Court Opinion

ID: 2729719
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-08 21:47:02.217165+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:46:10.888257
License: Public Domain

Pursuant to Ind.Appellate Rule 65(D), this

                                                                     FILED
 Memorandum Decision shall not be
 regarded as precedent or cited before any
 court except for the purpose of establishing
                                                                  Aug 21 2012, 9:11 am
 the defense of res judicata, collateral
 estoppel, or the law of the case.
                                                                         CLERK
                                                                       of the supreme court,
                                                                       court of appeals and
                                                                              tax court

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:

MICHAEL RILEY
Rensselaer, Indiana

                               IN THE
                     COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

BRANDON E. KLEIN,                                  )
                                                   )
        Appellant,                                 )
                                                   )
               vs.                                 )       No. 79A02-1112-PO-1157
                                                   )
K.J.,                                              )
                                                   )
        Appellee.                                  )
                                                   )

                     APPEAL FROM THE TIPPECANOE SUPERIOR COURT
                             The Honorable Les A. Meade, Judge
                               Cause No. 79D05-1009-PO-402

                                         August 21, 2012

                MEMORANDUM DECISION - NOT FOR PUBLICATION

VAIDIK, Judge
                                        Case Summary

       Brandon E. Klein appeals the trial court’s issuance of a protective order against

him. Klein contends that the trial court failed to comply with the requirements of

Indiana’s Civil Protection Order Act (“CPOA”). Klein also argues that the court was

biased and the evidence was insufficient to support the issuance of the protective order.

We conclude that the trial court provided Klein with a hearing that was both timely and

appropriate pursuant to the CPOA. We also conclude that the court was not biased, and

the evidence was sufficient to support the issuance of the protective order against Klein.

We affirm.

                               Facts and Procedural History

       Klein and K.J., a student at Purdue University in West Lafayette, dated for a brief

period in 2010. After K.J. ended the relationship, Klein continued to contact K.J. by

telephone and come to her apartment unannounced. K.J. asked Klein to stop contacting

her and stopped answering his phone calls. Klein persisted, calling K.J. from different

phone numbers in an attempt to get her to answer his calls. On one occasion in August

2010, when Klein reached K.J., Klein spoke to her in a threatening manner, telling her to

“try him,” and said, “if that’s how you want to play it[,] don’t think I can’t f*** with your

life, too.” Tr. p. 5, 52. K.J. filed a police report.

       In September, K.J. found her apartment door kicked in and discovered her mailbox

had been tampered with. Id. at 6, 47, 53-54. K.J. filed another police report. Klein also

called K.J.’s parents to inform them that he had attempted to send a letter to K.J. but it

had been returned to him. Id. at 47, 53, 114. On September 17, K.J. sought a protective

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order against Klein. At approximately 2:00 a.m. on September 21, a large rock was

thrown into K.J.’s apartment window in Lafayette. This woke K.J., who discovered that

the power was out in her apartment. K.J. contacted authorities, who arrived at the scene

and restored the power. Only K.J.’s apartment had lost power. Klein, who at that time

was living in Indianapolis, was pulled over and arrested in K.J.’s neighborhood just after

2:00 a.m. Id. at 66-68.

       The next day, K.J. and her parents appeared for an ex parte hearing on her request

for a protective order. K.J. testified about the events of August and September and her

fear of Klein. K.J.’s parents also testified to their dealings with Klein. At the end of the

hearing, the trial court remarked to K.J., “Just one thing that you’ve probably also heard

from your parents, choose more wisely . . . there are a lot of guys out there and not all of

them are jerks, so . . .” Id. at 14. The court issued the order for protection against Klein.

       On November 4, Klein requested a hearing on the order for protection.

Appellant’s App. p. 6 (CCS). The trial court granted his request and set a hearing for

November 23. After numerous continuances, the trial court held a hearing on discovery

matters. Counsel for K.J. sought to quash Klein’s discovery requests for K.J.’s phone

records from 2008 to present. Counsel also argued that Klein’s interrogatories were

overbroad and objected to Klein’s request that K.J. undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

       Klein admitted that his interrogatories requested information that was either not

discoverable, Supp. Tr. p. 10, did not exist, id. at 13, was available to him through third-

party discovery, id. at 17, or had already been provided to him, id. at 6, 21. He argued,

however, that the phone records were relevant to the issue of when the relationship began

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and to K.J.’s credibility. He also argued that K.J. should be required to undergo a mental

evaluation because she suffered from Lupus and took medication. Tr. p. 38-39. The trial

court found Klein’s discovery requests inappropriate and expressed impatience with

Klein, saying:

       “This is an oppressive request for discovery. I’m not going to do this. I
       would like to know why you think it is[,] Mr. Klein[,] that you think you’re
       entitled through this process to just put [K.J.] through more and more –
       more and more abuse.”

Id. at 39.

       The contested hearing on the protective order was ultimately held in November

2011. Appellant’s App. p. 2 (CCS). The trial court began the hearing by “establish[ing]

what is in dispute and what is not” through a series of questions posed to Klein and K.J.

