Blumenauer v. Martino , 2020 Ohio 259 ( 2020 )

[Cite as Blumenauer v. Martino, 2020-Ohio-259.]
COURT OF APPEALS
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
JUDGES:
KELLY BLUMENAUER : Hon. William B. Hoffman, P.J.
: Hon. W. Scott Gwin, J.
Plaintiff-Appellee : Hon. John W. Wise, J.
:
-vs- :
: Case No. 2019 AP 08 0025
DINO ANTHONY MARTINO :
:
Defendant-Appellant : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Civil appeal from the Tuscarawas County
Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division,
Case No. 2013 CC 00286
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: January 27, 2020
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
MICHAEL JOHNSON JOSEPH TRIPODI
117 South Broadway 114 East High Avenue
P.O. Box 1007 New Philadelphia, OH 44663
New Philadelphia, OH 44663
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 08 0025 2
Gwin, J.,
{¶1} Father appeals the July 15, 2019 judgment entry of the Tuscarawas County
Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, overruling his objections to the magistrate’s
decision and modifying the shared parenting plan.
Facts & Procedural History
{¶2} On November 20, 2013, appellee Kelly Blumenauer (“Mother”) filed a
complaint for custody against Dino Martino (“Father”), with regard to their minor child,
I.M., who was born on February 27, 2011.
{¶3} The trial court issued a judgment entry on March 3, 2014, adopting the
shared parenting plan submitted by the parties and finding shared parenting is in the best
interest of the child. Pursuant to the shared parenting plan, Father had visitation with I.M.
beginning on Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. through Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and Mother had
visitation with I.M. beginning on Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. through Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
{¶4} Mother filed a motion to modify visitation on January 25, 2019, seeking to
adopt the court’s new shared parenting plan and requesting that each parent exercise
complete alternate weekends. The magistrate held a hearing on March 18, 2019 on the
motion to modify shared parenting plan with regard to the visitation schedule.
{¶5} Mother testified that since 2014, I.M. has resided with her four days per
week and with Father three days per week. Mother seeks to modify the visitation portion
of the shared parenting plan so that each parent would have a full weekend to be able to
spend with I.M. Currently, Mother does not get any full weekends with I.M. Mother is a
respiratory therapist at a hospital, working every other weekend. With the modified
schedule, Mother would have I.M. on the weekends she is off. Mother stated this
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 08 0025 3
proposed plan does not deprive Father of time with I.M., but gives him more time with her.
Mother believes the modification is in the best interest of I.M. because it gives I.M. more
time with all of them, including her two siblings, as a family. They could do things on the
weekends and have more consistent time together. I.M. is autistic and is doing well in
school. Mother does not believe a switch in schedule would impact I.M. negatively, as
I.M. gets along well with both parents and adjusts well to going back and forth to each
home. Mother testified she has had problems getting telephone calls with I.M. every day
when she is with Father.
{¶6} On cross-examination, Mother testified she believes Father can change his
work schedule to accommodate the modified visitation schedule. Mother did not talk to
Father about the modification because Father does not like to talk to her and it is very
hard to try to discuss or change things with Father, as he does not want to change any
visitation dates. Mother has asked Father several times if I.M. could come on Friday to
see her sister play in the band, but Father refused to change the visitation schedule.
{¶7} Father testified they have been using the current visitation plan for five years
and he has never used a baby-sitter. Father’s days off are Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Father stated he cannot get every other weekend off from work because he is a manager
at a restaurant. As to phone calls from Mother, Father testified Mother sometimes calls
when he and I.M. are at the movies. Father is current on child support and provides
insurance for I.M. Father and I.M. have a great time together. Father denied that Mother
ever asked to have I.M. on Friday nights and stated his conversations with Mother
generally turn to arguments. Father believes changing the schedule would be disruptive
to I.M.
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{¶8} Father stated the schedule that is currently in place is the one that should
be used because I.M. has no issues, so it should not be changed. Father has to plan
vacations and things on his time, so Mother should plan her vacations and things on her
time. If Father is required to have I.M. on weekends and he has to work, he would have
to get something arranged with one of his older daughters for child care.
