Opinion ID: 2197309
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Custody Action

Text: Debbie and Gus argue that the presumption that a minor child should be in the custody of the child's biological parents was not overcome in this case. They observe that only after a showing that the parents are unfit, or where exceptional circumstances render parental custody detrimental to the child, may a court grant custody to a non-parent. They maintain that the court erroneously found exceptional circumstances in this case. In particular, they claim that no testimony was presented that showed Brock had bonded to Bruce and thus there was no evidence that Brock would suffer any detriment if custody was awarded to Debbie. They also argue that Gus, even though he is the acknowledged biological father, has been treated as a non-person throughout this litigation, thus violating his right to due process. In addition, Debbie and Gus contend that both the trial court and intermediate appellate court based their respective custody determinations solely on the fact that Debbie was hostile to Bruce and contemptuous of the legal system. Consequently, they argue that the custody award was in actuality a punitive award against her for her actions, which is not a proper sanction. [9] Finally, they maintain that by holding that Bruce should be considered as the biological father of Brock, and thus recognized as Brock's natural father, the trial court in effect granted a judicial adoption, an act prohibited in this State. For these reasons, Debbie and Gus request that custody of Brock be awarded to Debbie. Bruce maintains that public policy precludes Debbie from attempting to establish that he is not the biological parent in order to further her self-interest in obtaining exclusive custody of Brock. Therefore, he contends that Debbie is estopped from asserting that Bruce is not Brock's biological father because she treated him, and represented him to the world, as the child's father for almost two years. Bruce further argues that Gus should be estopped from asserting any claim to Brock's custody and paternity. Bruce suggests that under the doctrine of unclean hands, Gus and Debbie's adultery should preclude Debbie from custody of Brock and preclude Gus from establishing his paternity. Therefore, Bruce contends that equity should be applied to prevent Gus, even though he may be the biological parent, from reducing or eliminating the rights of Bruce. According to Bruce, the circuit court properly used the best interest standard in resolving the custody issue. He maintains that the circuit and intermediate appellate courts both correctly and unambiguously concluded that exceptional circumstances existed in this case and thus the presumption that children should remain in the custody of their natural parents was overcome. He points to fourteen factors in the circuit court's opinion which formed the basis for a finding of exceptional circumstances, concluding therefrom that the grant of custody was appropriate. Moreover, Bruce argues that Debbie is unfit as a parent and thus the court's decision to award custody to him was justified. In addition, he observes that a court's custody determination may not be reversed by an appellate court if the fact finding was not clearly erroneous and the ultimate custody decision was not a clear abuse of discretion.