Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/46232632/NC-Court-of-Appeals-calls-Orange-County-District-Court-child-custody-case-a-charade
Timestamp: 2017-02-19 18:17:18
Document Index: 492575487

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 1', '§110', '§ 110', '§ 110', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 50', '§ 1738', '§ 50', '§ 1738', '§ 50']

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Appeals 27 January 2010. Coleman, Gledhill, Hargrave & Peek P.C., by Leigh Ann Peek, for plaintiffs and plaintiff-interveners. Betsy J. Wolfenden for defendant Emily M. McManaway. ELMORE, Judge. Emily MCManaway (defendant) is the mother of child Bobby,].and Bobby was born 30
defendant Johnny Murray is the putative father.
August 2003 in Nevada, but defendant brought him to North Carolina on 16 September 2003. Cecil Bohannan is defendant's brother. took
Cecil Bohannan and his wife, Marvilyn physical custody of Bobby.
(together, plaintiffs), then returned
In March 2004, defendant asked plaintiffs to return
1"Bobby" is not the child's real name.
Bobby to her in Nevada, which they did. took custody of Bobby on 5 March 2006. plaintiffs Plaintiffs Branch to
Nevada Protective Services After a hearing in Nevada,
took custody of Bobby and returned to North Carolina. arranged care for plaintiff-interveners Plaintiffs This appeal, then Johnny and Kristen filed a complaint
seeking custody of Bobby. from that complaint.
for the most part, stems
Background "The unraveled procedural quagmire that account confronts us here is best
by a chronological
Gooding, 301 N.C.
205, 206, 270 S.E.2d
431, 432 (1980). On County. that 14 November 2003, a consent order was filed in Orange
The consent order had file number 03 CVD 2183 and stated came "on to be heard during a regularly
scheduled session of Civil District Court" and, "at the call of the calendar Agreement for with trial, regard counsel to the indicated issues to the court that an
executed and was ready for entry of judgment [.l " The consent order decreed that Bobby would be "placed in the temporary joint legal
and physical custody of Emily M. McManaway and Marvilyn and Cecil Bohannan Jr.," and Bobby's primary residence would be with The
with whom he had lived since 16 September would
consent order also decreed that plaintiffs for providing health insurance
"be responsible who is the
subject of this action, and shall be vested with the authority to authorize services defendant and as commission deem any and all health Both or medical care and
contains the signature of District Court Judge M. Patricia Devine. Plaintiffs filed their complaint on 13 October 2006 in Orange County District Court. According to the complaint, the Court in
Clark County, Nevada, and the Court in Orange County participated in a Uniform Child Custody hearing Jurisdiction on 27 September and Enforcement Act
(UCCJEA) telephonic
2006 and determined In the prayer for the action (06
that North Carolina had juriSdiction over Bobby. relief, plaintiffs
asked the court to consolidate
CVD 1810) with the earlier action their sole legal and physical
(03 CVD 2183), to place Bobby in custody, and to waive custody
The complaint appears to have been properly served. filed her answer and counterclaim on 17 November
Defendant 2006.
She asked that defendant Murray not be added as a party and for Bobby titled
that the court find "that the best and proper placement" was with defendant. The answer includes a
Emily McManaway, being first duly sworn, deposes and says that he/she is the Defendant in the foregoing action, that he/she has read the foregoing ANSWER and COUNTERCLAIM and knows the contents thereof to be true of his/her own personal knowledge except for those matters and things alleged therein upon information and belief; and as to those matters and things; he/she believes same to be true.
A notary in Clark County, Nevada, notarized the verification November 2006. process
The record also includes an affidavit of service of or certified mail, stating that defendant
mailed by certified mail a copy of the answer to "Leigh Ann Peak [sic],/1 plaintiffs' attorney. receipt, Defendant signed by an agent The record also includes the return of Ms. Peek on 20 November 2006.
also filed a petition "financially unable
to sue as an indigent, to advance
th[e] action or appeal./1 The petition was denied as moot, with a notation presumably that "no filing fee or other costs are required, /1
defendant was the defendant
and therefore not County on 17
suing anybody.
was filed in Orange
November 2006 and was denied by the Clerk of Superior Court on the same date. Plaintiffs then issued notice by publication to defendant claimed
because she "did not answer the Complaint/1 and plaintiffs
that defendants McManaway and Murray were "concealing themselves or their whereabouts to avoid service of process
refusing service via Rule 5[.]/1 The trial court entered a custody order on 15 March 2007 (the 2007 custody order) According granting permanent custody
plaintiffs. returned 2007 and
to the custody order and notices
the Postal Service for 2 January order,
of hearing to the
"refused./1
defendants did not appear at the 2 January 2007 hearing used service by publication.
