Court Opinion

ID: 2699568
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 18:06:32.616744+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:35:02.867641
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Kovach v. Lewis, 2012-Ohio-1512.]

                                      COURT OF APPEALS
                                    ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO
                                  FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

NORMAN A. KOVACH                             :      JUDGES:
                                             :
                                             :      Hon. Patricia A. Delaney , P.J.
                       Plaintiff-Appellee    :      Hon. W. Scott Gwin, J.
                                             :      Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
-vs-                                         :
                                             :      Case No. 11-COA-018
WENDY L. LEWIS                               :
                                             :
                                             :
                      Defendant-Appellant    :      OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                         Appeal from the Ashland County Court of
                                                 Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case
                                                 No. 20840160

JUDGMENT:                                        AFFIRMED

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                          March 29, 2012

APPEARANCES:

For Appellant:                                      For Appellee:

BRENT L. ENGLISH                                    DEBORAH E. WOODWARD
M.K. Ferguson Plaza, Suite 470                      1130 E. Main St., #187
1500 W. 3rd St.                                     Ashland, OH 44805
Cleveland, OH 44113-1422
[Cite as Kovach v. Lewis, 2012-Ohio-1512.]

Delaney, P.J.

        {¶1} Defendant-Appellant Wendy L. Lewis (“Mother”) appeals the May 19,

2011 judgment entry of the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile

Division. Plaintiff-Appellee is Norman A. Kovach (“Father”).

                             FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

        {¶2} Mother and Father were in a romantic relationship and one child was

born of the relationship on January 9, 2008. Mother alleged that before she became

pregnant and after the birth of their child, Father orally agreed to pay one-half of the

uninsured birth expenses. The parties’ relationship ended in June 2008.

        {¶3} On September 12, 2008, Father filed a Complaint to Establish Parental

Rights with a Plan for Shared Parenting requesting the trial court to enter a Shared

Parenting order. By judgment on December 8, 2008, the parties agreed Father was

the father of the child.         The trial court set the matter for further proceedings to

determine the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities.

        {¶4} A hearing was held on March 2, 2009 on Father’s Complaint for Parental

Rights. At the time of the hearing, both parents were employed. Father was a STNA

at Keystone Pointe and worked 37 ½ hours per week, earning $9.75 per hour. Mother

was a registered nurse and worked in disease management.                     She earned

approximately $60,000 per year.

        {¶5} The trial court issued its judgment on May 14, 2009. The trial court

found it was in the best interests of the child that the court order shared parenting.

Mother and Father were named the residential parents and legal custodians of the

child. The trial court modified Father’s proposed Shared Parenting Plan for the best
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                  3

interests of the child. As to the Parenting Schedule, the trial court ordered the child

would be with Father on a two-week schedule. On week one, the child would be with

Father from Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. to Sunday at 6:00 p.m. On week two, the child

would be with Father from Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. to Friday at 1:00 p.m. Mother

would have the child on a two-week schedule on the days not designated as the days

the child would be with Father.

      {¶6} The trial court ordered Father to pay $23.23 per week in child support.

      {¶7} On July 23, 2009, Mother filed a pro se letter with the trial court

requesting modification of the May 14, 2009 judgment entry as to the Parenting

Schedule, Father’s home environment, and child support.           In her request for

modification of the Parenting Schedule, Mother stated Father had obtained new

employment on July 7, 2009. Father worked as a corrections officer with the North

Central Community Institution located in Marion, Ohio. His work hours were from

10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., with Wednesdays and Thursdays off.

      {¶8} Based on the May 14, 2009 judgment entry, the trial court issued a

Shared Parenting Decree and Plan on July 31, 2009. The Parenting Schedule and

child support stated above were included in the Decree and Plan. Mother did not

appeal the July 31, 2009 judgment.

      {¶9} Mother submitted another pro se letter to the trial court on August 10,

2009 requesting modification of the Parenting Schedule.

      {¶10} On January 15, 2010, Mother, through counsel, filed a Motion for Order

requiring Father to pay half of the uninsured birth expenses and a Motion to Modify
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                  4

Child Support. Mother also filed a Motion to Modify Shared Parenting Decree/Plan

and Motion to Terminate Shared Parenting Plan.