Id. at 46. After explaining, “We’re going to give everyone an opportunity to put on

whatever evidence you want,” the court asked Klein’s counsel to proceed. Id. at 77.

Counsel presented evidence and called witnesses but did not call K.J. When Klein took

the stand, he denied breaking down K.J.’s door or tampering with her mailbox. He

admitted that he had gone to K.J.’s apartment to deliver a letter at 2:00 a.m. on September

21, but he denied throwing the rock or shutting off her power. Id. at 67, 122.

       At the conclusion of the contested hearing, the trial court addressed Klein, telling

him that his version of the events “was unbelievable . . . .” Id. at 184. The court ruled

that the protective order would remain in effect pursuant to Indiana Code section 34-26-

5-9(b), enjoining Klein from threatening to commit or committing acts of domestic or

family violence, stalking, or a sex offense against K.J. and prohibiting Klein from

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harassing, annoying, telephoning, contacting, or directly or indirectly communicating

with K.J.

        Klein now appeals.

                                      Discussion and Decision

        At the outset, we note that K.J. did not file an appellee’s brief. Under that

circumstance, we do not undertake to develop the appellee’s arguments. Branham v.

Varble, 952 N.E.2d 744, 746 (Ind. 2011). Rather, we will reverse upon an appellant’s

prima facie showing of reversible error. Id.

        On appeal, Klein argues: (1) the court failed to comply with the requirements of

the CPOA, specifically Indiana Code section 34-26-5-10; (2) the trial court was biased;

and (3) the evidence was insufficient to support the issuance of a protective order against

him.1

                               I. Indiana Code Section 34-26-5-10

        Klein’s contends that the trial court failed to comply with the requirements of the

CPOA, specifically Indiana Code section 34-26-5-10. Klein argues that the trial court

denied him a timely hearing and denied him opportunity to cross-examine K.J., thus

depriving him of a “hearing” as contemplated by the CPOA.

        1
          Klein also argues that the trial court deprived him of due process under federal and state law by
failing to allow him to cross-examine K.J. or “receive[] any meaningful discovery.” Appellant’s Br. p.
17, 21. It is well settled, however, that the requirements of due process apply only to the deprivation of
interests encompassed by the Fourteenth Amendment’s protection of liberty and property. Essany v.
Bower, 790 N.E.2d 148 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). We do not find persuasive Klein’s arguments that his
attractiveness to medical schools—notably, he had already been accepted into one school—or his
incarceration, which although related to the protective order, resulted from his own conduct, are proper
bases for the due-process analysis. For this reason, we do not address this argument.
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       Indiana Code section 34-26-5-1, which governs the construction of the CPOA,

provides that the CPOA “shall be construed to promote the: (1) protection and safety of

all victims of domestic or family violence in a fair, prompt, and effective manner; and (2)

prevention of future domestic and family violence.” In addition, Indiana Code section

34-26-5-10(a)(1) provides, in relevant part, that where, as here, the trial court issues a

protection order ex parte, provides relief under section 9(b), and a party requests a

hearing, the court shall set a date for a hearing on the petition. Such hearing must be held

not more than thirty days after the request for a hearing is filed, unless continued by the

court for good cause. Ind. Code § 34-26-5-10(a)(1).

       According to the language of Section 34-26-5-10(a)(1), Klein’s argument that the

hearing was not timely fails.     The CCS reflects that Klein requested a hearing on

November 4, 2010. The trial court granted his request and set a hearing for November

23, 2010. See Appellant’s App. p. 6. This is within the thirty-day requirement set forth

in Section 34-26-5-10(a)(1).    Moreover, the CCS reflects the parties’ agreement to

continue the date of that hearing numerous times, id. at 5-6, which is also expressly

contemplated and permitted under Section 34-26-5-10(a)(1).

       Klein next argues that he was denied a “hearing” as contemplated by the CPOA

because he was not permitted to cross-examine K.J. Although the legislature did not

define the term “hearing,” as it is used in the CPOA, Klein directs our attention to Essany

v. Bower to resolve this issue. 790 N.E.2d 148 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). In Essany, another

panel of this Court held that a “hearing” as contemplated by the CPOA included the right

to present testimony and call and cross-examine witnesses. Id. at 152. The Court

                                             6
concluded that the petitioner, Essany, was denied her right to a hearing under the CPOA

when she was not permitted to testify about the allegations in her petition or cross-

examine the person against whom she sought the protective order, Bower. Klein argues

that the facts of this case are like those of Essany, and for that reason, he was denied a

hearing as contemplated by the CPOA.

       We find Essany distinguishable from this case. In Essany, counsel

       stated at the beginning of the hearing that he wanted to call Essany to the
       stand. But the trial court thwarted his efforts and, instead, asked counsel to
       explain what the case was “all about first.” At that point, counsel explained
       the allegations of Essany’s petition, next, the court directed both Essany
       and Bower [the respondent] to stand and administered the oath. The court
       then asked Essany two questions, verifying that the statements of her
       counsel and the facts alleged in her petition were true. Once Essany
       confirmed that the statements were true, the court allowed Bower to give
       his response, under oath, to the allegations in the petition. The court then
       dismissed Essany’s petition.

