[Cite as Bruns v. Green, 2019-Ohio-2296.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO 

TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT 

Kayleigh Bruns, : 

 Plaintiff-Appellee, : 

 No. 18AP-259 

v. : (C.P.C. No. 13JU-8624)

Marcus Green, : (REGULAR CALENDAR) 

 Defendant-Appellant. : 

 

D E C I S I O N 

Rendered on June 11, 2019 

 

On brief: Plymale & Dingus, LLC, and M. Shawn Dingus, for 

appellee. Argued: M. Shawn Dingus. 

On brief: Randy S. Kurek, for appellant. Argued: Randy S. 

Kurek. 

 

APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, 

Domestic Relations, Juvenile Branch 

SADLER, J. 

{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Marcus Green, appeals the March 2, 2018 judgment 

entry of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, 

Juvenile Branch, which terminated a prior shared parenting decree and plan and allocated 

the parental rights and responsibilities of appellant and plaintiff-appellee, Kayleigh Bruns. 

For the following reasons, we affirm the trial court. 

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY 

{¶ 2} Appellant and appellee are the biological parents of one minor child born in 

2012. On October 10, 2014, the parties entered into an Agreed Shared Parenting Plan ("the 

Plan") pursuant to R.C. 3109.04, in which both parties were "designated as the residential 
No. 18AP-259 2 

parents and legal custodians," appellant was designated as the "school placement parent" 

so long as he resided in the Westerville School District, and both parents would exercise 

equal parenting time. (Agreed Shared Parenting Plan at 2.) The trial court approved the 

Plan and incorporated it into a shared parenting decree. 

{¶ 3} On June 3, 2015, appellant filed a motion for change of parental rights and 

responsibilities requesting full custody of the child. Thereafter, appellee filed a "Motion to 

Terminate Shared Parenting and to Reallocate Parental Rights and Responsibilities" on 

August 27, 2015, in which appellee requested the trial court order termination of the Plan 

pursuant to R.C. 3109.04(E)(2)(c) or, in the alternative, a modification of the Plan. 

Appellant likewise filed a motion to terminate shared parenting plan on September 21, 

2015, in which appellant requested the trial court terminate the Plan or, in the alternative, 

modify the plan. Each party sought sole legal custody of the child along with an order for 

the other party to pay child support. The guardian ad litem for the minor child filed a report 

on November 14, 2016 and a supplemental report on April 3, 2017. A hearing on the matter 

was held on April 11 and 12, July 13 and 14, September 12 and 13, and November 2, 2017, 

where both parties were present during the hearing and represented by counsel. 

{¶ 4} On March 2, 2018, the trial court entered judgment that decreed the "parties' 

Joint Shared Parenting Plan terminated," designating appellee as the sole legal custodian 

and residential parent of the minor child stating a parenting schedule for the minor child 

both prior to and after the commencement of kindergarten. (Emphasis sic.) (Trial Ct. 

Jgmt. at 11.) The trial court modified the current order of child support from $0 to $322.26 

to $376.95, depending on whether private health insurance is in effect. In doing so, the 

trial court considered the "best interest of a child" factors listed in R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) and 

(2) and parenting time factors listed in R.C. 3109.051(D). 

{¶ 5} Appellant filed a timely appeal. 

II. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR 

{¶ 6} Appellant assigns the following as trial court error:1

[1.] The trial court committed reversable [sic] error in 

changing the minor child's residential parent without any 

determination of a substantial change in circumstances and 

that either (i) both parties agreed to the change; (ii) both 

 

1 The parties voluntarily dismissed a third assignment of error pursuant to App.R. 28. 
No. 18AP-259 3 

parties have consented to the integration of the minor child 

into Appellee's family; or (iii) that the harm likely to be caused 

to the minor child by the change of environment is 

outweighed by the advantages of the change of environment, 

as is mandated by ORC 3109.04(E)(1)(a). 

[2.] The trial court committed reversable [sic] error in basing 

it's [sic] child support calculations on Appellant's prior 

employment without any determination that Appellant was 

underemployed or that income should be imputed to Appellant 

as mandated by R.C. 3119.01(C)(11). 

