FI FTH DI VI SI ON REESE, P. J.

, M A RKLE and COLVI N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

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H I S
C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

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June 23, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A0 02 4 . BRADDOCK v . LINDSEY et al

.

R E E S E
, Pres i di n g J u d g e.

Art h u r Brad d o ck fi l es t h i s d i s cret i on ary ap p eal of th e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n al

ju d g m en t g ran t i n g t h e ch i l d cu s t o d y o f T

. M

. B. t o Harry L i n ds ey an d M el l i s s a

Li n d sey (“ t h e L i n d s ey s ”). Brad d o ck arg u es t hat t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o m ak e s p eci fi c

fi nd i ng s of fact an d u s e t h e cl ear an d co nv i n ci n g s t an d ard i n i ts ru l i ng s

. Brad d o ck

fu rt her arg u es t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n s ev eral res p ect s , in cl u d i n g fi nd i n g t h at

T. M. B. wo u l d s u ffer p s y ch o l o g i cal harm i f s he was rem o v ed fro m t h e cu s to d y o f h er

m at ern al g ran d p aren t s an d fi nd i n g t h at award in g cu s t o d y t o t h e gran d p aren t s was in

t h e b es t i n teres t o f t h e ch i l d . Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h i n fra, we affi rm

.Vi ewed i n t h e li g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t

, 1 t h e ev i d en ce

s h o ws t h at in Decem

b er 2 01 4

, Brad d o ck m arri ed Heat h er Brad d o ck an d t hey h ad o n e

ch i l d

, T

. M

. B., b o r n i n May 2 0 1 5

. In Sep t em b er 2 0 1 7

, Brad d o ck fi l ed fo r d i v o rce

s e e k i ng , i n t er al i a, jo i n t t em po rary an d p erm an en t cu s to d y o f T. M

. B. Th e n ex t

m o nt h

, t h e Li n ds ey s fi l ed a m o t i o n t o i n t erv en e, s eek in g p h y si cal cu s t o d y o f T. M

. B.

Fo l l o wi ng a t em

po rary h eari n g he ld i n J an uary 2 0 1 8

, t h e t ri al co urt g ran t ed t em p o rary

cu s t o d y of T. M

. B. t o t h e Li nd s ey s , g ran t ed Brad d o ck v i s it at i o n , an d o rd ered b o th

p aren t s t o p ay

m o n th l y ch i l d s u p p o rt

.

At t h e fi n al h eari n g h el d i n March 2 0 19

, Brad d o ck t es t i fi ed t h at h e l i v ed wi th

h i s g i rl fri en d an d her d au g h t er, an d t h at h e h el p ed t o t ak e care o f t h e ch i l d

. Brad d o ck

al s o tes t i fi ed t hat hi s fi ve-y ear-o l d s o n l i v ed wi t h t hem

, t h at T. M

. B. “ ad o re[d ] ” h i s

s o n , an d th at T. M

. B. an d h i s s o n “ d [i d ] ev ery t hi n g t o g et h er.” A l s o, Brad d o ck ad d ed

t h at becau se h e h ad been wo rk i n g as a co rrect i o nal o ffi cer i n a s t at e p ri so n s i nce

M arch 2 0 1 8

, h e “ s t o p p ed [h i s ] dru g ab u s e[.] ” Fu rt h er, Brad d o ck t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad

recei v ed t reat m en t fo r b i -p o l ar d i s o rd er. Ho wev er, h e wa s n o t cu rren t l y t ak i n g an y

m en t al h eal t h m ed i cat i on al th o u g h h e h ad n ot b een t o ld b y a d o ct or t o s t op t ak i n g h i s

m ed i cat i o n

.

1 See Br a wn er

v. Mi l l er , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p . 2 1 4 (7 7 8 SE2 d 8 39 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

2M el l i s sa Li n d sey t es ti fi ed t h a t t h e Li n d sey s st art ed t ak i n g care o f T. M

. B.

wh en s h e was t h ree m o n t h s o l d

, t h at t h ey b eg an cari n g fo r h er fi v e day s a week t h ree

m o nt h s lat er, an d t h at T

. M

. B. b eg an li v i n g wi t h t h em wh en s h e was t wo y ears o l d.

