Court Opinion

ID: 4176145
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-06-09 15:08:59.360615+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:38:36.373554
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be                                 FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any                        Jun 09 2017, 9:02 am
court except for the purpose of establishing
                                                                      CLERK
the defense of res judicata, collateral                           Indiana Supreme Court
                                                                     Court of Appeals
estoppel, or the law of the case.                                      and Tax Court

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE
Andrea L. Ciobanu                                         Dylan A. Vigh
Ciobanu Law, P.C.                                         Law Offices of Dylan A. Vigh,
Indianapolis, Indiana                                     LLC
                                                          Indianapolis, Indiana

                                           IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

In re the Paternity of M.D.                               June 9, 2017
Maria Leyvand,                                            Court of Appeals Case No.
                                                          49A02-1609-JP-2193
Appellant-Respondent,
                                                          Appeal from the Marion Superior
        v.                                                Court
                                                          The Honorable Timothy W.
Jesse Dickerson,                                          Oakes, Special Judge
                                                          Trial Court Cause No.
Appellee-Petitioner
                                                          49D02-1311-JP-40105

Crone, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017       Page 1 of 15
                                                Case Summary
[1]   Maria Leyvand (“Mother”) appeals the trial court’s order (“Order”) granting

      Jesse Dickerson (“Father”) primary physical custody of their child M.D.1 She

      asserts that the trial court abused its discretion in granting Father custody, that

      the trial court’s calculation of child support was clearly erroneous, and that the

      trial court’s apportionment of education expenses violated contract law and her

      due process rights to notice. Finding no error, we affirm.

                                    Facts and Procedural History
[2]   Mother and Father were in a romantic relationship from November 2010 until

      October 2013. M.D. was born in February 2012. In November 2013, shortly

      after the parties separated, Father filed a petition to establish paternity. Both

      parties filed requests for custody of M.D.

[3]   In May 2014, the parties reached an agreement on child custody, parenting

      time, and child support (“the Mediated Agreement”), in which they agreed to

      share legal custody of M.D., with Mother having primary physical custody and

      Father exercising equalized parenting time consisting of seven overnights over a

      1
        The parties differ as to the identities of the petitioner and the respondent, which may be due to the
      numerous petitions and motions that have been filed in this case. Because this case was initiated when
      Father filed a petition to establish paternity and the order being appealed granted Father’s petition to change
      custody, we have designated Father as the petitioner.

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017                Page 2 of 15
[4]   two-week period. Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 21-22.2 They also agreed that

      Father would provide weekly child support of $115 and be responsible for 60%

      of expenses resulting from work-related childcare, preschool, and

      extracurricular activities. The Mediated Agreement further stated that there

      was “a protective order in place prohibiting contact between Mother and

      Father” (“the Protective Order”) and that Mother would amend the Protective

      Order to permit email communication regarding parenting issues. Id.

[5]   Mother and Father soon experienced difficulties sharing parenting

      responsibilities, which led to this contentious legal battle. Their

      communication was “horrible.” Tr. Vol. 1 at 136. In 2015, Mother made three

      reports to Child Protective Services (“CPS”) complaining that Father had either

      physically or sexually abused M.D. Id. at 34. CPS investigated each

      complaint, found the allegations unsubstantiated, and closed the cases. Id. at

      35, 37, 41. In the first instance, Mother reported that M.D. had second-degree

      burns. M.D. and Father had just returned from a Florida vacation, and a

      doctor concluded that M.D. had a sunburn. In the second instance, Mother

      reported that Father had abused M.D. by scratching her from the neck to the

      top of her shoulder. Mother obtained an ex parte order of protection

      2
        Mother’s briefs violate our appellate rules in numerous respects. The statement of the facts in Mother’s
      appellant’s brief is meager and not in accordance with our standard of review in contravention of Indiana
      Appellate Rule 46(A)(6). When providing citations for motions, petitions, and orders, Mother often cites to
      the entire chronological case summary rather than to the page on which the document appears in
      contravention of Indiana Appellate Rule 22(C). She also places some citations in footnotes rather in the text
      of her brief in contravention of Appellate Rule 22, which requires parties on appeal to follow the “current
      edition of a Uniform System of Citation (Bluebook).” Her reply brief includes a statement of the issues and a
      statement of the facts in contravention of Appellate Rule 46(C).

