In re J.P. , 2016 Ohio 7574 ( 2016 )

[Cite as In re J.P., 2016-Ohio-7574.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
In re: :
J.P. n.k.a. K.P., : No. 16AP-61
(C.P.C. No. 14JU-8345)
(J.P., :
(REGULAR CALENDAR)
Appellant). :
D E C I S I O N
Rendered on November 1, 2016
On brief: Roger M. Koeck, for appellant. Argued: Roger M.
Koeck.
APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas,
Division of Domestic Relations, Juvenile Branch
SADLER, J.
{¶ 1} Appellant, J.P., appeals from a judgment of the Franklin County Court of
Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations, Juvenile Branch, awarding permanent
custody of his son, K.P., to foster parents. For the reasons that follow, we reverse the
judgment of the trial court.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶ 2} Appellant and his wife, A.P., are the biological parents of K.P., born
June 20, 2014.1 A.P. is also the mother of A.M., a girl born November 15, 2013. S.R. is the
biological father of A.M. On November 13, 2013, Franklin County Children Services
1Although the case caption and the complaint indicate that the initials of appellant's minor child are J.P., the
record establishes that the child's initials are K.P. and that appellant is J.P.
No. 16AP-61 2
("FCCS") filed a complaint, pursuant to R.C. 2153.03(A)(2) and 2151.04(C), alleging that
A.M. is a neglected and dependent child (case No. 13JU-15474). The complaint further
alleges that A.M.'s mother, A.P., is homeless, her whereabouts unknown, and A.M. has
been present during incidents of domestic violence involving A.P. and appellant. The
magistrate issued an emergency care order. The juvenile court subsequently appointed a
guardian ad litem for A.M., as well as legal counsel for both A.P. and A.M.'s biological
father, S.R.2 On February 4, 2014, a magistrate conducted a hearing on the complaint in
case No. 13JU-15474. As a result of the hearing, the magistrate found that A.M. was a
dependent child and recommended that temporary custody be awarded to FCCS. FCCS
subsequently placed A.M. with foster parents.
{¶ 3} On June 24, 2014, FCCS filed a complaint, pursuant to R.C. 2153.03(A)(2)
and 2151.04(C), alleging that newborn K.P. is a neglected and dependent child (case No.
14JU-8345). The complaint further alleged that K.P.'s parents are homeless and that an
order of temporary custody currently exists for A.P.'s other minor child, A.M. The
magistrate issued an emergency care order. The juvenile court subsequently appointed a
guardian ad litem for K.P. and legal counsel for A.P.
{¶ 4} On September 14, 2014, a magistrate conducted a hearing on the complaint
in case No. 14JU-8345. As a result of the hearing, the magistrate found that K.P. was a
dependent child and recommended that temporary custody be awarded to FCCS.3 On
September 19, 2014, the trial court adopted the magistrate's decision and approved the
case plan. The case plan stated that appellant and A.P. planned to move to Wyoming
where they would secure employment and housing. FCCS was to have custody of the
children for the purpose of placing them temporarily with foster parents until such time
as A.P.'s aunt and uncle, who also live in Wyoming, could obtain temporary custody.
Thereafter, appellant and A.P. were to be reunited with A.M. and K.P.
{¶ 5} FCCS placed K.P. with the same foster parents who were caring for A.M. In
October 2014, appellant and A.P. moved to Wyoming. Evidence in the record shows that
appellant returned to Ohio for a short time and then, in May 2015, he moved to Kentucky.
2 S.R. has never personally appeared in this litigation.
3 The issue of dependency was uncontested.
No. 16AP-61 3
{¶ 6} On May 21, 2015, FCCS filed a motion to terminate temporary custody and
for an award of permanent custody to the foster parents. The juvenile court scheduled an
evidentiary hearing for June 24, 2015. Notice of the hearing was served on A.P. in
Wyoming, but appellant could not be located. The record shows that service on appellant
was made by publication on June 4, 2015.
{¶ 7} On June 24, 2015, the magistrate conducted a hearing on the motion.
Appellant and A.P. were represented by counsel at the hearing but neither parent
personally attended. Appellant's attorney moved the court for a continuance of the
permanent custody hearing arguing that appellant was entitled to a contested hearing.