T. M

. B

. w en t to sch oo l an d p art i ci pat ed in gy m n as t i cs , b al l et

, an d tap d an ci n g

act i vi t i es , an d t h e Li n d sey s p ai d fo r an d t o ok T. M. B. t o t h e p ract ices

. T. M

. B.

at t en ded a ch u rch p res ch oo l d u ri n g t h e week an d ch u rch o n Su n d ay s

.

M rs

. Li n d sey t es t i fi ed t h at s h e w as co n cern ed ab o ut T

. M

. B.’ s v i s i t at i o n wi th

Brad d o ck becau se wh en T. M

. B. ret u rn ed h o m e fro m v i s i t at i o n fro m Brad d o ck

, o n

o n e occas i o n s he had a b ru i s e an d a red wel t o n h er b u t t o ck s, an d s ev eral t i m es aft er

v i s i t at i o n , T. M

. B. ret u rn ed wi th wh at ap p eared to M rs

. Li n d sey t o be “ fl ea b i t es ” o n

v ari o u s p art s o f h er b o d y , i n cl u d i n g h er arm s , leg s , an d b ack

. M rs

. L in ds ey al s o

t es t i fi ed t h at u p on ret u rn f ro m v i si t at i o n wi t h Brad d ock

, T. M. B. was i rri t ab l e,

“ t h um p [ed ] ” fam i l y m em

bers i n t h e face, was “ co ns t an tl y s i c k [

, ]” w as scared t o g o

t o t h e b at h ro o m al o n e, w et t h e b ed

, an d was scared of t h e d ark

. M rs

. Li n d s e y h a d

t ak en p h o t o g rap h s o f t h e b ru i s es an d b it es o n T. M

. B. b e t w e e n Au g u s t an d

Sep tem b er o f 2 0 1 8

, an d t h e p h o t o g rap h s w ere ad m i t t ed i n to ev id en ce. Ho wev er, M rs

.

Li n d se y t es t i fi ed t h at s h e wan t ed Brad d o ck t o co n t i n u e t o h av e v i s it at i o n wi th

T. M . B.

3Brad d o ck reb u t t ed M rs

. Li n d s ey ’ s t es t i m o n y , tes t if yi n g t hat h e h ad n o t b een

t o l d o f an y b ru i s es o r b it es fo un d o n T. M

. B. an d t hat t h e i nju ri es d i d n o t o ccu r wh i l e

s h e was in h i s care. H e fu rt h er t es t i fi ed th at n ei t h er h e n o r h i s g irl fri en d u s ed co rp o ral

p u n i s h m en t an d t hat T. M

. B. was “ cl u m s y [ an d s ] h e m i g ht h av e [fal len ] .”

Aft er t h e fi n al heari n g , th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e Li n d s ey s fi nal cu s t o d y o f

T. M

. B., fi n di ng th at i t was in t h e b es t i nt eres t o f t he ch i l d t o rem ai n i n th e cu s t o dy

o f h er m at ern al g ran d p aren t s an d t h at i t wo u ld b e h arm fu l fo r T. M

. B. t o b e t ak en o ut

o f h er g ran d p aren t s ’ cu s t o d y becau s e o f t h e b i t es an d b ru i s es fo un d o n T. M

. B. aft er

ret u rn i n g fro m v i s i t at i o n at Brad d o ck ’ s h o m e. Th e tri al co u rt al s o g ran t ed Brad d o ck

v i s i t at i o n wi t h T. M

. B. an d ord ered b o t h of T. M

. B.’ s p aren t s t o p ay m o n th l y ch i ld

s u p p ort t o t h e Li n ds ey s

.

Brad d o ck ap p eal s , arg u i n g t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred in award i n g cu s t o d y t o t h e

Li n d sey s , an d s p eci fi cal l y i n fi n d i n g p s y ch ol o g i cal h arm wo u l d o ccu r if T. M

. B.

were rem o v ed fro m t h ei r h o m e an d t h at Brad d o ck ’ s act i o ns ro se t o t h e l ev el o f h arm

.