III. LEGAL ANALYSIS 

A. Appellant's First Assignment of Error 

{¶ 7} In his first assignment of error, appellant contends the trial court committed 

reversible error in changing the residential parent of the child without making the 

determinations required by R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a). For the following reasons, we disagree. 

{¶ 8} The core dispute in this case is whether the trial court may terminate a shared 

parenting plan and decree and subsequently modify the parental rights and responsibilities 

under R.C. 3109.04(E)(2) without first finding a change in circumstances under R.C. 

3109.04(E)(1)(a). Although a trial court has broad discretion in deciding a custody matter, 

it "must follow R.C. 3109.04." Myers v. Wade, 10th Dist. No. 16AP-667, 2017-Ohio-8833, 

¶ 15. "The question of whether a trial court correctly interpreted and applied a statute is a 

question of law, and we review it de novo. Id. at ¶ 8, citing State v. Willig, 10th Dist. No. 

09AP-925, 2010-Ohio-2560, ¶ 14. 

{¶ 9} R.C. 3109.04 empowers the trial court to allocate the parental rights and 

responsibilities for the care of a minor child. R.C. 3109.04(A). Pertinent to this appeal, 

either or both parents of a minor child may file a pleading or motion requesting the court 

grant both parents shared parental rights and responsibilities for the care of the child and 

file a plan for the shared parenting of the child. R.C. 3109.04(G). If the parents jointly 

request shared parental rights and jointly file the plan, the trial court must approve the plan 

if it is in the best interest of the child. R.C. 3109.04(D)(1)(a)(i). Relevant factors pertaining 

to the best interest of the child determination and shared parenting are stated in R.C. 

3109.04(F). If an R.C. 3109.04(G) motion and plan are approved by the trial court, the trial 

court may allocate the parental rights and responsibilities for the care of the child to both 

parents and issue a shared parenting order requiring the parents to share all or some of the 
No. 18AP-259 4 

aspects of the physical and legal care of the child in accordance with the approved plan for 

shared parenting. R.C. 3109.04(A)(2). 

{¶ 10} On the other hand, if neither parent files a pleading or motion in accordance 

with R.C. 3109.04(G) or if a submitted shared parenting plan is not in the best interest of 

the child: 

[T]he court, in a manner consistent with the best interest of 

the children, shall allocate the parental rights and 

responsibilities for the care of the children primarily to one of 

the parents, designate that parent as the residential parent 

and the legal custodian of the child, and divide between the 

parents the other rights and responsibilities for the care of the 

children, including, but not limited to, the responsibility to 

provide support for the children and the right of the parent 

who is not the residential parent to have continuing contact 

with the children. 

R.C. 3109.04(A)(1). See Curry v. Curry, 10th Dist. No. 10AP-437, 2010-Ohio-6536, ¶ 16. 

{¶ 11} R.C. 3109.04(E) specifies the manner in which parents and the trial court 

may "modify" the shared parenting decree and plan or, in the alternative, "terminate" the 

shared parenting decree and plan. R.C. 3109.04(E)(1) and (2). In relevant part, R.C. 

3109.04(E) states: 

(1)(a) The court shall not modify a prior decree allocating 

parental rights and responsibilities for the care of children 

unless it finds, based on facts that have arisen since the prior 

decree or that were unknown to the court at the time of the 

prior decree, that a change has occurred in the circumstances 

of the child, the child’s residential parent, or either of the 

parents subject to a shared parenting decree, and that the 

modification is necessary to serve the best interest of the child. 

In applying these standards, the court shall retain the 

residential parent designated by the prior decree or the prior 

shared parenting decree, unless a modification is in the best 

interest of the child and one of the following applies: 

(i) The residential parent agrees to a change in the residential 

parent or both parents under a shared parenting decree agree 

to a change in the designation of residential parent. 

(ii) The child, with the consent of the residential parent or of 

both parents under a shared parenting decree, has been 

integrated into the family of the person seeking to become the 

residential parent. 
No. 18AP-259 5 

(iii) The harm likely to be caused by a change of environment 

is outweighed by the advantages of the change of environment 

to the child. 

* * * 

(2) In addition to a modification authorized under division 

(E)(1) of this section: 

(a) Both parents * * * may modify the terms of the plan 

[subject to the court's review of the best interest of the child]. 