The magistrate denied the motion and proceeded to determine custody "informally."
(June 24, 2015 Tr. at 6.) As a result of the hearing, the magistrate announced his decision
to award permanent custody of A.M. and K.P. to the foster parents. The magistrate
subsequently issued a written decision memorializing his ruling on the motion for a
continuance and his determination of permanent custody.
{¶ 8} Both appellant and A.P. filed objections to the magistrate's decision. A.P.
argued that "[d]enial of the continuance for a contested trial was a violation of Mother's
right to due process, and an abuse of the trial court's discretion." (July 10, 2015 Obj. at 3.)
Appellant filed objections to the magistrate's decision on July 13, 2015, contending that "it
is contrary to law and violates the Constitution of the United States of America and the
Constitution of the State of Ohio." (July 13, 2015 Obj. at 1.) In appellant's supplemental
objections to the magistrate's decision filed September 14, 2015, appellant raises two
additional objections: (1) "The Magistrate erred in granting legal custody to the foster
family when FCCS had failed to provide any services to the parents," and (2) "The
Magistrate erred in failing to allow a full formal contested hearing in order to afford the
parents the opportunity to fully contest the misrepresentations of FCCS to the Court."
(Sept. 14, 2015 Supp. Objs. at 1.) On October 13, 2015, A.P. filed a supplemental objection
wherein she also requests a full and fair custody hearing, claiming that she has been
employed in Wyoming since December 2014 and that she currently "rents and shares a
home with roommates, but is saving up for a place of her own." (Oct. 13, 2015 Supp. Obj.
at 3.)
No. 16AP-61 4
{¶ 9} The trial court scheduled a hearing on the objections for October 20, 2015.
Appellant attended the hearing with counsel. A.P. did not appear. On December 30,
2015, the juvenile court issued a decision and judgment entry overruling the objections,
adopting the magistrate's decision as its own, and awarding permanent custody to the
foster parents. Appellant timely appealed to this court from the judgment of the trial
court.4
II. ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
{¶ 10} Appellant sets out a single assignment of error as follows:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN APPLYING THE
INCORRECT STANDARD OF REVIEW OF A
MAGISTRATE'S DECISION.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
{¶ 11} "Appellate courts 'generally review a trial court's adoption, denial or
modification of a magistrate's decision for an abuse of discretion.' " In re D.S., 10th Dist.
No. 15AP-487, 2016-Ohio-2810, ¶ 9, quoting Brunetto v. Curtis, 10th Dist. No. 10AP-799,
2011-Ohio-1610, ¶ 10. "However, where the appeal from the trial court's action on a
magistrate's decision presents only a question of law, the standard of review is de novo."
In re D.S. at ¶ 9.
IV. LEGAL ANALYSIS
{¶ 12} Appellant contends that the juvenile court applied an incorrect legal
standard in reviewing the magistrate's decision. Appellant seeks an order reversing the
juvenile court order and remanding the case for the juvenile court to apply the correct
legal standard in reviewing his objections. FCCS did not file a brief in this appeal.
{¶ 13} Juv.R. 40(D)(4)(d) provides that "[i]n ruling on objections, the court shall
undertake an independent review as to the objected matters to ascertain that the
magistrate has properly determined the factual issues and appropriately applied the law."
Thus, "[a] trial court considering a party's objections to a magistrate's decision must
independently assess the facts and conclusions contained in the magistrate's decision,
thereby undertaking the equivalent of a de novo determination in light of any filed
4 A.P. dismissed her appeals in case Nos. 16AP-67 and 16AP-68 on March 29, 2016 by filing a notice of
voluntary dismissal. Accordingly, this appeal involves the custody of K.P. only.
No. 16AP-61 5
objections." In re H.D.D., 10th Dist. No. 12AP-134, 2012-Ohio-6160, ¶ 90, citing former
Juv.R. 40(E)(4)(b). "Ordinarily, it is presumed that the trial court performed an
independent analysis in reviewing the magistrate's decision." Rowell v. Smith, 10th Dist.