Also, according to the order, neither
defendant appeared at the March 2007 hearing.
trial court found "it appropriate to consolidate the November 2003 North Carolina action, 03 CVD 21[3]3, with this action, in order that [defendant] Murray may be included as a proper party to this On 5 July 2007
action involving the custody of the minor child." in Surry County, the plaintiff-intervener
Branches filed a petition However, the
for adoption of a minor child, seeking to adopt Bobby. District Branches' Court Judge Spencer for G. Key, for Jr., lack later of
dismissed subject
jurisdiction. On 15 October 2007, defendant filed a Rule 60 motion seeking relief from the 15 March 2007 custody order. 60 motion, plaintiffs' According to the Rule to the trial court
counsel misrepresented
that defendant had not filed an answer, that plaintiffs' alias and pluries summons was issued more than ninety days after the initial summons was issued on 13 October 2006, and that plaintiffs to exercise due diligence phone number. in ascertaining defendant's alleges failed
address or that Judge
Buckner never held a hearing on the matter in March 2007, despite the custody order's statement that he did hold such a hearing. On 13 November 2007, Johnny Lee Branch and Kristin Bradley
Branch filed a motion to intervene pursuant to Rule 24 as well as a motion for permanent custody. The Branches later moved to amend
their motion to intervene to contain the allegation that they had "a parent-child relationship" with Bobby.
On 11 March 2008, defense counsel filed a motion to have Judge Buckner recused from hearing the case because he had committed
various errors in handling the case, including: signing a custody order during calendar call, granting plaintiffs' prayers for relief without reviewing the court file, entering a court order out of
session and without reviewing the court file to determine whether defendant recites had received proper notice, entering an order that in
had been heard before
March 2007 when the clerk's log has no record of such a hearing, and entering an order containing false findings of fact. Defense
counsel alleged that "the propriety of the entry of the March IS, 2007 Custody Order is at issue in this case" and that Judge Buckner should not hear the Rule 60 motion to ensure that defendant would receive an impartial hearing. On 25 July 2008, defendant this time moving filed another motion to recuse, court
the court to recuse
all of the district
judges in District 15-B (Orange County) from hearing any matters in the case. On 8 August 2008, she filed a motion requesting an
outside judge to hear her motions to recuse. defendant filed a Rule 12 motion to dismiss
On 24 November 2008, the instant action
because the trial court did not have subject matter jurisdiction to enter the 2003 consent judgment and, thus, plaintiffs did not have standing to file the 2006 suit. On 16 January 2009, Judge Buckner filed an order denying to
defendant's Rule 60.
motions to recuse and motions
for relief pursuant
On 29 January 2009, Judge Buckner granted the Branches'
motion to intervene after finding that the Branches had an alleged parent-child relationship with Bobby and, thus, had standing to
intervene as plaintiffs. notice orders. of appeal
On 13 February 2009, defendant filed her 2009 and 29 January 2009
On 2 February 2009, defendant filed a Rule 60(b) (4) motion for relief from the 2003 consent order, asking that it be set aside as void. On 5 February 2009, defendant filed a motion in the cause, that the Orange County to District Court was to the required to
Compact on the Placement of Children. On 27 February 2009, the Branches filed a motion to stay the proceedings on defendant's 2 February 2009 Rule 60(b) (4) motion and 3 February 2009 motion in the cause. motion by order filed 7 April 2009. Judge Buckner granted this In that same motion, Judge
Buckner denied defendant's various motions to continue and recuse as well as her motion for attorneys' On 15 April 2009, defendant fees.
filed her notice of appeal from
the 6 April 2009 order denying her motions for attorneys' fees and motions to continue and recuse. Buckner's Before us now on appeal are Judge
orders entered 16 January 2009, 29 January 2009, and 7
Arguments Rule 60 Motion
2009, which On
denied defendant's Rule 60(b) motion and her motion to recuse.
appeal, defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by denying defendant's motion to set aside the 15 March 2007 order. We agree. Rule 60 (b) allows a court to relieve judgment, order or proceeding" if the relief a party "from a final or for
"[a]ny other reason justifying judgment." N.C. Gen. Stat.
from the operation 60(b) (2009).
of the "[T]he
1A-1, Rule
standard of review of a trial court's denial of a Rule 60(b) motion is abuse of discretion." S.E.2d 114, 118 (2006). Defendant, in her Rule 60 motion, alleged that the trial court "erred by issuing or signing a custody order during calendar call without reviewing the court file" and based upon plaintiffs' Davis v. Davis, 360 N.C. 518, 523, 631
counsel's "proffer." process.