Brad d o ck fu rt her arg u es t h at t h e t r i a l co u rt fai l ed t o m ak e sp eci fi c fi n di n g s o f fact

u s i n g cl ear an d co n v i nci n g ev i d en ce, an d im pro p erl y u s ed t h e b es t i n t er e s t o f t h e

ch i l d s t an d ard i n s t ead o f fi n d i n g t h at Brad d o ck was u n fi t t o care fo r T. M

. B.

4OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ) g o vern s custody dispute s be tw e en a bi o lo g i cal p aren t an d

cert ai n t h i rd -p art y rel at iv es , i ncl u d i n g g ra ndpa r e nts. T h e s ta tute pro vi d es , i n p ert i n en t

p art :

[I] n an y

act i o n i nv o l v i ng t h e cu s to d y o f a ch i l d b et ween t h e p aren t s o r

ei t h er p aren t an d a t hi rd p art y l i m i t ed t o g ran d p aren t, g reat -g ran d p aren t

,

au n t

, u ncl e, g reat au n t

, g reat u n cl e, s i b l i n g , o r ad op t iv e p aren t

, p aren t al

p o wer m ay be l o s t b y t he p aren t

, p aren ts

, o r an y o t her p ers o n i f th e co u rt

h eari n g t h e i ss ue of cu s t o d y , i n t h e ex erci s e o f i t s s o u n d d i scret i o n an d

t ak i n g i n t o c o n s id erat i o n al l th e ci rcu m st an ces o f t h e cas e, d et erm i n es

t h at an award o f cu s t o d y t o s u ch t hi rd p art y i s fo r t h e b es t i n t eres t o f th e

ch i l d or ch i l d ren an d wi l l b es t p ro m ot e t h e i r w el fare an d h ap p i n es s

. Th ere sh al l b e a reb u t t ab l e pres u m p t i o n t h at i t i s i n t h e b es t i n teres t o f

t h e ch i l d o r ch i l dren fo r cu s t o d y t o b e award ed t o t h e p aren t o r p aren t s

o f s u ch ch i l d o r ch i l d ren , b u t t h i s p res u m p t i o n m ay b e o v erco m e b y a

s h o wi n g t h at an award o f cu s to d y t o s u ch t h i rd p art y i s i n t he b es t

i n t eres t o f t he ch i ld o r ch i l d ren

. Th e s o le i s s u e fo r d et erm i n at i o n i n an y

s u ch cas e s h al l b e wh at i s i n t h e b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i ld o r ch i l d ren

.

Fu rt h er, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h as s t at ed t h at :

Paren t s h av e a co n s t i t ut i o n a l ri g h t u n d er t h e Un i t ed St at es an d

G e o r g i a Co n s ti t u t i o n s to t h e care an d cu s t o dy o f t h ei r ch i ld ren

. Th i s

ri gh t t o t h e cu s t o d y an d co n t ro l o f o n e’ s ch i l d i s a fi ercel y g u ard ed ri g h t

t h at s h o u l d b e in fri n g ed u p o n o n l y u n d er t h e m o s t co m p el l i n g

ci rcu m s t an ces

. . . . Al i g n ed ag ai n st t h e p aren t s’ co n st it u t i o n al ri g h t i s th e

5ch i l d ’s co n s t i t u t i on al ri g h t to p ro t ect io n o f h i s o r her p ers o n an d th e

s t at e’ s co m

p el l i ng i n teres t i n p ro t ect i n g t h e wel fare o f ch i l d ren

. 2

Th e t h i rd p art y m

u s t pres en t cl ear an d co n v in ci n g ev id en ce t hat t h e award o f cu s t o dy

t o t he p aren t i s n o t i n th e ch i l d’ s b es t i n teres t. 3 On ap p eal

, “ [w] e wi l l n o t s et as i d e t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n di n g s i f t h ere i s an y ev id en ce t o s u pp o rt th em , an d we d efer to