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017              Page 3 of 15
      prohibiting Father from having any contact with M.D. Although CPS found

      that the allegation of physical abuse was unsubstantiated, Mother refused to

      dismiss the protective order. Father was unable to see M.D. for approximately

      three months. The third instance occurred after Father resumed parenting time,

      and Mother called the police to report that Father sexually abused M.D. The

      police then notified CPS of the sexual abuse allegation. Mother took M.D. to

      the hospital, where a rape kit and forensic interview of M.D. were conducted.

      No evidence of sexual abuse was discovered, and CPS concluded the allegation

      was unsubstantiated. Father also filed a report with CPS alleging “neglect …

      due to [Mother’s] mental issues.” Id. at 225. CPS found this allegation

      unsubstantiated.

[6]   In October 2015, Father filed a petition for an emergency hearing on immediate

      change of custody (“Petition to Change Custody”), in which he alleged that

      Mother had “refused to permit any contact between Father and [M.D.] for

      more than ninety days based on false allegations of sexual and physical abuse.”

      Appellant’s App. Vol. 2 at 36. He also alleged that the repeated false

      allegations of abuse were harming M.D.’s emotional and mental well-being and

      unreasonably interfering with his relationship with her, and he requested

      immediate custody. In December 2015, Mother filed a motion to renew

      Protective Order and a petition for modification of parenting time.

[7]   In April 2016, the trial court approved the appointment of a guardian ad litem

      (“GAL”), who timely filed her report with the trial court. In August 2016, the

      trial court held a two-day evidentiary hearing. Two days before the hearing,

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017   Page 4 of 15
      Mother filed her financial declaration form. On the first day of the hearing,

      Father filed his financial declaration form and child support obligation

      worksheet. At the hearing, Father requested that the trial court take judicial

      notice of its file and asked the court to consider the GAL report at the close of

      the evidence. Tr. Vol. 1 at 65-66. Mother did not object. The GAL testified,

      and Mother’s trial counsel questioned the GAL regarding her report. Tr. Vol. 1

      at 66-94. Father testified that his yearly salary is $45,000, with the potential to

      increase based on his sales. Id. at 112.

[8]   On August 31, 2016, the trial court entered its Order, granting Father’s Petition

      to Change Custody effective September 2, 2016. The Order grants Father

      primary physical custody of M.D. and Mother parenting time and provides that

      the parties will continue to share legal custody. In relevant part, the Order

      states as follows:

              3. The evidence submitted before the Court indicates there has
              been a continuing change in circumstances since the parties[’]
              [M]ediated [A]greement wherein the child, M.D. has “regressed”
              by all parties’ accounts; e.g. the child’s [sic] has regressed to
              soiling herself regularly and requiring diapers and extra attention.

              4. The Court is quite concerned about the well-being and health
              of the child. Counseling, [CPS] inquiries, and Riley Hospital
              exams have revealed nothing to support the claims and concerns
              of Mother.

              ….

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017   Page 5 of 15
        7. Mother’s suspicions and concerns with the [F]ather and child
        relationship are serious in nature. Yet, numerous inquiries by a
        host of professionals whose only concern is the welfare of the
        child have led to a lack of any evidence to support those
        suspicions or concerns. Oddly, Mother spend a great amount of
        time at the hearing trying to prove a three-year-old physical
        altercation between her and Father occurred, yet little, it seemed
        to the Court, on what was in the best interest of [M.D.] This
        Court has little doubt that Mother is afraid of Father; but that fact
        has less overall bearing on what is in the best interest of [M.D.]
        than other factors submitted at the hearing.

        8. …. [M.D.] is not adjusting well under Mother and the Court
        is concerned about [M.D.’s] interrelationship with both parents,
        but particularly Mother. The parents have been incapable of
        doing what is best for [M.D.], perhaps putting their own self-
        interests in front of [M.D.]’s. As a result, the Court is left with
        the decision and it is not an easy one. This Court, after hearing
        the evidence and judging the credibility of the many witnesses,
        believes the mental and physical health of all individuals
        involved will be best served by [granting Father’s Petition to
        Change Custody].

Appealed Order at 2. The Order also requires Mother to pay weekly child

support of $17 and grants Father “a credit on the child support he has paid to

Mother retroactive to the date that he filed his [Petition to Change Custody].”