(b) The court may modify the terms of the plan * * * upon its 

own motion at any time if the court determines that the 

modifications are in the best interest of the child * * *. 

(c) The court may terminate a prior final shared parenting 

decree that includes a shared parenting plan approved under 

division (D)(1)(a)(i) of this section upon the request of one or 

both of the parents or whenever it determines that shared 

parenting is not in the best interest of the children. * * * If 

modification of the terms of the plan for shared parenting 

approved by the court and incorporated by it into the final 

shared parenting decree is attempted under division (E)(2)(a) 

of this section and the court rejects the modifications, it may 

terminate the final shared parenting decree if it determines 

that shared parenting is not in the best interest of the children. 

(d) Upon the termination of a prior final shared parenting 

decree under division (E)(2)(c) of this section, the court shall 

proceed and issue a modified decree for the allocation of 

parental rights and responsibilities for the care of the children 

under the standards applicable under divisions (A), (B), and 

(C) of this section as if no decree for shared parenting had 

been granted and as if no request for shared parenting ever 

had been made. 

{¶ 12} Appellant argues the trial court erred in terminating the shared parenting 

plan and not retaining him as the residential parent without finding a change in 

circumstances pursuant to R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a). Appellant cites to In re James, 113 Ohio 

St.3d 420, 2007-Ohio-2335, for the proposition that R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) precludes a trial 

court from modifying a prior decree allocating parental rights and responsibilities unless it 

finds a change has occurred since the prior decree and a modification is in the best interest 

of the child and to highlight the policy considerations of R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) to promote 

stability for children. Citing to In re B.H.H., 12th Dist. No. CA2016-10-069, 2017-Ohio8359, and N.S. v. C.E., 6th Dist. No. H-17-006, 2017-Ohio-8613, appellant additionally 
No. 18AP-259 6 

contends "[a] juvenile court must * * * apply R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) in any motion to modify 

or terminate a shared parenting agreement between unwed parents in a juvenile court 

private custody action." (Appellant's Brief at 15.) Furthermore, for the first time in his reply 

brief, appellant contends both the syllabus in Fisher v. Hasenjager, 116 Ohio St.3d 53, 

2007-Ohio-5589, ¶ 1, and our holding in Myers, 2017-Ohio-8833, to be dispositive to this 

appeal and cites to three additional Fifth District Court of Appeals cases,2 the dissent of a 

Seventh District Court of Appeals case,3 and our case Ramsey v. Ramsey, 10th Dist. No. 

13AP-840, 2014-Ohio-1921, in support of a requirement to show a change in circumstances 

in order to designate a different residential parent and legal custodian. 

{¶ 13} Appellee counters the trial court properly terminated the decree and plan 

under R.C. 3109.04(E)(2)(c). Doing so, according to appellee, obligated the trial court to 

modify the decree under R.C. 3109.04(E)(2)(d), a provision which allows for allocation of 

parental rights and responsibilities without regard to the prior shared parenting decree. 

Appellee contends this court ruled on this very issue in Lopez v. Lopez, 10th Dist. No. 04AP508, 2005-Ohio-1155, and found that where the trial court terminates a shared parenting 

plan, R.C. 3109.04(E)(2)(c), rather than R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a), controls. In oral argument, 

appellee pointed out the lack of opportunity to fully respond to appellant's newly raised 

arguments in the reply but believed Fisher would not displace Lopez as precedent since 

Fisher's analysis was based on the premise that a modification of the prior shared parenting 

decree occurred, and the majority opinion there did not explicitly address terminations of 

the decree under R.C. 3109.04(E)(2)(c). 

{¶ 14} After careful consideration, we agree with appellee. In Lopez, the mother 

argued the trial court failed to comply with the requirements of R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) prior 

to reallocating parental rights. Because the trial court terminated the prior shared 

parenting decree, this court held R.C. 3109.04(E)(2)(c), not R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a), was the 

relevant statutory provision for purposes of appellate review. In doing so, we considered 

the positions of other appellate courts and agreed with the reasoning of the Seventh District 

in finding, "based upon the plain statutory language of R.C. 3109.04(E), the provisions for 

modification and termination of parental rights and responsibilities should be viewed as 

 

2 Jagodzinski v. Abdul-Khaliq, 5th Dist. No. 15-CA-31, 2015-Ohio-5510; Hrabovsky v. Axley, 5th Dist. No. 

2013CA00156, 2014-Ohio-1168; Wright v. Wright, 5th Dist. No. 2011CA00129, 2012-Ohio-1560. 