        {¶11} While Mother’s motions were pending before the trial court, on February

10, 2010, Mother was charged with one count of child endangerment, a first-degree

misdemeanor. Mother was charged after Mother left the two-year old child in her car

while she was in the Ashland Wal-Mart for 29 minutes and 42 seconds. State of Ohio

v. Wendy Lewis, 192 Ohio App.3d 153, 2011-Ohio-187 (5th Dist.), ¶ 6. A passerby

notified the police when she observed the child alone in the vehicle crying loudly. Id.

at ¶ 2. A jury found Mother guilty as charged. Id. at ¶ 11. Mother appealed the

decision to this court and we affirmed. Id.

        {¶12} Father filed a Motion to Modify Allocation of Parental Rights and

Responsibilities on March 5, 2010.      Father asked that he be designated the sole

residential parent.

        {¶13} The trial court held a hearing on the motions on July 12, 2010. At the

hearing, Mother requested the trial court not terminate the Shared Parenting Plan, but

modify the Plan to take into consideration the parties’ work schedules to determine the

Parenting Schedule.

        {¶14} The following evidence was adduced at the hearing. On January 21,

2010, Mother was laid off from her job and was now receiving unemployment in the

amount of $1,700 per month. Mother received additional income from boarding and

showing horses. Mother owns her home and the child has his own bedroom at the

home.
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                   5

      {¶15} Father still worked as a corrections officer, earning $16.35 per hour. He

left for work at 8:00 p.m. and arrived home from work at 7:30 a.m. with Wednesdays

and Thursdays off. Father lives in his three bedroom home with his mother, brother,

niece, and thirteen dogs. The brother and niece reside in the basement with their

three dogs.    Father has his own bedroom, his ten small dogs use the second

bedroom, and the child sleeps in the third bedroom with his grandmother.          While

Father is working or sleeping, the grandmother cares for the child. The grandmother

acknowledged there was mold in the bathroom that she sprayed with bleach.

      {¶16} Mother testified her uninsured birth expenses were $5,402.08, which she

has paid in full. Mother stated she and Father agreed to share in the birth expenses

and Father has not paid his share.

      {¶17} The trial court issued its decision on May 19, 2011.        The trial court

denied the motions to terminate the Shared Parenting Decree and Plan. Instead, the

trial court modified the Plan incorporated into the Decree to have Father with the child

from Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. to Friday at 6:00 p.m. on week two of his scheduled weeks.

The trial court then calculated child support as $80.70 using the Child Support

Computation Worksheet.      The trial court deviated from the worksheet to set child

support obligations of the parents at zero because the parents were with the child for

an equal amount of time.

      {¶18} The trial court also denied Mother’s motion for birth expenses. The trial

court found the evidence presented by Mother did not establish there was an

agreement between the parties for Father to pay one-half the expenses. The trial
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                 6

court also found Mother waived her claim by failing to raise it earlier in the

proceedings and/or the claim was barred by the doctrine of laches.

       {¶19} It is from this decision Mother now appeals.

                              ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

       {¶20} Mother raises three Assignments of Error:

       {¶21} “I. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR BY

FAILING TO CONSIDER APPELLANT’S REQUEST TO MAXIMIZE THE PARTIES’

SON’S CONTACT WITH EACH OF HIS PARENTS BY ACCOUNTING FOR THEIR

RESPECTIVE WORK SCHEDULES.

       {¶22} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND APPLIED THE

WRONG STATUTE TO COMPUTE CHILD SUPPORT IN THIS CASE.

       {¶23} “III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT APPELLANT’S

CLAIM FOR ONE-HALF OF THE UNINSURED BIRTH EXPENSES SHE INCURRED

FOR THEIR SON HAD BEEN WAIVED OR WAS BARRED BY THE DOCTRINE OF

LACHES.”

                                     ANALYSIS

                                          I.

       {¶24} Mother argues in her first Assignment of Error the trial court erred when

it modified the Shared Parenting Decree and Plan without taking into consideration the

parties’ working schedules. She specifically argues the modification made by the trial

court was not in the child’s best interests because Father works nights. We disagree

that the trial court erred.
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                     7

       {¶25} The Parenting Schedule is established in the parties’ Shared Parenting

Plan. The Shared Parenting Plan was incorporated into a Shared Parenting Decree

on July 31, 2009.        R.C. 3109.04(E) governs modification of a Shared Parenting

Decree and/or a Shared Parenting Plan. Fisher v. Hasenjager, 116 Ohio St.3d 53,

2007-Ohio-5589, 876 N.E.2d 546, ¶ 11. R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) requires a court to find

a change in circumstances of the child, residential parent, or either parent subject to a

Shared Parenting Decree before modifying a decree allocating parental rights and

responsibilities.   R.C. 3109.04(B)(2)(b) permits the court to modify the terms of a

Shared Parenting Plan upon its own motion if the court finds the modifications are in

the best interest of the child. Fisher at ¶ 5.