Id. at 3. The Order requires Father to pay 60% and Mother 40% of M.D.’s

education expenses. Finally, the Order denies Mother’s motion to renew

Protective Order. Mother appeals.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017   Page 6 of 15
                                      Discussion and Decision

            Section 1 – The trial court did not abuse its discretion in
                 granting Father’s Petition to Change Custody.
[9]    Mother first challenges the trial court’s decision to grant Father’s Petition to

       Change Custody. Initially, we note that custody modifications are reviewed for

       an abuse of discretion, with a preference for granting latitude and deference to

       our trial judges in family law matters. Kirk v. Kirk, 770 N.E.2d 304, 307 (Ind.

       2002). An abuse of discretion occurs “when the trial court’s decision is clearly

       against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before the court.”

       L.C. v. T.M., 996 N.E.2d 403, 407 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). Here, the trial court

       issued findings sua sponte:

               When the trial court enters findings sua sponte, the specific
               findings control only as to the issues they cover, while a general
               judgment standard applies to any issue upon which the court has
               not found. The specific findings will not be set aside unless they
               are clearly erroneous, and we will affirm the general judgment on
               any legal theory supported by the evidence. A finding is clearly
               erroneous when there are no facts or inferences drawn therefrom
               that support it. In reviewing the trial court’s findings, we neither
               reweigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of the witnesses.
               Rather, we consider only the evidence and reasonable inferences
               drawn therefrom that support the findings.

       Julie C. v. Andrew C., 924 N.E.2d 1249, 1255-56 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010) (citations

       omitted).

[10]   Modification of child custody in paternity cases is governed by Indiana Code

       Section 31-14-13-6, which provides that a trial court may not modify a child
       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017   Page 7 of 15
custody order unless “(1) modification is in the best interests of the child; and

(2) there is a substantial change in one (1) or more of the factors that the court

may consider under section 2 of this chapter.” Section 31-14-13-23 provides,

         The court shall determine custody in accordance with the best
         interests of the child. In determining the child’s best interests,
         there is not a presumption favoring either parent. The court shall
         consider all relevant factors, including the following:

         (1) The age and sex of the child.

         (2) The wishes of the child’s parents.

         (3) The wishes of the child, with more consideration given to the
         child’s wishes if the child is at least fourteen (14) years of age.

         (4) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with: (A) the
         child’s parents; (B) the child’s siblings; and (C) any other person
         who may significantly affect the child’s best interest.

         (5) The child’s adjustment to home, school, and community.

         (6) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved.

         (7) Evidence of a pattern of domestic or family violence by either
         parent.

3
   The trial court cited Indiana Code Section 31-17-2-8, which governs custody orders in dissolution and legal
separation cases. However, we find no error because that statute is substantively identical to Section 31-14-3-
2.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017               Page 8 of 15
[11]   Mother phrases her first claim of error as follows: “It is substantive, procedural

       and due process error for the trial court to use the domestic violence perpetrated

       by [Father] against Mother and as a factor in modifying custody in Father’s

       favor.” Appellant’s Br. at 14. As best we can discern, there are several subparts

       to this claim. As part of this claim, she contends that that trial court erred in

       failing to find that, based on the principles of res judicata and collateral

       estoppel, the Protective Order established that Father committed domestic

       violence against Mother. We note that the Protective Order proceedings were

       under a different cause number and were presided over by a different judge.

       Mother did not ask the trial court to take judicial notice of the Protective Order,

       and it is not in the record before us. Mother does not explain the finding of

       domestic violence that supported the issuance of the Protective Order.

       Mother’s argument on this point is too poorly developed and confusing to be

       considered cogent for appellate review. We conclude that her failure to present

       cogent argument results in waiver of this issue. See Ind. Appellate Rule

       46(A)(8)(a) (requiring that contentions in appellant’s brief be supported by

       cogent reasoning and citations to authorities, statutes, and the appendix or parts

       of the record on appeal); Loomis v. Ameritech Corp., 764 N.E.2d 658, 668 (Ind.

       Ct. App. 2002) (failure to present cogent argument waives issue for appellate

       review), trans. denied.

[12]   Another subpart to Mother’s first claim of error is that the trial court failed to

       comply with Section 31-14-13-2 by failing to consider prior domestic violence.

       We disagree. Our review of the Order shows that in determining whether a

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017   Page 9 of 15
change in custody was in M.D.’s best interests, the trial court considered prior

domestic violence as well as other relevant factors as required by Section 31-14-

13-2. The trial court expressly acknowledged that Mother was afraid of Father,

but concluded that “that fact has less overall bearing on what is in the best

interest of the child than other factors submitted at the hearing.” Appealed Order

at 2 (emphasis added).4 Mother’s argument ignores the other factors that the

trial court is required to consider under Section 31-14-13-2. The trial court

found that M.D. had “regressed” by soiling herself regularly and requiring

diapers and extra attention and that M.D. was not adjusting well under Mother.