She also alleged various lapses in service of claim that the trial court
with respect to defendant's
entered the custody order without taking evidence, defendant made the following relevant allegations in her motion:
6. Defendant Emily M. McManaway was not present at Calendar CalIon January 2, 2007[,] because she did not receive Plaintiffs' notice of hearing. 7. At the call of the instant case, Plaintiffs' counsel represented to the Court that Defendant Emily M. McManaway had not filed an answer. Said representation was false .... 8. Based upon Plaintiffs' counsel's representation that Defendant Emily M. MCManaway had not filed an answer in this
case, the Honorable Joseph M. Buckner either signed an order provided by Plaintiff's counsel during calendar call granting Plaintiffs sole permanent legal and physical custody of the minor child, or, issued an order from the bench during calendar call granting Plaintiffs sole permanent legal and physical custody of the minor child and instructed Plaintiffs' counsel to provide an order. The clerk's calendar call log from January 2, 2007[,] states that an order was signed; however, the custody order prepared by Plaintiffs' counsel states that the order was issued from the bench during calendar call and that Judge Buckner instructed her to "provide an appropriate custody order for entry." ... Plaintiffs' own brief on appeal recites the circumstances of
the entry of the order as follows: "As no one appeared on behalf of either Defendant, answer and as neither to the Complaint Defendant as of had that filed a legally time, the Court
instructed Appellee's verified pleadings."
counsel to hand up an order based upon the However, it is undisputed that defendant
filed an answer on 17 November 2006 and that she had served a copy of the answer on plaintiffs' counsel. Plaintiffs repeatedly stress
that the answer was not signed or verified and was, therefore, not "legally effective." However, Plaintiffs cite no legal authority
for this argument, and we find no legal requirement that an answer in a custody matter be verified. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1A-1, Rule
11 (a) (2009) ("Except where otherwise specifically provided by rule or statute, pleadings need not be verified or accompanied clearly by and
affidavit.") .
specifically addressed the complaint by admitting some allegations, denying custody others, of the and requesting minor child be specific granted relief, to including that
-10everyone's acknowledgment that this answer was filed with the trial court and served upon plaintiffs' counsel, the 2007 order includes as finding of fact 4: "Neither Defendant has answered or even
contacted Plaintiff's attorney or the court." provided any explanation why such a finding,
Plaintiffs have not which is patently
false, would be included in the 2007 order. It is also undisputed that the trial court entered the 2007 This was error, even
custody order without hearing any evidence.
though defendant was not at the hearing to oppose the evidence or offer her own. custody This Court has explained that "an award of
upon affidavits."
57 N.C. App. 509, 515, 291 S.E.2d 923, 927 (1982) (citation In Story, the trial court based a permanent custody
order on the plaintiff's verified complaint and verified answer to the defendant's counterclaim.
at 514, 291 S.E.2d at 926.
remanded, explaining that "a more reliable form of evidence would have been plaintiff's sworn testimony, subject to cross examination by defendant's concluded testimony that in attorney."
at 515, 291 S.E.2d in failing defendant's
"[t]he trial court erred the matter" and that the
to hear any failure to
respond to discovery, verify his answer, or appear at the custody hearing did not preclude the trial court from "resolv [ing] the
issue of [the] plaintiff's need for a hearing ... 927 (citation omitted) .
fitness to have custody or obviate the
at 516, 291 S.E.2d at
-11Here, as in
testimony in the matter, and defendant's
failure to appear at the
custody hearing did not obviate the need for a hearing on the issue of custody. 2 defendant's The trial court abused its discretion by denying
Rule 60(b) motion. hearing have
A court cannot enter a permanent testimony, solely and the trial court in on the allegations to Bobby's 2009 order in
custody order without this case should not
plaintiffs' Accordingly, defendant's
complaint we motion reverse
custody. denying
for relief pursuant order.
to Rule 60, and we vacate court for a
the 2007 custody
We remand to the district
hearing on the issue of custody. Although the 2007 custody order fails on its own, even without any consideration of the 2003 consent order, we feel compelled to
mention the 2003 consent order, as it formed much of the foundation upon which this entire charade of a custody case was constructed. We are very disturbed custody case. by the numerous procedural errors in this
Although we have no information in our record about
the merits of this custody case and we express no opinion regarding
2 The need for testimony is amply demonstrated by the fact that the 15 March 2007 order includes a finding of fact that "Since March 8, 2006, the minor child has resided in the care, custody and control of Cecil Bohannan, Jr. and Marvilyn Bohannan in North Carolina." However, at the hearing on the motion to intervene on 24 November 2008, Ms. Peek, acting as counsel for both plaintiffs and the Branches, introduced Mr. and Mrs. Branch to the court as those "with whom the child has been residing for well over a year." Mr. Branch then testified that Bobby had been residing with him and his wife since the "end of February, first of March of 2007." Thus, at the time of entry of the 2007 order, Bobby was not actually living with plaintiffs, contrary to the finding in the order.