3 Kougher v. Kougher, 194 Ohio App.3d 703, 2011-Ohio-3411, ¶ 23 (7th Dist.). 
No. 18AP-259 7 

existing independently." Lopez at ¶ 25, citing Dobran v. Dobran, 7th Dist. No. 97 CA 166 

(Sept. 1, 1999) ("R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) only addresses those occasions when a modification 

is sought in the existing shared parenting plan."). Consequently, we find Lopez directly on 

point with this case. 

{¶ 15} The reasoning of Lopez is consistent with the plain language of the statute. 

R.C. 3109.04(E)(2) specifically allows termination "[i]n addition to a modification 

authorized under division (E)(1)" and, on termination, R.C. 3109.04(E)(2) requires the trial 

court to issue a modified decree in accordance with R.C. 3109.04(A)(1) through (3) without 

mention of R.C. 3109.04(E)(1). (Emphasis added.) As applicable here, under R.C. 

3109.04(A)(1), if a submitted shared parenting plan is not in the best interest of the child, 

which is uncontested here, the trial court is obligated to "allocate the parental rights and 

responsibilities for the care of the children primarily to one of the parents, designate that 

parent as the residential parent and the legal custodian of the child," and divide the other 

rights and responsibilities for the care of the children between the parents. R.C. 

3109.04(A)(1). See, e.g., Curry, 2010-Ohio-6536, ¶ 16, 19 (evaluating, after Lopez and 

Fisher, a trial court's termination of a shared parenting decree and reallocation of the 

parties' parental rights and responsibilities, including custody, under R.C. 3109.04(E)(2) 

and (A)(1) without regard to R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a)); Redmond v. Wade, 4th Dist. No. 

16CA16, 2017-Ohio-2877, ¶ 59 (finding, in a termination case, the trial court did not abuse 

its discretion under R.C. 3109.04(E)(2)(c) "when it evaluated the R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) best 

interest factors and designated appellee the child's residential parent"); Sayre v. Furgeson, 

3d Dist. No. 17-15-16, 2016-Ohio-3500, ¶ 21 ("[T]wo-step standard of R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) 

must be used in all situations except * * * terminating a shared parenting decree that 

includes a shared parenting plan.") (emphasis omitted). Whether this statutory scheme 

implicates policy concerns is a matter for the legislature, not the judiciary. Athens v. Testa, 

10th Dist. No. 18AP-144, 2019-Ohio-277, ¶ 65 ("The judiciary * * * does not appraise 

legislative choices."). 

{¶ 16} Moreover, appellant has not met his burden of demonstrating error on 

appeal. State v. Sims, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-1025, 2016-Ohio-4763, ¶ 11 (stating general rule 

that an appellant bears the burden of affirmatively demonstrating error on appeal); App.R. 

16(A)(7). First, as a preliminary matter, we note that appellant asks us to evaluate whether 
No. 18AP-259 8 

the trial court erred by failing to "retain" himself as the "residential parent designated by 

the prior shared parenting decree." (Appellant's Brief at 4.) However, appellant's reference 

to himself as the residential parent is against the record: the shared parenting plan 

designated both parties "residential parents and legal custodians," and appellant was 

designated as the "school placement parent" so long as he resided in the Westerville School 

District. (Agreed Shared Parenting Plan at 2.) 

{¶ 17} Second, the cases referenced in appellant's principal brief, In re James, In re 

B.H.H., and N.S. v. C.E., concern modifications of the shared parenting plan rather than 

terminations and are therefore not determinative of this case. In fact, In re B.H.H. cuts 

against appellant's argument, stating "[i]n contrast to the modification of a prior decree 

allocating parental rights and responsibilities under R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a)," the 

termination of a shared parenting plan under R.C. 3109.04(E)(2)(c) does not require a 

showing of a change in circumstances. Id., 2017-Ohio-8359, at ¶ 13. 