{¶9} The magistrate issued a decision on May 14, 2019. The magistrate found
that while the parties have substantially followed the shared parenting plan for the past
five years, many things have changed since that time and will continue to change as I.M.,
age three when the shared parenting plan was adopted and age seven now, grows. The
magistrate noted that Mother is requesting the trial court adopt its new standard schedule
of companionship, giving each parent equal time, and allowing I.M. to share some
weekends and weekend activities with her old siblings. Father is opposed to any change.
{¶10} The magistrate found that it is time for a change and it is in I.M.’s best
interest to enhance her life experience in each home and I.M. should benefit from
participation in each household’s activities. The magistrate further found the lack of
communication between Mother and Father does not make right of first refusal for
daycare practical. Thus, the magistrate modified the shared parenting plan as follows:
deleted the right of first refusal concerning daycare in the shared parenting plan and
ordered companionship time shall be pursuant to the court’s standard order, with Mother
designated as Parent 1 and Father designated as Parent 2. Thus, Father would have
visitation with I.M. beginning on Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. until Thursday at 6:00 p.m.
every other week and Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. until Sunday at 6:00 p.m. the other
weeks of the month.
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 08 0025 5
{¶11} Father filed objections to the magistrate’s decision on May 23, 2019 and
supplemental objections on July 10, 2019. Father argued the magistrate abused her
discretion in modifying the shared parenting plan and in finding it was time for a change
when the status quo was working for I.M.
{¶12} The trial court held a hearing on Father’s objections on July 15, 2019. The
trial court overruled Father’s objections and approved and adopted the magistrate’s
decision.
{¶13} Father appeals the July 15, 2019 judgment entry of the Tuscarawas County
Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, and assigns the following as error:
{¶14} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED TO THE PREJUDICE OF APPELLANT,
DINO MARTINO, WHEN IT OVERRULED THE OBJECTIONS TO THE MAGISTRATE’S
DECISION DENYING HIM THE STATUTORY PREFERENCES SET FORTH IN O.R.C.
3109.051(A),(B).
{¶15} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT OVERRULED APPELLANT’S
OBJECTIONS TO THE MAGISTRATE’S DECISION WHICH FOUND THE “NEW
PARENTING SCHEDULE,” WHICH FINDING STATED “WOULD GIVE EACH PARENT
EQUAL TIME.”
{¶16} In this case, the trial court modified the allocation of parenting time. “The
allocation of parenting time is a ‘term’ of a shared parenting plan.” Kovach v. Lewis, 5th
Dist. Ashland No. 11-COA-018, 2012-Ohio-1512, quoting Bishop v. Bishop, 4th Dist.
Washington No. 08CA44, 2009-Ohio-4537. Pursuant to R.C. 3109.04(E)(2)(b), the court
may modify the terms of the shared parenting plan if the modifications are in the best
interest of the child. Id.Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 08 0025 6
{¶17} R.C. 3109.04(F), which sets forth the factors a trial court must consider in
determining the best interest of the child, provides:
In determining the best interest of a child * * * the court shall consider all
relevant factors, including, but not limited to:
(a) The wishes of the child’s parents regarding the child’s care;
(b) If the court has interviewed the child in chambers * * * the
wishes and concerns of the child, as expressed to the court;
(c) The child’s interaction and interrelationship with the child’s
parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the
child’s best interest;
(d) The child’s adjustment to the child’s home, school, and
community;
(e) The mental and physical health of all persons involved in the
situation;
(f) The parent more likely to honor and facilitate court-approved
parenting time rights or visitation and companionship rights;
(g) Whether either parent has failed to make all child support
payments, including all arrearages, that are required of that parent pursuant
to a child support order under which that parent is an obligor;
(h) Whether either parent or any member of the household of
either parent previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any
criminal offense involving any act that resulted in a child being an abused
child or a neglected child;
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(i) Whether the residential parent or one of the parents subject
to a shared parenting decree has continuously and willfully denied the other
parent’s right to parenting time in accordance with an order of the court;
(j) Whether either parent has established a residence, or is
planning to establish a residence, outside this state.
{¶18} A trial court enjoys broad discretion in custody proceedings. Cossin v.