-12the fitness of defendant as a parent or what custody arrangement
would serve the best interests of the child, it is clear that this case has been seriously flawed from the start. Defendant argues that the 2003 consent order is void because the trial plaintiffs with court lacked jurisdiction to enter the order because prior to filing the order has failed to present any
failed to file a complaint However, defendant
issues as to the validity Defendant
of the 2003 consent
filed a motion pursuant to Rule 60 seeking to set aside
the 2007 order on 15 October 2007; this motion makes no mention of the 2003 consent order. Rule 60 motion The trial court ruled on the defendant's 2009, and defendant gave notice of
appeal from this order on 13 February 2009. 2009 - after the trial court's order
However, on 2 February 60 motion
as to the Rule
regarding the 2007 order - the defendant filed a motion pursuant to Rule 60(b)4 seeking to set aside the 2003 consent order as "void as a matter of law.
defendant contends that the 2003 consent order is "void as a matter of law.
February 2009 Rule 60 motion. hearing just on her Rule 60 motion, after
to schedule a she had
as well as other motions notice of appeal
as to the 16
January 2009 order. the Branches Gen. Stat.
As a result, on 27 February 2009, counsel for pursuant to N.C.
filed a motion to stay proceedings 1-294.
An order allowing the Branches' motion to stay
was entered on 6 April 2009.
-13"When an appeal is perfected . it stays all further proceedings in the court below upon the jUdgment appealed from, or upon the matter embraced therein . "N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-294 (2009). The general rule has been that a timely notice of appeal removes jurisdiction from the trial court and places it in the appellate court. Pending appeal, the trial judge is generally functus officio, subject to two exceptions and one qualification . The exceptions are that notwithstanding the pendency of an appeal the trial judge retains jurisdiction over the cause (1) during the session in which the judgment appealed from was rendered and (2) for the purpose of settling the case on appeal. The qualification to the general rule is that the trial judge, after notice and on proper Showing, may adjudge the appeal has been abandoned and thereby regain jurisdiction of the cause.
In re Adoption of K.A.R.,
763 (2010) (additional in original) . defendant's
N.C. App. quotations and
, 696 S.E.2d 757, citations omitted;
the 2003 consent
order were never presented to or considered by the trial court, as she failed to raise them until after she had divested court of jurisdiction to do so by the filing the trial of
of her notice
appeal from the 16 January 2009 order. the qualification
Neither the exceptions nor
to the general rule that the trial court loses Defendant
jurisdiction upon notice of appeal applied in this case. has not appealed from or raised any arguments
in regard to the 6
April 2009 order allowing the stay of the action. Although method for a motion pursuant defendant to to Rule 60(b) (4) was the correct the 2003 consent order, her
in this appeal inappropriate
for us to make a ruling upon the 2003
consent order where a motion regarding this issue was filed in the trial court but not heard, and indeed the action was stayed before the motion could be heard. Because of this procedural problem, we
have no record upon which to conduct a proper review of the 2003 consent order. However, as all parties have briefed and argued issues
regarding the 2003 consent order, and in the interest of providing guidance assisting to the trial court upon remand and in the hopes of
defendant has raised serious issues regarding the district court's lack of subject matter jurisdiction to enter the 2003 consent
the 2003 consent order as
insignificant to the issues before this Court and to assert a legal basis for its entry, but both of these arguments are spurious at best. Plaintiffs admit that they did not file a complaint or issue to entry of the 2003 consent the issues of custody of the order. minor The order child and
a summons prior addresses only
provision of medical insurance for him by plaintiffs.
seek to justify the entry of the 2003 consent order in the absence of an underlying "as a Voluntary complaint by arguing that the order was entered Support Agreement in accord with N.C.G.S.§110-132 for periodic
[sic] which states inter alia 'that such agreements
payments, when acknowledged.
. filed with, and approved by a
judge of the district court at any time, shall have the same force and effect as an order of support entered by that court.'" It is obvious that N.C. Gen. Stat. § 110-132 is not applicable to the 2003 consent order. The order makes no mention of N.C. Gen.
Stat. § 110-132 and includes no findings of fact or conclusions of law which would be required by that statute, which deals with
proceedings to establish paternity.
