Court Opinion

ID: 2700384
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 18:18:01.151272+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:52:37.883830
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Bourquin v. Freudeman, 2011-Ohio-1073.]

                                      COURT OF APPEALS
                                     STARK COUNTY, OHIO
                                  FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                   :   JUDGES:
CHRISTOPHER BOURQUIN                               :   Julie A. Edwards, P. J.
                                                   :   Sheila G. Farmer, J.
                       Plaintiff-Appellant         :   John W. Wise, J.
                                                   :
-vs-                                               :   Case No. 2010CA00086
                                                   :
                                                   :
SABRINA FREUDEMAN                                  :   OPINION

                    Defendant-Appellee

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                                Civil Appeal from Stark County
                                                        Court of Common Pleas, Family
                                                        Court Division, Case No. JU-132077

JUDGMENT:                                               Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                                 March 7, 2011

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellant                                 For Defendant-Appellee

JOHN JUERGENSEN                                         ARNOLD GLANTZ, ESQ.
John L. Juergensen Co., LPA                             4883 Dressler Road, N.W.
6545 Market Avenue, North                               Canton, Ohio 44718
North Canton, Ohio 44721
[Cite as Bourquin v. Freudeman, 2011-Ohio-1073.]

Edwards, P.J.

        {¶1}    Plaintiff-appellant, Christopher Bourquin, appeals from the April 15, 2010,

Judgment Entry of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division.

                               STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

        {¶2}    Appellant Christopher Bourquin and appellee Sabrina Freudeman, who

were never married, are the biological parents of a daughter (DOB 1/27/04). The parties

entered into a shared parenting plan in March of 2005.

        {¶3}    On January 14, 2009, appellee filed a motion for reallocation of parental

rights, seeking termination of the shared parenting plan and sole custody of the parties’

daughter. On March 9, 2009, appellee filed an ex parte motion to suspend appellant’s

visitation with the minor child. Pursuant to an Order filed on the same day, such motion

was granted and appellant’s visitation rights were suspended until further order.

        {¶4}    Thereafter, on March 11, 2009, appellant filed an ex parte motion for

reinstatement of his court ordered visitation rights. As memorialized in a Judgment Entry

filed on March 13, 2009, the March 9, 2009 order suspending visitation rights was

vacated and a Guardian Ad Litem was appointed for the minor child. As memorialized

in an Order filed on April 16, 2009, both parties were ordered to submit to a hair follicle

test within 14 days.

        {¶5}    On May 8, 2009, the Guardian Ad Litem filed a motion asking that

appellant’s visits with the minor child be suspended because appellant had failed to

comply with court-ordered follicle testing and because of concerns over alcohol abuse.

Pursuant to an Order filed on May 11, 2009, appellant’s visitation rights were

suspended until further hearing.
Stark County App. Case No. 2010CA00086                                                3

       {¶6}   Subsequently, at a hearing held on September 3, 2009, and as

memorialized in a Judgment Entry filed on September 8, 2009, the parties agreed that

appellee would have residential placement and custody of the minor child and that

appellant “shall receive no visitation with the minor child pursuant to the Guardian Ad

Litem’s Recommendation filed herein.”

       {¶7}   Thereafter, on September 10, 2009, appellee filed a motion seeking child

support and for an order requiring appellant to seek gainful employment.   Appellant, on

December 4, 2009, filed an ex parte motion seeking reinstatement of his parental

visitation and companionship rights. A pretrial was scheduled for February 17, 2010,

before a Magistrate. The Magistrate, pursuant to an Order filed on February 18, 2010,

ordered appellant to seek work at 20 places a month and to provide proof of the same

to the Guardian Ad Litem and to provide the Guardian Ad Litem with proof of long term

alcohol treatment by March 12, 2010. A pretrial was scheduled for April 21, 2010.

       {¶8}   On March 17, 2010, the Guardian Ad Litem filed a Notice with the trial

court stating that as of March 17, 2010, appellant had failed to provide the Guardian Ad

Litem with “evidence of compliance with the Court’s seek work order” and with proof of

long term alcohol treatment. Appellee, on March 24, 2010, filed a Motion to Show

Cause asking for an order requiring appellant to appear and show cause why he should

not be sentenced for contempt of court.   A hearing on such motion was scheduled for

April 15, 2010. The March 24, 2010, Judgment Entry, scheduling such hearing stated, in

relevant part, as follows:
Stark County App. Case No. 2010CA00086                                                   4

        {¶9}   “If you are found guilty of contempt for failure to abide by the Court’s

Orders regarding employment and alcohol treatment, the Court may impose the

following penalties:

        {¶10} “(a) For a first offense - a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars

($250.00), a definite term of imprisonment of not more than thirty (30) days in jail, or

both.

