Court Opinion

ID: 4430601
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-20 19:44:15.581158+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:57:45.223794
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                      APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
     This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court."
      Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the
        parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.

                                       SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                       APPELLATE DIVISION
                                       DOCKET NO. A-0318-16T2

JANNA MANES, f/k/a
JANNA MANES-JEROW,

        Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

JOHN GORDON JEROW,

     Defendant-Respondent.
______________________________

              Argued May 24, 2018 – Decided August 22, 2018

              Before Judges Simonelli, Haas and Rothstadt.

              On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey,
              Chancery Division, Family Part, Essex County,
              Docket No. FM-07-2345-13.

              Cheryl E. Connors argued the cause for
              appellant (Tonneman & Connors, LLC, attorneys;
              Cheryl E. Connors, of counsel and on the
              briefs).

              Jonathan H. Blonstein argued the cause for
              respondent (Weinstein, Lindemann & Weinstein,
              PC, attorneys; Cynthia Borsella Lindemann, of
              counsel and on the brief; Jonathan H.
              Blonstein, on the brief).

PER CURIAM
     In this post-judgment dissolution matter, plaintiff, Janna

Manes, appeals from a May 31, 2016 Family Part order, entered

without a plenary hearing, denying her motion for a change in the

parties' previously agreed to shared custody plan for her and

defendant John Gordon Jerow's then seven-year-old son.                     She also

appeals from a September 2, 2016 order, terminating the parties'

arrangement of jointly maintaining the employment of the child's

nanny during defendant's shared custody time.                  The Family Part

judges     who      considered     plaintiff's       applications        determined

plaintiff did not meet her burden of proof to establish a showing

of changed circumstances, and that the termination of the nanny's

service while the child was in defendant's physical custody was

appropriate under the circumstances.

     On appeal, plaintiff contends that the certifications she

filed    in    support    of     her   motions      established     a    change        in

circumstances warranting a change in custody and parenting time,

or at least a plenary hearing on the issue, in light of the

conflicting      certifications        filed   by   the   parties       about     their

child's well-being.          Moreover, she avers that the manner in which

the first motion judge conducted an interview of the child was

improper, as it was not consistent with court rules.                    Finally, she

contends      the   second     judge    improperly     terminated       defendant's

                                          2                                     A-0318-16T2
obligation to use the nanny and share in the expense of employing

her.   We disagree and affirm.

       The facts derived from the motions' records are summarized

as follows.   The parties were married in 2005, divorced in 2014,

and have both since remarried.       They have one child, a son who

will shortly turn nine years old.       Defendant has another child

with his new wife.

       The parties' July 14, 2014 dual final judgment of divorce

incorporated a property settlement agreement (PSA) that included

a custody and parenting plan (CPP). According to their agreements,

the parties arranged to share custody of their son, with neither

parent technically designated as the child's parent of primary

residence (PPR).     They also agreed to share the expenses of a

"[j]ointly engaged and agreed-upon private nanny" who would care

for the child during both parents' shared custody time.

       The parties operated under this arrangement for two years

without court involvement until difficulties with the shared-

custody   arrangement   arose.   In    February   2016,   the   parties

participated in mediation that resulted in an agreement to continue

to use the nanny "until the end of [their son's] school year,"

after which plaintiff would "be solely liable for [the nanny's]

compensation."   (Emphasis added).    Moreover, the nanny would "no

longer be a jointly engaged nanny."      This agreement also stated

                                 3                              A-0318-16T2
that "[p]arties will meet in May to determine [the son's] summer

activities and child care arrangements[,]" and that the provision

concerning the nanny's services up to the end of the school year

would "have no bearing on the decision for future child care on

[defendant's] days."