No. 12AP-802, 2013-Ohio-2216, ¶ 35, citing Arnold v. Arnold, 4th Dist. No. 04CA36,
2005-Ohio-5272, ¶ 31, citing Hartt v. Munobe, 67 Ohio St. 3d 3, 7 (1993). Accordingly, the
party asserting error bears the burden of affirmatively demonstrating the trial court's
failure to perform the required independent analysis. Rowell at ¶ 35, citing Arnold at
¶ 31, citing Inman v. Inman, 101 Ohio App. 3d 115, 119 (2d Dist.1995); Huntington Natl.
Bank v. Findlay Machine & Tool, Inc., 3d Dist. No. 5-11-27, 2012-Ohio-748.
{¶ 14} In this case, under the heading "Standard of Review," the juvenile court
references the correct standard of review as follows:
When ruling on objections, the court shall undertake an
independent review as to the objected matters to ascertain
that the magistrate has properly determined the factual issues
and appropriately applied the law. Therefore, when reviewing
objections to a magistrate's decision, the trial court must
undertake the equivalent of a de novo determination and
independently assess the facts and conclusions contained in
the magistrate's decision.
(Emphasis sic; citations omitted.) (Dec. 30, 2015 Decision at 4.)
{¶ 15} Appellant acknowledges that the juvenile court initially cited the
appropriate standard of review. Appellant claims, however, that the juvenile court
subsequently applied an incorrect legal standard when it ruled on appellant's objections.
Appellant argues that the magistrate's repeated references to the abuse of discretion
standard of review and the manifest weight standard overcomes the presumption that the
juvenile court conducted an independent review of the matters raised by the objections.
We agree.
{¶ 16} The argument made by appellant is the same argument addressed by this
court in the case of In re H.D.D. In that case, the mother argued that the juvenile court
did not conduct the required de novo review of the magistrate's child custody
determination but, instead, improperly deferred to the magistrate. In rejecting mother's
argument, this court ruled as follows:
No. 16AP-61 6
In support, Mother points to certain statements in the court's
decision, e.g., "the evidence was sufficient to support the
Magistrate's findings, and thus he did not abuse his
discretion"; "the Magistrate was on strong footing in finding
[noncompliance with the case plan] by a preponderance of the
evidence"; and "[t]he evidence presented at trial was sufficient
to support the Magistrate's findings, and thus he did not
abuse his discretion in finding that [H.D.D.] was an abused,
neglected and dependent child." Accordingly, Mother argues
that we should summarily reverse the trial court's judgment.
***
The excerpts quoted above from the trial court's written
decision do not overcome the presumption of regularity to
which the trial court is entitled. We read those excerpts not as
statements of deference to the magistrate but, rather, as
statements of concurrence with the magistrate. The court
stated, for instance, that it "agree[d] that the Magistrate was
on strong footing in finding, by a preponderance of the
evidence, that the parents had failed to substantially comply
with the objectives of the case plan"; and that the "evidence
presented at trial was sufficient to support the Magistrate's
findings." (Emphasis sic.) (Jan. 23, 2011 Entry at 4, 6.)
Moreover, in the concluding paragraph of its decision, the
trial court specifically stated that its rejection of the parents'
objections was "[b]ased on the foregoing de novo review of
facts and law." (Entry, at 9.)
We therefore overrule Mother's argument contending that the
trial court failed to conduct an independent de novo review.
(Emphasis sic.) Id. at ¶ 91, 94-95.
{¶ 17} More recently, in Mattis v. Mattis, 10th Dist. No. 15AP-446, 2016-Ohio-
1084, this court affirmed the juvenile court's custody determination in the face of the
mother's claim that the juvenile court applied an inappropriately deferential standard in
reviewing the magistrate's decision. In Mattis, the juvenile court's decision stated:
This Court FINDS that the magistrate properly considered the
totality of the factors and did not abuse her discretion.
Therefore the Magistrate's Decision as it pertains to the
allocation of parental rights and responsibilities, except child
support, shall be APPROVED AND ADOPTED by this Court.
No. 16AP-61 7
(Emphasis sic.) Id. at ¶ 16.
{¶ 18} In ruling that the juvenile court conducted the required independent review,
this court stated:
Although the trial court does reference the magistrate's
discretion in this paragraph, it is clear from the overall
decision that the trial court applied an independent review.