The putative father, defendant In fact,
Murray, was not even a party to the 2003 consent order. the order biological includes a finding of fact that,
"[a]t this time, no Plaintiffs base is
father has been identified or named." upon a misquoted
section of the statute which
taken out of context; the statute actually states that [a] written agreement to support the child by periodic payments, which may include provision for reimbursement for medical expenses incident to the pregnancy and the birth of the child, accrued maintenance and reasonable expense of prosecution of the paternity action, when acknowledged as provided herein, filed with, and approved by a judge of the district court at any time, shall have the same force and effect as an order of support entered by that court, and shall be enforceable and subject to modification in the same manner as is provided by law for orders of the court in such cases. N.C. Gen. Stat.
110-132 (a) (2009) (emphasis added).
consent order did not address periodic payments
of any sort, did
not include the putative father, and, according to plaintiffs' own argument in their brief, was intended only to provide for medical insurance coverage for the child. In sum, the 2003 consent order
was not a paternity order, and it was not entered under N.C. Gen. Stat.
The 2003 consent order was simply an order that
made a "child-custody determination,"
as defined by N. C. Gen. Stat. 50A-102(3) (2009) (defining a decree, or other
50A-102(3).
See N.C. Gen. Stat.
determination" as
"a judgment,
order of a court providing for the legal custody, physical custody, or visitation permanent, does not with respect to a child. The term order. support includes a
temporary, include an
initial, and modification order of an relating to child
The term or the other order
child, it also grants "temporary joint legal and physical custody" to plaintiffs and defendant.
Section 50A-201 provides
for making a child-custody
(2009) (emphasis added). It provides:
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50A-201(b)
(a) Except as otherwise provided in G.S. 50A-204, a court of this State has jurisdiction to make an initial child-custody determination only if: (1) This State is the home state of the child on the date of the commencement of the proceeding, or was the home state of the child within six months before the commencement of the proceeding, and the child is absent from this State but a parent or person acting as a parent continues to live in this State; A court of another state does not have jurisdiction under subdivision (1), or a court of the home state of the child has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that this State is the more appropriate forum under G.S. 50A-207 or G.S. 50A-208, and: a. The child and the child's parents, or the child and at least one parent
-17or a person acting as a parent, have a significant connection with this State other than mere physical presence; and b. Substantial evidence is available in this State concerning the child's care, protection, training, and personal relationships;
All courts having jurisdiction under subdivision (1) or (2) have declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that a court of this State is the more appropriate forum to determine the custody of the child under G.S. 50A-207 or G.S. 50A-208; or No court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria specified in subdivision (1), (2), or (3).
50A-201(a)
(2009). the 2003
was filed in the case file in which
consent order was entered, nor does the 2003 consent order contain any findings of fact or conclusions of law which would begin to
address the requirements of N.C. Gen. Stat.
50A-201(a).
consent order itself reveals that North Carolina may not have been the "hornestate" of the child, as it includes as a finding that the child was born on 30 August 2003 and "has resided in the horne of Plaintiffs, with the Defendant, since September 16, 2003 [,] [in]
Saxapahaw, NC[.]"
Section 50A-102(7) defines "horne state" as
the state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least six consecutive months immediately before the commencement of a child-custody proceeding. In the case of a child less than six months of age, the term means the state in which the child lived from birth with any of the persons mentioned. A period of temporary absence of any of the mentioned persons is part of the period.
-18N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50A-I02 (7) (2009). At the time of entry of the
2003 consent order, 14 November 2003, the child was less than six months old. However, the order does not include a finding that the or defendant
child lived in North Carolina with either plaintiffs from birth. conspicuously
The time period from birth until 16 September 2003 is missing from the findings, but a finding regarding
this time period was required in order for the court to determine if North Carolina was the child's home state, as necessary for
child custody jurisdiction.
the trial court was probably unaware of this fact in 2003, we now know that the child in fact did not live in North Carolina birth; he lived in Nevada from birth until 16 September 2003. from In
any event, the 2003 consent order made no finding or conclusion that North Carolina was the "home state" of the child.3 The parties cannot confer subject matter jurisdiction upon the court by entry of a consent Foley v. Foley, this Court order regarding addressed child custody. of entry In of a
consent order regarding child custody as follows: Defendant argues, and plaintiff concedes, signing of the Consent Order did not waive challenge to subject matter jurisdiction. UCCJEA is a jurisdictional statute, and the any The the
3 Nor did the order address the provlslons of the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980 (PKPA), as it made no finding that the child had no home state. See Potter v. Potter, 131 N.C. App. 1, 6, 505 S.E.2d 147, 150 (1998) ("Accordingly, a trial court may assume significant connection jurisdiction under G.S. § 50A-3(a) (2) in an initial child custody matter only upon proper determination by the court that the child in question has no home state as defined in 28 U.S.C. § 1738A(b) (4) at the time the custody action pending before the trial court was commenced.").