{¶ 18} Third, "[a]ppellate courts generally will not consider a new issue presented 

for the first time in a reply brief." State v. Quarterman, 140 Ohio St.3d 464, 2014-Ohio4034, ¶ 18. Doing so "effectively den[ies] the appellee an opportunity to respond to it." 

(Internal quotations omitted.) Mitchell v. Holzer Med. Ctr., 4th Dist. No. 16CA20, 2017-

Ohio-8244, ¶ 22. In the case at bar, appellant did not raise in his initial appellate brief the 

argument that Fisher applies to terminations in addition to modifications. Rather, he 

raised it for the first time in his reply brief. By failing to raise it in his initial brief, appellant 

deprived appellee of the opportunity to fully respond to the issue. 

{¶ 19} Nevertheless, even had this argument been properly raised, we do not believe 

Fisher or the additional cases cited by appellant control the outcome of this case. Unlike in 

the instant case, Fisher involved some controversy as to whether the actions of the trial 

court constituted a modification or a termination. The trial court considered its own actions 

to be a termination, but the appellate court treated the trial court's action as a modification 

and found its opinion to be in conflict with another appellate court on that specific basis. 

The Supreme Court of Ohio likewise accepted the appeal and certified a conflict among the 

two districts on the question of "the proper application of R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) and R.C. 

3109.04(E)(2)(b) with respect to the modification of the designation of residential parent 

and legal custodian of a child." Id., 2007-Ohio-5589, at ¶ 10. It is this question the majority 
No. 18AP-259 9 

opinion expressly answered; the majority opinion makes no mention of R.C. 

3109.04(E)(2)(c) beyond noting that section permits the termination of a shared parenting 

plan if the court finds that shared parenting is not in the best interest of the child. While 

the dissent disagreed as to the majority opinion's characterization of the trial court's actions 

and believed sections on termination to control, we cannot say the holding of Fisher 

specifically addresses whether R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) must be considered under R.C. 

3109.04(E)(2)(c) terminations. Therefore, we do not believe Fisher precludes following 

Lopez as precedent here. 

{¶ 20} In this case, neither party disputes that the trial court terminated the shared 

parenting decree and plan, a result both parties sought. This case firmly involves a 

termination under R.C. 3109.04(E)(2), a section which clearly permits the trial court to 

allocate parental rights as if no shared parenting plan existed. Curry, 2010-Ohio-6536, at 

¶ 16. Considering all the above and following Lopez, we find appellant has not 

demonstrated the trial court erred in ultimately designating appellee as legal custodian and 

residential guardian without making the determinations in R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a). 

{¶ 21} Accordingly, appellant's first assignment of error is overruled. 

B. Appellant's Second Assignment of Error 

{¶ 22} In his second assignment of error, appellant argues the trial court committed 

reversible error in basing its child support calculations on his prior employment without 

any determination that he was underemployed or that income should be imputed to him 

"as mandated by R.C. 3119.01(C)(11)."4 (Appellant's Brief at 3.) 

{¶ 23} R.C. 3119.01 provides definitions for calculation of child support obligations. 

At the time the trial court judgment was issued, R.C. 3119.01(C) stated in pertinent part: 

(5) "Income" means either of the following: 

(a) For a parent who is employed to full capacity, the gross 

income of the parent; 

(b) For a parent who is unemployed or underemployed, the 

sum of the gross income of the parent and any potential 

income of the parent. 

* * * 

 

4 R.C. 3119.01 was recently amended, effective March 28, 2019. Former R.C. 3119.01(C)(11) is now 

renumbered as R.C. 3119.01(C)(17); the substance of the section did not change. 
No. 18AP-259 10 

(7)(a) "Gross income" means, except as excluded in division 

(C)(7) of this section, the total of all earned and unearned 

income from all sources during a calendar year, whether or 

not the income is taxable, and includes income from salaries, 

wages, overtime pay, and bonuses to the extent described in 

division (D) of section 3119.05 of the Revised Code; 

commissions; royalties; tips; rents; dividends; severance pay; 

pensions; interest; trust income; annuities; social security 

benefits, including retirement, disability, and survivor 

benefits that are not means-tested; workers’ compensation 

benefits; unemployment insurance benefits; disability 

insurance benefits; benefits that are not means-tested and 

that are received by and in the possession of the veteran who 

is the beneficiary for any service-connected disability under a 

program or law administered by the United States department 

of veterans' affairs or veterans' administration; spousal 

support actually received; and all other sources of income. 

