Court Opinion

ID: 2728139
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-08 21:29:25.126273+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:42:32.559921
License: Public Domain

FOR PUBLICATION

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                        ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEES:

JEFFREY A. GOLDING                             STEVEN M. BUSH
Valparaiso, Indiana                            Valparaiso, Indiana

                                                                         FILED
                                                                      Jan 31 2013, 9:10 am
                               IN THE
                     COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA                                 CLERK
                                                                               of the supreme court,
                                                                               court of appeals and
                                                                                      tax court

IN RE: THE PATERNITY OF A.S.                   )
                                               )
M.S.,                                          )
                                               )
        Appellant,                             )
                                               )
               vs.                             )       No. 64A03-1204-JP-171
                                               )
M.S.,                                          )
and                                            )
B.H.,                                          )
                                               )
        Appellees.                             )

                      APPEAL FROM THE PORTER CIRCUIT COURT
                           The Honorable Mary R. Harper, Judge
        Cause Nos: 64C01-1002-JP-187, 64C01-1002-MI-1654, and 64C01-1004-MI-3494

                                    January 31, 2013

                            OPINION – FOR PUBLICATION

PYLE, Judge
                            STATEMENT OF THE CASE

       M.S. (“Mother”) appeals the trial court’s order awarding custody of her daughter,

A.S., to the maternal grandmother, M.D (“Grandmother”).

       We reverse.

                                        ISSUE

       Whether Grandmother rebutted the presumption that A.S.’s interests are
       best served by placement with Mother.

                        FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       On February 19, 2002, Mother gave birth to A.S. After their release from the

hospital, both Mother and A.S. moved into Grandmother’s Crown Point, Indiana home.

For an unspecified period, Grandmother provided primary care to both Mother, who was

suffering from postpartum depression, and A.S. According to Grandmother, once Mother

felt better, “we [Mother and Grandmother] jointly cared and raised [A.S.]” (Tr. 78).

Grandmother provided the majority of A.S.’s financial support. Mother sporadically

worked outside the home, and Grandmother worked full time as a nurse at a local

hospital.

       Mother and A.S. continued to live with Grandmother until April of 2007, when

Mother moved out of the house to live with her current husband and A.S.’s step-father,

Mi.S. (“Stepfather”).   In approximately May of 2007, Mother and Stepfather began

living in an apartment in Lowell, Indiana. In August of 2007, Mother was convicted of

operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and her driver’s license was suspended. At that

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time, Mother had already registered A.S. for pre-school in the Crown Point District, and

Mother, Stepfather, and Grandmother agreed that A.S. would continue to live with

Grandmother during the school week and live with Mother and Stepfather on weekends.

This arrangement continued until May, 2008, the end of the 2007/2008 school year.

       After May of 2008, A.S. lived with Mother and Stepfather in their Valparaiso

apartment and was living with them at the time of the custody hearing. From May of

2008 until December of 2009, A.S. visited Grandmother on the weekends. On April 22,

2009, Mother gave birth to Mother and Stepfather’s first child, Av.S. In July of 2009,

Mother again became pregnant, and in December of 2009, Mother experienced life-

threatening complications that required her to be hospitalized on December 26, 2009, in

an Illinois hospital.

       On that date, A.S. was already visiting Grandmother. At Stepfather’s request,

Grandmother agreed to babysit Av.S. while he visited Mother in the hospital.        On

December 28, 2009, Grandmother called Stepfather and told him to pick up Av.S., who

was crying uncontrollably. Stepfather arrived at Grandmother’s house on December 29,

2009, with the intention of picking up both A.S. and Av.S. Stepfather and Grandmother

disagreed about whether Mother had authorized him to pick up A.S., and he left

Grandmother’s house without A.S. Subsequently, Stepfather pushed Grandmother during

a confrontation at the hospital.

       On January 1, 2010, Mother picked up A.S. from Grandmother’s house, and A.S.

resumed living with Mother and Stepfather, as she had prior to Mother’s hospitalization.

                                           3
Because of the tension between the families, Mother refused contact with Grandmother,

and Grandmother did not see A.S. again until January of 2011.

       On January 5, 2010, Stepfather filed a petition to adopt A.S. On the same date,

Stepfather filed a petition for temporary custody alleging that Mother was being treated

for an unspecified medical condition and could not care for A.S. on a full-time basis. The

trial court granted the petition for temporary custody on the basis that “placing the child

with the petitioner for adoption pending the hearing on the petition for adoption is in the

best interests of the child.” (Ex. Book 139).

       Sometime thereafter, Mother’s sister contacted A.S.’s biological father, B.H.