       {¶26} In this case, the trial court did not modify the designation of the

residential parent.      The trial court modified the allocation of parenting time.   “The

allocation of parenting time is a ‘term’ of a shared parenting plan[.]” Bishop v. Bishop,

4th Dist. No. 08CA44, 2009-Ohio-4537, ¶ 35 citing Herdman v. Herdman, 3rd Dist. No.

9-08-32, 2009-Ohio-303, ¶ 6.         Pursuant to R.C. 3109.04(E)(2)(b), the court may

modify the terms of the Shared Parenting Plan if the modifications are in the best

interest of the child.

       {¶27} R.C. 3109.04(F) sets forth the factors a trial court must consider in

determining the best interest of the child:

              (a) The wishes of the child's parents regarding the child's care;

              (b) If the court has interviewed the child in chambers pursuant to

       division (B) of this section regarding the child's wishes and concerns as
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                8

     to the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities concerning the

     child, the wishes and concerns of the child, as expressed to the court;

            (c) The child's interaction and interrelationship with the child's

     parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the

     child's best interest;

            (d) The child's adjustment to the child's home, school, and

     community;

            (e) The mental and physical health of all persons involved in the

     situation;

            (f) The parent more likely to honor and facilitate court-approved

     parenting time rights or visitation and companionship rights;

            (g) Whether either parent has failed to make all child support

     payments, including all arrearages, that are required of that parent

     pursuant to a child support order under which that parent is an obligor;

            (h) Whether either parent or any member of the household of

     either parent previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any

     criminal offense involving any act that resulted in a child being an abused

     child or a neglected child * * *;

            (i) Whether the residential parent or one of the parents subject to

     a shared parenting decree has continuously and willfully denied the other

     parent's right to parenting time in accordance with an order of the court;

            (j) Whether either parent has established a residence, or is

     planning to establish a residence, outside this state.
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                            9

       {¶28} In its May 19, 2011 Opinion and Judgment Entry, the trial court found

because the Shared Parenting Plan was incorporated into the Shared Parenting

Decree, it must also analyze the modification to the allocation of parenting time under

R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a). R.C. 3109.04(E)(1)(a) requires the trial court find a change of

circumstances       before   it   can   modify   the   allocation   of   parental   rights   and

responsibilities.

       {¶29} A trial court enjoys broad discretion in custody proceedings. Cossin v.

Holley, 5th Dist. No. 2006 CA 0014, 2007-Ohio-5258, ¶ 28 citing Davis v. Flickinger,

77 Ohio St.3d 415, 674 N.E.2d 1159 (1997), paragraph one of the syllabus. It has

been held the appellate court reviews the merits of a trial court’s modification of the

terms of the Shared Parenting Plan through R.C. 3109.04(E)(2)(b) under an abuse of

discretion standard. Bishop, at ¶ 36 citing Picciano v. Lowers, 4th Dist. No. 08CA38,

2009-Ohio-3780, ¶ 25. In order to find an abuse of discretion, we must determine the

trial court’s decision was unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable and not merely

an error of law or judgment. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 450 N.E.2d

1140 (1983).

       {¶30} In modifying the Parenting Schedule to give Father an additional day with

the child, the trial court made the following findings. The trial court found there had

been a change of circumstances since the July 31, 2009 Shared Parenting Decree in

that Mother had been charged with child endangerment in regard to this child. As to

best interests, the trial court found there was no change of environment for the child

because the child spent approximately half time with each parent.
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                       10

       {¶31} Mother argues the trial court failed to consider her wishes regarding the

child’s care. Mother argues it was not in the child’s best interest to be placed in the

care of the child’s grandmother while Father was working or sleeping. A review of the

trial court’s judgment shows the trial court considered Mother’s argument and the

other best interest factors in determining whether to modify the Shared Parenting Plan

and Decree.     The trial court acknowledged Mother’s request that the Parenting

Schedule be modified to fit the respective work schedules of the Father and Mother.