* * * 

(11) "Potential income" means both of the following for a 

parent who the court pursuant to a court support order, or a 

child support enforcement agency pursuant to an 

administrative child support order, determines is voluntarily 

unemployed or voluntarily underemployed: 

(a) Imputed income that the court or agency determines the 

parent would have earned if fully employed as determined 

from the following criteria: 

(i) The parent's prior employment experience; 

(ii) The parent's education; 

(iii) The parent's physical and mental disabilities, if any; 

(iv) The availability of employment in the geographic area in 

which the parent resides; 

(v) The prevailing wage and salary levels in the geographic 

area in which the parent resides; 

(vi) The parent's special skills and training; 

(vii) Whether there is evidence that the parent has the ability 

to earn the imputed income; 

(viii) The age and special needs of the child for whom child 

support is being calculated under this section; 

(ix) The parent's increased earning capacity because of 

experience; 
No. 18AP-259 11 

(x) The parent's decreased earning capacity because of a 

felony conviction; 

(xi) Any other relevant factor. 

"The parent's subjective motivations for being voluntarily unemployed or underemployed 

play no part in the determination whether potential income is to be imputed to that parent 

in calculating his or her support obligation." (Emphasis sic.) Rock v. Cabral, 67 Ohio St.3d 

108, 111 (1993). 

{¶ 24} A trial court's determination that a parent is voluntarily underemployed for 

purposes of calculating child support under R.C. 3119.01 and assessment of imputed 

income the parent would have earned if fully employed is reviewed for an abuse of 

discretion. Id.; Dach v. Homewood, 10th Dist. No. 14AP-502, 2015-Ohio-4191, ¶ 59; Misra 

v. Mishra, 10th Dist. No. 17AP-306, 2018-Ohio-5139, ¶ 25. A question of law is reviewed 

de novo. Dach at ¶ 11 ("When an appellate court considers a trial court's interpretation and 

application of a statute, the de novo standard of review applies."). 

{¶ 25} Appellant argues the trial court committed reversible error by finding he was 

"capable of earning $54,241.00 per year" without any other findings or consideration. 

(Trial Ct. Decision at 10.) Specifically, appellant contends that under Apps v. Apps, 10th 

Dist. No. 02AP-1072, 2003-Ohio-7154, ¶ 48, and Bruno v. Bruno, 10th Dist. No. 04AP1381, 2005-Ohio-3812, the trial court, in its decision to impute income to him, should have 

made a finding that he was "underemployed" and considered the factors set forth in R.C. 

3119.01(C)(11). (Appellant's Brief at 21.) Appellant explains that $54,241 was based on the 

income he made in prior employment working at a juvenile detention center when, at the 

time of trial, he was earning much less because he was completing a master's degree in 

education and was working as a latchkey teacher in order to position himself for greater 

income earning potential in the future. Appellant argues he should not be punished for 

sacrificing himself financially by obtaining a job which allowed him to fulfill his obligations 

to his child. 

{¶ 26} Appellee argues that under Dach, a trial court does not commit reversible 

error in failing to make an express finding that a parent is underemployed for purposes of 

imputing income when the reviewing court is capable of inferring such a finding from the 

record. Id. at ¶ 57. Appellee contends the record here has sufficient evidence to do so. 
No. 18AP-259 12 

{¶ 27} "Pursuant to R.C 3119.01(C)(11)(a), when imputing income to a parent, the 

trial court must consider the enumerated factors." Misra at ¶ 18, citing Meeks v. Meeks, 

10th Dist. No. 05AP-315, 2006-Ohio-642, ¶ 37. Regarding the trial court's duty to make an 

express finding, in Dach, this court addressed and distinguished Bruno and Apps in holding 

a trial court's failure to make an express finding of underemployment is not automatically 

reversible error. Specifically, Dach states in pertinent part: 