(“Father”), on Facebook and informed him that he had a nine-year-old daughter who was

about to be adopted by her stepfather. Father is an Illinois resident who knew that he had

impregnated Mother but assumed she had lost the child due to complications during the

pregnancy. During the years following A.S.’s birth, Father made only one attempt to

ascertain whether Mother had given birth, and Mother and Grandmother made no attempt

to inform him of the birth. On February 11, 2010, Father filed his “Objection to Petition

for Adoption of Minor Child” and a petition to establish paternity.

       Meanwhile, on February 5, 2010, Grandmother filed a petition for grandparent’s

visitation rights. On April 6, 2010, Grandmother followed the filing of the petition for

visitation with a petition for custody based on her status as a de facto custodian.

       The trial court joined the causes and ordered mediation, and the parties entered

into a facilitation agreement on November 18, 2010. The trial court issued a December 6,

                                                4
2010 order incorporating the facilitation agreement, finding in pertinent part that (1)

Father was A.S.’s biological father; (2) Stepfather had withdrawn his request for adoption

and custody; (3) Mother was the custodial parent; and (4) Father was to begin supervised

visitation with A.S.    In the order, the trial court reserved other matters for future

adjudication.

       In a separate order, however, the trial court stated that Grandmother could exercise

visitation under the supervision of Family House. This supervised visitation began on

January 2, 2011 and lasted for four sessions.        Grandmother then began exercising

unsupervised visitation with A.S. every other Saturday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., an

arrangement that was in effect at the time of the custody hearing.

       The trial court appointed Mark Roscoe to serve as guardian ad litem for A.S. The

guardian ad litem reviewed A.S.’s school progress reports and Mother’s medical records,

met with Mother, Stepfather, A.S., Grandmother, and Father, and then submitted a report

in which he stated:

       [Grandmother] disapproves of the way her daughter has chosen to live her
       life and contends that she is incapable of caring for [A.S.] in the same
       manner that [Grandmother] has provided for said child in the past.
       Although [A.S.’s stepsisters, Av.S. and Al.S.] are also the biological
       grandchildren of [Grandmother], she has not expressed the same concerns
       regarding the care of said children. It is evident to this writer that
       [Grandmother] has developed a maternal bond with her granddaughter,
       [A.S.], and views her as her own child. As the perceived primary care giver
       of said child from [A.S.’s] date of birth through 2007, it is not unusual for a
       grandparent to develop such a bond. However, what concerns this writer is
       the extent to which [Grandmother] has gone to discredit her daughter and
       prove that she is incompetent to care for [A.S.], even to the extent of further

                                             5
      damaging [Mother’s] mental health. This process may impede the
      reconciliation efforts of all parties involved.

                                         ****

      My client, [A.S.], is nine (9) years of age and currently resides with her
      Mother, Stepfather and two (2) siblings. [A.S.] is a third grade student . . .
      [and] her favorite subject is Art. She is an above average student and
      typically earns A’s and B’s on her report cards. [A.S.] enjoys painting,
      baking, swimming, playing with her two (2) cats, Penelope and Henry, and
      playing outside with her friends. She also enjoys spending time with her
      Mother, Stepfather, and sisters. Although she was sad when she was
      physically separated from her Grandmother, she reports she has made the
      adjustment but still misses her. [A.S.] is articulate, direct and a respectful
      young girl.

                                         ****

      [T]here is no doubt in my mind that [Grandmother] has played a major role
      in providing care and support for [A.S.] throughout the majority of her life,
      but [Mother] and [Father] are the biological parents of [A.S.] and should be
      charged with the responsibility of providing care and support for said child.
      Although [Mother’s] progress has been slow with respect to the treatment
      of her Schizoaffective Disorder, she is maintaining said condition through
      her medications and has the current ability to recognize when her
      medications require adjustments. It is unclear to me why [Grandmother]
      believes that [Mother] is incapable of raising [A.S.] but yet capable of
      raising [Grandmother’s] two other grandchildren, Av.S. and Al.S. I suspect
      that [Grandmother] is of the belief that [Stepfather], as the biological father
      of Av.S. and Al.S., is capable of providing care for said children if
      [Mother] falls short of her responsibility. However, as the Court is aware,
      this action began with an adoption petition filed by [Stepfather] wherein he
      was seeking to adopt [A.S.].

(Mother’s App. 71; 74).

      The guardian ad litem, recommended that (1) Mother retain custody of A.S.; (2)

Grandmother be granted visitation; and (3) Father initially be granted supervised

                                            6
visitation with the goal that he eventually be afforded visitation under the Indiana

Parenting Time Guidelines. (Mother’s App. 75-76).

       On October 11, 2011, the trial court held a custody hearing to determine whether

Mother, Father, or Grandmother should exercise physical custody of A.S. At the hearing,

Grandmother and Father were represented by counsel who presented evidence of

Mother’s battle with a schizoaffective disorder, former alcoholism, and an early post-

adolescent involvement with gangs. Mother appeared pro se, and although she asked no

questions of opposing witnesses, she gave a statement to counteract some of the claims

made by other witnesses. The guardian ad litem’s report was placed into evidence, and

the guardian ad litem testified that physical custody should remain with Mother.