(May 19, 2011 Opinion and Judgment Entry.) The trial court also reviewed the living

environments of the parents, the relationship between the child and his parents, and

the   cooperation   between   the   parents      before   Mother’s   conviction   for   child

endangerment. The trial court further found there would be no adjustment for the child

based on the modification to the Parenting Schedule because the child already spent

approximately equal time with each parent.

       {¶32} Upon review, we find no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s

determination there was a change in circumstances and it was in the best interests of

the child to modify the Shared Parenting Plan and Decree as to the Parenting

Schedule.

       {¶33} Mother’s first Assignment of Error is overruled.

                                           II.

       {¶34} Mother argues in her second Assignment of Error the trial court abused

its discretion and applied the incorrect statute in computing child support.             We

disagree.
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                  11

      {¶35} The original Shared Parenting Decree ordered Father to pay child

support in the amount of $23.23 per week. The trial court did not order Mother to pay

child support.   In the May 19, 2011 Opinion and Judgment Entry, the trial court

computed child support according to the Child Support Computation Worksheet which

stated child support in the amount of $80.70 per week. In the judgment, the trial court

cited R.C. 3119.22 as guidance for when to apply a deviation in the amount of child

support. The trial court found a deviation in the amount of child support to be paid

was warranted under the factors listed in R.C. 3119.23 and concluded neither parent

would pay child support.      Specifically, the trial court found that based on the

modification to the Parenting Schedule, the child would be with the parties an equal

amount of time, and that each party would be responsible for the support of the child

during the time the child was with each party.

      {¶36} A trial court has broad discretion related to the calculation of child

support, and, absent an abuse of discretion, an appellate court will not disturb a child

support order. Pauly v. Pauly, 80 Ohio St.3d 386, 390, 686 N.E.2d 1108 (1997).

      {¶37} The amount of child support calculated using the child support guidelines

and worksheet is rebuttably presumed to be the correct amount of child support,

although the trial court may deviate from that amount. R.C. 3119.03. R.C. 3119.24(A)

applies in the case of shared parenting. Pauly, supra. Under R.C. 3119.24, the trial

court may deviate from the amount of child support in the worksheet if it determines

the guideline amount would be unjust or inappropriate to the children or either parent

and would not be in the best interest of the child because of the extraordinary
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                      12

circumstances of the parents or because of any other factors or criteria listed in R.C.

3119.23.

          {¶38} Mother argues the trial court erred by utilizing R.C. 3119.22 to determine

whether to grant a deviation. R.C. 3119.22 states: “The court may order an amount of

child support that deviates from the amount of child support that would otherwise

result from the use of the basic child support schedule and the applicable worksheet,

through the line establishing the actual annual obligation, if, after considering the

factors and criteria set forth in section 3119.23 of the Revised Code, the court

determines that the amount calculated pursuant to the basic child support schedule

and the applicable worksheet, through the line establishing the actual annual

obligation, would be unjust or inappropriate and would not be in the best interest of the

child.”

          {¶39} We find any error by the trial court with the application of R.C. 3119.22 or

R.C. 3119.24 to determine a deviation to be harmless in this case.            As indicated

above, R.C. 3119.24 provides the trial court may deviate from the guideline amount if

such would be unjust or inappropriate and would not be in the best interest of the child

or either parent because of (1) extraordinary circumstances of the parents or (2) any

other factors or criteria set forth in R.C. 3119.23. Ramey v. Ramey, 5th Dist. No. 08-

CA-38, 2009-Ohio-2909, ¶ 38.          R.C. 3119.24 utilizes the same standard as R.C.

3119.22 to find that a deviation is permissible if such would be unjust or inappropriate

and would not be in the best interest of the child. R.C. 3119.24 then requires the trial

court to either (1) find extraordinary circumstances of the parents or (2) apply the

factors in R.C. 3119.23 to determine whether it would be unjust or inappropriate and
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                  13

would not be in the best interest of the child. The trial court in this case considered

the factors in R.C. 3119.23. Because the trial court considered the factors in R.C.

3119.23, we find no error in the trial court’s application of R.C. 3119.22 to determine

deviation in the child support amount established in a Shared Parenting Plan.

      {¶40} R.C. 3119.24(B)(1) through (4) defines “extraordinary circumstances of

the parents,” and includes: (1) the amount of time the children spend with each parent;

(2) the ability of each parent to maintain adequate housing for the children; (3) each

parent's expenses, including child care expenses, school tuition, medical expenses,

dental expenses, and any other expenses the court considers relevant; and (4) any

other circumstances the court considers relevant.