This court has held that before a trial court may impute 

income to a parent, the court must make a finding that the 

parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. Bruno 

v. Bruno, 10th Dist, No. 04AP-1381, 2005-Ohio-3812, citing 

Apps v. Apps, 10th Dist. No. 02AP-1072, 2003-Ohio-7154, 

¶ 48. However, more recently, this court has distinguished 

those cases. In Chawla v. Chawla, 10th Dist. No. 13AP-399, 

2014-Ohio-1188, finding that when the trial court considered 

the R.C. 3119.01(C)(11) factors, provided rationale for its 

imputed income and the record demonstrated evidence to 

support a finding of voluntary underemployment, this court 

found no abuse of discretion in calculating the child support 

obligation. See also, Thaher v. Hamed, 10th Dist. No. 09AP970, 2010-Ohio-5257 (specific words "voluntarily underemployed" not required where it is clear the trial court 

concluded that, based on the evidence, the obligor was 

voluntarily underemployed); Snyder v. Snyder, 5th Dist. No. 

2008CA00219, 2009-Ohio-5292 (no magic language 

requirement in deciding whether one is voluntarily 

underemployed or unemployed); Winkelman v. Winkelman, 

11th Dist. No. 2008-G-2834, 2008-Ohio-6557 (no magic 

language required in making a finding of voluntary 

unemployment or underemployment and implicit in the trial 

court's decision was that the parent was voluntarily 

unemployed); Drummer [v. Drummer, 3d Dist. No. 12-11-10, 

2012-Ohio-3064] (while the better practice would be to 

expressly find a parent unemployed or underemployed, it is 

not reversible error to fail to make an express finding for 

purposes of imputing income to the parent when the 

reviewing court is capable of inferring such a finding from the 

record). See also O'Connor v. O'Connor, 184 Ohio App.3d 

538, 2009 Ohio 5436, 921 N.E.2d 700 (3d Dist.2009); 

Wheeler v. Wheeler, 6th Dist. No. OT-04-025, 2005-Ohio1025, ¶ 26. 

Id. at ¶ 57. 
No. 18AP-259 13 

{¶ 28} In this case, the record contains evidence from which we can infer the trial 

court made the finding that appellant is voluntarily underemployed. The record shows that 

appellant held a bachelor's degree in sociology and criminal justice. He was employed as a 

correctional supervisor at a juvenile detention center from 2002 to the end of 2016. He 

also worked part-time with a city school district as an educational aide sometime in 2014 

and 2015. Federal income tax documents and earnings statements in the record show that 

from 2012 to 2015, appellant earned between $40,000 to $55,000 each year. He did not 

submit financial documents for 2016. We note that, contrary to his argument, appellant 

did not testify that the reason he left his higher paying position was to pursue his Master's 

degree.5 Rather, appellant testified that in January 2017, he left his position to become a 

part-time latch key teacher in order to spend more time with his child and increase the 

likelihood he would be offered a full-time teaching position with that city school district. 

The latchkey position paid $31.85 per hour. Appellant further testified that he was 

completing his Master's Degree within days of the July 2017 hearing, and would be able to 

work as a teacher in December of that year. 

{¶ 29} Considering the above, the record contains evidence to support a finding of 

voluntary underemployment. Therefore, despite the trial court failing to make an express 

finding of voluntary underemployment, pursuant to Dach, we find appellant has not 

provided an evidentiary basis to demonstrate that the trial court committed reversible error 

or abused its discretion in imputing income to him based upon his prior employment. 

{¶ 30} Accordingly, appellant's second assignment of error is overruled. 

IV. CONCLUSION 

{¶ 31} Having overruled appellant's two assignments of error, we affirm the 

judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, 

Juvenile Branch. 

Judgment affirmed.

KLATT, P.J., and DORRIAN, J., concur. 

_____________ 

 

5 Appellant provides no legal authority as to how pursuit of an advanced degree impacts the voluntary 

abandonment of employment determination. As previously noted, appellant's subjective reasons for 

voluntarily abandoning employment are irrelevant to whether potential income should be imputed to a 

parent. Rock.