Court Opinion

ID: 2703818
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 20:15:35.40397+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:56:58.237784
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Neumann v. Neumann, 2012-Ohio-591.]

               Court of Appeals of Ohio
                            EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                               COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

                            JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
                                     No. 96915

                             PAMELA S. NEUMANN
                                                     PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

                                               vs.

                                  PAUL NEUMANN
                                                     DEFENDANT-APPELLANT

                                        JUDGMENT:
                                         AFFIRMED

                                   Civil Appeal from the
                          Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
                               Domestic Relations Division
                                    Case No. D-328194

       BEFORE: Cooney, J., Blackmon, A.J., and Sweeney, J.

     RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: February 16, 2012
FOR APPELLANT
                                          2

Paul Neumann, pro se
24243 Lebern Drive
North Olmsted, OH 44070

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE

Heather L. Corso
Jennifer L. Malensek
The Bradley Building
1200 West Sixth Street
Suite 502
Cleveland, OH 44113

GUARDIAN AD LITEM

Jacob A.H. Kronenberg
Kronenberg & Belovich Law, LLC
635 West Lakeside Avenue
Suite 605
Cleveland, OH 44113

COLLEEN CONWAY COONEY, J.:

      {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Paul Neumann (“Paul”), pro se, appeals the court’s

judgment entry of divorce. Finding no merit to the appeal, we affirm.

      {¶2} Paul and plaintiff-appellee, Pamela S. Neumann (“Pamela”), were married

in 2004. The two had one minor child born in 2005. Pamela separated from Paul and

filed for divorce in 2009.     The child remained primarily with Pamela after the
                                           3

separation.   Shortly after the separation, Pamela was awarded a one-year protection

order as a result of her menacing by stalking charge against Paul.

       {¶3} In May 2011, the court issued a final determination, in which the court

named Pamela the residential parent and legal custodian.      The court set forth a shared

parenting agreement, granted Pamela child support, and awarded her attorney fees.

       {¶4} Paul now appeals from this entry, raising three assignments of error.

                                      Attorney Fees

       {¶5} In his first assignment of error, Paul argues that the trial court abused its

discretion in awarding attorney fees to Pamela.

       {¶6} Our review of the award of attorney fees is limited to determining (1)

whether the factual considerations upon which the award was based are supported by the

manifest weight of the evidence, or (2) whether the domestic relations court abused its

discretion.   Gourash v. Gourash, 8th Dist. Nos. 71882 and 73971, 1999 WL 684889

(Sept. 2, 1999), citing Oatey v. Oatey, 83 Ohio App.3d 251, 614 N.E.2d 1054 (1992).

       {¶7} R.C. 3105.73(A), which governs attorney fee awards in domestic relations

cases, provides:

       In an action for divorce * * * or an appeal of that action, a court may award

       all or part of reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation expenses to either

       party if the court finds the award equitable.    In determining whether an

       award is equitable, the court may consider the parties’ marital assets and
                                           4

       income, any award of temporary spousal support, the conduct of the parties,

       and any other relevant factors the court deems appropriate.

       {¶8} The trial court found that an award of attorney fees for Pamela was justified

in the instant case. Pamela’s fees totaled $17,077, and the court awarded $7,500 in lieu

of spousal support. In support of its award, the court cited Paul’s “overall lack of

cooperation and compliance with discovery and trial orders.”         The court also noted

Paul’s failure to comply with Pamela’s discovery requests and his untimely affidavits that

contained substantive errors.

       {¶9} In addition, the court considered whether all of the legal services were

necessary and the amount of time expended on those services.     Counsel’s reduced hourly

rates were reasonable and commensurate with the customary fees in this locality.

Therefore, we find that the award of attorney fees was supported by competent, credible

evidence and was not an abuse of discretion.

       {¶10}   Accordingly, the first assignment of error is overruled.

                                         Custody

       {¶11}   In his second assignment of error, Paul argues that the trial court abused

its discretion when it awarded him less than equal custody.

       {¶12}   Paul argues that he is entitled to an equal time shared parenting plan.

However, he did not file a shared parenting plan with the court, nor does he support his

claim for equal time with any statutory authority. R.C. 3109.04 provides that when
                                            5

neither parent files a plan for shared parenting, the court has jurisdiction to allocate

parental rights in the best interest of the child. R.C. 3109.04 states:

       (A) In any divorce, legal separation, or annulment proceeding and in any

       proceeding pertaining to the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities

       for the care of a child, upon hearing the testimony of either or both parents

       and considering any mediation report filed pursuant to section 3109.052 of

       the Revised Code and in accordance with sections 3127.01 to 3127.53 of

       the Revised Code, the court shall allocate the parental rights and

       responsibilities for the care of the minor children of the marriage. Subject to

       division (D)(2) of this section, the court may allocate the parental rights and

       responsibilities for the care of the children in either of the following ways:

       (1) If neither parent files a pleading or motion in accordance with division

       (G) of this section, if at least one parent files a pleading or motion under

       that division but no parent who filed a pleading or motion under that

       division also files a plan for shared parenting, or if at least one parent files

       both a pleading or motion and a shared parenting plan under that division

       but no plan for shared parenting is in the best interest of the children, the

       court, in a manner consistent with the best interest of the children, shall

       allocate the parental rights and responsibilities for the care of the children

       primarily to one of the parents, designate that parent as the residential
                                             6

       parent and the legal custodian of the child, and divide between the parents

       the other rights and responsibilities for the care of the children, including,

       but not limited to, the responsibility to provide support for the children and

       the right of the parent who is not the residential parent to have continuing

       contact with the children.

       {¶13}   R.C. 3109.04(F) provides relevant factors for the court to consider.

Having reviewed the judgment entry, this court finds that the trial court considered each

element of R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) and (2) when determining the best interest of the child.

Having addressed each element, the court found that it was in the child’s best interest to

make Pamela the residential parent and legal custodian, in addition to setting forth a

detailed shared parenting schedule.       Therefore, we find that the trial court’s shared

parenting plan was not an abuse of discretion.

       {¶14}   Accordingly, the second assignment of error is overruled.

                               Temporary Spousal Support

       {¶15}   In his third assignment of error, Paul argues that the trial court abused its

discretion when it awarded temporary spousal support to Pamela without a proven need

and without a full evidentiary hearing.

       {¶16}   A trial court has considerable latitude when determining the amount of

spousal support to award in a divorce proceeding. Bolinger v. Bolinger, 49 Ohio St.3d

120, 122, 551 N.E.2d 157 (1990). A trial court’s decision regarding spousal obligations
                                            7

will not be reversed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. Pauly v. Pauly, 80 Ohio

St.3d 386, 390, 686 N.E.2d 1108 (1997); Cherry v. Cherry, 66 Ohio St.2d 348, 421

N.E.2d 1293 (1981). So long as the decision of the trial court is supported by some

competent, credible evidence going to all the essential elements of the case, we will not

disturb it. Masitto v. Masitto, 22 Ohio St.3d 63, 66, 488 N.E.2d 857 (1986).       “Since it

is axiomatic that a trial court must have discretion to do what is equitable upon the facts

and circumstances of each case, it necessarily follows that a trial court’s decision in

domestic relations matters should not be disturbed on appeal unless the decision involves

more than an error of judgment.” Booth v. Booth, 44 Ohio St.3d 142, 144, 541 N.E.2d

1028 (1989).

       {¶17}   R.C. 3105.18(B) authorizes the trial court to award reasonable temporary

spousal support to either party during the pendency of any divorce or legal separation

proceeding.    When determining whether spousal support is appropriate and reasonable,

the court must consider the factors set forth in R.C. 3105.18(C). The trial court is not

required to comment on each statutory factor; the record need only show that the court

considered the statutory factors when making its award.      Carman v. Carman, 109 Ohio

App.3d 698, 703, 672 N.E.2d 1093 (1996). Civ.R. 75(N)(1) authorizes the trial court to

grant spousal support pendente lite to either party without oral hearing upon the filing of a

motion and supporting affidavit. The other party may then file counter affidavits within

14 days of the filing of the motion. Civ.R. 75(N)(2).
                                            8

       {¶18}   On September 29, 2009, Pamela moved for spousal support pendente lite

and attached a supporting affidavit.   Paul filed an answer and an affidavit in reply to her

motion without objection to her request. Her motion was granted on January 21, 2010.

The trial court based its order of temporary support on Pamela’s income of $0 and Paul’s

income of $75,200.     Based on these figures, the trial court determined that a temporary

spousal support award of $1,734 per month was appropriate.

       {¶19}   On February 23, 2010, Paul filed an application for a Civ.R. 75(N)

hearing.   A hearing was scheduled and reset several times until the final date set for trial.

 The court allowed Paul to fully cross-examine Pamela on this issue at trial.

       {¶20}   Paul argues that the trial court erred in awarding temporary spousal

support to Pamela.     However, Paul never produced evidence to rebut the temporary

support order. Moreover, the trial court’s judgment entry of divorce does not continue

spousal support. Thus, we find no abuse of discretion in the temporary support order or

the manner in which the court determined the appropriate amount.

       {¶21}   Accordingly, the third assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶22}   Judgment affirmed.

       It is ordered that appellee recover of appellant costs herein taxed.

       The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

       It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this court directing the domestic

relations court to carry this judgment into execution.
                                         9

      A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of

the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

___________________________________________________
COLLEEN CONWAY COONEY, JUDGE

PATRICIA ANN BLACKMON, A.J., and
JAMES J. SWEENEY, J., CONCUR