      {¶41} R.C. 3119.24 provides the trial court may use the factors set out in R.C.

3119.23 in determining the amount of the deviation. R.C. 3119.23 provides a list of

the statutory criteria a court may consider when determining whether to deviate from

the child support schedule, including: (A) special and unusual needs of the children;

(B) extraordinary obligations for minor children or obligations for handicapped children

who are not stepchildren and who are not offspring from the marriage or relationship

that is the basis of the immediate child support determination; (C) other court-ordered

payments; (D) extended parenting time or extraordinary costs associated with

parenting time, provided that this division does not authorize and shall not be

construed as authorizing any deviation from the schedule and the applicable

worksheet, through the line establishing the actual annual obligation, or any

escrowing, impoundment, or withholding of child support because of a denial of or

interference with a right of parenting time granted by court order; (E) the obligor
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                    14

obtaining additional employment after a child support order is issued in order to

support a second family; (F) the financial resources and the earning ability of the child;

(G) disparity in income between parties or households; (H) benefits that either parent

receives from remarriage or sharing living expenses with another person; (I) the

amount of federal, state, and local taxes actually paid or estimated to be paid by a

parent or both of the parents; (J) significant in-kind contributions from a parent,

including, but not limited to, direct payment for lessons, sports equipment, schooling,

or clothing; (K) the relative financial resources, other assets and resources, and needs

of each parent; (L) the standard of living and circumstances of each parent and the

standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the marriage continued or had the

parents been married; (M) the physical and emotional condition and needs of the

child; (N) the need and capacity of the child for an education and the educational

opportunities that would have been available to the child had the circumstances

requiring a court order for support not arisen; (O) the responsibility of each parent for

the support of others; and (P) any other relevant factor.

       {¶42} Under the Worksheet, the trial court calculated Father’s child support

obligation to be $4,196 per year. Mother’s child support obligation was $2,956 per

year. Mother argues the trial court erred in failing to consider Mother’s local income

taxes and giving Father credit for health insurance for the child and payment of child

support to another child. Regardless of the trial court’s calculations, the result in this

case is that the trial court deviated from the Worksheet calculations considering the

factors listed in R.C. 3119.23 to establish both parent’s child support obligations were

zero. The basis for the trial court’s decision was that the child was with the parents an
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                   15

equal amount of time and each parent was responsible for the support of the child

while the child was in their care. We find the trial court’s deviation from the Worksheet

to be supported by the record and the factors listed in R.C. 3119.23.

        {¶43} Accordingly, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in

calculating the amount of child support.

        {¶44} Mother’s second Assignment of Error is overruled.

                                             III.

        {¶45} Mother argues in her final Assignment of Error the trial court erred in

denying her motion for Father to pay one-half of the birth expenses.

        {¶46} Father filed a Complaint to Establish Parental Rights on September 12,

2008.    R.C. 3113.31 applies to the inclusion of birth expenses into the judgment

determining the existence of the parent and child relationship:

               (A) The judgment or order of the court determining the existence

        or nonexistence of the parent and child relationship is determinative for

        all purposes.

               ***

               (C) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the judgment or

        order may contain, at the request of a party and if not prohibited under

        federal law, any other provision directed against the appropriate party to

        the proceeding, concerning the duty of support, the payment of all or any

        part of the reasonable expenses of the mother's pregnancy and

        confinement, the furnishing of bond or other security for the payment of

        the judgment, or any other matter in the best interest of the child. * * *
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                16

       {¶47} At the time of the Complaint and the judgment establishing Father as the

parent on December 8, 2008, Mother did not raise the issue of her birth expenses

before the trial court.

       {¶48} Mother filed her motion for birth expenses on January 15, 2010. Her

motion is silent as to R.C. 3113.31. At the hearing on July 12, 2010, Mother testified

she had $5,402.08 in uninsured medical expenses related to the child’s birth. She

testified she had an oral agreement with Father to pay those expenses. There is no

testimony from Father in the record, on direct or cross examination, as to the alleged

oral agreement.

       {¶49} In the May 19, 2011 Opinion and Judgment Entry, the trial court found

the evidence failed to establish there was an oral agreement to pay the birth

expenses. There was no evidence Mother sought reimbursement from Father prior to

filing the motion. The trial court also determined Mother waived her claim and/or the

claim was barred by the doctrine of laches.