Id. at 153. While the trial courts in Essany and this case both began by attempting to

identify the basic facts, what happened next is different. Essany was not permitted to

testify or cross-examine Bower. Here, however, Klein was permitted to testify at length.

Further, as Klein admits, see Appellant’s Br. p. 25, it appears that trial counsel opted to

proceed by presenting his case rather than cross-examining K.J. And nothing occurred at

the hearing that prevented Klein from cross-examining K.J. Klein was not deprived of a

hearing as provided by the CPOA.

                                          II. Bias

       Klein next contends that the trial court was biased. A trial before an impartial

judge is an essential element of due process. Stellwag v. State, 854 N.E.2d 64, 65 (Ind.

Ct. App. 2006). The law presumes that a judge is unbiased and unprejudiced. Smith v.

                                             7
State, 770 N.E.2d 818, 823 (Ind. 2002). This presumption, though, may be rebutted if the

defendant can establish from the judge’s conduct an actual bias or prejudice that places

the defendant in jeopardy. Id. Such bias and prejudice exists only where there is an

undisputed claim or where the judge expressed an opinion regarding the controversy over

which the judge was presiding. Id. An adverse ruling by itself is insufficient to show

bias or prejudice. Flowers v. State, 738 N.E.2d 1051, 1060 n.4 (Ind. 2000), reh’g denied.

The trial court has a duty to remain impartial and refrain from unnecessary remarks.

Massey v. State, 803 N.E.2d 1133, 1139 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). Nonetheless, it also has a

duty to conduct the trial in a manner calculated to promote the ascertainment of truth,

fairness, and economy of time. Id.

       Klein’s argument that the trial court was biased is premised on statements made by

the court at the conclusion of the ex parte and contested hearings, as well as at the hearing

on discovery matters.     Having reviewed the record, we cannot agree.           The court’s

comment to K.J. at the conclusion of the ex parte hearing to “choose more wisely” did

not reference Klein specifically or indicate that the trial court had reached a conclusion

about the merits of K.J.’s petition.      The trial court’s comments regarding Klein’s

discovery requests similarly do not establish bias; they were remarks on the invasive

nature of Klein’s discovery requests. Nor does the trial court’s statement at the close of

the contested hearing about the believability of Klein’s story indicate bias as Klein

contends, but rather the trial court’s view of the evidence presented. In this case, the trial

court viewed the evidence unfavorably to Klein and ruled against him. This fact is not

                                              8
sufficient to establish bias. Flowers, 738 N.E.2d at 1060. Klein has failed to establish

that the trial court was biased.

                                   III. Sufficiency of Evidence

       Finally, Klein challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the issuance of

the protective order against him. The party seeking a protective order must prove at least

one of the allegations of her petition by a preponderance of the evidence. Ind. Code § 34-

26-5-9; Tons v. Bley, 815 N.E.2d 508, 511 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). In reviewing the

sufficiency of the evidence supporting a protective order, we will neither reweigh the

evidence nor reassess witness credibility. Tons, 815 N.E.2d at 511. We will examine

only the probative evidence and reasonable inferences that support the trial court’s

judgment. Id. “A finding that domestic or family violence has occurred sufficient to

justify the issuance of an order under this section means that a respondent represents a

credible threat to the safety of a petitioner . . . .” Ind. Code § 34-26-5-9(f).

       The evidence most favorable to the trial court’s judgment shows that after ending

her relationship with Klein, K.J. asked him to stop contacting her. Nonetheless, he

continued to call her from unknown phone numbers. In one phone call, he threatened to

“F*** up her life . . . .” Tr. p. 52. Klein also contacted K.J.’s parents and sent them a

letter in the mail. In the months following their breakup, K.J.’s apartment door was

kicked in and her mailbox was tampered with. Klein also attempted to send a letter to

K.J. by mail, but he claimed it was returned to him.               Klein later traveled from

Indianapolis to Lafayette at 2:00 a.m. to personally deliver this letter to K.J. At precisely

                                                9
the same time, a rock was thrown into K.J.’s apartment window and her power was shut

off. Police arrested Klein just a short distance from K.J.’s apartment just after 2:00 a.m.

       At the conclusion of the contested hearing, the trial court made a credibility

determination, concluding that Klein’s version of these events was simply

“unbelievable.” Id. at 184. Klein’s summary of the testimony given at the contested

hearing—particularly his implication that someone other than him could have committed

the acts described—amounts to nothing more than an invitation to reweigh the evidence

and reassess the parties’ credibility, which we will not do. We conclude that the trial

court did not err in finding that Klein represents a credible threat to K.J.’s safety and

therefore properly issued the protective order against Klein.

       Affirmed.

MATHIAS, J., and BARNES, J., concur.

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