Grandmother requested that the trial court issue findings pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule

52, and Grandmother and Father filed joint proposed findings on November 10, 2011.

       On November 15, 2011, the trial court issued its findings of fact and conclusions

of law. The trial court awarded physical custody of A.S. to Grandmother, with Mother

and Father to exercise visitation rights. The trial court stated that its ultimate goal was to

facilitate a relationship between Father and A.S. that would culminate in Father receiving

primary physical custody of his daughter. 1

       On December 15, 2011, Mother filed her “Motion to Correct Error and Motion for

Rehearing.” (Mother’s App. 82). The trial court denied the motion.

1
  Mother points out that the trial court’s findings and conclusions “mirror[]” the proposed findings.
Although we “by no means encourage” the wholesale adoption of proposed findings and conclusions, the
practice is not prohibited. Piles v. Gosman, 851 N.E.2d 1009, 1012 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). “[T]he critical
inquiry is whether such findings, as adopted by the court, are clearly erroneous.” Id.
                                                   7
        The relevant content of the trial court’s findings of facts and conclusions of law

will be disclosed in our discussion below.

                                                  DECISION

        Mother contends that the trial court erred in granting physical custody of A.S. to

Grandmother.        Mother argues that the evidence is insufficient to overcome the

presumption that it is in A.S.’s best interests that she remain in the custody of her natural

parent.2

        In reviewing findings made pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 52, we first determine

whether the evidence supports the findings and then whether the findings support the

judgment. In re Paternity of K.I., 903 N.E.2d 453, 457 (Ind. 2009). On appeal, we “shall

not set aside the findings or the judgment unless clearly erroneous, and due regard shall

be given to the opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility of the witnesses.” Id.

(quoting Ind. Trial Rule 52(A)). We will not reweigh the evidence and consider only the

evidence favorable to the trial court’s judgment. Allen v. Proksch, 832 N.E.2d 1080,

1099 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). Findings are clearly erroneous only when the record contains

no facts to support them “either directly or by inference.” Id. A judgment is clearly

erroneous when there is no evidence supporting the findings or the findings fail to

support the judgment. In re K.I., 903 N.E.2d at 457. In order to determine that a finding

2
  Mother also contends that the trial court erred in finding that Grandmother was A.S.’s de facto
custodian. As in In re Paternity of L.J.S., 923 N.E.2d 458, 461 n.1 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010), trans. denied, we
are not required to address this issue. Assuming without deciding that Grandmother qualifies as a de
facto custodian, she “must still overcome the strong presumption in favor of [Mother], the natural parent,
in order to gain custody of [A.S.].” See id. “Accordingly, we consider whether the trial court committed
clear error in concluding that [Grandmother] overcame this presumption.” Id.
                                                    8
or conclusion is clearly erroneous, we must come to the firm conviction that a mistake

has been made. Allen, 832 N.E.2d at 1099.

       Where, as here, the dispute involves a parent and a third party, we cannot ignore

the constitutional implications; the relationship of a parent and a child is of a

constitutional dimension.     In re L.J.S., 923 N.E.2d at 462.        “As the United States

Supreme Court has recently reiterated, the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause

protects the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning the care, custody,

and control of their children.” Id. (quoting In re Guardianship of L.L. and J.L., 745

N.E.2d 222, 228-29 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001), trans. denied). So long as a parent adequately

cares for her children, there will normally be no reason for the State to inject itself into

the private realm of the family to question the ability of the mother to make the best

decisions concerning the rearing of her child. In re L.L., 745 N.E.2d at 229 (citing Troxel

v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 66 (2000)).

       In disputes between a natural parent and a third party, a presumption exists that it

is in the best interests of the child to be placed in the custody of the natural parent. Allen,

832 N.E.2d at 1098. “Indiana law has traditionally recognized that ‘natural parents are

entitled to custody of their minor children, except when they are unsuitable persons to be

entrusted with their care, control, and education.’” Id. (quoting In re Guardianship of

B.H., 770 N.E.2d 283, 285 (Ind. 2002)).           The trial court must be convinced that

placement with a person other than the natural parent represents a substantial and

significant advantage to the child. In re Paternity of T.P., 920 N.E.2d 726, 731 (Ind. Ct.

