J.S. v. W.S. (mem. dec.) ( 2019 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any Aug 27 2019, 9:21 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
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT
Kathleen M. Meek
Romy N. Elswerky
Justin T. Bowen
Bowen & Associates, LLC
Carmel, Indiana
ATTORNEYS FOR AMICI CURIAE
COUNSEL FOR AMICI CURIAE
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE
BLIND AND NATIONAL FEDERATION
OF THE BLIND OF INDIANA
Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum
Emily L. Levenson
Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
COUNSEL FOR AMICUS CURIAE
INDIANA DISABILITY RIGHTS
Thomas E. Crishon
Indiana Disability Rights
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-DC-580 | August 27, 2019 Page 1 of 15
J.S., August 27, 2019
Appellant-Petitioner, Court of Appeals Case No.
19A-DC-580
v. Appeal from the Morgan Circuit
Court
W.S., The Honorable Matthew G.
Appellee-Respondent Hanson, Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
55C01-1809-DC-1731
Crone, Judge.
Case Summary
[1] J.S. (“Mother”) appeals the trial court’s decree which dissolved her marriage to
W.S. (“Father”). Mother contends that the trial court abused its discretion in
awarding sole physical custody of the parties’ minor daughter, A.S., to Father
based in large part upon an allegedly erroneous finding regarding Mother’s
blindness disability. Mother also asserts that the trial court abused its discretion
in declining to award child support and in denying her request for spousal
maintenance. Concluding that the trial court indeed made an erroneous finding
regarding Mother’s disability, and as it is unclear whether the trial court would
have awarded Father sole physical custody of A.S. absent that erroneous
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finding, we reverse and remand on the issue of child custody. Because the child
support and spousal maintenance issues are integrally tied to child custody in
this case, these issues should be also reconsidered upon remand accordingly.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] A.S. was born to Mother and Father on June 29, 2013. Mother and Father
subsequently married on September 29, 2013.1 At times during the marriage
when both parties worked outside the home, Mother’s parents, A.S.’s maternal
grandparents, provided the majority of the childcare for A.S.
[3] In July 2015, Mother became ill and was later diagnosed with pseudotumor
cerebri. This condition rendered Mother legally blind. Following her
diagnosis, Mother ceased working and became a stay-at-home mom and the
primary caretaker for A.S. In 2016, Mother began receiving Social Security
Disability and Supplemental Security Income based upon a finding that she was
unable to work due to her disability.
[4] The parties eventually separated, and Mother filed a dissolution of marriage
petition on September 10, 2018. Following a preliminary hearing, the trial
court entered a preliminary order awarding the parties joint physical and legal
custody of A.S. and ordering Father to pay Mother child support in the amount
of $32 per week. At the time, Mother resided with her parents, and Father
1
Although A.S. was born before the parties were married, they agree that she should be considered a child of
the marriage.
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resided with his father and stepmother in residences approximately eight to ten
miles apart. The trial court held a final hearing on February 20, 2019, and
entered a dissolution decree that same day. In the decree, the court sua sponte
made the following relevant findings of fact regarding child custody:2
12) The child is a female and is five (5) years of age.
13) Mother wishes to have full physical and legal custody of the
child.
14) Father wishes to have full physical and legal custody of the
child.
15) The court did not hear from the child and her opinion, at this
age, would be of no value.
….
20) [T]he court will find [that] Father has a good relationship
with the child.
….
22) [T]he court will find [that] Mother has a good relationship
with the child.
23) The court heard minimal evidence about other parties around
the child but since no concerns were raised the court must find
that all relationships with other family members are good ones.
2
We replace the trial court’s references to “the wife” and “the husband” with “Mother” and “Father.”
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24) At this time the parties live very close to one another and the
school the child attends actually has bus routes to both parents’
homes.
25) The child is familiar with both homes in which the parents
now live.
26) That both Mother and Father live with their parents so while
living situations could change, they would change for both
parties if/when they move out to find their own homes.
27) That the child is familiar with the community she is in as
well.
….
33) Mother has a physical disability that essentially makes her
legally blind.
34) That Mother is currently in [vocational] rehabilitation to
figure out how to be on her own and also be able to go back to
some sort of work.