     Within a month of the parties entering into the agreement,

plaintiff filed a motion seeking a change in the shared custody

arrangement.   Plaintiff sought an order that she be designated "as

the [PPR] and defendant as the Parent of Alternate Residence[,]"

and defendant's shared custody time be changed to every other

weekend and "Wednesday and Thursday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00

p.m."   In the alternative, the existing arrangement could continue

if defendant agreed to retain the nanny from Monday to Friday,

during designated times and "in plaintiff's home or elsewhere

under the nanny's or plaintiff's supervision."      Plaintiff also

sought an order directing their son receive therapy "by a licensed

psychologist, with the participation of" the parties' immediate

family members.   In addition, plaintiff asked that in the event a

plenary hearing was scheduled, the parties continue to follow the

February 9, 2016 mediation agreement as to the nanny picking their

son up from school and bringing him to defendant's home for shared

custody time, with that arrangement continuing during the summer

                                 4                          A-0318-16T2
when he was in camp and when he was neither in camp or school on

work days.

       In    support    of       the    motion,    plaintiff    submitted    her   own

certification        and     a    certification      from    the   nanny.     In   her

certification,         plaintiff         alleged    that     defendant's     economic

constraints and his then fiancée's "wishes" led to his decision

to terminate the nanny.                She stated that over a period of six to

nine    months,      she         observed    her    son     "becom[e]   increasingly

distressed and anxious" when he would visit his father at his

home, and that he "expressed on countless occasions his feelings

that [defendant's fiancée was] 'mean' to him and was 'mean' to

[the nanny]."          Plaintiff further alleged that her son "feel[s]

like an outsider in defendant's home" as "he is not allowed to

hold" his baby brother, and defendant's fiancée "has never attended

a school or extracurricular event" in support of him.

       Plaintiff     also        asserted    that    the    provision   in   the   PSA

regarding the "[j]ointly engaged and agreed-upon private nanny"

clearly contemplates that the parties retain a shared nanny, as

she only agreed to equal parenting time because the current nanny

would fulfill that role. She also stated that if the nanny decided

to discontinue her role, "there would be another suitable jointly

engaged and agreed-upon nanny to address [her] concerns regarding

care   for    [her     son]       during    defendant's     parenting   time."       In

                                              5                               A-0318-16T2
addition, plaintiff alleged that defendant suddenly refused to

directly communicate with her about matters concerning their son,

which    rendered    "the   equal   timesharing          no    longer    viable."

Specifically, she stated that defendant would relay "messages or

requests" through their son or the nanny, and that "[d]uring

the . . . school semester, [d]efendant . . . insisted that all of

[their son's] extracurricular activities occur on [plaintiff's]

parenting days" so that he could spend more time with the son on

his parenting days.

     Finally, plaintiff asserted that "in reality [she] serve[s]

as [their son's] primary caregiver."               Plaintiff stated that she

arranges   his    medical   appointments      and     maintains     the     proper

documentation, monitors and assists the nanny with their son's

assignments and school projects, and she is involved with his

school activities as she "was selected to serve on the [school's]

Finance Committee."

     According to the nanny's certification, defendant "[did]

little   to   nothing   with   [their       son]    on   school    work,       extra

educational      activities,   piano       practicing,        etc.[,]"    he     was

"difficult to communicate with," and he refused to get involved

when any tensions arose between the nanny and defendant's fiancée.

The nanny also stated that she was concerned "about [defendant's

fiancée's] extreme moodiness and tendency to quickly explode with

                                       6                                   A-0318-16T2
anger   over   small    things[,]    and   that   [the   son]   was    afraid

and . . . saying disturbing things to [her] like he wanted to

'kill' [defendant's fiancée]."

     In response, defendant filed opposition and a cross-motion,

in which he asserted, among other contentions, that plaintiff did

not establish a prima facie claim of changed circumstances and

claimed     plaintiff     violated   the   agreement     reached      through

mediation.     He sought to enforce the CPP and made a claim for

counsel fees.

     Plaintiff submitted a reply certification that attached two

of the son's writings, which stated: 1) "Dad is stupid.               Mom is

nice.     Trtle is fun.    Heli is a fakin idie;"1 and 2) "Run a way,"

accompanied by a sad face.