The trial court referenced the correct standard of review by
stating it was required to undertake an independent review as
to the objected matters. (Decision, 3.) The trial court
thoroughly discussed the best interest factors provided in R.C.
3109.04(F) and did not merely reference the magistrate's
decision. (Decision, 5-9.) The trial court referenced the
transcript as justification for its decision. Moreover, the trial
court stated it reviewed all the submitted evidence and "the
entire file and the applicable law" in reaching its decision.
(Decision, 9; 15.) Finally, the trial court modified the
magistrate's decision in regards to child support. If the trial
court had merely determined if the magistrate had abused her
discretion, it would not have sustained in part Mother's
objection and modified the decision accordingly. With a
reading of the trial court's decision in its entire context, we
conclude that the trial court did conduct an independent
review and the trial court's semantic misstep in using "abuse
of discretion" does not amount to prejudicial error.
Id. at ¶ 17.
{¶ 19} The juvenile court's decision in this case reveals that the court cited and
applied both the abuse of discretion standard and the manifest weight standard. For
example, on page five of the decision, the juvenile court announces its decision stating:
"The Court does NOT FIND that the magistrate abused his discretion in denying the
request for a continuance and granting legal custody to foster parents." (Emphasis sic.)
(Decision at 5.)
{¶ 20} In subsequently reviewing the magistrate's decision to deny the motion for a
continuance, the juvenile court sets out the standard of review as follows:
This Court is bound by the 10th District which held that a
motion for a continuance will not be reversed unless the trial
court abused its discretion. The term abuse of discretion
connotes more than an error of law or judgment; it implies
that the court's attitude is unreasonable, arbitrary or
unconscionable.
No. 16AP-61 8
(Citations omitted.) (Decision at 5.)
{¶ 21} Both of the cases cited by the juvenile court in support of the applicable
standard of review are cases setting forth the standard applied by this court when
reviewing a trial court's decision to grant a continuance. See Foley v. Foley, 10th Dist. No.
05AP-242, 2006-Ohio-946; Fiocca v. Fiocca, 10th Dist. No. 04AP-962, 2005-Ohio-2199.
A magistrate is a subordinate officer of the trial court, not an independent officer
performing a separate function. Jones v. Smith, 187 Ohio App. 3d 145, 2010-Ohio-131, ¶ 9
(4th Dist.); Knauer v. Keener, 143 Ohio App. 3d 789, 794 (2d Dist.2001). The application
of Juv.R. 40(D)(4)(d) requires de novo review of any issue of fact or law that a magistrate
has determined when an appropriate objection is timely filed. Id. The juvenile court may
not defer to the magistrate in exercise of its de novo review. Id. Accordingly, when
reviewing a magistrate's determination of a motion to continue a custody hearing, a trial
court must conduct an independent review of the record to determine whether the facts
and circumstances warranted a continuance. Anderton v. Hatfield, 10th Dist. No. 07AP-
198, 2007-Ohio-7139. By applying the abuse of discretion standard, the trial court
improperly deferred to the magistrate rather than conducting an independent review. In
re H.D.D.5
{¶ 22} With regard to the magistrate's custody determination, the juvenile court
again cited and applied the appellate standard of review rather than the standard required
by Juv.R. 40. The juvenile court decision provides as follows:
2. The Magistrate's Decision is NOT against the
manifest weight of the evidence.
A judgment will not be reversed being against the manifest
weight of the evidence if it is supported by some competent,
credible evidence going to all the essential elements of the
case. In determining whether it is against the manifest weight
5 " ' "The 'abuse of discretion' standard that the trial court applied to review the decision of its magistrate is
an appellate standard of review. It is applicable to the review performed by a superior court of the
judgments and orders of inferior courts. Inherent in the abuse of discretion standard are presumptions of
validity and correctness, which acknowledge the independence of the inferior courts by deferring to the
particular discretion they exercise in rendering their decisions." ' " Jones at ¶ 13, quoting Quick v.
Kwiatkowski, 2d Dist. No. 18620 (Aug. 3, 2001), quoting Rammel v. Rammel, 2d Dist. No. 15887 (May 9,
1997).
No. 16AP-61 9
of the evidence, the reviewing court is guided by the
presumption that the findings of the trial court were correct.
