown v. Executive 200, Inc. (1980), 64 Ohio St.2d 250, 

416 N.E.2d 610. While criminal contempt is characterized by an 

unconditional prison sentence, civil contempt is marked by remedial or 

coercive punishment, doled out for the ‘benefit of the complainant.’ Id.” 

(Emphasis added.) 

{¶ 41} The importance of classifying the types of contempt is thus the 

effect the classification has on the rights of the contemnor. Direct contempt 

of court occurs in a way so closely related to the court itself that a finding may 

occur summarily; the court is not required to deal with direct contempt by 

providing the contemnor with a hearing. In re Purola (1991), 75 Ohio App.3d 

306, 596 N.E.2d 1140. 

{¶ 42} In contrast, indirect contempt of court does not occur in the 

presence of the court, and a hearing is required to provide the contemnor with 

the opportunity to explain his actions. Furthermore, if the indirect contempt 

is criminal in nature, then intent to defy the court must be proven beyond a 

reasonable doubt. Brown v. Executive 200, Inc. 

{¶ 43} A sanction for civil contempt allows the contemnor to purge 

himself of the contempt. Tucker v. Tucker (1983), 10 Ohio App.3d 251, 461 

N.E.2d 1337. Once the contemnor complies with the court’s order, the 
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purpose of the contempt sanction has been achieved and the sanction is 

discontinued. Cleveland v. Ramsey (1988), 56 Ohio App.3d 108, 110, 564 

N.E.2d 1089. 

{¶ 44} In this case, the DR court specifically found Feng to be in “direct, 

civil contempt” for failing to ensure the son came to the CPO hearing. The 

DR court conducted the CPO hearing mainly to ensure the son’s welfare. To 

that end, the DR court permitted Feng to purge the contempt by producing 

the son so that the DR court could determine for itself that the son was safe. 

{¶ 45} Since the DR court found Feng to be in direct civil contempt, it 

was not required to conduct a hearing to permit Feng to present a defense, 

and did not abuse its discretion in failing to do so. Brown v. Executive 200, 

Inc.

{¶ 46} Feng’s second assignment of error, accordingly, also is overruled. 

{¶ 47} Feng’s third and fifth assignments of error present related issues; 

therefore, they will be addressed together. 

{¶ 48} In her third assignment of error, Feng argues the DR court’s 

contempt finding lacked an adequate evidentiary basis. In her fifth, she 

argues that the “purge condition,” i.e., that she produce the son for the second 

day of the CPO hearing, was “impossible,” because she testified she did not 

know his whereabouts. These arguments are unpersuasive. 
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{¶ 49} A finding of direct, civil contempt must be based upon clear and 

convincing evidence. Id. Feng testified that she had custody of the parties’ 

son for the summer of 2010, and she admitted that she failed to return the 

son to Berger on August 1, 2010, as required under the SPP’s terms and the 

June 17, 2010 magistrate’s order. Feng also admitted she failed to return 

the son to Berger as required by the DR court order of August 26, 2010. 

{¶ 50} Feng also testified the son was at her home on September 8, 2010. 

 Feng claimed that he simply “disappeared” sometime in the afternoon of that 

day. Although she admitted receiving text messages from him, she further 

claimed she “did not know where he was.” 

{¶ 51} The DR court, however, found Feng’s credibility wanting. Other 

than informing the police about the son’s supposed disappearance, Feng had 

done nothing else to locate him and continued to go to work as usual. In 

light of Feng’s complete lack of concern over her son’s whereabouts, and the 

fact that at that point, he had been missing for twelve days, the DR court 

found Feng’s assertion that she could not secure his presence simply 

unbelievable. 

{¶ 52} This court cannot substitute its judgment on matters of 

credibility. Montgomery v. Montgomery, Scioto App. Nos. 03CA2924 and 

03CA2925, 2004-Ohio-6926, ¶25. Since the DR court’s contempt finding is 
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supported by clear and convincing evidence in the record, Feng’s third 

assignment of error also is overruled. 

{¶ 53} With respect to the punishment imposed, the DR court afforded 

Feng the opportunity to purge herself of contempt merely by bringing her 

son to the CPO hearing. Feng, as the contemnor, “carried the keys of her 

prison in her own pocket,” since the court advised her she would be freed if 

she agreed to produce her son as so ordered. Id. 

{¶ 54} In contempt proceedings, a reviewing court places great reliance 

upon the discretion of the judge, both in her finding of contempt and in the 

penalty imposed. Offenberg v. Offenberg, Cuyahoga App. Nos. 78885, 78886, 

79425 and 79426, 2003-Ohio-269, ¶77, citing Arthur Young v. Kelly (1990), 68 

Ohio App.3d 287, 294, 588 N.E.2d 233. For the same reason this court 

determines the finding is supported by the evidence in the record, the DR 

court’s purge condition cannot be found to constitute an abuse of discretion. 