     On April 29, 2016, Judge Michael R. Casale entered an order

requiring the parties to participate in another mediation and

scheduled an interview with the child.            The judge requested the

interview because of the concern he had about the family's "new

dynamics" and whether it was affecting the son.             Neither party

made any requests to attend the interview nor did they submit any

questions for the judge to ask the child.

1
    "Trtle" refers to plaintiff's husband and "Heli" refers to
defendant's fiancée.

                                      7                               A-0318-16T2
      On May 10, 2016, the judge conducted the in camera interview

and in his ensuing letter to the parties' attorneys he summarized

his findings.2   The letter stated, in part, the following:

          I found [the boy] to be an adorable kid —
          articulate, soft-spoken and shy. He appeared
          to be well-adjusted and gave direct responses
          to my questions.

          According to [the child], he has a good
          relationship with [defendant's fiancée and
          plaintiff's husband] and obviously [the
          nanny]. She helps him with his homework, as
          does his dad. He states that on a typical day
          with his dad [defendant's fiancée] cooks
          breakfast, he plays video games and sports
          with his dad, but only after dad helps him
          with homework.

          [The boy] describes his mom as "nice," and he
          enjoys spending time with her. She does not
          help him much with homework, and does not
          really cook much, as that is done by [her
          husband and the nanny].

          I asked him     about his drawing . . . .      He
          stated that      he was mad at his dad and
          [defendant's    fiancée] at the time and seemed
          to regret it.    He is not mad[] at them anymore.

     Following a conference with the parties' counsel,3 Judge

Casale issued a supplemental order on May 31, 2016, that continued

the shared custody arrangement set forth in the parties' earlier

2
   On May 25, 2016, the judge entered an order authorizing the
parties to have limited access to the interview transcript.
3
   There is nothing in the record to indicate that, after the
interview and the release of the transcript, either party requested
additional oral argument on the parties' motions.

                                   8                          A-0318-16T2
mediation agreement.   In the order, the judge stated his findings.

As to his observations about the child, the judge stated:

          The [c]ourt finds that [the child] is doing
          well under the current parenting time and
          custody arrangement, which has only been in
          existence since July 14, 2014. [He] appears
          to be a well-adjusted child, who loves both
          parents, and enjoys spending time in both
          households on an equal basis.

     As to the nanny, the judge concluded that there was no reason

to alter the parties' mediation agreement regarding her services.

He observed the following:

          [The nanny] has actually served as [the
          child's] [PPR] spending more time with him
          than Plaintiff or Defendant. [The child] is
          very much attached to [the nanny].     If the
          Court were to replace her, it would be
          detrimental to [the child's] best interests.
          Thus, [the nanny] shall not be replaced as
          [the child's] nanny by Defendant.    However,
          if Defendant wishes to spend more time with
          [his son], during time normally spent with
          [the child] by the nanny, he may do so. The
          Court will not force a particular amount of
          time that the nanny must spend with [the
          child]. The Court recognizes that [the nanny]
          should not have thrust herself into this
          dispute with her certification.     Defendant
          shall have to deal with that as it is in [the
          child's] best interests to retain her as his
          nanny[.]

     Addressing the issue of therapy, the judge concluded it was

unnecessary.   He explained the child

          appears to be a well-adjusted seven year old
          boy who performs well in school. While he was
          quiet in this interview with the Court, he

                                 9                          A-0318-16T2
          answered questions in a concise and articulate
          manner. He enjoys sports with Defendant and
          his friends. There is no recommendation for
          counseling by the school authorities. While
          the family may consider counseling for the
          entire family, the Court will not mandate it
          at this time.

     Based on his findings, the judge denied plaintiff's motion,

concluding that plaintiff "failed to make a prima facie case of

changed circumstances affecting the best interests of the parties'

child."   However, he granted plaintiff's motion to maintain the

nanny's employment and have the parties pay her salary in the same

percentages "as they exist at the present time." The order limited

the obligation to continue to use the nanny.      It stated: "The

parties shall continue with the interim agreement reached at

mediation on February 9, 2016[,] as to [the nanny's] services and

same shall continue through the summer school recess."