        {¶11} “(b) For a second offense – a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars

($500.00), a definite term of imprisonment of not more than sixty (60) days in jail, or

both.

        {¶12} “(c) For a third or subsequent offense - a fine of not more than One

Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), a definite term of imprisonment of not more than ninety

(90) days in jail, or both.

        {¶13} “(d) In addition to the above, you will be Ordered to pay court costs and

reasonable attorney fees of the adverse party when you are found in contempt for failing

to pay support.”

        {¶14} Via a Judgment Entry filed on April 15, 2010, the trial court found appellant

in contempt of the trial court’s order for failing to provide the Guardian Ad Litem with

proof of his work seeking efforts and with proof of long term alcohol treatment. The trial

court sentenced appellant to thirty (30) days in jail as “punishment for violating the

Court’s Order.”

        {¶15} Appellant now raises the following assignments of error on appeal:
Stark County App. Case No. 2010CA00086                                               5

      {¶16} “I. THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATED APPELLANT’S RIGHT TO DUE

PROCESS WHEN IT WENT FORWARD WITH HIS REQUESTED EVIDENTIARY

HEARING ON THE DAY THAT IT WAS REQUESTED.

      {¶17} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION AND ERRED AS A

MATTER OF LAW WHEN IT FAILED TO PERMIT APPELLANT THE OPPORTUNITY

TO PURGE HIS CONTEMPT BEFORE SENTENCING HIM TO JAIL.”

                                              I

      {¶18} Appellant, in his first assignment of error, argues that the trial court

violated appellant’s due process rights when it went forward with the April 15, 2010,

hearing on the Motion to Show Cause.

      {¶19} Due process must be observed in both civil and criminal contempt

proceedings. Turner v. Turner (May 18, 1999), Franklin App. No. 98AP-999, 1998 WL

356279; Mosler, Inc. v. United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement

Workers of America, Local 1862 (1993), 91 Ohio App.3d 840, 843, 633 N.E.2d 1193.

More particularly, due process requires that the alleged contemnor has the right to

notice of the charges against him or her, a reasonable opportunity to defend against or

explain such charges, representation by counsel, and the opportunity to testify and to

call other witnesses, either by way of defense or explanation. Id., citing Courtney v.

Courtney (1984), 16 Ohio App.3d 329, 332, 475 N.E.2d 1284.

      {¶20} As is stated above, in the case sub judice, the Guardian Ad Litem, on

March 17, 2010, filed a Notice with the trial court stating that as of March 17, 2010,

appellant had failed to provide the Guardian Ad Litem with “evidence of compliance with

the Court’s seek work order” and with proof of long term alcohol treatment.       After
Stark County App. Case No. 2010CA00086                                                   6

appellee, on March 24, 2010, filed a Motion to Show Cause asking for an order

requiring appellant to appear and show cause why he should not be sentenced for

contempt of court, a hearing on such motion was scheduled for April 15, 2010. The

March 24, 2010, Judgment Entry scheduling such hearing advised appellant that, if

found guilty of contempt, he could be fined or jailed or both.

          {¶21} At the April 15, 2010, hearing, appellant’s counsel requested an

evidentiary hearing “on all these issues so that the defendant (sic)1 is required to prove

these allegations.” Transcript at 5. The trial court then proceeded with the April 15, 2010

hearing and, as memorialized in a Judgment Entry filed on April 15, 2010, found

appellant in contempt.

          {¶22} Appellant now maintains that he was denied due process of law because

he was not prepared to go forward with the evidentiary hearing on April 15, 2010,

because “standard procedure in the Family Court Division is for the court to schedule a

pre-trial for all matters that are set for evidence. Not only should there have been a

subsequent hearing for evidence but there should have been an intermittent pre-trial.”

          {¶23} We find, however that appellant’s due process rights were not violated.

