Christina Holt Taylor v. Leigh-Ann Fitzpatrick ( 2023 )

RENDERED: JANUARY 13, 2023; 10:00 A.M.
TO BE PUBLISHED
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Court of Appeals
NO. 2022-CA-0946-ME
CHRISTINA HOLT TAYLOR APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM ALLEN FAMILY COURT
v. HONORABLE CATHERINE R. HOLDERFIELD, SPECIAL JUDGE
ACTION NO. 19-D-00066-001
LEIGH-ANN FITZPATRICK APPELLEE
OPINION
VACATING
** ** ** ** **
BEFORE: CETRULO, DIXON, AND TAYLOR, JUDGES.
CETRULO, JUDGE: Christina Holt Taylor, pro se appellant, (“Taylor”) appeals
from an amended interpersonal protective order (“IPO”) rendered by the Allen
Family Court on July 15, 2022. In her brief, Taylor states that she is appealing
from a Warren County Family Court ruling. In fact, this case remains with the
Allen County Family Court where it has been since at least 2019. The matter is
simply pending before a “special judge” as all of the judges of Allen County were
disqualified or unable to serve due to Taylor’s employment as a pretrial services
officer. Taylor first asserts that such IPOs must be heard in the district court, and,
secondly, generally asserts there was insufficient evidence to extend the protection
order. This matter has a long history, including a prior appeal to this Court from
the initial order of protection in 2019. For reasons addressed below, we vacate the
latest order.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In 2019, Leigh-Ann Fitzpatrick (“Fitzpatrick”) filed a petition with the
Allen Family Court, alleging that Taylor had stalked, harassed, and threatened her.
The family court1 conducted a hearing and heard proof from both parties, neither of
whom were represented by counsel. The family court entered an IPO in August of
that year, which barred Taylor from coming within 400 feet of Fitzpatrick and
found Taylor guilty of stalking. That ruling resulted in the first appeal to this
Court, wherein Taylor argued that the IPO violated the double jeopardy clause
because Fitzpatrick had lodged a criminal complaint in district court on similar
allegations. She also generally asserted that Fitzpatrick’s allegations were false
and that there was insufficient evidence to support the finding of stalking in the
original IPO. This Court affirmed the family court.
1
Judge Broderson recused himself based on the fact that he had a professional working
relationship with Taylor, resulting in the reassignment to Judge Michael McKown.
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The matter then proceeded with various filings by both parties,
although it was ultimately transferred to a second “special judge.”2 All of the
filings by the parties throughout this matter have been without assistance of
counsel. Some hearings on temporary motions have been conducted, although the
lack of counsel for either party has made them less than effective.
Regardless, Fitzpatrick most recently filed a motion to extend the IPO
for three years, shortly before it was set to expire. The family court set the matter
for hearing on July 11, 2022, and extended the IPO for three more years until July
2025. Taylor filed this second pro se appeal, and Fitzpatrick did not file an
appellee brief.
Our review is certainly constrained when an appellee does not respond
to the appeal by filing a brief. Kentucky Rule of Appellate Procedure (“RAP”)
31(H)(3) provides this Court with options to impose penalties on the appellee and
further requires us to primarily rely upon the appellant’s statement of the facts. See
Hawkins v. Jones, 555 S.W.3d 459 (Ky. App. 2018). However, the appellant’s pro
se brief does not fully comply with the Rules of Appellate Procedure either, which
could similarly result in our imposition of sanctions. See Ford v. Commonwealth,
628 S.W.3d 147 (Ky. 2021). Nonetheless, we have elected to carefully review the
2
The second special judge was Judge Catherine Holderfield; Judge McKown recused himself
after Taylor filed a petition for a writ of mandamus.
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entire record on appeal and the applicable law in the hope that both of these parties
will cease their longstanding and frequent filings before the courts.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The standard of review for factual determinations is whether the
finding of the family court was clearly erroneous. Reichle v. Reichle, 719 S.W.2d
442, 444 (Ky. 1986). Findings are not clearly erroneous if supported by substantial
evidence. Moore v. Asente, 110 S.W.3d 336, 354 (Ky. 2003) (citation omitted).