     The judge's order also: 1) granted defendant's application

to enforce the CPP in the PSA, and compelled the parties "to

cooperate with the child's bonding and relationships in both

homes"; 2) denied plaintiff's request to send the child to therapy;

3) ordered the parties to refrain from "disparaging each other to

the child, and [to] not interfere with the relationship" of each

other's spouses; and 4) denied the parties' requests for counsel

fees.

                               10                           A-0318-16T2
     Defendant filed a motion for reconsideration, seeking an

order:    1)    terminating            the    nanny's    services      "during      the

[d]efendant's parenting time[,]" or in the alternative, confirming

that her services will end "at the conclusion of [the child's]

summer school recess;" 2) "enforcing . . . the May 31, 2016 . . .

Order    by    directing         the    [p]laintiff     to    pay    [the    nanny's]

compensation"; 3) sanctioning plaintiff for violating the PSA

"incorporating          by     reference     the   [CPP]";     and   4)     compelling

plaintiff "to pay [d]efendant's counsel fees and costs" associated

with the application.             In his certification, defendant explained

that he "was not asking the [c]ourt to replace [the nanny] on

[p]laintiff's parenting days[,]" rather he no longer required her

services as she only spent two hours, two to three days a week,

with the child after school on his days.                     Moreover, in February

2016, defendant hired a new nanny, who "ha[d] been [the child's]

primary nanny on [his] parenting days."

     Plaintiff filed another cross-motion seeking to again modify

the parties' shared custody arrangement, or in the alternative

"schedule[e]        a    plenary       hearing."        In    addition,     plaintiff

requested: 1) to keep the nanny as the child's "jointly-engaged

nanny on both parties' weekday parenting days"; 2) to compel

defendant      to       take     responsibility       for     his    percentage       of

compensation for the nanny's services and reimburse plaintiff for

                                             11                                A-0318-16T2
his share since the May 31, 2016 order; 3) to reverse the court's

decision on therapy for the child; 4) to restrain defendant from

speaking to the child about the proceedings; 5) to hold defendant

in violation of "the interim agreement reached in mediation" in

February; and 6) to instruct defendant to pay counsel fees.

      In   plaintiff's   certification,   she    stated   that   the   court

should reconsider her application as it relied "on [her son's]

[i]nterview as the sole basis for denial[,]" and the interview

"was largely superficial, [since] responses by [the child] were

generally 'yes' or 'no.'"     Moreover, leading up to the interview,

plaintiff alleged that her son told her that defendant "confronted

him [about his writings] and that he had 'gotten in trouble' with

[d]efendant and [his fiancée]."           Plaintiff also provided new

information that her son revealed to her "[t]hat [h]e '[l]ied to

the [j]udge,'" and additional information about "[d]efendant's

[c]ontinued . . . [p]attern of [b]ullying and [i]ntimidation" of

their son.

      Judge Lisa M. Adubato considered the motions and the parties'

oral arguments on September 2, 2016.4           Following oral argument,

she placed her decision on the record and issued an order denying

the parties' motions.     The judge ordered, however, defendant would

4
    By that time Judge Casale had retired from the bench.

                                  12                               A-0318-16T2
no longer be compelled to retain the nanny's services during his

shared custody time.        She found that the May 31, 2016 order

concerning the nanny's joint employment "was a temporary and

transitional arrangement."       She noted in her oral decision that

she did "not have anything in front of [her] that would allow

[her] to conclude that if that arrangement did not continue, that

[the child] would in any way suffer, or that in any way would be

against his best interests."         Relying upon the parties' February

9, 2016 mediation agreement, the judge concluded that the nanny

would "no longer [be] jointly-engaged."           The judge ordered that

the arrangement would "expire on September 6, 2016 after which

time [d]efendant shall no longer be" required to pay for the

nanny's services.      Additionally, the judge referenced the parties'

PSA and directed that "each parent shall make decisions regarding

the day-to-day care and control of the child while the child is

with that parent."      This appeal followed.