Holley, 5th Dist. Morrow No. 2006 CA 0014, 2007-Ohio-5258, citing Davis v. Flickinger,
77 Ohio St.3d 415, 674 N.E.2d 1159 (1997). This Court reviews the merits of a trial
court’s modification of the terms of a shared parenting plan through R.C. 3109.04(E)(2)(b)
under an abuse of discretion standard. Kovach v. Lewis, 5th Dist. Ashland No. 11-COA-
018, 2012-Ohio-1512. In order to find an abuse of discretion, we must determine the trial
court’s decision was unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable and not merely an error
of law or judgment. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 450 N.E.2d 1140 (1983).
{¶19} Furthermore, as an appellate court reviewing evidence in custody matters,
we do not function as fact finders; we neither weigh the evidence nor judge the credibility
of the witnesses. Our role is to determine whether there is relevant, competent, and
credible evidence upon which the fact finder could base his or her judgment. Dinger v.
Dinger, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2001 CA 00039, 2001-Ohio-1386. The trial court is “best able
to view the witnesses and observe their demeanor, gestures, and voice inflections, and
use these observations in weighing the credibility of the proferred testimony.” Seasons
Coal Co. v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984). Deferential review in
a child custody determination is especially crucial “when there may be much evidence by
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 08 0025 8
the parties’ demeanor and attitude that does not translate to the record well.” Davis v.
Flickinger, 77 Ohio St.3d 415, 674 N.E.2d 1159 (1997).
I.
{¶20} In his first assignment of error, Father argues the trial court committed error
in giving deference to Mother’s employment schedule but not Father’s, as the court was
required to consider both parents’ employment schedule. Father also contends the trial
court’s modification denies Father frequent and continuing contact with the child.
{¶21} We disagree with appellant. We first note that the statute cited by appellant
with regards to consideration of each parent’s employment schedule is applicable “if the
court has not issued a shared parenting decree.” R.C. 3109.051. Further, even under
this section, each parent’s employment schedule is only one factor the court should
consider in establishing parenting time. While the magistrate and trial court recognized
Father may have to employ a baby-sitter for the hours he works during his weekend with
I.M., the trial court also weighed the balance of the best interest factors and found the
modification is in the best interest of I.M. A review of the magistrate’s order and trial
court’s judgment shows the trial court considered Father’s argument and the other best
interest factors in determining whether to modify the shared parenting plan.
{¶22} Additionally, we find the trial court’s modification does not deny Father
frequent and continuing contact with I.M. Under the modified parenting time schedule,
Father will have parenting time with I.M. frequently as he will have parenting time multiple
days every week, and continuously, as the schedule of seeing her several days per week
and every other full week-end repeats each month.
{¶23} Father’s first assignment of error is overruled.
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 08 0025 9
II.
{¶24} In his second assignment of error, Father contends the modified parenting
time schedule does not give equal time to each parent because Father is working during
some of his parenting time and, as such, the trial court abused its discretion in granting
the modification of parenting time.
{¶25} As detailed above, the trial court may modify the terms of a shared parenting
plan if the modification is in the best interest of the child. Upon our review, we find no
abuse of discretion in the trial court’s determination that the modification is in the best
interest of I.M. The magistrate and trial court considered the facts of the case and
arguments of the parties in reaching the conclusion that a modification would be in the
best interest of I.M. As noted by the magistrate, the parenting time schedule was agreed
to by the parties when I.M. was three years old and she is now seven years old. Pursuant
to the modified parenting schedule, I.M. can spend time with each family for an entire
weekend. Simply because Father may be working during some of his parenting time does
not mean the modified schedule is not in the best interest of I.M., as this is just one factor
in the overall determination of whether the modification is in the child’s best interest. See
Kovach v. Lewis, 5th Dist. Ashland No. 11-COA-018, 2012-Ohio-1512 (overruling
Mother’s argument that the trial court erred when it modified the shared parenting plan
without taking into consideration the parties’ work schedules).
{¶26} Father’s second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶27} Based on the foregoing, Father’s assignments of error are overruled.
Tuscarawas County, Case No. 2019 AP 08 0025 10
{¶28} The July 15, 2019 judgment entry of the Tuscarawas County Court of
Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is affirmed.
By Gwin, J.,
Hoffman, P.J., and
Wise, J., concur