Id. The trial court also considered Mother’s allegations that Father was

physically and sexually abusing M.D. and found no evidence to support them.

Id. The trial court stated that it was concerned about M.D.’s interrelationship

with her parents, especially Mother. It further found that they have been

incapable of doing what is best for M.D. and that the mental and physical

health of all individuals involved would be best served by changing primary

physical custody. Id. at 3-4. We conclude that the trial court considered

4
  The trial court did not ignore Mother’s fear of Father. Although the trial court denied Mother’s petition to
renew the Protective Order, it strictly limited the parties’ contact to communication involving M.D. via the
Family Wizard, a website for scheduling parenting time. Appealed Order at 4. The Order states that the
“parties should NOT communicate directly or indirectly with each other regarding any personal matters or
any issues not related to the welfare of M.D., except in emergencies.” Id.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017              Page 10 of 15
       multiple relevant factors and complied with Section 31-14-13-2.5

[13]   Next, Mother contends that the trial court erred in relying on the GAL’s report

       because it was not offered into evidence. Her argument is without merit

       because the GAL timely filed her report, the trial court took judicial notice of its

       file, the GAL testified, and Mother’s trial counsel vigorously cross-examined

       her regarding her report. Mother also argues that the trial court erred in relying

       on the GAL’s report because the GAL was patently biased against her. This

       argument goes to the weight of the GAL’s testimony and report rather than the

       propriety of the trial court’s consideration of it. We find no error here.

[14]   Finally, Mother challenges findings 7 and 8, arguing that they are unsupported

       by the evidence. However, her arguments are merely invitations to reweigh the

       evidence, which we must decline. In sum, we are unpersuaded that the trial

       court abused its discretion in granting Father’s Petition to Change Custody.

           Section 2 – The trial court’s child support calculation is not
                                 clearly erroneous.
[15]   Mother asserts that the trial court’s calculation of child support is unsupported

       by the evidence. We observe that

       5
           Mother contends that the trial court used Father’s domestic violence as a factor in support of modifying
       custody in Father’s favor. Appellant’s Br. at 14. In support, she cites paragraph 7 of the Order, in which the
       trial court stated that she spent a great deal of time trying to prove that domestic violence had occurred rather
       than on what was in M.D.’s best interest. We fail to see how the trial court’s comment on Mother’s trial
       strategy leads to a conclusion that the trial court used Father’s violence to justify granting Father primary
       physical custody of M.D.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017                Page 11 of 15
               [a] trial court’s calculation of child support is presumptively
               valid. Reversal of a trial court’s child support order deviating
               from the appropriate guideline amount is merited only where the
               trial court’s determination is clearly against the logic and effect of
               the facts and circumstances before the trial court. Upon the
               review of a modification order, only evidence and reasonable
               inferences favorable to the judgment are considered. The order
               will only be set aside if clearly erroneous.

       Bogner v. Bogner, 29 N.E.3d 733, 738 (Ind. 2015) (citations, quotation marks,

       and brackets omitted).6

[16]   The Indiana Child Support Guidelines (“the Guidelines”) facilitate the trial

       court’s calculation of each parent’s share of the child support. In re Paternity of

       G.R.G., 829 N.E.2d 114, 118-19 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). There is a “rebuttable

       presumption that the amount of the award which would result from the

       application of [the Guidelines] is the correct amount of child support to be

       awarded.” Ind. Child Support Guideline 2. “When fashioning a child support

       order, the trial court’s first task is to determine the weekly gross income of each

       parent.” Ratliff v. Ratliff, 804 N.E.2d 237, 245 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). The

       Guidelines provide for a child support worksheet to be completed and filed with

       the trial court, signed by the parties and supported by documentation. Ind.

       Child Support Guideline 3(B). “If the parties cannot agree on the weekly gross

       income figures to be included on the worksheet, then each party may submit its

       6
         In her appellant’s brief, Mother relies on an unpublished memorandum decision for her standard of review
       in contravention of Indiana Appellate Rule 65(D), which provides that “a memorandum decision shall not be
       regarded as precedent and shall not be cited to any court except by the parties to the case to establish res
       judicata, collateral estoppel, or law of the case.”