35) That this disability was not in place prior to her marriage and
only developed in the past few years.
36) This disability affects Mother’s ability to drive, work (at this
time) and even to do daily things such as walking up stairs she is
unfamiliar with.
37) Mother does have some support systems in place with her
family, however the physical disability could present issues with
the safety and security of the child.
….
40) There is no evidence that the child has been cared for by a de
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facto custodian.
41) It is relevant that Father works during the days and Mother
does not at this time, however, like Mother, has family in place
to aid with custody.
42) Likewise, it is believed [that] Mother will be working within
the next six months to [a] year.
43) After considering the factors for custody the court could have
been convinced to continue joint physical custody of this child
had either party requested it.
44) However, in light of the positions of both parties, joint
physical custody at this time is not likely to work.
45) Therefore, taking into account the factors … and in
consideration of the best interests of the child, the court will find
that Father shall have full physical custody of the child.
Appealed Order at 1-4.
[5] Mother was granted parenting time with A.S. in accordance with the Indiana
Parenting Time Guidelines, subject to the addition of one overnight per week,
and the order provided that Mother could provide daycare for A.S. during the
summer while Father is working. Despite some communication issues between
the parties, the court ordered that the parties would continue having joint legal
custody of A.S. as provided in the preliminary order. The trial court declined to
award any child support and further denied Mother’s request for incapacity
spousal maintenance. This appeal ensued. We will provide additional facts in
our discussion where necessary.
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Discussion and Decision
[6] We begin by noting that Father has not filed an appellee’s brief. When an
appellee fails to submit a brief, we do not undertake the burden of developing
arguments for the appellee, and we apply a less stringent standard of review.
M.R. v. B.C., 120 N.E.3d 220, 223 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019). Thus, we may reverse
if the appellant establishes prima facie error, which is error at first sight, on first
appearance, or on the face of it. Id. This rule relieves us of the burden of
controverting arguments advanced in favor of reversal where that burden
properly rests with the appellee. Id. In any event, we are still obligated to
correctly apply the law to the facts in the record in order to determine whether
reversal is required. Id.
[7] The trial court here entered findings and conclusions in support of its
dissolution decree. It does not appear from the record that either party
requested such findings. 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.
Montgomery v. Montgomery, 59 N.E.3d 343, 349 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016), trans.
denied (2017). The specific findings will not be set aside unless they are clearly
erroneous. Collyear-Bell v. Bell, 105 N.E.3d 176, 184 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018). A
finding is clearly erroneous when there are no facts or inferences drawn
therefrom that support it. Id. In reviewing the trial court’s findings, we neither
reweigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of the witnesses. Id. Clear error
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is “that which leaves us with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has
been made.” Masters v. Masters, 43 N.E.3d 570, 575 (Ind. 2015).
Section 1 – Mother has established prima facie error regarding
the trial court’s physical custody decision.
[8] Mother asserts that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding Father sole
physical custody of A.S. Specifically, Mother asserts that the trial court’s
decision was based, in large part, on a clearly erroneous finding of fact that
improperly presumed that her disability could present a safety and security risk
to A.S. We agree with Mother.
[9] Our standard of review of initial child custody determinations is well settled.
Determinations regarding child custody fall within the trial court’s sound
discretion. Swadner v. Swadner, 897 N.E.2d 966, 974 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). In
an initial custody determination, both parents are presumed equally entitled to
custody. Hamilton v. Hamilton, 103 N.E.3d 690, 694 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018), trans.
denied. The trial court shall determine custody and enter a custody order in
accordance with the best interests of the child by considering all relevant
factors, including:
(1) The age and sex of the child.
(2) The wishes of the child’s parent or 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 parent or parents;
(B) the child’s sibling; and
(C) any other person who may significantly affect the child’s
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best interests.
(5) The child’s adjustment to the child's:
(A) home;
(B) school; and
(C) community.
(6) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved.
(7) Evidence of a pattern of domestic or family violence by either
parent.
(8) Evidence that the child has been cared for by a de facto
custodian, and if the evidence is sufficient, the court shall
consider the factors described in section 8.5(b) of this chapter.
