Opinion ID: 2025283
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: application of the nebraska grandparent visitation statutes: review of the district court's decision ordering grandparent visitation

Text: Appellant claims that the district court erred in ordering grandparent visitation in this case. Specifically, appellant claims that appellees failed to produce clear and convincing evidence that grandparent visitation would be in the children's best interests and that such visitation would not adversely interfere with her parent-child relationship. This court has previously recognized that Nebraska's grandparent visitation statutes clearly and significantly place the burden of proof upon the grandparent seeking a visitation order. Nelson v. Nelson, 267 Neb. 362, 369, 674 N.W.2d 473, 479 (2004). Pursuant to the grandparent visitation statutes, a district court cannot order grandparent visitation unless a petitioning grandparent proves by clear and convincing evidence that (1) [t]here is, or has been, a significant beneficial relationship between the grandparent and the child; (2) it is in the best interests of the child that such relationship continue; and (3) such visitation will not adversely interfere with the parent-child relationship. 267 Neb. at 369, 674 N.W.2d at 479 (quoting Eberspacher v. Hulme, 248 Neb. 202, 533 N.W.2d 103 (1995)). Clear and convincing evidence is that amount of evidence which produces in the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction about the existence of a fact to be proved. In re Interest of Jagger L., 270 Neb. 828, 708 N.W.2d 802 (2006). Turning to the first statutory requirement, we note that in appellant's brief, she does not argue that there has not been a significant beneficial relationship between appellees and the grandchildren. Moreover, the record contains ample evidence upon which to base a qualitative assessment of the personal relationship that existed between appellees and the grandchildren, both prior to the filing of the grandparent visitation petition and thereafter. As noted by the district court: A plethora of individuals . . . testified as to the close relationship which they had observed between [appellees] and the minor children . . . . [Appellees] were the owners of the Wallace Flying Service where Jeremy . . . worked and [appellant] worked. The office of the airport was frequently used, especially during the summer months when Jeremy. . . was flying from daylight to sundown, to care for the minor children. [Appellee] Linda Hamit would take care of the boys, feed them and play with them when Jeremy was flying. The children had bicycles and toys, as well as a sand-pile outside the office. Between the months of April and August, the children would be at the airport until dark. The boys would eat with [appellees] and the other pilots. After the separation . . . Jeremy . . . had the boys every other week, [and] the boys would be at the residence of [appellees] two or three times per week. There were a lot of toys, and the boys would frequently eat at the residence of [appellees]. [Appellees] also own a horse which the boys would ride. The oldest child, Wyatt, would frequently go to the post office with his grandfather. [Appellees] also own a dog which Wyatt considered to be his. A number of individuals testified at trial that there was a close, affectionate, and loving relationship between both boys and [appellees]. The record also contains the testimony of Dr. Lisa Jones, a licensed clinical psychologist, who testified as to her observations of appellees and their grandchildren during several visitations in the fall of 2004. She testified that [t]here was a lot of physical contact, either in terms of being held in and snuggled in arms or, again, being held and helped in [activities], just lots of very physical affectionate contact between the boys and the grandparents. She described appellees' home as very cognizant of the children's needs. For example, they have a room that is set up with toys and two beds and a crib where, obviously, that's the children's room, where they can nap, if they need to, or they can play or they can enjoy themselves. . . . She testified that at one of her later observations, when the children were more comfortable with her presence, she asked Wyatt whether he like[d] visiting [appellees.] And he stated, Yes. I then asked him if he was scared to go visit with them, and he gave me a very strange look and he said no. And that was significant to me because, again, he looked at me like, that's a silly question. In summary, appellees presented ample evidence of the nature of their relationship with Wyatt and Garrett, and that such relationship was beneficial to the children. Given this record, there is clear and convincing evidence to support the trial court's finding that appellees have a significant beneficial relationship with Wyatt and Garrett. Further, in view of the record, it cannot be said that the district court abused its discretion in finding by clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interests of Wyatt and Garrett for their relationship with appellees to continue. We next review the evidence relative to the requirement that grandparent visitation not adversely interfere with the parent-child relationship. In this regard, Jones testified to the effect that she had not notice[d] anything from [appellees] that would indicate that [they are] harboring resentment that is carrying over into [the grandchildren's] visitation. Numerous witnesses testified that they had never heard appellees speak negatively regarding appellant in the presence of Wyatt and Garrett. Appellee Carl Hamit testified to the effect that during visitation with his grandchildren, he had not discussed appellant or the litigation and that his focus was on the grandchildren and spending time with them. Both appellees testified to the effect that they had no animosity toward appellant. Moreover, the record contains evidence that appellees have attempted to comply with appellant's directions concerning the care of Wyatt and Garrett. Both appellees testified that at times, appellant would request that the children be returned early from their court-ordered visits with appellees, and appellees would accommodate her requests. Jones testified that during one of her observations, Wyatt had asked his grandfather, appellee Carl Hamit, to take the plane to go look at deer, and appellee had told Wyatt that they were going to take the truck. Jones noted that this was in accordance with appellant's expressed desire not to have the children on a plane and stated that that was significant in terms of respecting that [request]. There is clear and convincing evidence that visitation by appellees would not adversely interfere with the parent-child relationship between appellant and her children. Referring to the record, it is clear that the relationship between appellant and appellees is strained and that appellant does not encourage a relationship between appellees and the grandchildren. Nevertheless it cannot be said that the record shows that the visitation adversely interferes in the relationship that exists between appellant and her children. In support of her argument that the district court abused its discretion in ordering grandparent visitation in this case, appellant relies in part upon the testimony of Jane Canell, a mental health therapist, who was called as an expert witness by appellant. In summary, Canell testified that Wyatt was afraid of appellees, that he felt appellees were trying to take him away from appellant, and that he did not want to visit them. The district court stated that [b]ased upon [its] observation of the demeanor of the witnesses while testifying, [the court] reject[ed] virtually all of the negative testimony by Jane Canell, as not believable. In this regard, the district court noted certain discrepancies in Canell's office notes, and further noted that Canell had never observed the grandchildren with appellees or talked to appellees. We have frequently recognized that this court will consider the fact that the trial court saw and heard the witnesses and observed their demeanor while testifying, and will give great weight to the trial court's judgment as to credibility. General Fiberglass Supply v. Roemer, 256 Neb. 810, 815, 594 N.W.2d 283, 287 (1999). See, In re Guardianship of Robert D., 269 Neb. 820, 696 N.W.2d 461 (2005); In re Estate of Craven, 265 Neb. 41, 654 N.W.2d 196 (2002). In view of the district court's judgment regarding credibility, we reject appellant's invitation to consider Canell's testimony as outweighing other witnesses in the case. The district court awarded visitation consisting of one 10-hour visitation every month and 7 consecutive days in the summer. In view of the record and the ages of the children, we do not find this ruling to be an abuse of discretion.