Court Opinion

ID: 2700305
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 18:16:56.042602+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:52:21.245380
License: Public Domain

[Cite as In re C.C., 2011-Ohio-1624.]

                                        COURT OF APPEALS
                                      LICKING COUNTY, OHIO
                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                               :      JUDGES:
                                               :
                                               :      Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.
IN RE C.C. & N.C.                              :      Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
                                               :      Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
                                               :
                                               :      Case No. 2010 CA 0088
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :      OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                           Appeal from the Licking County Court of
                                                   Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case
                                                   Nos. C 2008-0937, C 2008-0938

JUDGMENT:                                          AFFIRMED

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                            March 31, 2011

APPEARANCES:

For Mother-Appellant:                                 For LCDJFS-Appellee:

ERIC J. MCENANEY                                      KENNETH W. OSWALT
21 W. Church St., Suite 201                           LICKING COUNTY PROSECUTOR
Newark, OH 43055
                                                      ALICE L. BOND
                                                      Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
                                                      20 S. Second St., 4th Floor
                                                      Newark, OH 43055
[Cite as In re C.C., 2011-Ohio-1624.]

Delaney, J.

        {¶1}     Mother-Appellant Susan Clouse appeals the July 9, 2010 judgment entry

of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, granting legal custody

of C.C. and N.C. to Appellant’s sister, Lorie Massie.

                            STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

        {¶2}     Appellant is the mother of C.C., born September 10, 2002, and N.C., born

September 8, 2004.            Father of the children is Michael Clouse.   He is currently

incarcerated for his conviction on two counts of Gross Sexual Imposition involving

Appellant’s older daughter.

        {¶3}     On October 9, 2008, a social worker and Appellant’s probation officer

discovered Appellant intoxicated in her home with N.C. in her care. Marijuana and pills

were found in the home. The children were temporarily placed with their grandparents.

        {¶4}     On December 4, 2008, the Licking County Department of Job and Family

Services (“LCDJFS”) filed a complaint with the Licking County Court of Common Pleas,

Juvenile Division, alleging that C.C. and N.C. were dependent children and asked for

temporary custody of the children. At the shelter care hearing, the trial court granted

Lorie Massie, Appellant’s sister, temporary custody of C.C. and N.C. Massie also had

custody of Appellant’s older daughter after Appellant’s husband was convicted of Gross

Sexual Imposition.          It was alleged that Appellant did not believe her daughter’s

allegations and could not protect her from her husband.          The trial court ordered

Appellant to complete a psychological evaluation, to attend a drug and alcohol

evaluation and counseling, and to submit to random drug and alcohol screening.
Licking County, Case No. 2010 CA 0088                                                   3

        {¶5}     An adjudicatory hearing was held on February 17, 2009. At that hearing,

C.C. and N.C. were found to be dependent children. The dispositional orders continued

temporary custody with Massie. A case plan submitted by LCDJFS was approved by

the trial court.

        {¶6}     During this time, Appellant was granted unsupervised visitation with the

children.      Appellant and Massie resided in the same apartment complex.        Massie

permitted the children to be with Appellant a majority of the time. Appellant’s social

worker, Angel Pound, was aware of this arrangement.

        {¶7}     On October 9, 2009, LCDJFS filed a motion to modify disposition to return

legal custody to Appellant. LCDJFS cited Appellant’s significant progress on her case

plan and that she was attending drug and alcohol counseling. However, on October 29,

2009, LCDJFS withdrew their motion to modify based on a domestic violence incident

involving Appellant on October 23, 2009.          Appellant was charged with Domestic

Violence regarding an incident where Massie was the alleged victim. It was alleged that

the incident involved alcohol. LCDJFS also requested that Appellant’s visitation with the

children be supervised by the agency.

        {¶8}     After the domestic violence charge in October 2009, Appellant made no

further progress with her case plan. She moved from the area and resided with another

family in McConnelsville, Morgan County, Ohio.

        {¶9}     On January 13, 2010, LCDJFS filed a Motion to Modify Disposition to

grant legal custody of the children to Massie. The Guardian ad Litem recommended

that Massie be granted legal custody of the children. A hearing was held before the

Magistrate on March 19, 2010.
Licking County, Case No. 2010 CA 0088                                                  4

      {¶10} At the hearing, Appellant, Pound, and Massie testified.               Pound

recommended that legal custody be awarded to Massie. Massie testified that she was

bonded with the children. Her husband was employed at Wal-Mart and Massie worked

in the home. The children had their own bedroom. The children were doing well at

school while in Massie’s care. Massie testified that she had prior criminal convictions

for theft in 1988 and passing bad checks in 2004.

      {¶11} The Magistrate’s Decision was filed on April 3, 2010 granting legal custody

of C.C. and N.C. to Massie. Appellant filed objections to the Magistrate’s Decision.

      {¶12} On July 9, 2010, the trial court overruled Appellant’s objections and

adopted the Magistrate’s Decision granting legal custody of the children to Massie.

      {¶13} It is from this decision Appellant now appeals.

                              ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

      {¶14} Appellant raises one Assignment of Error:

      {¶15} “I.    THE    TRIAL    COURT         COMMITTED    HARMFUL       ERROR      IN

DETERMINING THAT IT WAS IN THE CHILD’S BEST INTEREST TO BE PLACED

INTO THE LEGAL CUSTODY OF THE FOSTER PARENTS, AS SUCH A

DETERMINATION WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.”

                                            I.

      {¶16} Appellant argues in her sole Assignment of Error that it was not in the

children’s best interests to be placed in the legal custody of Massie. We disagree.