-19jurisdictional requirements of the UCCJEA must be met for a court to have power to adjudicate child custody disputes. [Sjee N.C.G.S. §§ 50A-101 to -317 (2001). The PKPA is a federal statute also governing jurisdiction over child custody actions and is designed to bring uniformity to the application of the UCCJEA among the states. Lsl ee 28 U.S.C.A. § 1738A (2002). Subject matter jurisdiction cannot be conferred by consent , waiver, or estoppel. Accordingly, the trial court erred in ruling the signing of the Consent Order by defendant waived any challenge to the subject matter jurisdiction of the trial court. 156 N. C. App. 409, 411-12, 576 S.E.2d 383, 385 (2003) (additional citations includes omitted). a Therefore, of law although that the 2003 consent district court order has
jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter of the proceeding, there appears to be no factual basis to support such a conclusion of law. The 2003 consent order also states that the cause came "on to be heard during a regularly scheduled session of Civil
District Court" and "at the call of the calendar for trial, counsel indicated to the court that an Agreement with regard to the issues of child custody had been executed and was ready for entry of
judgment [.]"
"cause" and the case was not heard during any regularly scheduled session order, of district though court. by the By all accounts, district court, the 2003 appears this consent to be a
plaintiffs' counsel acknowledged that the 2003 order was not valid. Thus, although we do not hold the 2003 consent order to be void at this time because the trial court never ruled upon the defendant's
-20Rule 60(b) (4) motion as to that order, we strongly urge the trial court to consider the defendant's arguments as to the 2003 consent order carefully on remand.
Motion to Intervene and Motion for CUstody Defendant argues that the trial court erred by granting
plaintiff interveners' motion to intervene and motion for custody. We first note that the Branches did not file a brief before this Court on appeal. plaintiffs motion The arguments we address are those raised by filed their original after the
and by defendant.
2007, eight months
district court entered physical Branches custody
its custody order granting to plaintiffs. pursuant
sole legal and the
to Rule 24 of our Rules of
They alleged that they "have an interest relating
to the issue of custody of the minor child who is the subject of the action and their ability to protect that interest would be
impaired and impeded unless they are adequately represented in said custody action." intervene The district the court later amended the motion to that the Branches have a
parent-child relationship with the child who is the subject of this action." The motion also moved the trial court, "pursuant to N.C.G.S. Chapter 50 [,] for custody of the minor child," reciting the
following reasons: (a) the minor child has resided in their physical care since March 2, 2007[,] and they
-21have a continuing on-going relationship with the minor child; (b) upon information and belief, the biological parents of the minor child have neglected and abandoned the minor child, are incapable of providing the proper care and supervision of the minor child, and their conduct has been inconsistent with their constitutionally protected status; and (c) it is in the best interests of the minor child that he be placed in their permanent care, custody and control either solely or jointly with the Plaintiffs in this action. The trial court granted January 2009. the Branches' amended motion on 29
found as fact that the Branches with" Bobby and "have
"have an alleged parent-child standing pursuant to N.C.G.S. in this action." Branches' motion
50-13.1 and
50.13.2 to intervene
In the order, the trial court decreed that the to intervene and motion for custody would
constitute their initial pleading, and it deemed that the initial pleading was filed on 29 January 2009. The Branches sought intervention pursuant to Rule 24(a) (2) of our Rules of civil Procedure. Rule 24(a) (2) provides: be Upon timely permitted to
Intervention of right. application anyone shall intervene in an action:
(2) When the applicant claims an interest relating to the property or transaction which is the subj ect of the action and he is so situated that the disposition of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede his ability to protect that interest, unless the applicant's interest is adequately represented by existing parties. N.C. Gen. stat.
lA-I, Rule
24 (a)(2) (2009).
of Rule 24(a) (2), the "intervening party
'must show
-22that (1) it has a direct and immediate interest relating to the
property or transaction,
(2) denying intervention would result in
a practical impairment of the protection of that interest, and (3) there is inadequate parties." App. representation
of that interest by existing
Harvey Fertilizer 568 S.E.2d
Gas Co. v. pi tt County, 153 N. C. (2002) (quoting virmani v.
81, 85-86,
Presbyterian Health Services Corp., 350 N.C. 449, 459, 515 S.E.2d 675, 683 (1999)). We review the trial court's order granting
de novo. for an
Id. at 89, 568 S.E.2d at 928. individual
custody is governed by N. C .G.S. _ N.C. App. _'
50-13.1 (a) L l " 738, 744
Yurek v. Shaffer, (2009). General
678 S.E.2d
Statutes section 50-13.1 provides that "[a]ny parent, relative, or other person may institute . . claiming the right to custody of a minor child an action or proceeding
for the custody (2009).
child[.]"