When a party appeals from the entry of an IPO, or in this case, an extension of the
same, we cannot disturb the findings of the family court unless they are clearly
erroneous, i.e., not supported by substantial evidence. However, we review
questions of law under the non-deferential de novo standard. Jones v. Jones, 617
S.W.3d 418, 423 (Ky. App. 2021) (citation omitted). This appeal raises both an
issue of statutory interpretation or a question of law as to jurisdiction as well as a
review of the sufficiency of evidence. We turn first to the question of law.
LEGAL ANALYSIS
As referenced above, Taylor’s pro se brief asserts that the family court
had no jurisdiction and that an IPO can only be brought before a district court. She
also generally alleges that she had been denied her right to a jury trial and that the
allegations by Fitzpatrick were made in a previously-dismissed criminal complaint,
resulting in a violation of the double jeopardy clause. As to the latter, it is clear
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that this was the same argument presented to this Court in the prior appeal, so we
will not address that further. As to the jurisdictional argument, it is clear that
pursuant to KRS3 456.030(6)(a), “[j]urisdiction over petitions filed under this
chapter [IPOs] shall be concurrent between the District Court and Circuit Court.”
Thus, concurrent jurisdiction over this matter does exist with the family court as
well as with the district or any circuit court. Smith v. Doe, 627 S.W.3d 903, 910
(Ky. 2021) (citation omitted).
As stated in Halloway v. Simmons, 532 S.W.3d 158, 161 (Ky. App.
2017), IPO statutes are relatively new, having only been enacted by the legislature
in January 2016. However, KRS Chapter 456 generally parrots the provisions of
KRS Chapter 403 pertaining to family law matters. Indeed, the same form is
utilized by the Courts for both IPOs and DVOs.4 “An IPO allows a victim of
dating violence and abuse, as well as ‘victims of stalking’ or sexual assault
(regardless of the presence of a past or current dating relationship), or an adult on
behalf of a minor victim, to petition for protection against their perpetrator.”
Halloway, 532 S.W.3d at 161 (citing KRS 456.030(1)). Family courts frequently
consider IPOs, and the appellate courts have upheld the issuance of the same even
where there is no other dating, familial or other special relationship with the
3
Kentucky Revised Statute.
4
Domestic violence orders.
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victim. There is no basis for Taylor’s assertion that the family court had no
jurisdiction to extend the IPO. We turn next to the sufficiency of evidence to
support the family court’s ruling.
Fitzpatrick filed for an amended IPO on the basis of stalking by
Taylor. The petition itself alleges that Taylor took pictures or videos of Fitzpatrick
at a tennis match for Taylor’s son “in order to intimidate me” in April of 2022.
The “testimony” at the hearing was that Taylor had also walked within “arm’s
distance” of her in violation of the prior IPO at a separate school event one year
earlier in May 2021. Under KRS 456.030(1), an alleged victim of stalking may
file a petition for an IPO. However, after conducting an evidentiary hearing, the
court may render an IPO only if it finds by a “preponderance of the evidence
that . . . stalking has occurred and may occur again . . . .” KRS 456.060(1).
KRS 456.010(8) defines stalking as referring to conduct prohibited by
KRS 508.140 and KRS 508.150 which refer, respectively, to the criminal offenses
of first- and second-degree stalking. To be entitled to an IPO based upon stalking,
the victim must demonstrate and prove by a preponderance of the evidence that:
. . . an individual intentionally engaged in two or more
acts directed at the victim that seriously alarmed,
annoyed, intimidated, or harassed the victim, that served
no legitimate purpose, and would have caused a
reasonable person to suffer substantial mental distress,
and that these acts may occur again.
Halloway, 532 S.W.3d at 162 (citing KRS 508.130 and KRS 456.060).