Ind. Code § 31-17-2-8. In deference to the trial court’s proximity to the issues,
we do not reweigh the evidence or determine the credibility of witnesses. Hughes
v. Rogusta, 830 N.E.2d 898, 902 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). Instead, we consider the
evidence most favorable to the judgment, with all reasonable inferences drawn
in favor of the judgment. Id. We will affirm the trial court’s custody
determination absent an abuse of discretion. Swadner, 897 N.E.2d at 974.
[10] Here, in considering factors (1) through (5) and factors (7)3 and (8), the trial
court specifically found that either those factors did not apply under the
circumstances presented or that Mother and Father were essentially on equal
footing when it came to physical custody and the best interests of A.S.
3
Although the trial court noted one prior domestic violence incident between Mother and Father where
Mother was charged but able to avoid prosecution by participating in a diversion program, see Appealed
Order ¶ 38, the trial court made no finding regarding “a pattern of domestic or family violence by either
parent” as there was no evidence presented of such a pattern.
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However, in considering factor (6), the mental and physical health of all
individuals involved, the trial court found in relevant part:
33) Mother has a physical disability that essentially makes her
legally blind.
….
37) Mother does have some support systems in place with her
family, however the physical disability could present issues with
the safety and security of the child.
Appealed Order at 3-4.
[11] Upon review of the record, we agree with Mother that there is no evidence to
support Finding 37. There was minimal evidence presented as to the onset of
Mother’s disability as well as general testimony regarding her progress and
adaptations to manage her disability and to eventually become employable. As
for the safety and security of A.S., Mother and Father each testified and agreed
that there were absolutely no safety concerns regarding Mother’s legal blindness
and her ability to parent and care for A.S. There was no other evidence
presented regarding Mother’s disability as it related to the best interests of A.S.
[12] This Court has previously addressed the role of a parent’s disability in the
analysis of the best interests of the child. In re Marriage of Lang, 668 N.E.2d 285,
288-89 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996). In Lang, we approved of the reasoning of a
California Supreme Court case, In re Marriage of Carney, 598 P.2d 36 (Cal.
1979), which determined that it was impermissible for a trial court to rely on a
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parent’s physical disability “as prima facie evidence of the person’s unfitness as
a parent or of probable detriment to the child; rather in all cases the court must
view the handicapped person as an individual and the family as a whole.” Id. at
42. The Carney court explained,
To achieve this, the court should inquire into the person’s actual
and potential physical capabilities, learn how he or she has
adapted to the disability and manages its problems, consider how
the other members of the household have adjusted thereto, and
take into account the special contributions the person may make
to the family despite or even because of the handicap.
Id. Weighing these and all other relevant factors, the court must carefully
determine whether the parent’s disabling condition will in fact have a
“substantial and adverse effect on the best interest of the child.” Id.; see Clark v.
Madden, 725 N.E.2d 100, 105 (Ind. Ct. App. 2000) (approving of and adopting
Carney’s reasoning).
[13] It is apparent that rather than make a careful determination of whether
Mother’s disability will in fact have an adverse effect on the best interests of
A.S., the trial court here improperly presumed that it could without any
supporting evidence. Because there was no evidence cited to or seemingly
relied upon by the trial court that otherwise tipped the scales in favor of Father
being awarded sole physical custody, we cannot say that the findings as a whole
support the court’s ultimate conclusion that an award of sole physical custody
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to Father was in A.S.’s best interests.4 In other words, Mother has established
prima facie error as we are not confident that the trial court would have reached
the same conclusion absent the clearly erroneous finding and presumption
regarding her disability.5 Accordingly, we reverse the court’s physical custody
order and remand for the court to reconsider the issue in light of our decision.
Upon remand, we instruct the court to enter only proper findings supported by
the evidence as well as to enter additional specific findings that better articulate
its physical custody determination.6
Section 2 – The trial court must reconsider child support and
spousal maintenance on remand.