     On appeal, plaintiff argues that she established a change in

circumstances warranting a change in custody through her and her

nanny's   certifications     about    her   son   becoming   "increasingly

distressed" whenever he would have to go over to defendant's house.

Plaintiff also contends that she provided ample evidence through

emails    that   the   parties   exchanged    that   "demonstrated . . .

defendant failed to communicate and cooperate with plaintiff as a

                                     13                            A-0318-16T2
co-parent."         Plaintiff     avers    that    defendant     violated      their

agreements when he unilaterally decided to terminate the nanny's

services.

     Plaintiff also contends that Judge Casale recognized she

established changed circumstances because he "conduct[ed] the

[i]nterview and . . . refer[red] the parties to mediation" instead

of denying their motions "outright."                 Relying on Pacifico v.

Pacifico,    190    N.J.   258,    267    (2007),    plaintiff      argues     that,

minimally,    the    judge   should       have    ordered    a   plenary   hearing

accompanied by evaluations from mental health professionals "given

the [parties'] conflicting certifications regarding the welfare

of" their son.

     Citing to Rule 5:8-6, plaintiff also challenges the manner

in which the court conducted her son's interview.                 She argues that

it was done "contrary to the Rule's requirements, [as her] counsel

was never given an opportunity to submit questions to the court

for use during" her son's interview.              Ibid.     Relying on Callen v.

Gill, 7 N.J. 312, 319 (1951), plaintiff avers that the judge should

have also given her an "opportunity to be heard following the

interview" before entering his May 31, 2016 order.                     Moreover,

plaintiff alleges that "[t]he parties did not receive a transcript

of the [interview] recording until June 7, 2016, which was after"

the judge issued his May 31, 2016 decision denying her motion.

                                         14                                  A-0318-16T2
      Our review of a Family Part judge's determination in custody

and parenting time matters is limited.               "Family Part judges are

frequently called upon to make difficult and sensitive decisions

regarding the safety and well-being of children."                Hand v. Hand,

391 N.J. Super. 102, 111 (App. Div. 2007).                  "[B]ecause of the

family    courts'      special    jurisdiction     and   expertise   in     family

matters, [we] accord deference to family court factfinding."                   N.J.

Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. M.C. III, 201 N.J. 328, 343

(2010).        Our narrow review is based upon that fact "we have

'invest[ed] the family court with broad discretion because of its

specialized knowledge and experience in matters involving parental

relationships and the best interests of children.'"               N.J. Div. of

Child Prot. & Permanency v. A.B., 231 N.J. 354, 365 (2017) (quoting

N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. F.M., 211 N.J. 420, 427

(2012)).       "[W]e defer to family part judges 'unless they are so

wide of the mark that our intervention is required to avert an

injustice.'"         Ibid. (quoting F.M., 211 N.J. at 427).           However,

"[w]e    owe    no    special    deference    to   the   trial   judge's     legal

determinations."        Slawinski v. Nicholas, 448 N.J. Super. 25, 32

(App. Div. 2016). "Notwithstanding our general deference to Family

Part decisions, we are compelled to reverse when the court does

not   apply     the   governing    legal     standards."     Ibid.   (citation

omitted).

                                       15                                  A-0318-16T2
      Applying this deferential standard, we conclude plaintiff's

arguments are without sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a

written opinion.     R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E).    We affirm substantially for

the reasons expressed by both Judge Casale and Judge Adubato in

their written and oral decisions.        Suffice it to say, Judge Casale

correctly determined that based on the information submitted and

his interview with the child, there was no showing of any changed

circumstances that warranted a change in the parties shared custody

arrangement in the best interests of the child.       Moreover, we find

no fault in his thoughtful and sensitive interview of the child,

as it was a vehicle to quickly address any immediate concerns he

had   about   the   child's   well-being.     Similarly,   Judge   Adubato

properly determined that, consistent with the parties' agreement

and Judge Casale's earlier order denying plaintiff's motion for a

modification, there was no reason to compel defendant to continue

to employ the nanny during his scheduled shared custody time.

      Affirmed.

                                    16                             A-0318-16T2