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Additionally, the individual must prove that there was an implicit or
explicit threat by the perpetrator that put the victim in reasonable fear of sexual
contact, physical injury, or death. Id. (citing KRS 508.150). A court may issue
an IPO if it finds “by a preponderance of the evidence that . . . stalking has
occurred and may again occur.” Sewell v. Sweet, 637 S.W.3d 330, 335 (Ky. App.
2021) (citing KRS 456.010(2)).
Having reviewed the entire record on appeal and our prior case law,
this IPO is not supported by sufficient evidence of stalking. Similarly, in Sewell,
we held that the family court’s finding that stalking had occurred and was likely to
occur again was not supported by substantial evidence. Id. at 336. In that instance,
there had been no threats, implicit or explicit, to support the victim being in fear of
physical injury. Id.
Likewise, in Caudill v. Caudill, 318 S.W.3d 112, 115 (Ky. App.
2010), this Court ruled that a visit by respondent to petitioner’s workplace did not
constitute domestic violence sufficient to satisfy the definitions of such contained
within the statutes. Here, the family court simply checked a box finding that
stalking had occurred. However, it did not provide written findings of fact and did
not indicate that there were any threats made to Fitzpatrick, as defined by the
statutes.
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A trial court “speaks only through written orders entered upon the
official record.” Kindred Nursing Ctrs. Ltd. P’ship v. Sloan, 329 S.W.3d 347, 349
(Ky. App. 2010). “[A]ny findings of fact and conclusions of law made orally by
the circuit court at an evidentiary hearing cannot be considered by this Court on
appeal unless specifically incorporated into a written and properly entered
order.” Id. There are no written findings in this case. Statements made by the trial
judge from the bench were not incorporated into the standard form used to enter
the IPO.5
Based upon the hearing video, it is clear the family court was familiar
with the parties and had made prior rulings concerning both parties and Taylor’s
ex-husband, who is now involved with Fitzpatrick. However, some of those
rulings are not a part of this record. There were also references by both parties and
the judge to a scheduled criminal trial concerning alleged violations of the IPO,
which apparently did not occur.6 We are cognizant of the difficulties upon family
courts when the parties are unrepresented and the “proof” at the hearing is not
properly presented nor compliant with evidentiary rules. We also recognize that
5
In fact, there were statements made by the trial court in the oral record that are not reflected on
the form signed by the court, which, for example, could result in future allegations of violation
by either party that could not be verified by law enforcement.
6
Appellant’s brief asserts that there was a deferred prosecution proposal on those charges, but
we do not have any documentation in the record, other than the statement that charges had been
filed by Fitzpatrick, which were not yet resolved. The family court stated that the then-pending
“charges” were “evidence” of IPO violations by Taylor, but we cannot agree.
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the family court is in a better position to evaluate credibility. However, this does
not negate the obligation upon the court to set forth findings and to determine if the
elements of stalking were met by a preponderance of evidence.
In this instance, there was no testimony other than from the parties,
and most of it was vague and simply reiterated alleged statements that had formed
the basis for the original issuance of the IPO in 2019. For instance, Fitzpatrick
stated that Taylor had threatened to kill her, but then acknowledged, upon
questioning by the judge, that the threat was made before the first IPO was granted.
This Court has already found there was sufficient evidence to support the initial
issuance of the IPO in 2019. However, the former judge issued findings of fact
and specifically noted there was testimony that Taylor had parked in front of
Fitzpatrick’s house, had flipped Fitzpatrick off on several occasions, had blown the
car horn repeatedly, and had threatened to kill Fitzpatrick. While Taylor denied
many of those allegations, the family court was free to judge the credibility of the
parties and make those findings, which it did.
However, in this new three-year protective order, we have no written
findings by the trial judge to support another extension and no evidence of any new
threat. There was some mention of Taylor being behind Fitzpatrick and Taylor’s
ex-husband in a vehicle on a busy roadway. However, there was no testimony
confirming that this violated the prior IPO or threatened Fitzpatrick. In fact, no
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video evidence was presented to support this statement by Fitzpatrick, although she
indicated it was available on her phone in the courtroom.