50-13.1(a)
Although N.C.G.S. § 50-13.1(a) broadly grants standing to any parent, relati ve, or person claiming the right to custody, when such actions are brought by a non-parent to obtain custody to the exclusion of a parent, our appellate courts have also required allegations of some act inconsistent with the parent's constitutionally protected status. Yurek at , 678 S.E.2d at 744 (citations omitted) . v. Ramos, this Court elaborated on when a third 130
party has standing in a custody dispute with a natural parent. N.C. App. 389, 502 S.E.2d 891 (1998). in the nature of a parent and child
We held "that a relationship relationship, even in the a
absence of a biological
will suffice to support
-23finding of standing."
at 394, 502 S.E.2d at 894.
However, is a merely
Ellison makes clear that a "parent and child relationship"
legal conclusion that must be factually supported,
using the phrase "parent and child relationship" to support a finding of standing. In
is not sufficient the child's
was in a persistent
father, Mr. Ramos, entered into a relationship with the plaintiff, Ms. Ellison.
at 391, 502 S.E.2d at 892.
After Ms. Ellison and
Mr. Ramos separated,
Mr. Ramos sent the child to live in Puerto
Rico with the child's grandparents.
at 392, 502 S.E.2d at 893.
Ms. Ellison brought suit, seeking custody of the child.
trial court dismissed her complaint after finding that she lacked standing to proceed.
We reversed the order of dismissal after complaint alleged sufficient facts to
finding that Ms. Ellison's
conclude that she and the child had a parent-child
at 396, 502 S.E.2d
our reversal
following factual allegations
drawn from Ms. Ellison's complaint:
Ms. Ellison's relevant allegations were that she "is the only mother the minor child has known and [that] she has mothered the child" for the five years she and Mr. Ramos were intimately involved. Further, "after the parties separated, the minor child lived with [Ms. Ellison] and was cared for by [Ms. Ellison] until [Mr. Ramos] removed her from [Ms. Ellison] 's care and took her to Puerto Rico, where he left her with her maternal grandparents." Finally, "during [Ms. Ellison] and [Mr. Ramos] 's relationship, [Ms. Ellison] was the responsible parent in the rearing and caring for the minor child, as she was the adult who took the minor child to her medical appointments, to school, attended teacher conferences, took the minor child for diabetic treatment and counseling, provided in-home
medical care and treatment for her diabetes, taught her about caring [for] her diabetes, and bought all the child's necessities, including clothing, school supplies, medical supplies, toys, books, etc." Id. Here, the Branches' motion made a single factual allegation to support between a conclusion that a parent-child child relationship has resided existed in their
physical care since March 2, 2007[,] and they have a continuing ongoing relationship with the minor child." The Branches did not in
actually make any allegation their motion; this allegation
of a "parent-child
was added by amendment
after Mr. The of
Branches' testimony, to conform the motion to his testimony. motion includes no facts which would indicate the type
the Branches have to Bobby.
Mr. Branch's
indicated only that: Bobby had lived with the Branches since 2007, Bobby had bonded with Mr. Branch and his wife, Bobby had "really thrived," and Mr. Branch "love[d] that boy with all We hold that a these factual that allegations a parent-child are not [his] heart." sufficient to
between the Branches and Bobby.
Accordingly, the Branches have not
made a sufficient showing on this record to support a determination of standing to intervene in the matter, and the trial court erred by holding otherwise. Even assuming arguendo that the Branches would have standing to file a motion to intervene in this custody action, the Branches filed the motion to intervene after entry of the 2007 custody order
-25which granted permanent custody to plaintiffs. were requesting custody order. Gen. Stat.
Thus, the Branches of the 2007
to seek a modification
Modifications of child custody are governed by N. c.
50-13.7.
To modify a child custody or support order, section 50-13.7 (a) requires a "motion in the cause and a showing of changed
circumstances Stat.
by either party or anyone (2009).
N. C. Gen.
50-13.7(a)
[O]nce the custody of a minor child is judicially determined, that order of the court cannot be modified until it is determined that (1) there has been a substantial change in circumstances affecting the welfare of the child; and (2) a change in custody is in the best interest of the child. [Because] there is a statutory procedure for modifying a custody determination, a party seeking modification of a custody decree must comply with its provisions. There are no exceptions in North Carolina law to the requirement that a change in circumstances be shown before a custody decree may be modified. Bivens v. cotit.l.e, 120 N.C. App. 467, 469, 462 S.E.2d 829, 831
(1995) (quotations and citations omitted) . The Branches' motion to intervene and motion for custody did not contain any grounds for modification of the 2007 custody order, nor did it allege any change in circumstances affecting the welfare of the child, much less a substantial change in circumstances. motion also fails to allege why it would be in Bobby's The best
interest to change custody. the motion to intervene
In addition, Mr. Branch's testimony at demonstrated the opposite of a
He testified that Bobby was living with
-26him and his wife at the time 2007 order was entered and that Bobby continued to live with them.