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s cred i b il i t y d et erm in at i o n s

. W e rev i ew d e no v o , h o wev er, t h e l eg al

co n cl u s i o n s t h e t ri al co u rt d raws fro m t h e fact s .” 4

W i t h th es e g u i d i n g p ri n c i p l es i n m i n d

, we t u rn n o w t o Brad d o ck ’ s s p eci fi c

cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. Brad d o ck arg u es t hat t h e t r i a l co u rt fai led to u s e t h e cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g

s t an d ard i n award i n g p erm an en t cu s t o d y o f T. M

. B. t o t h e Li nd s e ys , a n d fai l ed to

fi nd t h at h e (Brad d o ck ) was u n fi t t o care fo r t h e ch i l d.

Brad d o ck ’ s co n t en t i o n t h at t he t ri al co urt fai l ed to u s e t h e cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g

s t a n d a r d i n award i n g cu s t o d y o f T. M

. B. t o th e Li n d sey s i s wi t h o ut m eri t. A s o u r

2 Cl a r k v. W a de

, 27 3 Ga. 58 7

, 5 9 6 -5 9 7 (IV) (5 44 SE2 d 9 9) (2 0 0 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

an d fo ot n o t es o m i t t ed ).

3 See i d . at 5 9 9 (IV).

4 Ma s h bu r n v. M

a s h b u r n , 3 5 3 Ga. Ap p. 3 1

, 3 2 (8 36 SE2 d 1 3 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).

6p reced en t m ak es cl ear, “ [t ] he t ri al ju d g e i s p res u m ed t o k no w t h e law an d p res u m ed

t o fai t h f u l l y an d l awfu l l y perfo rm t h e d ut i es d ev o l v i ng u po n i t b y l aw.” 5 Th u s ,

al t h o u g h t he t ri al co u rt o rd er d i d n o t us e t h e w o r d s “ c l e a r an d co nv i nci n g ” i n i t s

o rd er, t he t ri al co urt w as b o u n d t o t h at s tan d ard b y l aw. 6

Fu rt her, Brad d o ck h as a l s o fai l ed t o s ho w t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y n ot

m ak i n g a d et erm i nat i o n t h at h e was u n fi t t o care fo r T. M

. B. W hen ap p ly i ng OCGA

§ 19 -7 -1 (b .1 ), a t ri al co u rt need n o t m a k e a n act u al fi n d i n g t h at a p aren t s eek i n g

cu s t o d y is u n fi t

, b u t “ [ r ]a t her, t h e co u rt i s i ns t ead req u ired to d et erm i n e t h at t h e

t h i rd -p art y rel at i v e h as es t ab l i sh ed by cl ear an d co nv i n ci n g ev i den ce t h at award i n g

cu s t o d y to t h e p a r en t wo u l d cau s e ei t h er p h y s i cal h arm or s i g n i fi can t

, lo n g -t erm

em ot i o n al h arm t o t h e ch i l d.” 7 As d i s cu s s ed i n Di v i s i o n 2

, i n fra, t h e tri al co u rt d i d n ot

err i n award i n g cu s to d y

o f T. M . B. t o t h e Li nd s ey s

.

2

. In s ev eral i n t errel at ed cl ai m s o f e r r o r , B rad d o ck arg u es t h at th e tri al co u rt

erred i n fi n d i n g t h at award i n g c u s t o d y o f T. M. B. t o t he Li n d s ey s w as i n t h e b es t

5 In t h e In t er es t o

f A. L. L.

, 2 1 1 Ga. Ap p. 76 7

, 7 7 0 (5 ) (4 40 SE2 d 51 7 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

6 Id

.

7 Br a wn e r v

. M

i l l e r , 3 34 Ga. Ap p

. 21 4

, 21 6 -2 17 (1 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 8 3 9) (2 0 1 5 ) (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t es o m it t ed ).