                                              9
App. 2010), trans. denied. The presumption will not be overcome merely because “a

third party could provide the better things in life for the child.” Id. In a proceeding to

determine whether to place a child with a person other than the natural parent, we may

consider, among other things, the natural parent’s (1) unfitness, (2) long acquiescence in

the third party’s custody of the child, or (3) voluntary relinquishment of the child such

that the affection of the child and third party have become so interwoven that to sever

them would seriously mar and endanger the future happiness of the child. Id. (citing In re

K.I., 903 N.E.2d at 458-59; Hendrickson v. Binkley, 161 Ind.App. 388, 394, 316 N.E.2d

376, 380 (1974)) (endorsing above factors but concluding they are non-exclusive for

purposes of overcoming natural-parent presumption).3 At issue is “whether the important

and strong presumption that a child’s interests are best served by placement with natural

parents is clearly and convincingly overcome by evidence proving that the child’s best

interests are substantially and significantly served by placement with another person.” Id.

The third party has the burden to rebut the presumption that a child should be in the

custody of her natural parent. A.J.L. v. D.A.L., 912 N.E.2d 866, 873 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009).

        Here, the trial court concluded that Mother’s battle with schizoaffective disorder

“is of great concern to the Court, particularly when coupled with her history of suicidal

ideation, alcohol abuse and life choices that are suspect at best.” (Mother’s App. 39). It

then concluded that “[t]here are simply no corresponding risks attendant to a placement

3
  As then Chief Justice Shepard stated in his concurrence in B.H.: “If the evidence showed that the natural
parent was a fit parent, that he/she was caring regularly for the child, and that no third person was
emotionally central to the child’s life, what ‘non-[Hendrickson] factors’ would suffice to remove the child
from the natural parent?” 770 N.E.2d at 290.
                                                    10
of the child with Grandmother.” Id. In short, the trial court concluded that Mother is

unfit to parent A.S.

       In support of its decision to grant custody to Grandmother, the trial court cited to

testimony that on one occasion Mother’s schizoaffective disorder caused her to have

suicidal ideations. Although the trial court recognized that the disorder is controlled by

medication, it questioned the efficacy of the medication over a long period of time.

There is no evidence that Mother now experiences suicidal ideations, and there is no

evidence to support the trial court’s reservations about Mother’s ability to combat the

disorder with medication. Indeed, the only evidence in the record on this subject is that

the medication is working and that Mother has both the desire and the ability to make

sure that appropriate adjustments will be made to the medication to assist her in her battle

against the disorder.

       In addition, there is no evidence that anyone involved with Mother believes that

she will again abuse alcohol. Further, there is no evidence that Mother, a thirty-eight-

year-old stay at home mom with a husband and three daughters, is going to return to the

gang-related life of her late adolescence. There is evidence, however, that Mother, along

with the help of Stepfather, has so far parented an above average student who is

articulate, direct and respectful and who enjoys her life with her Mother, Stepfather, and

sisters. There is further evidence, as supported by the trial court’s finding, that A.S. is

“well adjusted” in Mother’s home. (Mother’s App. 38-39).

                                            11
       The trial court also concluded that the relationship between A.S. and Grandmother

is “so strong, compelling and interwoven that if it were not continued, it would

potentially be harmful to the future wellbeing of [A.S.].” (Mother’s App. 39). This

conclusion is not supported by the trial court’s finding that A.S., while sad about being

physically separated from her Grandmother, has made the appropriate adjustment to that

separation while still missing her Grandmother.        In addition, this finding ignores

Grandmother’s testimony that Grandmother and Mother jointly shared caregiving of A.S.

from shortly after her birth in 2002 until April of 2007, a finding that supports a bond

with both Mother (the natural parent) and Grandmother (the third party). Finally, the

conclusion is inconsistent with the trial court’s stated intention that physical custody of

A.S. be eventually awarded to Father.

       While it appears that Grandmother and Mother joined forces in caring for A.S.

during the period lasting from shortly after A.S.’s 2002 birth until April of 2007 and that

Grandmother provided valuable assistance by caring for A.S. on school days during the

months of the 2007/2008 school year, these acts do not frame the issue before the trial

court. See L.J.S., 923 N.E.2d at 465. Rather, the issue is “whether the important and

strong presumption that [A.S.’s] best interests are best served by placement with

[Mother] were clearly and convincingly overcome by evidence proving that the child’s

best interests are substantially and significantly served by placement with

[Grandmother].” Id. (citing In re B.H., 770 N.E.2d at 287). Even when we consider the

evidence most favorable to the trial court’s judgment, without reweighing that evidence

                                            12
or judging the credibility of the witnesses, we must conclude that the evidence does not

support the trial court’s conclusion that Grandmother has overcome the aforementioned

presumption. In short, the trial court’s judgment is not supported by clear and convincing

evidence, leading us to the firm conviction that a mistake has been made.

                                        CONCLUSION

        We reverse and remand with instructions that the trial court vacate its award of

physical custody to Grandmother, thereby returning custody to Mother. The trial court

shall determine the details of Father’s visitation. It shall also determine what, if any,

visitation rights are due to Grandmother under the Grandparent Visitation Act.

      Reversed.

ROBB, C.J., and MAY, J., concur.

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