Dismissal Ex Mero Motu Defendant also argues that we should dismiss this action ex over the custody case,
mero motu because Nevada has jurisdiction
not North Carolina. matter jurisdiction dismiss the action
"When the record clearly shows that subject is lacking, the [c]ourt will take notice and its
ex mero motu in order to avoid exceeding
authority." (quotations
In re J.T., 363 N.C. I, 3-4, 672 S.E.2d 17, 18 (2009) and citations omitted). Here, defendant bases her
argument on a 2006 Nevada temporary custody order.
That order is However, to this
not in the record on appeal for this case, COA 09-887. that order is in the record on appeal for the companion case, COA 09-889. Ordinarily, a court, in deciding one case, will not take judicial notice of what may appear from its own records in another and distinct case, unless made part of the case under consideration, even though between the same parties or privies and in relation to the same subject matter. It was held in Daniel v. Bellamy, 91 N.C. 78, that in a proceeding against executors for an account that a Probate Court could not take judicial notice of the fact that the probate of the will naming defendants as executors had been revoked in another proceeding in the same court. This is far from saying that an appellate court may not take judicial notice of, and give effect to its own records in another, but interrelated, proceeding, particularly where the issues and parties are the same, or practically the same, and the interrelated
-27case is specifically referred to in the case on appeal in the case under consideration. State v. McMilliam, 243 N.C. 775, 777, 92 S.E.2d 205, 207 (1956) In McMilliam, we took judicial of another pending case
(quotations and citations omitted). notice of facts included
involving the same parties: The case on appeal specifically states that Judge Fountain's judgment was based upon the evidence in the case of S. v. James McMilliam and Bettie Lee McMilliam, "the companion case to this one. The case of S. v. James and Bettie Lee McMilliam was argued before us on the same day as the instant case by the same counsel, and is before us for decision. The evidence in this case, according to the case on appeal, was omitted to avoid repetition, and no doubt to save costs for the appellants. The evidence in S. v. James and Bettie Lee McMilliam is before us in that case, and it seems clear that it was the plain intent of the counsel for the defense and the trial solicitor to make the evidence in that case a part of this case. We know of no reason why we should not take judicial notice of, and consider in the instant case the evidence in the interrelated case.
Id. at 777, 92 S.E.2d
See also west v. G. D. Reddick, (1981) ("This Court
Inc., 302 N.C. 201, 202, 274 S.E.2d 221, 223 has long recognized
that a court may take judicial notice of its interrelated proceeding where the parties
own records in another
are the same, the issues are the same and the interrelated case is referred to in the case under consideration. ") (citations omitted). Accordingly, we take judicial notice of the 2006 orders entered by
the district court in Clark County, Nevada, which are included in the record on appeal of COA 09-889. The first order, filed 15
March 2006, placed Bobby in protective
custody after finding that
-28"continuation of residence in the home [of defendant] would be
contrary to the welfare of the child(ren)." that Bobby be released to Cecil
The order recommended "pending further
The order also recommended
that "the Clark County care and The
Department of Family Services provide for the placement, supervision of
[Bobby] until further order of this Court."
second order, filed 7 October 2006, followed a telephonic UCCJEA hearing. The Nevada court concluded that it did "not have UCCJA
[sic] Jurisdiction, and the State of North Carolina has UCCJA [sic]
Jurisdiction due to a valid Court Order." mentioned above. We court, cannot disturb an order from another state's district The "valid court order"
in the Nevada order is the 2003 consent order discussed
even if it is based upon a North Accordingly,
believe may be void. appropriate.
ex mero motu is not
Conclusion In sum: defendant's (1) we reverse the 16 January 2009 order denying
Rule 60 motion;
(2) we vacate the 2007 custody order
because the trial court failed to take any evidence before entering the order; (3) we reverse the 29 January 2009 order granting for custody; and court the
Branches' motion to intervene and motion remand matter 06 CVD
1810 to the district
for a custody
hearing not inconsistent with this opinion.
~~is proceeding
have not addressed the many motions filed in this matter that were not subjects of this appeal. the child. Such contentiousness does not benefit
We admonish counsel for all parties and the trial court
to take great care to follow the statutory requirements in form and in substance. Bobby's custody has been in dispute for most of his
short life, and his life has been changed by these proceedings, although whether his life has been changed for better or worse we cannot say at this point. Regardless, he deserves better than he
has received from this proceeding
Reversed in part; vacated in part; affirmed in part. Judges BRYANT and STROUD concur.
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