7i n t eres t o f t h e ch i l d

. Sp eci fi cal l y , Brad d o ck co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed to

p erfo rm t h e an al y s i s fo r t hi rd -p art y cu st od y u n d er Cl a rk v. W ad e , 8 a n d fai l ed to

p ro v id e s p eci fi c fi n d i n g s o f fact t o s h o w t h at p aren t al cu s t o dy wo u l d h arm t h e ch i ld

an d t hat an award of cu s t od y t o th e Li n d s ey s p ro m o t ed T. M

. B.’ s h eal th

, w el fare, an d

h ap pi n es s

.

Th e Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt h as i n t erp ret e d t h e b es t in t eres t o f t h e ch i ld

s t an d ard i n OCGA § 1 9 -7 -1 (b .1 ) as req ui ri ng th e t h i rd p art y t o s h o w t h at p aren t al

cu s t o d y wo u l d “ harm ” t h e ch i l d i n o rd er t o reb u t t h e s t at u t o ry pres u m p t io n i n fav o r

o f t h e p aren t

. 9 O n ce t hi s p res u m p t i o n i s o v erco m e, t h e t hi rd p art y m u s t s h o w t h at an

award o f cu s t o d y t o h im o r h er b es t p ro m o t es t h e ch i l d ’ s heal t h

, wel fare, an d

h ap pi n es s

. 1 0 Th e Su p rem e Co u rt h as ex p l ai n ed t h at s u ch “ h arm ” m ean s

ei t h er p h y s i cal h arm o r s i g ni fi can t

, l o n g -t erm em o t i o n al h arm ; we d o n o t

m ean m erel y s o ci al or eco n o m i c d i s ad v an t ag es

. In ad d i t i o n , we n o t e t hat

t h e d eat h o f a p aren t

, d i v orce, o r a ch an ge i n h o m e an d s ch o ol wi l l o ft en

8 See Cl a rk , 2 7 3 Ga. at 5 9 6 -5 9 9 (IV).

9 C l a r k

, 2 7 3 Ga. at 5 98 (IV); s ee al so id

. at 5 9 3 (II) (“ W h at has n o t c h a n g e d

u n d er t h e n ew s t an d ard are t h ree p res u m p t i o ns : (1 ) t he p aren t i s a fi t p ers o n en t i t l ed

t o cu s t o d y , (2 ) a fi t p aren t act s i n t h e b es t i n t eres t o f h i s o r h er ch i ld

, an d (3 ) t h e ch i l d ’ s b es t i nt eres t i s t o b e i n t h e cu st o d y o f a p aren t .”).

1 0 Cl a r k , 2 7 3 Ga. at 5 9 8 (IV).

8b e d i ffi cu l t fo r a ch il d

, b u t s o m e l ev el o f s t res s an d d i s co m fo rt m ay b e

warran t ed wh en t he g o al i s reu n i fi cat i on o f t h e ch i l d wi t h t h e p aren t

. 1 1

Al s o , i n co n s i deri n g h arm an d cu s t o d y , t ri al co u rt s sh o ul d co n s i d er fact o rs t h at g o

b ey o n d th e p aren t ’ s b i o l og i cal co n n ect i o n o r cu rren t fi t n es s to p ro v i d e fo r t h e ch i l d ’ s

n eed s, i n cl ud i n g :

(1 ) wh o are t he pas t an d p res en t caret ak ers of t h e ch i l d ; (2 ) wi t h wh om

h as t h e ch i ld fo rm ed p sy ch o l o g i cal b o n d s an d h ow s t ro n g are t h o s e

b o n d s ; (3 ) h av e t h e co m

p et i n g p art ies ev i d en ced in t eres t i n , an d co n t act

wi t h

, t h e ch i l d o ver t im e; an d (4 ) d o es t h e ch il d h av e un i q u e m ed i cal o r

p s y ch o l o g i cal n eed s t h at o n e p art y i s b et ter ab l e t o m eet