The trial court’s March 24, 2010, Judgment Entry specifically set a hearing for April 15,

2010, on the Motion to Show Cause and ordered appellant to appear on such date and

show cause why he should not be held in contempt for failing to seek work and furnish

proof of his efforts to do so to the Guardian Ad Litem and for failing to furnish the

Guardian Ad Litem with proof of long term alcohol treatment. The Judgment Entry

further advised appellant that he could be sent to jail if found in contempt. Thus,

appellant had notice of the allegations against him.
1
    Counsel clearly meant to refer to appellee.
Stark County App. Case No. 2010CA00086                                                        7

          {¶24} Furthermore, appellant had the opportunity to be heard. At issue was

whether or not appellant provided the required proof to the Guardian Ad Litem. The

Guardian Ad Litem was present at the April 15, 2010, hearing and was available for

cross-examination. As noted by appellee’s counsel at the April 15, 2010, hearing, “I

can’t imagine what else needs to be done other that [the Guardian Ad Litem] testifying

to things that he has not received. “ Transcript at 5. We note that appellant, who himself

testified at the April 15, 2010, hearing,2 does not argue that he provided the required

proof to the Guardian Ad Litem.

          {¶25} Based on the foregoing, appellant’s first assignment of error is overruled.

                                                      II

          {¶26} Appellant, in his second assignment of error, argues that the trial court

abused its discretion when it failed to permit appellant to purge his contempt before

sentencing him to jail.

          {¶27} An appellate court's standard of review of a trial court's contempt finding is

abuse of discretion. State ex rel. Celebrezze v. Gibbs (1991), 60 Ohio St.3d 69, 573

N.E.2d 62. 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 (1983), 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 450 N.E.2d 1140.

          {¶28} A contempt finding may be civil or criminal in nature. In Brown v.

Executive 200, Inc. (1980), 64 Ohio St.2d 250, 253-254, 416 N.E.2d 610, the Supreme

Court of Ohio discussed the distinction between civil and criminal contempt as follows:

          {¶29} “While both types of contempt contain an element of punishment, courts

distinguish criminal and civil contempt not on the basis of punishment, but rather, by the
2
    We note that appellant’s testimony was not transcribed.
Stark County App. Case No. 2010CA00086                                                    8

character and purpose of the punishment. * * * Punishment is remedial or coercive and

for the benefit of the complainant in civil contempt. Prison sentences are conditional.

The contemnor is said to carry the keys of his prison in his own pocket* * *since he will

be freed if he agrees to do as ordered. Criminal contempt, on the other hand, is usually

characterized by an unconditional prison sentence. Such imprisonment operates not as

a remedy coercive in its nature but as punishment for the completed act of

disobedience, and to vindicate the authority of the law and the court. * * *” (Citations

omitted.)

       {¶30} The sanction for a civil contempt must give the contemnor an opportunity

to purge himself of the contempt. Tucker v. Tucker (1983), 10 Ohio App.3d 251, 461

N.E.2d 1337.

       {¶31} We find that the contempt in this case was criminal in nature. The trial

court, in its March 24, 2010, Judgment Entry, advised appellant that if he was found in

contempt for failing to abide by the trial court’s order regarding employment and alcohol

treatment, he could be sentenced to jail or fined or both. Subsequently, the trial court, in

its April 15, 2010, Judgment Entry, found appellant in contempt and committed him to

jail for thirty (30) days “as punishment for violating the Court’s order.” Because the

purpose was to punish appellant, the contempt was criminal in nature and the trial court

was not required to give appellant an opportunity to purge his contempt.
Stark County App. Case No. 2010CA00086                                          9

       {¶32} Appellant’s second assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.

       {¶33} Accordingly, the judgment of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas,

Family Court Division, is affirmed.

By: Edwards, P.J.

Farmer, J. and

Wise, J. concur

                                                  ______________________________

                                                  ______________________________

                                                  ______________________________

                                                               JUDGES

JAE/d1202
[Cite as Bourquin v. Freudeman, 2011-Ohio-1073.]

               IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR STARK COUNTY, OHIO

                                  FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

CHRISTOPHER BOURQUIN                               :
                                                   :
                          Plaintiff-Appellant      :
                                                   :
                                                   :
-vs-                                               :       JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                                   :
SABRINA FREUDEMAN                                  :
                                                   :
                       Defendant-Appellee          :       CASE NO. 2010CA00086

       For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion on file, the

judgment of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division, is

affirmed. Costs assessed to appellant.

                                                       _________________________________

                                                       _________________________________

                                                       _________________________________

                                                                    JUDGES