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017           Page 12 of 15
       own worksheet and documentation, from which the trial court can determine

       the parties’ respective weekly gross incomes and compute the appropriate child

       support amount.” Paternity of G.R.G., 829 N.E.2d at 118-19 (citing Ind. Child

       Support Guideline 3(B), cmt. 1). “Each party bears the burden of justifying the

       incomes used in his or her own worksheet.” Id. at 119.

[17]   Here, the Order requires Mother to pay weekly child support of $17 based on

       Father’s child support worksheet. His child support worksheet shows that his

       weekly gross income is $875 and Mother’s is $290. Appealed Order at 6.7

       Mother asserts that there is no evidence to support Father’s income because he

       failed to timely file his worksheet in accordance with the local rules and his

       worksheet was not properly admitted into evidence. Although Father filed his

       worksheet after the local deadline, Mother also filed her financial disclosures

       after the deadline. Mother acknowledges that Father submitted the worksheet

       on the first day of the hearing, requested that the trial court take judicial notice

       of its file, and testified that he earns a base salary of $45,000 per year and a

       possible commission if his sales reach a certain threshold. Therefore, we find

       7
         Father’s percentage share of the parties’ total weekly income is 75.11% and Mother’s is 24.89 %. Appealed
       Order at 6. Mother’s basic child support obligation is $42.81. Id. Mother is provided parenting time credit
       for 101-105 overnights, and therefore her recommended child support obligation is $17. Id. We observe that
       $17 is approximately 6% of Mother’s weekly income.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017           Page 13 of 15
       Mother’s argument without merit and conclude that the trial court’s calculation

       of Mother’s child support obligation was not clearly erroneous.8

        Section 3 – Mother’s contractual and due process rights were
       not violated when the trial court apportioned school expenses.
[18]   Mother argues that the trial court erred by ordering Father to pay 60% and

       Mother 40% of M.D.’s education expenses. In August 2016, before the

       evidentiary hearing was held, the parties reached an agreement with the

       assistance of a parental coordinator (“the 2016 Agreement”), which addressed

       M.D.’s schooling on a temporary basis. The 2016 Agreement provided that

       “[b]ecause school will start before a ruling is expected, the parents agree to the

       following terms on a temporary basis” and “[e]ach parent reserves the right to

       seek different terms at the hearing.” Appellant’s App. Vol. 3 at 45 (emphasis

       added). The parties agreed that M.D. would attend a Montessori school and

       that Father would be responsible for 70% and Mother 30% of the school’s costs

       incurred before the trial court’s final ruling. Id. at 46. Mother contends that

       neither party argued that the allocation of expenses should be any different from

       the 2016 Agreement. Mother’s argument seems to be that the 2016 Agreement

       therefore constituted a binding contract from which the trial court could not

       deviate and that she was deprived due process because she was not given notice

       8
         Mother makes other claims of error regarding Father’s child support worksheet, but she fails to articulate
       how any such errors affect the amount of her recommended child support obligation. Therefore, we need not
       address those claims. Mother also contends that the trial court erred in granting Father child support credit
       retroactive to the date that he filed his petition to change custody. Mother fails to present cogent argument
       on this issue, and therefore it is waived. See Ind. Appellate Rule 46(A)(8)(a); Loomis, 764 N.E.2d at 668.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017            Page 14 of 15
       that its terms were going to be modified. Appellant’s Br. at 31. The 2016

       Agreement itself provides that it is temporary, and therefore Mother’s

       arguments are misplaced.9 Based on the foregoing, we affirm the Order.

[19]   Affirmed.

       Baker, J., and Barnes, J., concur.

       9
         In her reply brief, Mother argues for the first time that the trial court’s apportionment of education
       expenses requires her to pay a higher share than she would be required to pay pursuant to the Guidelines and
       that there was no consideration of less costly education of the same or higher quality. Appellant’s Reply Br.
       at 14-15. “New arguments in a reply brief are inappropriate and will not be considered on appeal.” Crist v.
       K-Mart Corp., 653 N.E.2d 140, 144 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995); see also Kelly v. Levandoski, 825 N.E.2d 850, 858 (Ind.
       Ct. App. 2005) (“[A]ny argument an appellant fails to raise in his initial brief is waived for appeal.”), trans.
       denied; Ind. App. Rule 46(C) (“No new issues shall be raised in the reply brief.”).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1609-JP-2193 | June 9, 2017               Page 15 of 15