      {¶17} We first note this was a grant of legal custody, not permanent custody.

Legal custody does not divest parents of residual parental rights, privileges, and

responsibilities. In re C.R., 108 Ohio St.3d 369, 2006-Ohio-1191, 843 N.E.2d 1188, at
Licking County, Case No. 2010 CA 0088                                                     5

paragraph 17. This means Appellant may petition the court for a modification of custody

in the future. Id.

       {¶18} R.C. 2151.353(A) states in pertinent part: “If a child is adjudicated an

abused, neglected, or dependent child, the court may make any of the following orders

of disposition:

       {¶19} “ * * *

       {¶20} “(3) Award legal custody of the child to either parent or to any other person

who, prior to the dispositional hearing, files a motion requesting legal custody of the

child or is identified as a proposed legal custodian in a complaint or motion filed prior to

the dispositional hearing by any party to the proceedings. * * *.”

       {¶21} Despite the differences between a disposition of permanent custody and a

disposition of legal custody, some Ohio courts have recognized that “the statutory best

interest test designed for the permanent custody situation may provide some ‘guidance’

for trial courts making legal custody decisions.” In re A.F., Summit App. No. 24317,

2009-Ohio-333, ¶ 7, citing In re T.A., Summit App. No. 22954, 2006-Ohio-4468, ¶ 17.

       {¶22} Furthermore, because custody issues are some of the most difficult and

agonizing decisions a trial judge must make, he or she must have wide latitude in

considering all the evidence and such a decision must not be reversed absent an abuse

of discretion. Davis v. Flickinger (1997), 77 Ohio St.3d 415, 418, 674 N.E.2d 1159,

citing Miller v. Miller (1988), 37 Ohio St.3d 71, 74, 523 N.E.2d 846. The Ohio Supreme

Court has also explained: “A reviewing court should not reverse a decision simply

because it holds a different opinion concerning the credibility of the witnesses and

evidence submitted before the trial court. A finding of an error in law is a legitimate
Licking County, Case No. 2010 CA 0088                                                        6

ground for reversal, but a difference of opinion on credibility of witnesses and evidence

is not.” Seasons Coal Co. v. Cleveland (1984), 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 81, 461 N.E.2d 1273.

Likewise, “[e]very reasonable presumption must be made in favor of the judgment and

the findings [of the juvenile court]. * * * If the evidence susceptible to more than one

construction, we must give it that interpretation which is consistent with the verdict and

judgment, and most favorable to sustaining the [juvenile] court's verdict and judgment.”

In re: MB, Summit App. No. 21812, 2004-Ohio-2666, citing Karches v. Cincinnati

(1988), 38 Ohio St.3d 12, 526 N.E.2d 1350. It is well established that the trial court, as

the fact finder, is free to believe all, part, or none of the testimony of each witness.

State v. Caldwell (1992), 79 Ohio App.3d 667, 679, 607 N.E.2d 1096. In contrast, as an

appellate court, we neither weigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of the witnesses.

Our role is to determine whether there is relevant, competent, and credible evidence

upon which the fact finder could base its judgment. Cross Truck v. Jeffries (February

10, 1982), Stark App. No. CA-5758.

       {¶1}    In determining the best interest of the child in a permanent custody case,

R.C. 2151.414(D) mandates the trial court must consider all relevant factors, including,

but not limited to, the following: (1) the interaction and interrelationship of the child with

the child's parents, siblings, relatives, foster parents and out-of-home providers, and any

other person who may significantly affect the child; (2) the wishes of the child as

expressed directly by the child or through the child's guardian ad litem, with due regard

for the maturity of the child; (3) the custodial history of the child; and (4) the child's need

for a legally secure permanent placement and whether that type of placement can be

achieved without a grant of permanent custody.
Licking County, Case No. 2010 CA 0088                                                     7

       {¶23} Under the facts of this case, we cannot say the trial court abused its

discretion in granting legal custody of C.C. and N.C. to Massie.

       {¶24} The record shows that until October 2009, Appellant was successfully

working on her case plan to the stage that LCDJFS moved for modification of legal

custody of the children back to Appellant. In October 2009, however, Appellant was

involved in a domestic violence incident with Massie. At that time, Appellant admittedly

stopped working on her case plan that would help her reunify with her children.

Appellant testified that she did not want to work with Pound, her social worker, anymore

and she moved away from the area.

       {¶25} The Guardian ad Litem and Pound reported that the children were doing

well with Massie. Massie provided the children with a stable living environment. While

Massie did let Appellant care for the children while the children were to be in Massie’s

custody, Pound was aware of the arrangement and did not intercede.

       {¶26} Upon the facts presented, we find that the trial court did not abuse its

discretion in finding that it was in the children’s best interests to be placed in the legal

custody of Massie.

       {¶27} Appellant’s sole Assignment of Error is overruled.
Licking County, Case No. 2010 CA 0088                                        8

       {¶28} The judgment of the Licking County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile

Division, is affirmed.

By: Delaney, J.

Hoffman, P.J. and

Farmer, J. concur.

                                    HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

                                    HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN

                                    HON. SHEILA G. FARMER
[Cite as In re C.C., 2011-Ohio-1624.]

               IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR LICKING COUNTY, OHIO

                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
IN RE C.C. & N.C.                              :
                                               :
                                               :   JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :   Case No. 2010 CA 0088
                                               :

    For the reasons stated in our accompanying Opinion on file, the judgment of the

Licking County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is affirmed. Costs assessed

to Appellant.

                                            HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

                                            HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN

                                            HON. SHEILA G. FARMER