(Emphasis sic; citations omitted.) (Decision at 6.)
{¶ 23} Both of the cases cited by the juvenile court in support of the applicable
standard of review are cases setting forth this court's standard for the review of a juvenile
court's child custody decision. In re Brofford, 83 Ohio App. 3d 869 (10th Dist.1992); In re
Abram, 10th Dist. No. 04AP-220, 2004-Ohio-5435. Contrary to the juvenile court's
statement, a magistrate's findings of fact are not entitled to the presumption of
correctness. Rather, the juvenile court, in considering the parties' objections to the
magistrate's decision regarding child custody, is required to "independently assess the
facts and conclusions contained in the magistrate's decision, thereby undertaking the
equivalent of a de novo determination in light of any filed objections." In re H.D.D. at
¶ 90; Juv.R. 40(D)(4)(d). The juvenile court decision in this case applied the appellate
standard of review as follows:
This Court's careful review of * * * all the records reveals that
the trial court's Decision is corroborated by competent
credible evidence. Therefore, the Magistrate's Decision WAS
NOT against the manifest weight of the evidence to deny a
continuance and grant legal custody to foster parents.
(Emphasis sic.) (Decision at 7.)
{¶ 24} As set out above, the juvenile court decision in this case contains numerous
instances where the juvenile court unequivocally applied an appellate court standard of
review. Unlike In re H.D.D., where other language in the juvenile court's decision
permitted this court to reasonably construe the juvenile court's erroneous statements as
expressions of agreement with the magistrate rather than deference, the juvenile court's
erroneous statements in this case are not subject to a similar construction. The
misstatements in the juvenile court decision in this case are unmistakably deferential.
{¶ 25} Though the juvenile court decision does contain some language suggesting
that the juvenile court did more than simply rubber stamp the magistrate's determination,
unlike the juvenile court decision considered by this court in Mattis, the recurring
references to the abuse of discretion standard in this case are more than just a "semantic
misstep." Id. at ¶ 17. The juvenile court makes repeated references to the abuse of
No. 16AP-61 10
discretion standard as well as the manifest weight standard accompanied by statements
indicating the juvenile court applied those deferential standards in reviewing the
magistrate's findings of fact and conclusions of law. In our view, even though the juvenile
court initially cited the correct standard of review in its decision, the juvenile court's
clearly expressed application of the appellate standard of review in this case distinguishes
it from the juvenile court decisions considered by this court in Mattis and In re H.D.D.
and overcomes the presumption of regularity typically afforded to such decisions.
{¶ 26} Further examination of the relevant case law establishes that a juvenile
court commits reversible error when it applies the appellate standard of review in ruling
on objections to a magistrate's decision. For example, in Reese v. Reese, 3d Dist. No. 14-
03-42, 2004-Ohio-1395, the issue for the Third District Court of Appeals was whether the
trial court applied the correct legal standard in reviewing a magistrate's decision. In that
case, the concluding paragraphs of the trial court's judgment entry stated:
If there is some competent, credible evidence to support the
trial court's decision, there is no abuse of discretion. Matters
not before the Magistrate at the time of hearing should not be
the basis for objections. Judge Evans of the Third District
* * * stated * * * that the statutory standard of review is to
determine whether the decision is supported by evidence
presented on the record.
With the above case law in mind, we now must look at the
transcript to see if there is competent, credible evidence to
support the findings of the Magistrate. Finding evidence on
each objection supporting the Magistrate's decision, it is
affirmed and these objections are overruled.
(Emphasis sic; citations omitted.) Id. at ¶ 15.
{¶ 27} The court of appeals held that the trial court had not conducted the required
independent review in overruling the objections. In so holding, the court stated:
Based upon the above language, it appears that the trial court
used the appellate standard of review when ruling on Sandra's
objections to the magistrate's report. However, the other
language in the judgment entry is ambiguous in that regard
and we cannot affirmatively determine whether or not the
trial court conducted an independent review of the
magistrate's decision as required by Civ.R. 53. We recognize
that the trial court did not "rubber stamp" the magistrate's
No. 16AP-61 11
decision as multiple references to the transcript were made;
however, in the absence of language setting forth the proper
standard of review, we are also unable to conclude with
confidence that the trial court independently reviewed the
evidence before it.