Montgomery, ¶47. 

{¶ 55} Accordingly, Feng’s fifth assignment of error also is overruled. 

{¶ 56} Feng argues in her fourth assignment of error that the DR court 

wrongly excluded during the CPO hearing evidence that was crucial to her 

defense against Berger’s petition. 4 This argument, however, bears no 

 4 The record reflects the court refused to permit Feng, during her 
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relation to her citation for contempt, which is the only issue before this court. 

 Therefore, this court declines to address it. Feng’s fourth assignment of 

error is overruled. 

{¶ 57} The DR court’s order finding Feng in direct, civil contempt is 

affirmed. 

It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed. 

The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal. 

It is ordered that a special mandate be sent to said court to carry this 

judgment into execution. 

A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to 

Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure. 

________________________________ 

KENNETH A. ROCCO, JUDGE 

PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, P.J., CONCURS; 

MELODY J. STEWART, J., DISSENTS 

(SEE ATTACHED DISSENTING OPINION) 

MELODY J. STEWART, J., DISSENTING: 

 

cross-examination of Berger, to enter into evidence email communications she 

claimed were from her son to Berger, and to play a surreptitiously-recorded 

“mediation” held between the parties, their son, and a family friend. Feng 

contends the evidence at issue was admissible under Evid.R. 801(D)(2)(a), 803(5)(a), 

and R.C. 2710.03(B). 
18

{¶ 58} I respectfully di ssent wi th the majori ty deci si on to affi rm. I fi nd that the 

second assignment of error has merit and would, accordingly, reverse the finding of contempt. 

 

{¶ 59} Direct contempt is that which occurs in the presence of the court and is 

immediately punishable. State v. Belcastro (2000), 139 Ohio App.3d 498, 501, 744 N.E.2d 

271. Indirect contempt occurs when a party engages in conduct outside the presence of the 

court that demonstrates a lack of respect for the court or i ts lawful orders. If the 

contemptuous action occurs outside the presence of the court, the court must afford the 

accused a hearing, at which he will have an opportunity to be heard, by himself or through his 

counsel. R.C. 2705.03. 

{¶ 60} The parties dispute the nature of Feng’s contempt: the court and Berger 

believe Feng engaged in direct contempt for failing to have the child appear at the September 

24 hearing and could be summarily punished; Feng claims that the contempt was related to a 

court order to have the child appear; hence, it was an indirect contempt that could be punished 

only after a hearing. 

{¶ 61} Although the court had entered an order requiring Feng to produce the child, it 

is plain that the court intended to coerce Feng to bring the child to court. A sanction imposed 

for civil contempt is remedial or coercive in nature and is imposed for the benefit of the 
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complainant. Brown v. Executive 200, Inc. (1980), 64 Ohio St.2d 250, 253; Bierce v. 

Howell, 5th Dist. No. 06 CAF 05 0032, 2007-Ohio-3050, ¶8. In such a case, notice that 

apprises the alleged contemnor of the nature of the charge against him so that he may prepare 

a defense is sufficient for due process purposes. Cincinnati v. Cincinnati Dist. Council 51, 

Am. Fedn. of State, Cty. & Mun. Employees (1973), 35 Ohio St.2d 197, 203, 299 N.E.2d 686. 

 Any sanction imposed for civil contempt must afford a contemnor the right to purge himself 

of the contempt. Id. 

{¶ 62} On September 21, the court issued a written order requiring Feng to produce the 

child by 4 p.m. When the child did not appear by that time, the court found Feng in 

contempt and sentenced her to three days in jail on grounds that Feng was deliberately 

withholding the child’s location. The court also required Feng to appear before the court on 

September 24, but told Feng that she could purge the contempt by producing the child. 

{¶ 63} The court’s act of placing purge conditions in its order demonstrates that it 

found Feng in contempt in order to coerce her into producing the child. Brown, 64 Ohio 

St.3d at 254. Although it characterized Feng’s contempt as “direct,” that was a misnomer. 

Had the court intended simply to punish Feng for a direct contempt, it would not have allowed 

her to purge the contempt. Plainly, by giving Feng the opportunity to purge, the court was 

coercing her into giving up whatever knowledge she had on the child’s whereabouts, thus 
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making it an indirect contempt. 

{¶ 64} It follows that Feng was entitled to a hearing before a finding of contempt and 

being jailed. See State v. Local Union 5760, United Steelworkers of Am. (1961), 172 Ohio 

St. 75, 79, 15 O.O.2d 133, 173 N.E.2d 331 (before making a finding of indirect contempt, 

hearing, and notice are required). The court’s failure to afford the necessary hearing was a 

violation of Feng’s right to due process and is reversible error.