[14] Because a determination of child support is integrally tied to the physical
custody issue, an award of child support must be also reconsidered upon
remand. However, based upon its prior minimal findings on this issue, we
believe that some guidance would be useful. It appears that both parties
4
The trial court did note Father’s allegation that Mother drinks alcohol often and that her alcohol use was at
the root of their one instance of domestic violence, as it caused them to “argue about trifle things.” Appealed
Order at 3. However, there was no evidence presented, and the trial court made no finding, that Mother’s
alcohol use is currently excessive and/or poses any threat to the safety of A.S. In other words, it does not
appear that the trial court relied on Mother’s alcohol use in making its physical custody determination.
5
Because we conclude that the trial court’s finding in this regard is clearly erroneous, we decline to address
Mother’s assertion that the trial court’s custody order runs afoul of the Indiana Civil Rights Law and
discriminates against her in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
6
The trial court stated that it would have been inclined to award joint physical custody had either party
requested it. To be clear, the trial court is not precluded from entering a custody arrangement not specifically
advanced by either party so long as that custody arrangement is in the child’s best interests. Richardson v.
Richardson, 34 N.E.3d 696, 704 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015). Nevertheless, we acknowledge the trial court’s
proximity to the issues and recognize that the court had, and may still have upon remand, other valid reasons
for deciding that joint physical custody is not in A.S.’s best interests.
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requested an award of child support in conjunction with their requests for
physical custody. Mother also requested incapacity spousal maintenance.
After awarding sole physical custody of A.S. to Father, the trial court simply
found that “there will be no child support ordered.” Appealed Order at 5. The
court further stated, “in lieu of no child support, the court will not order any
spousal maintenance as well,” reasoning “[e]ssentially these amounts would
cancel each other out.” Id. These sparse findings do not pass muster.
[15] We observe as a general matter that decisions regarding child support rest
within the sound discretion of the trial court. Taylor v. Taylor, 42 N.E.3d 981,
986 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015), trans. denied. Indiana Code Section 31-16-6-1
provides a list of relevant factors a trial court should consider in making a child
support determination and our supreme court has promulgated the Indiana
Child Support Guidelines and provided worksheets to aid the trial court.
Indeed, a calculation made pursuant to the Child Support Guidelines is
presumed valid. In re Marriage of Duckworth, 989 N.E.2d 352, 354 (Ind. Ct. App.
2013). But this Court “cannot review a support order to determine if it
complies with the guidelines unless the order reveals the basis for the amount
awarded.” Vandenburgh v. Vandenburgh, 916 N.E.2d 723, 728 (Ind. Ct. App.
2009). “Such revelation could be accomplished either by specific findings or by
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incorporation of a proper worksheet.” Cobb v. Cobb, 588 N.E.2d 571, 574 (Ind.
Ct. App. 1992).7
[16] Simply put, from what the trial court did here, we are wholly unable to
determine whether the court complied with the Child Support Guidelines, and
therefore reconsideration and clarification of the child support order (or lack
thereof) is appropriate. See, e.g., Dye v. Young, 655 N.E.2d 549, 551 (Ind. Ct.
App. 1995). Accordingly, on remand, in addition to reconsidering child
custody, the trial court must reconsider its order regarding child support and
enter an order revealing the basis for the amount, even if that amount is zero,
awarded to either party. Moreover, because the trial court’s denial of Mother’s
request for spousal maintenance appears to have been based primarily upon its
decision to award no child support rather than upon a consideration of
Mother’s incapacity, the trial court must clarify its decision regarding spousal
maintenance in tandem with its reconsideration of child support. We note that,
while an award of spousal maintenance is a discretionary decision, a trial court
“should normally award incapacity maintenance” if it finds a spouse to be
“physically or mentally incapacitated to the extent that the ability of that spouse
to support himself or herself is materially affected[.]” Cannon v. Cannon, 758
N.E.2d 524, 527 (Ind. 2001).
7
Although Mother submitted a child support worksheet that the trial court clearly used to support its
preliminary award of child support to Mother, the trial court did not reference it or incorporate the worksheet
into its dissolution decree.
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[17] In sum, we find prima facie error and reverse the trial court’s dissolution decree
as it relates to physical custody, child support, and spousal maintenance, and
we remand for reconsideration and clarification of these issues. The trial
court’s dissolution decree is affirmed in all other respects.
[18] Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.
Baker, J., and Kirsch, J., concur.
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