. 1 2

In i t s o rd er g ran t i ng fi n al cu s to d y of T. M

. B. to th e Li n d s ey s, t h e t ri al co u rt

fo u n d t h at “ [T. M

. B] has res id ed wi th [t h e Li n d s ey s ] si n ce [s h e] was ap p ro x i m at el y

t h ree m o n t h s o l d

. T h e p aren t s h av e ab ro g at ed th ei r p aren t al res po n si b i l i t i es t o t h e

ch i l d at an earl y dat e an d t h o s e p aren t al res p on s ib i l i t i es were as s u m ed b y t h e

[Li n d s ey s w h o m ] h av e cared fo r t he ch i l d i n ev ery way p o s si b l e an d h av e p ro v i d ed

t h e ch i l d wi t h a s t ab l e s afe en vi ro nm en t.” Th e t ri al co u rt fu rt h er fo u nd t h at

1 1 Id . at 59 8 (IV) (fo o t no t e o m i t t ed ).

1 2 Id . at 59 8 -5 9 9 (IV) (fo o t n o t es o m i t t ed ).

9i t wo u l d b e h arm fu l fo r [T. M

. B.] t o b e t ak en o u t o f t h e cu s t o d y of th e

[Li n ds ey s ] becau s e o f t h e b i t es an d b ru i s es t h at

, d u ri ng t h e co u rs e o f th e

h eari n g , h av e been s h o w n t o h av e b een o n t h e ch i l d wh en s h e ar r i v e s

b ack fro m v i s i tat i o n ex ch an g es fro m h er fat h er’ s h o u s e. Al s o , [t h e t ri al

co u rt ] fi nd s t hat rem o v al o f [T. M

. B.] fro m t h e h om e o f th e [Li n ds ey s ]

wo u ld cau se g reat p s y ch o l o g i cal h arm t o t h e ch il d an d w o u l d be

co n t rary t o t h e ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t

.

Tu rn i n g t o t h e i s s u e o f h arm , t h e ev i d en ce s u pp o rt in g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i ng s

s h o wed th at o n s ev eral o ccas i o n s i n t h e fal l o f 2 0 1 8

, T

. M

. B. ret u rn ed fro m v i s i t at i o n

wi t h Brad d o ck wi t h b i t es o n h er arm s an d l eg s , an d o n at l eas t o ne o ccas i o n , T. M

. B.

h ad a b ru i se an d a red wel t o n h er b o d y. F u r t h er, t h ere w as t es t i m o n y th at aft er

v i s i t at i o n at Brad d o ck ’ s h om e, T. M

. B. was o ft en i rri t ab le an d wo u ld t h um p fam i l y

m em b ers i n th e face. Al t h ou g h Brad d ock refu t ed th i s t es t i m on y , t h e t ri al co u rt was

au t h o ri zed t o cred i t M rs

. Li n d s ey ’ s t es t i m o n y al leg i n g recen t p hy s i cal h arm

. 1 3

An al y zi n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n al o rd er u n d e r Cl a r k

, a t ri al co u rt m

u s t fi rs t

d et erm i n e t h e pas t an d p res en t careg i v ers o f t h e ch i l d

. 1 4 Here, t h e t r i al co u rt fo u n d

1 3 See Ma sh b ur n , 3 5 3 G a

. Ap p

. at 32 (In cu s t o d y deci s i o ns , cred i b i l i t y d et erm i n at i o n s are w i t hi n t h e p urv i ew o f t h e t ri al co urt ju d g e w h o s it s as t he rat i o n al

t ri er of fact .); W

h i t eh ea d v. Myer

s , 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 80

, 6 8 0 (7 16 S E 2 d 7 8 5) (2 0 1 1 ) (“ W h en rev i ewi n g ch i ld cu s to dy d eci s i o n s , we vi ew t h e ev i den ce i n t h e l i g h t m o s t
fav o rab l e t o u p h o l d i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er.”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

1 4 Cl a r k , 2 7 3 Ga. at 5 9 8 (IV).