Again, Fitzpatrick lodged separate criminal charges against Taylor,
but it appears that those charges were not pursued. Fitzpatrick referenced Tad
Taylor, the appellant’s former husband, being in the courtroom and having
knowledge of this event, but he did not testify. She similarly complained of social
media posts by a friend of Taylor, but that person was not a party to this
proceeding. She stated that Taylor had taken pictures of her at a school event, but
there was no evidence that this was in violation of the distance protection in
effect.7 Taylor denied that she took pictures of Fitzpatrick and maintained she was
only taking photographs of her son.
No evidence in the form of videos or photographs was ever produced;
no witnesses were called to support Fitzpatrick’s statement; nor were any dates
provided for most of the acts to which she alluded. She was emotional, but she did
not prove any specific two or more instances of behavior that would constitute
stalking, as defined by KRS 508.130. There was no testimony of any new threat
that put the victim in reasonable fear of physical injury, an additional requirement
of the statute. See KRS 508.150; Halloway, 532 S.W.3d at 162.
7
In fact, the prior IPO had been amended on several occasions throughout the past three years to
allow for a 50-foot “stay away” distance at school events that both parties attended, and the court
stated in the most recent hearing that it was being adjusted to 25 feet.
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This Court addressed the need for written findings in Thurman v.
Thurman, 560 S.W.3d 884, 887 (Ky. App. 2018), which specified that a “court
must make written findings to support the issuance of the DVO.” A family court
must show its rationale for the issuance of a protective order. Id.In Thurman, we struck down a DVO consisting “entirely of the
court’s checking a single box on AOC Form 275.3 indicating it found” domestic
violence. Id. “The court made no additional written findings, either on the form
itself or the accompanying docket sheet.” Id. This Court emphasized that “[a]
family court is obligated to make written findings of fact showing the rationale for
its actions taken under KRS Chapter 403, including DVO cases, even if the
rationale may be gleaned from the record.” Id. (citing Keifer v. Keifer, 354 S.W.3d
123, 125-26 (Ky. 2011); Anderson v. Johnson, 350 S.W.3d 453, 458-59 (Ky.
2011)). We believe that Thurman applies to orders under KRS Chapter 456 as
well. A finding of fact is clearly erroneous if it is not supported by substantial
evidence. Halloway, 532 S.W.3d at 161.
Unfortunately, in this second appeal, there were no written findings
and the check of a single box on the AOC Form indicates only that Taylor was
found to have been stalking. The form signed by the family court actually conflicts
with some of her statements on the record. While we do not substitute our opinion
for the trial judge, there must be a finding of a minimum of “two or more acts” to
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constitute stalking. See id. at 162; KRS 508.130(2). There was no such finding
made in this case.
In addition to the lack of written findings, the allegations by
Fitzpatrick of stalking in 2022 simply do not constitute stalking as defined by
KRS 508.130. The evidence does not rise to the level of a “course of conduct”
directed at her which seriously alarms, annoys, intimidates, or harasses the person
and serves no legitimate purpose and would cause a reasonable person to suffer
substantial mental distress. She denied any new “threats” by Taylor and the taking
of photographs at a school event, if it did occur, would not likely cause any
reasonable fear of injury.
Moreover, those acts cannot simply be the same acts that were relied
upon by the previous judge more than three years ago to support the initial order.
Such protective orders hold serious ramifications for those who are restricted, as
well as for the alleged victim, innocent children and, in this case, for schools and
law enforcement. The IPO entered in this case is no better than the DVO struck
down in Thurman. See also Castle v. Castle, 567 S.W.3d 908, 916 (Ky.
App. 2019). For all the foregoing reasons, we reverse the Allen Family Court and
vacate the IPO entered.
ALL CONCUR.
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BRIEF FOR APPELLANT: NO BRIEF FILED FOR APPELLEE.
Christina Holt Taylor, pro se
Scottsville, Kentucky
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