Court Opinion

ID: 4202396
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-09-11 12:15:29.759316+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:51.316345
License: Public Domain

[Cite as In re I.K., 2017-Ohio-7532.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                                 SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                        ERIE COUNTY

In re I.K.                                        Court of Appeals No. E-17-017

                                                  Trial Court No. 2011 JB 065

                                                  DECISION AND JUDGMENT

                                                  Decided: September 8, 2017

                                          *****
        J.B. S.-W., pro se.

                                          *****

        OSOWIK, J.

        {¶ 1} This is an accelerated appeal from a March 30, 2017 judgment of the Erie

County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, dismissing appellant’s motion for

change in custody as a result of the trial court’s January 4, 2017 denial of appellant’s

accompanying affidavit of indigence. For the reasons set forth below, this court reverses

the judgment of the trial court and remands this matter to the trial court for further

proceedings consistent with this opinion.
       {¶ 2} Pro se appellant, the mother of minor child I.K., to whom the underlying

custody order pertains, sets forth the following two assignments of error:

              The trial court abused its discretion by denying the Appellant’s

       affidavit of indigence for court costs filed on January 6, 2017 pursuant to

       Loc.R.3 and O.A.C. 120-1-03(3)(B)(1)

              The trial court abused its discretion when it dismissed the

       Appellant’s motion for change of custody action filed contemporaneously

       with the affidavit of indigence on January 6, 2017 under Loc.R.2(c).

       {¶ 3} The following undisputed facts are relevant to this appeal. The custody

order underlying this matter was filed on September 17, 2015. The typical trial court

motion filings in cases such as this are often submitted along with an affidavit of

indigence for court cost purposes.

       {¶ 4} On April 22, 2014, appellant filed an affidavit of indigence with the trial

court reflecting household income in the amount of $1,500 per month and no monthly car

payment. This affidavit was approved by the trial court.

       {¶ 5} On May 13, 2014, appellant filed an affidavit of indigence with the trial

court reflecting household income in the amount of $2,400 per month and no monthly car

payment. This affidavit was approved by the trial court.

       {¶ 6} On January 6, 2017, appellant filed an affidavit of indigence with the trial

court reflecting lower household income in the amount of $1,200 per month and higher

expenses including a monthly car payment of $388 per month. In addition, this affidavit

also reflected appellant receiving government food assistance in the amount of $460 per

2.
month. This affidavit of indigence, reflecting lower income and higher expenses in

comparison with the prior, approved affidavits, was denied by the trial court.

       {¶ 7} On January 9, 2017, appellant was notified by the trial court that the

affidavit of indigence was denied. The written notification to appellant of the denial

further stated that if appellant failed to pay a filing fee of $65 on or before January 19,

2017, appellant’s pending custody motion could be subject to dismissal.

       {¶ 8} On March 30, 2017, appellant’s pending custody motion was dismissed.

The trial court specifically stated the dismissal was based upon appellant’s failure to pay

the above-referenced $65 filing fee necessitated by the denial of appellant’s January 6,

2017 affidavit of indigence. This appeal ensued.

       {¶ 9} Both of appellant’s assignments of error are rooted in the premise that the

trial court erred in the denial of the January 9, 2017 affidavit of indigence. As such, they

will be considered simultaneously.

       {¶ 10} We note at the outset that the disputed trial court action underlying this

case is reviewed by this court pursuant to the abuse of discretion standard of review.

Demonstrating an abuse of discretion requires showing more than a mere error of law or

judgment. The disputed trial court action must be shown to be unreasonable, arbitrary or

unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St. 3d 217, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983).

       {¶ 11} Erie County Loc.R. 2(C) establishes, “The Erie County Clerk of Courts

shall accept any pleadings filed without a court cost deposit, if an Affidavit of Indigence

for court costs is submitted with the pleadings.”

3.
       {¶ 12} Erie County Loc.R. 3 establishes, “If there is a conflict between these Rules

and the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure, the Ohio Rule of Civil Procedure shall control.”

       {¶ 13} Ohio Admin. Code 120-1-03(3)(B)(1) establishes that one is presumed

indigent when, “The applicant currently receives poverty based public assistance such as

* * * supplemental nutrition [food] assistance program.”

       {¶ 14} The record reflects that in the course of this case, the trial court approved

the prior affidavits of indigence filed by appellant reflecting a higher monthly income,

lower monthly expenses, and no receipt of monthly government food assistance benefits

in comparison with the subsequent January 6, 2017 affidavit of indigence denied by the

trial court.

       {¶ 15} The record reflects that as a direct result of the denial of the January 6,

2017 affidavit of indigence, the trial court dismissed appellant’s pending custody motion.

The dismissal explicitly resulted from appellant’s failure to pay a $65 filing fee

necessitated by the denial of the January 6, 2017 affidavit of indigence.

       {¶ 16} The record reflects that the affidavit of indigence that was denied showed

appellant’s receipt of monthly government food benefits which rendered appellant

presumptively indigent pursuant to Ohio Admin. Code 120-1-03(3)(B)(1). The

presumption of indigence was proper regardless of any potentially conflicting local rules.

       {¶ 17} Wherefore, we find that the record shows that the trial court’s denial of

appellant’s January 6, 2017 affidavit of indigence was arbitrary and unreasonable. As

such, the trial court’s March 30, 2017 dismissal of appellant’s motion for change of

4.
custody, based upon the improper denial of the affidavit of indigence, was likewise

improper.

       {¶ 18} The March 30, 2017, judgment of the Erie County Court of Common Pleas,

Juvenile Division, is hereby reversed. This matter is hereby remanded to the trial court

for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Pursuant to App.R. 24, the costs of

this matter are hereby waived.

                                                                      Judgment reversed.

       A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.

Mark L. Pietrykowski, J.                       _______________________________
                                                           JUDGE
Thomas J. Osowik, J
                                               _______________________________
Christine E. Mayle, J.                                     JUDGE
CONCUR.
                                               _______________________________
                                                           JUDGE

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