       {¶50} The Ohio Supreme Court described the doctrine of waiver as follows:

               A waiver is a voluntary relinquishment of a known right. State ex

       rel. Athens Cty. Bd. of Commrs. v. Gallia, Jackson, Meigs, Vinton Joint

       Solid Waste Mgt. Dist. Bd. of Directors, 75 Ohio St.3d 611, 616, 665

       N.E.2d 202, 207 (1996). It applies generally to all personal rights and

       privileges. Id., citing Sanitary Commercial Serv., Inc. v. Shank, 57 Ohio

       St.3d 178, 180, 566 N.E.2d 1215, 1218 (1991). Waiver assumes one

       has an opportunity to choose between either relinquishing or enforcing of

       the right. A waiver may be enforced by the person who had a duty to
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                                   17

      perform and who changed his or her position as a result of the waiver.

      Andrews v. State Teachers Retirement Sys. Bd. (1980), 62 Ohio St.2d

      202, 205, 16 O.O.3d 240, 242, 404 N.E.2d 747, 749.”

Chubb v. Ohio Bur. Of Workers' Comp., 81 Ohio St.3d 275, 690 N.E.2d 1267 (1998).

       {¶51} Laches has been defined by the Ohio Supreme Court as “an omission to

assert a right for an unreasonable and unexplained length of time, under

circumstances prejudicial to the adverse party.” Connin v. Bailey, 15 Ohio St.3d 34,

35, 472 N.E.2d 328 (1984) quoting Smith v. Smith, 168 Ohio St. 447, 156 N.E.2d 113

(1959). Delay in asserting a right does not of itself constitute laches. Zartman v.

Swad, 5th Dist. No. 02CA86, 2003–Ohio–4140, ¶ 51, citing Connin, supra, at 35–36,

472 N.E.2d 328.     The decision of a trial court concerning the application of the

equitable doctrine of laches will not be reversed on appeal in the absence of an abuse

of discretion.   Payne v. Cartee, 111 Ohio App.3d 580, 590, 676 N.E.2d 946 (4th

Dist.1996).

       {¶52} Issues of waiver and laches are “fact-driven.” Riley v. Riley, 5th Dist. No.

2005-CA-27, 2006-Ohio-3572, ¶ 27, citing Dodley v. Jackson, 10th Dist. No. 05AP11,

2005-Ohio-5490.

       {¶53} In order for there to be a breach of an oral agreement, the party must

first establish the existence of an agreement.     The trial court found there was no

evidence, other than Mother’s testimony, of an oral agreement between Mother and

Father for payment of the uninsured birth expenses. A judgment supported by some

competent, credible evidence will not be reversed by a reviewing court as against the

manifest weight of the evidence. C.E. Morris Co. v. Foley Construction Co., 54 Ohio
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                               18

St.2d 279, 376 N.E.2d 578 (1978). As found by the trial court, there was no evidence

other than Mother’s testimony of the existence of an agreement. The trial court is in

the best position to determine the credibility of the witnesses.

       {¶54} Finally, considering the doctrine of waiver and laches under R.C.

3113.13, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding Mother had

waived her argument for birth expenses and was prevented from bringing her claim for

birth expenses in these proceedings by the doctrine of laches. R.C. 3113.13 permits

the inclusion of the birth expenses in the December 8, 2008 judgment entry or the May

14, 2009 judgment entry.

       {¶55} We find the trial court’s decision was supported by the evidence and was

not an abuse of discretion.

       {¶56} Mother’s third Assignment of Error is overruled.
Ashland County, Case No. 11-COA-018                                         19

                                 CONCLUSION

       {¶57} The judgment of the Ashland County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile

Division is affirmed.

By: Delaney, P.J.

Gwin, J. and

Hoffman, J. concur.

                                    HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

                                    HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

                                    HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN

PAD:kgb
[Cite as Kovach v. Lewis, 2012-Ohio-1512.]

             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO

                                  FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

NORMAN A. KOVACH                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                       Plaintiff-Appellee      :
                                               :
-vs-                                           :   JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                               :
WENDY L. LEWIS                                 :
                                               :
                                               :   Case No. 11-COA-018
                      Defendant-Appellant      :

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

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

assessed to Appellant.

                                             HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

                                             HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

                                             HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN