Truckey v. Truckey ( 2019 )

[Cite as Truckey v. Truckey, 2019-Ohio-3232.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO
JAMES A. TRUCKEY, : OPINION
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
CASE NO. 2018-A-0048
- vs - :
STEPHANIE J. TRUCKEY, :
n.k.a. BOCZAR,
:
Defendant-Appellant.
Appeal from the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2012 DR 0297.
Judgment: Reversed and remanded.
Malcom Stewart Douglas, 113 North Chestnut Street, Jefferson, OH 44047 (For Plaintiff-
Appellee).
Gary S. Okin, Dworken & Bernstein Co., LPA, 60 South Park Place, Painesville, OH
44077 (For Defendant-Appellant).
MARY JANE TRAPP, J.
{¶1} Appellant, Stephanie J. Truckey, n.k.a. Boczar (“Ms. Boczar”), appeals from
the judgment of the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas overruling her objections
to a magistrate’s decision and denying her motion to modify child support. After a careful
review of the record and pertinent law, we reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand.
Substantive History and Procedural Background
{¶2} Ms. Boczar and appellee, James A. Truckey (“Mr. Truckey”), were divorced
on April 2, 2013. A child support guideline worksheet attached to their divorce decree set
Mr. Truckey’s child support obligation at $717.72 per month, or $358.86 per month per
child. Pursuant to the terms of the shared parenting plan adopted by the divorce decree,
the parties deviated the child support obligation to zero.
{¶3} On June 4, 2013, Ms. Boczar filed a motion to terminate and/or modify the
shared parenting plan. The parties resolved this motion pursuant to an agreed judgment
entry dated May 28, 2014. The agreed judgment entry continued the prior support order
deviating Mr. Truckey’s support obligation to zero.
{¶4} On November 6, 2015, Ms. Boczar filed a motion to modify child support
with an affidavit asserting that “a newly calculated child support amount will be more than
Ten Percent (10%) greater than the existing order.”
{¶5} A magistrate heard the motion to modify on December 6, 2017, along with
two other pending motions. On February 12, 2018, the magistrate issued a decision
recommending that the trial court deny Ms. Boczar’s motion to modify. The magistrate
found that the child support worksheet “does show that based on the income of the
parties, calculated support is a 10% change from $0.” The magistrate concluded,
however, “there has not been a substantial change of circumstances pursuant to R.C.
§3119.79(C) to warrant a modification of the child support order.”
{¶6} Ms. Boczar filed objections to the magistrate’s decision, and for purposes
of the objections, Ms. Boczar accepted the magistrate’s findings of facts and challenged
the decision solely on the magistrate’s application of the law.
{¶7} The trial court overruled Ms. Boczar’s objections and denied her motion to
modify.
{¶8} Ms. Boczar now appeals, bringing the following assignment of error for our
review:
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{¶9} “The trial court erred in denying a motion to modify child support based on
a finding that there was no substantial change in circumstances not contemplated by the
parties at the time of issuance of the previous child support order where the evidence
established that there was a 10% greater amount calculated for child support than the
previous order and such finding statutorily presumes a change of circumstances.”
Standard of Review
{¶10} “A trial court’s decision regarding child support obligations falls within the
discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed save a showing of an abuse of
discretion.” Schilling v. Ball, 11th Dist. Lake No. 2016-L-072, 2017-Ohio-5511, ¶7,
quoting Longo v. Longo, 11th Dist. Geauga No. 2004-G-2556, 2005-Ohio 2069, ¶62. “The
trial court’s application of the relevant law, however, requires this court to conduct a de
novo review.” Id.
Our Precedent
{¶11} We were presented with nearly identical facts in Schilling, supra. In
Schilling, the parties entered into a shared parenting plan. Id. at ¶2. Despite the amount
of child support indicated by the guideline worksheet, the parties agreed to deviate the
obligation to zero. Id. The parties subsequently modified the shared parenting schedule
but again agreed that neither would pay child support. Id. at ¶3.
{¶12} Thereafter, Ms. Ball filed a motion to modify child support alleging a change
of circumstances, which the trial court granted based on the child support worksheet. Id.
at ¶4-5. Mr. Schilling appealed, arguing the trial court was required to determine if there
was a substantial change in circumstances not contemplated at the time of the issuance
of the prior child support order without regard to the 10 percent deviation. Id. at ¶14.
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{¶13} We rejected Mr. Schilling’s argument, holding that “despite the previous
agreements to deviate the amount to zero, there is no requirement that a court find a
substantial change in circumstances beyond the 10 percent difference.” Id. at ¶16.
Rather, a substantial change in circumstances is “statutorily presumed” in such situations.
Id. at ¶14.
{¶14} First, we noted that R.C. 3119.79, captioned “Change of Circumstances
Requiring Modification of Child Support Amount,” governs the recalculation of child
support. Id. at ¶8. This section provides, in relevant part:
{¶15} (A) “If an obligor or obligee under a child support order requests that the
court modify the amount of support required to be paid pursuant to the child support order,
the court shall recalculate the amount of support that would be required to be paid under
the child support order in accordance with the schedule and the applicable worksheet
through the line establishing the actual annual obligation. If that amount as recalculated
is more than ten per cent greater than or more than ten per cent less than the amount of
child support required to be paid pursuant to the existing child support order, the deviation
from the recalculated amount that would be required to be paid under the schedule and
the applicable worksheet shall be considered by the court as a change of circumstance
substantial enough to require a modification of the child support amount.
{¶16} “* * *
{¶17} “(C) If the court determines that the amount of child support required to be
paid under the child support order should be changed due to a substantial change of
circumstances that was not contemplated at the time of the issuance of the original child
support order or the last modification of the child support order, the court shall modify the
amount of child support required to be paid under the child support order to comply with
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the schedule and the applicable worksheet through the line establishing the actual annual
obligation, unless the court determines that the amount calculated pursuant to the basic
child support schedule and pursuant to the applicable worksheet would be unjust or
inappropriate and would not be in the best interest of the child and enters in the journal
the figure, determination, and findings specified in section 3119.22 of the Revised Code.”
(Emphasis added.)
{¶18} Second, we cited the Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision in DePalmo v.
DePalmo, 78 Ohio St. 3d 535 (1997), which held that “[when] the court is modifying a
preexisting order for the payment of child support, the court must apply the ten percent
test established by R.C. 3113.215(B)(4) [now R.C. 3119.79(A)] in the Child Support
Guidelines and the standards set out in Marker [v. Grimm, 65 Ohio St. 3d 139 (1992)].”
Id. at 540-41. “Obviously, when the amount of child support provided by the noncustodial
parent is zero, but the Child Support Guidelines clearly establish that the noncustodial
parent owes support, then that ten percent difference is clearly met.” Id. at 540.
{¶19} We are aware that other sister districts have held R.C. 3119.79(A) must be
read in conjunction with R.C. 3119.79(C) when the parties voluntarily agreed to deviate
from the statutory amount of child support. See, e.g., Adams v. Adams, 3d Dist. Union
No. 14-12-03, 2012-Ohio-5131, ¶30. According to these courts, the trial court must not
only find that a 10 percent deviation existed from the original child support order and the
recalculated amount under R.C. 3119.79(A), but also that such a change of
circumstances was not contemplated at the time of the issuance of the child support order
under R.C. 3119.79(C). See Reik v. Bowden, 172 Ohio App. 3d 12, 2007-Ohio-2533, ¶27
(1st Dist.) (“When parties voluntarily agree to limit the circumstances under which they
will seek to modify a support order, they remain bound by the terms that they set forth in
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their agreement and cannot modify the order even if they can make a showing of a 10
percent change”).
{¶20} The rationale underlying such cases, however, appears to conflict with the
Supreme Court of Ohio’s decision in DePalmo. In DePalmo, the parties’ judgment entry
“explicitly incorporated” Mr. DePalmo’s “waiver of all support from” Ms. DePalmo.
DePalmo at 536. Mr. DePalmo subsequently filed a motion for child support. Id. Despite
the parties’ prior agreement, the court did not require Mr. DePalmo to also show a
substantial change in circumstances beyond the 10 percent difference. See DePalmo at
540-41; see also Mossing-Landers v. Landers, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 27031, 2016-
Ohio-7625, ¶65.
{¶21} The concurring opinion in Schilling succinctly explains the rationale
underlying DePalmo:
{¶22} “The Ohio Supreme Court has expressly rejected the position that a * * *
court must find additional circumstances ‘not contemplated’ by the parties in addition to
the ten per cent deviation: ‘The ten per cent difference applies to the change in the
amount of child support, not to the change in circumstances of the parents. * * *
Obviously, when the amount of child support provided by the noncustodial parent is zero,
but the Child Support Guidelines clearly establish that the noncustodial parent owes
support, then that ten percent difference is clearly met.’ (Emphasis sic.)” Schilling at ¶22
(Grendell, J., concurring), quoting DePalmo at 540.
{¶23} As noted in the concurring opinion, DePalmo not only applied the statute as
written, but recognized the realities of family law practice and reminded us all that “‘[t]he
law favors settlements. However, the difficult issue of child support may result in
agreements that are suspect. In custody battles, choices are made, and compromises
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as to child support may be reached for the sake of peace or as a result of unequal
bargaining power or economic pressures. The compromises may be in the best interest
of the parents but not of the child. Thus, the legislature has assigned the court to act as
the child’s watchdog in the matter of support.’” Id. at ¶23 (Grendell, J., concurring),
quoting DePalmo at 540.
{¶24} Accordingly, our holding in Schilling remains dispositive.
Analysis
{¶25} In this case, the magistrate specifically found that the child support
worksheet “does show that based on the income of the parties, calculated support is a
10% change from $0.” The trial court acknowledged the magistrate’s factual finding and
this court’s holding in Schilling but ruled as follows:
{¶26} “In the determination of a motion to modify a child support order that has
been deviated to zero by the agreement of the parties, the court should consider all of the
evidence relevant to the requested modification. The child support worksheet calculation
is one factor to be considered by the court. In the appropriate case it can be the controlling
factor. However, it is not the only factor the court can consider.”
{¶27} Since the trial court’s ruling directly conflicts with our holding in Schilling,
Ms. Boczar’s sole assignment of error has merit.
{¶28} Thus, on remand to determine whether to modify support, the trial court
must accept that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred pursuant to R.C.
3119.79(A). The trial court does have discretion pursuant to R.C. 3119.22 to then
consider whether a deviation from the amount of support calculated is warranted upon
consideration of the statutory factors set out in R.C. 3119.23. While R.C. 3119.03
provides that the child support worksheet calculations are “rebuttably presumed” to be
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the correct amount of support, R.C. 3119.22 permits deviation if the calculated amount
“would be unjust or inappropriate and would not be in the best interest of the child.” The
deviation must be supported by findings of fact to support the deviation. Marker, supra,
at 143.
{¶29} In determining whether the amount of support due under the schedule and
worksheet is “unjust or inappropriate” and not “in the best interest of the child,” the trial
court may consider evidence of “any other relevant factor,” such as the parties’ prior
agreement to waive support, so long as the trial court finds that factors underlying the
parties’ prior agreement are still in existence and most importantly, provide for the best
interest of the children. See R.C. 3119.23; see, e.g., Johnson v. Johnson, 4th Dist. Ross
No. 04CA2770, 2004-Ohio-5749, ¶9 (holding that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion by granting a deviation where it “determined that appellee was entitled to a
deviation based upon his prior agreement to pay for his children’s higher education
expenses”).
{¶30} The judgment of the Ashtabula County Court of Common Pleas is reversed,
and the case is remanded for further proceedings.
THOMAS R. WRIGHT, P.J.,
MATT LYNCH, J.,
concur.
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