Id. at ¶ 16.
{¶ 28} Similarly, in Jones, appellant mother challenged a juvenile court's decision
adopting a magistrate's decision to grant the father's request to change the surname of the
parties' child. The juvenile court decision provided in relevant part:
The Court finds the Magistrate properly considered the issues
before the Court and rendered a decision, which did not
indicate an abuse of discretion. The Magistrate's Decision was
not unreasonable, unconscionable, or arbitrary as the focus on
the decision was based upon the best interest of the child.
Id. at ¶ 8.
{¶ 29} The court of appeals held that the juvenile court erred when it reviewed the
magistrate's decision using an appellate standard of review because such action "prevents
an appellate court from conducting the appropriate review of the [juvenile] court's
decision." Id. at ¶ 9, citing Francis v. McDermott, 2d Dist. No. 1744, 2008-Ohio-6723,
¶14; Quick v. Kwiatkowski, 2d Dist. No. 18620 (Aug. 3, 2001). The court of appeals in
Jones reversed the juvenile court's decision and remanded the matter for the trial court to
"independently review the objections to the magistrate's decision or, if it has already
undertaken such independent review, to enter a judgment entry devoid of language
indicating that it employed a deferential review." Id. at ¶ 15.
{¶ 30} We find that the juvenile court order in this case contains errors in regard to
the applicable standard of review that are similar to the errors which necessitated reversal
of the trial court decisions in Reese and Jones. The juvenile court decision in this case
contains the following as its "Conclusion":
This Court has thoroughly, carefully, and independently
reviewed the Objections, Magistrate's Decision, pleadings,
transcripts, entire file, and applicable law. After ensuring that
all the required procedures occurred, this Court FINDS that
the magistrate did not abuse his discretion in denying a
request for a continuance and granting legal custody to foster
parents.
No. 16AP-61 12
(Emphasis sic.) (Decision at 8.)
{¶ 31} Though the first sentence of the juvenile court's conclusion asserts that the
juvenile court has undertaken an independent review of the evidence, in the second
sentence the juvenile court applies the abuse of discretion standard to both the
determination of the motion for a continuance and the determination of permanent
custody. As noted above, this is an inappropriately deferential standard. Elsewhere in the
decision, the juvenile court applied the manifest weight standard in reviewing both the
magistrate's ruling on the motion to continue and the magistrate's conclusion regarding
custody. Thus, the juvenile court decision is, at best, ambiguous with regard to the
standard of review.
{¶ 32} Given the juvenile court's inconsistent statements regarding the applicable
standard of review, we cannot affirmatively determine whether the court conducted an
independent review as required by Juv.R. 40 and Civ.R. 53. See Reese at ¶ 16; Jones at
¶ 8. See also Kimmel v. Shaffer, 12th Dist. No. CA2009-05-015, 2009-Ohio-5279. ¶ 16
("[I]t appears the trial court applied an appellate standard of review used when
determining whether a civil judgment is against the manifest weight of the evidence. * * *
Because the other language in the court's entry is ambiguous in that regard, we cannot
affirmatively determine whether the court conducted an independent review as required
by Civ.R. 53."). In our view, the juvenile court decision under review in this case is more
akin to the trial court decisions discussed in Reese and Jones than it is to the decisions we
reviewed in In re H.D.D. and Mattis.
{¶ 33} For the foregoing reasons, we hold that the juvenile court erred when it
applied the appellate standard of review in ruling on objections to the magistrate's
decision regarding child custody rather than conducting an independent review as to the
objected matters to ascertain that the magistrate has properly determined the factual
issues and appropriately applied the law. Accordingly, we sustain appellant's single
assignment of error. The judgment of the juvenile court shall be reversed and the case
remanded for the juvenile court to apply the correct standard of review in ruling on
appellant's objections to the magistrate's decision.
No. 16AP-61 13
V. CONCLUSION
{¶ 34} Having sustained appellant's single assignment of error, we reverse the
judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations,
Juvenile Branch, and remand the case for the court to apply the correct standard of review
in ruling on appellant's objections to the magistrate's decision.
Judgment reversed;
cause remanded with instructions.
TYACK and KLATT, JJ., concur.
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