In re T.G. , 2011 Ohio 5504 ( 2011 )

[Cite as In re T.G., 2011-Ohio-5504.]
Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA
JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 96546
IN RE: T.G., ET AL.
Minor Children
JUDGMENT:
REVERSED AND REMANDED
Civil Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Juvenile Division
Case Nos. AD 10921556, AD 10921557, AD 10921558
BEFORE: Rocco, J., Kilbane, A.J., and E. Gallagher, J.
RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: October 27, 2011
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ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Betty C. Farley
17316 Dorchester Drive
Cleveland, Ohio 44119
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES
For C.C.D.C.F.S.
William D. Mason
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor
BY: Tammy L. Semanco
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
C.C.D.C.F.S.
4261 Fulton Parkway
Cleveland, Ohio 44144
For Mother
Lisa Rankin
1849 Prospect Avenue
Room 222
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Guardian Ad Litem for Mother
George Coghill
10211 Lakeshore Blvd.
Bratenahl, Ohio 44108
Guardian Ad Litem for Children
Tyrone C. Fazio
1370 Ontario Street
Standard Building, Suite 1810
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
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KENNETH A. ROCCO, J.:
{¶ 1} Appellant Daniel Gainer, natural father of three children, “TG” 1 (d.o.b.
January 8, 2005), “TN” (d.o.b. February 11, 2006), and “TS” (d.o.b. November 5, 2008),
appeals from the order of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile
Division, granting temporary custody of his children to the Cuyahoga County Department
of Children and Family Services (“the agency”).
{¶ 2} Gainer presents four assignments of error. He essentially argues the
juvenile court’s decision is not supported by the evidence in the record and, thus,
constitutes an abuse of discretion.
{¶ 3} Upon a review of the record, this court agrees. Consequently, the juvenile
court’s order is reversed, and this case is remanded for further proceedings.
{¶ 4} According to the record, on November 10, 2010, the agency filed its
complaint in this case, alleging Gainer’s children to be neglected and dependent and
seeking temporary custody of them. Social worker Stephen Hughes signed the attached
affidavit. Therein, Hughes asserted in pertinent part the following:
{¶ 5} The juvenile court first declared the children neglected on October 24,
2008, “due to the parents’ domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health issues.”
1 Pursuant to this court’s policy of protecting the privacy of minors, the
children are referred to by initials.
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At that time, the court placed the children in Gainer’s legal custody, with the agency’s
protective supervision.
{¶ 6} On May 14, 2010, the agency obtained an emergency order to remove the
children from Gainer’s custody. Gainer had an alcohol abuse “problem,” which
“interfere[d] with his ability to provide adequate care for the children.” Although Gainer
completed treatment for alcoholism in the past, he “relapsed in May 2010,” which caused
the need for the agency to obtain emergency custody.
{¶ 7} Gainer thereafter proceeded to complete the treatment “again.” Gainer
needed to “maintain sobriety and continue to attend 12-step meetings and random urine
screens.”
{¶ 8} Gainer and the children’s mother had a “history of domestic violence with
each other,” both had “completed domestic violence counseling in the past, but both
failed to benefit.” Although Gainer obtained a civil protection order (“CPO”) against the
mother, she “continue[d] to have access to [Gainer’s] home, including when the children
have visited.”
{¶ 9} Hughes averred that, as it did before removing the children, the agency
would continue to take several actions following the children’s placement with the agency
in order to facilitate returning the children to their home. These actions included
“[p]sychological evaluation, substance abuse treatment, psychiatric services and
medication monitoring, 12-step meetings, [and] random urine screens.” Hughes
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indicated that the children had been removed from Gainer’s custody because the “[f]amily
failed to benefit from the services provided.”
{¶ 10} The record reflects the agency obtained emergency temporary custody of
the children. On December 10, 2010, Gainer filed a motion seeking an order granting him
legal custody of his children, “with or without supervision.”
{¶ 11} The juvenile court conducted an adjudicatory hearing on the agency’s
complaint on January 5, 2011.2 By that time, another social worker, Carrie Ward, had
been assigned to the case. The record reflects the agency amended its original complaint
during the hearing in several significant particulars.
{¶ 12} The amended complaint alleged that Gainer had a “history of substance
abuse.” (Emphasis added.) The agency deleted the portion of the original complaint that
alleged Gainer’s ability to care for his children was compromised by an alcohol abuse
problem. The agency also deleted the portion of the original complaint that alleged
Gainer failed to benefit from treatment for that problem. The agency maintained that
Gainer had suffered a relapse in May 2010, but deleted the entire paragraph in the original
complaint that alleged that the parents had a history of domestic violence.
2A transcript of the adjudicatory hearing is not included in the record on
appeal.
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{¶ 13} According to the amended complaint, Gainer “sought a [CPO] due to
domestic violence concerns,” but “the agency ha[d] concerns regarding the mother’s
ability to gain access to the children.”
{¶ 14} Gainer admitted to the allegations in the amended complaint. The juvenile
court found the children to be dependent, continued the agency’s emergency temporary
custody of the children, and set the matter for a dispositional hearing.
{¶ 15} The hearing took place before a magistrate on February 7, 2011. The
mother did not attend. The agency presented Ward as its only witness. Gainer
presented the testimony of his psychologist, Jane Hearn, and testified in his own behalf.
He also presented numerous exhibits to illustrate the efforts he made to utilize available
resources and services suggested by the agency’s case plan for his family.
{¶ 16} The children’s guardian ad litem (“GAL”) told the magistrate that his
inquiries indicated Gainer benefitted from the services provided, that the children each
had told him “in their own way they would like to be with their father,” and that Gainer
seemed to have a “good protective instinct” with respect to his children. The GAL
recommended the children be placed in Gainer’s legal custody with the agency’s
protective supervision.
{¶ 17} At the conclusion of the hearing, the magistrate stated she was “torn,”
because, although the evidence reflected Gainer had made “significant steps” toward
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“getting his children back,” the previous time Gainer had legal custody with protective
supervision, the case returned within “five months * * * [to] my courtroom.”
{¶ 18} The magistrate “recall[ed] the testimony [of] the mother [at the adjudicatory
hearing] when she testified that she had met with [Gainer] repeatedly during the pendency
of this recent case * * * .” The magistrate “still had [her] notes here [from] that
[hearing].” The magistrate indicated she thought Gainer should “address this issue of
domestic violence a little further” and should move to his new home before his children
were returned to him.
{¶ 19} The magistrate decided to grant the agency’s motion. Despite Gainer’s
subsequent objections to the magistrate’s decision, the juvenile court adopted it by order
dated February 16, 2011.
{¶ 20} Gainer appeals from the juvenile court’s order with four assignments of
error.
{¶ 21} “I. The [agency] failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that
temporary custody is in the minor children’s best interests.
{¶ 22} “II. The [agency] failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that
appellant had not remedied the conditions which caused the removal of the child
[sic] from the home.
{¶ 23} “III. The trial court decision to grant temporary custody of the
children to the [agency] was against the manifest weight of the evidence.
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{¶ 24} “IV. The trial court’s decision to grant temporary custody of the
children to the [agency] constitutes an abuse of discretion.”
{¶ 25} Gainer’s assignments of error all present a similar issue. Gainer essentially
argues that the juvenile court’s order granting temporary custody of his children to the
agency lacks an adequate evidentiary foundation; therefore, the juvenile court’s adoption
of the magistrate’s decision constituted an abuse of its discretion. This court agrees with
Gainer’s argument.
{¶ 26} After a child has been adjudicated as dependent, the juvenile court can
make an order of disposition as set forth in R.C. 2151.353(A). That statute states in
pertinent part that the juvenile court may make any of the following orders of disposition:
{¶ 27} “(1) Place the child in protective supervision;
{¶ 28} “(2) Commit the child to the temporary custody of a public children services
agency, a private child placing agency, either parent, a relative residing within or outside
the state, or a probation officer for placement in a certified foster home or in any other
home approved by the court;
{¶ 29} “(3) Award legal custody of the child to either parent or to any other person
who, prior to the dispositional hearing, files a motion requesting legal custody of the child
***;
{¶ 30} “(4) Commit the child to the permanent custody of a public children
services agency or private child placing agency * * * .”
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{¶ 31} Thus, the statute permits the court to, inter alia, either commit the child to
the agency’s custody, or award legal custody of the child to a parent upon a timely
motion. The juvenile court’s paramount consideration, of course, must be the best
interest of the child. In re M.J.M., Cuyahoga App. No. 94130, 2010-Ohio-1674, ¶14;
see, also, In re Cunningham (1979), 59 Ohio St.2d 100, 107, 391 N.E.2d 1034, at the
syllabus. A custody award shall not be reversed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion.
In re Awkal (1994), 95 Ohio App.3d 309, 642 N.E.2d 424. An abuse of discretion
exists where the trial court’s decision is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Id.{¶ 32} The juvenile court is in the best position to weigh the testimony and to
gauge witness credibility. In re Jane Doe 1 (1991), 57 Ohio St.3d 135, 138, 566 N.E.2d
1181; see, also, Davis v. Flickinger, 77 Ohio St.3d 415, 419, 1997-Ohio-260, 674 N.E.2d
1159. However, if the juvenile court’s order is not supported by the evidence, the court
has abused its discretion. In re Nice, 141 Ohio App.3d 445, 455, 2001-Ohio-3214, 751
N.E.2d 552.
{¶ 33} Since an award of either temporary custody or legal custody does not
constitute a “termination of all residual parental rights, privileges, and responsibilities,”
the parent and the agency have the option in the future to seek a change of custody. See
R.C. 2151.353(E)(2); In re C.R., 108 Ohio St.3d 369, 2006-Ohio-1191, 843 N.E.2d 1188,
at ¶17. A reviewing court, consequently, employs a different standard of review than the
one used for an award of permanent custody. In re Nice.
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{¶ 34} In a permanent custody proceeding, this court’s standard of review of the
juvenile court’s order is to determine whether the order is supported by clear and
convincing evidence. Id. In legal custody proceedings, on the other hand, this court
reviews the juvenile court’s order to determine if it is supported by a preponderance of
the evidence. Id.{¶ 35} A preponderance of the evidence is “evidence which is of greater weight or
more convincing than the evidence which is offered in opposition to it.” Id.; see, also, In
the Matter of S.Y., C.F., & A.F., Tuscarawas App. No. 2011AP04 0018, 2011-Ohio-4621.
The record of the dispositional hearing in this case demonstrates Gainer offered more
convincing evidence to support his request for legal custody than the agency presented to
support its amended complaint seeking temporary custody.
{¶ 36} The social worker who had signed the affidavit attached to the original
complaint did not testify in this case. Instead, the agency presented the testimony of
Ward, who was assigned to the case only three months prior to the dispositional hearing.
The amended complaint indicated that the agency sought temporary custody of Gainer’s
children only on the basis that it had concerns about their mother’s possible access to
them.
{¶ 37} Ward admitted Gainer had been compliant with the case plan. Ward
admitted that Gainer was dutiful in visiting his children, the visits went well, he was
attentive to all three, he acted appropriately with them, and the children enjoyed their time
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with him. Ward further admitted that Gainer had appropriate housing and that he would
be able to support the children. Ward also acknowledged that Gainer had maintained
sobriety since his May 2010 relapse, even after November 2010, when Ward was told the
children’s mother visited his home.
{¶ 38} Ward testified that she still had concerns about Gainer’s ability to have
custody because he “never brought up that [the children’s mother] still had access to
him.” She based this concern entirely on the November incident about which she had
been told. Ward testified that, because of the November 2010 incident, she had required
Gainer to obtain further counseling for domestic violence.
{¶ 39} However, Ward admitted she had imposed this additional requirement in
January, 2011, i.e., only a week or two prior to the dispositional hearing. Moreover, a
review of Ward’s testimony in regard to the November 2010 incident demonstrates she
engaged in speculation. Ward never personally observed any evidence that the children’s
mother had access to Gainer’s home; instead, she relied upon hearsay. Ward’s concern
about the children’s safety was limited to the chance the children might observe an
argument if their mother went to Gainer’s residence. Ward believed, therefore, that
Gainer should not obtain custody until he could “guarantee” that the children’s mother
would not return to his residence, i.e., until he could control another person’s behavior.
{¶ 40} During cross-examination, Ward indicated she was unaware of Gainer’s
compliance with the entire case plan, and admitted she had been “mistaken” in some of
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her earlier testimony. Ward also lacked knowledge of Gainer’s efforts to take the
initiative with regard to his dealings with the children’s mother. Ward did not know the
status of Gainer’s CPO, did not know the date Gainer’s CPO went into effect, and did not
know that Gainer called the police upon finding the children’s mother in his home.
Thus, Ward’s testimony lacked credibility when she stated that the children’s mother
informed Ward “she ha[d] met [Gainer] in public after th[e CPO] was granted.”
{¶ 41} Hearn testified she had been Gainer’s treating psychologist for nearly two
years. She stated that Gainer “really improved” during his treatment, and “always
follow-up [on] any suggestions that [she] ever gave him.” In Hearn’s opinion, Gainer
“absolutely” had benefitted from the services in which he engaged. Hearn stated the two
of them had built up trust and rapport, and, if the children were returned to his custody,
Gainer would continue to reach out for the support he needed.
{¶ 42} Gainer testified he applied for the CPO against the children’s mother in
August 2010. He testified that the children’s mother failed to appear for the initial
hearing, so the matter was continued and the order did not take effect until the end of
November 2010.
{¶ 43} Nevertheless, when the children’s mother appeared uninvited to his home
on November 5, 2010, Gainer “was on the phone with the CMHA [police].” Gainer
testified he subsequently filed a complaint with the police accusing the children’s mother
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of menacing him, and had taken steps to change his residence so the children’s mother
would not know where he lived.
{¶ 44} During Gainer’s testimony, he also indicated that he was proactive when
issues that concerned the children’s health arose. Gainer described the steps he had
taken to provide for his children financially, and noted that he had complied not only with
the agency’s case plan, but also with all of the juvenile court’s orders. Finally, Gainer
expressed his earnest wish to have his children returned to him.
{¶ 45} The juvenile court found at the conclusion of the adjudicatory hearing that
Gainer had “hit the fast forward” in order to complete “a number of” programs “based
upon the plethora of documents that [it had] been handed.” The court also acknowledged
that Gainer had “done a lot towards getting his children back.”
{¶ 46} Despite all of the evidence in Gainer’s favor, including the GAL’s
recommendation, however, the juvenile court recalled testimony the children’s mother
gave at the adjudicatory hearing. On this basis, the court wanted Gainer to further
“address the issue of domestic violence” and to “obtain the housing that mother doesn’t
know the address of” before it would return custody of his children to him.
{¶ 47} The record reflects, therefore, that the magistrate must not have based her
decision on the evidence presented at the dispositional hearing. See, e.g., In re D.H., 177
Ohio App.3d 246, 2008-Ohio-3686, 894 N.E.2d 364, ¶29-30. This concern is supported
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by the fact that, in pronouncing her decision, the magistrate did not mention the best
interests of the children. Cf., In re Balazy (Mar. 8, 2001), Cuyahoga App. No. 77553.
{¶ 48} In referring to testimony adduced at the adjudicatory hearing to support her
decision, the magistrate did not properly consider the evidence the agency presented at the
dispositional hearing. Moreover, in requiring Gainer to overcome additional obstacles
before his children would be returned to his custody, the magistrate did not take into
consideration the fact that a parent’s right to raise his children is an essential and basic
civil right. In re Murray (1990), 52 Ohio St.3d 155, 556 N.E.2d 1169, citing Stanley v.
Illinois (1972), 405 U.S. 645, 92 S.Ct. 1208, 31 L.Ed.2d 551. Parents have a
fundamental liberty interest in the care, custody and management of their children. In re
Murray, citing Santosky v. Kramer (1982), 455 U.S. 745, 102 S.Ct. 1388, 71 L.Ed.2d 599.
{¶ 49} The juvenile court’s adoption of the magistrate’s decision under these
circumstances constituted an abuse of its discretion, because the court’s duty was to make
a decision as to the best interests of the children based upon the evidence presented at the
dispositional hearing.
{¶ 50} For the foregoing reason, Gainer’s assignments of error are sustained.
{¶ 51} The juvenile court’s order is reversed, and this case is remanded for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.
It is ordered that appellant recover from appellee costs herein taxed.
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The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate be sent to said court to carry this judgment into
execution.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
_______________________________
KENNETH A. ROCCO, JUDGE
MARY EILEEN KILBANE, A.J., and
EILEEN A. GALLAGHER, J., CONCUR