10t h at T. M

. B. l i v ed w i t h th e Li n d s ey s fro m t h e ag e o f th ree m o nt h s u nt i l t h e d at e o f

t h e fi n al h eari n g , w h ich m eet s t h e fi rs t p ro n g o f t he t es t

. Th e s eco n d p ro n g req u i res

t h e t ri al co u rt to ex am i n e wi th w h o m t h e ch il d h ad fo rm ed p s y ch o l o g i cal b on d s an d

t h e s t ren g t h of t h o s e bo n d s

. 1 5 In i t s fi n al ord er, t h e t ri al co u rt d et erm i n ed th at b o th o f

T. M

. B.’ s p aren t s h ad “ ab ro g at ed ” t h ei r res p on s ib i l i t y t o t h e ch i l d e arl y i n h er l i fe

wh i le t h e Li n d s ey s h ad cared fo r T. M

. B

. i n ev ery way p o s s i b l e an d p ro vi d ed h er

wi t h a s afe, s t ab l e en v i ro n m en t

. Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at rem o v i n g T. M. B. fro m t h e

Li n d sey s ’ care wo u l d cau s e “ g reat p s y ch ol o g i cal h arm ” t o T. M

. B., co nt rary t o t h e

ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t

. Th ere w as ev id en ce p res en t ed at t he fi nal h eari n g o f t es t i m o ny

an d p h o t o s sh owi ng t h at t h e L i n d s ey s p ai d fo r an d s u p p o rt ed T. M

. B. i n v ari ou s

ex t racu rri cu l ar act i vi t i es , b o u g h t h er cl o t h es , an d p l aced h er i n s ch oo l

. In c o n t ras t

,

ev i d en ce s h o w ed t h at aft er t h e ch i l d ret u rn ed fro m v i s it at i o n wi t h Brad d o ck

, T. M

. B.

was i rri t ab l e wi t h fam i l y

m em b ers an d h ad v i s i b le b it es o n h er b o d y

.

In t h e t h i rd p ro n g , th e t ri al co u rt s h o u ld co n s id er t h e i n t eres t an d co n t a c t t h e

co m p et i n g p art i es h ad w it h t h e ch i l d

. 1 6 As s t at ed prev i o u s l y , t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at

b o t h o f T. M

. B.’ s p aren t s fai l ed t o care fo r t h e ch i l d s i n ce s h e was t h ree m o n t h s o ld

1 5 Id

.

1 6 Cl a r k , 2 7 3 Ga. at 5 9 8 (IV).

11an d t h e Li n d s ey s h av e as s u m ed t h o s e res p o ns i b il i t i e s

. Th ere was ev i d en ce at t h e

h eari n g t hat T

. M

. B. s pen t t i m e wi t h b o t h t h e Li n d s ey s an d Brad d o ck

. In t h e fo u rt h

p ro n g of t h e t es t

, t h e tri al co u rt sh o u l d co n si d er wh et her th e ch i l d h as u n i q u e

p s y ch o lo g i cal o r m ed i cal n eed s

. 1 7 Here, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t l i s t an y u n i q u e n eed s

o f T. M . B.

As s h o wn ab ov e, t h e tri al co u rt i s s u ed fi n d i n gs t h at T

. M

. B. s u ffered p h y s i cal

h arm d u ri ng th e v is i tat i o n s wi t h Brad d o ck

. Th e tri al co u rt ’ s fi n d in g o f “ g reat

p s y ch o lo g i cal h arm ” was s u p p o rt ed by th e t es t im o n y t h at T

. M

. B. wo ul d wet t h e b ed

,

was scared t o u s e t h e b at hro om b y h ers el f, was i rri tab l e, an d w o u l d t h u m p fam i l y

m em b ers i n t h e face aft er ret u rn i n g fro m v i s i t at i on s i n Brad d ock ’ s h o m e.

Bas ed o n t he fo r e g o i n g , an d i n l i g h t o f o u r ru l i n g i n Di v i si o n 1, su p ra, we

co n c l u d e t h at t he t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y award ed t h e Li n d s ey s p erm an en t cu s t o d y o f

T. M . B., i n t h e b es t in t eres t o f t h e ch il d

, an d b y cl ear an d co n v in ci n g ev i d en ce.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ma r

kl e a n d Co l vi n , JJ., co ncu r

.

1 7 Id . at 59 8 -5 9 9 (IV).

12