Everett v. Scott ( 2016 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
MICHAEL EVERETT, §
§ No. 472, 2015
Respondent Below-Appellant, §
§ Court Below:
v. § Family Court of the
§ State of Delaware
MATTHEW R. AND SANDY L. §
SCOTT, §
§
Petitioners Below-Appellees. § File No. CN15-01718
Submitted: April 13, 2016
Decided: April 26, 2016
Before STRINE, Chief Justice; HOLLAND and VALIHURA, Justices.
ORDER
This 26th day of April 2016, upon consideration of the appellant’s briefs, the
appellees’ response, and the record below, it appears to the Court that:
(1) The appellant, Michael Everett (“Everett”),1 filed this appeal from the
Family Court’s August 13, 2015 Order granting a Petition for Third Party Visitation (the
“Petition”) filed by the appellees, Matthew Scott (“Matthew”) and Sandy Scott (jointly,
the “Scotts”). In the Petition, the Scotts sought a court order establishing their right to
visitation with Everett’s daughter, “C.” The Family Court ordered monthly visitation
over the objections of C.’s parents, Everett and Samantha,2 after finding their objections
1
This Court assigned pseudonyms to the parties pursuant to Delaware Supreme Court Rule 7(d).
2
Samantha, C.’s mother, was a respondent below, but did not appeal the Order. She is referred
to herein by her first name only.
1
to be unreasonable.3 We AFFIRM the judgment of the Family Court.
(2) Everett and Samantha are divorced. In 2010, during their marriage, they
had one child, C. Everett has sole custody of C. At the time of the hearing before the
Family Court, Samantha, who suffers from mental illness, had limited visitation with C.,
which was conducted under Everett’s supervision. In March 2015, Everett, who is now
remarried, filed a pro se Petition to Terminate Parental Rights against Samantha (the
“TPR”). Based upon the record before this Court, the TPR was pending at the time of
both the hearing and the Family Court’s Order in this matter.
(3) Matthew is Samantha’s father and C.’s grandfather.4 The Scotts enjoyed a
close relationship with C. during her early childhood. For a period of approximately six
months during C.’s first three years of life, Samantha and C. lived with the Scotts.
During that time, the Scotts provided C. with her own room and converted their living
room into a playroom for her use. After Everett and Samantha divorced, Everett
permitted the Scotts to visit with C. on an “ad hoc” basis approximately twice per month.
Beginning in 2014, Samantha lived with the Scotts while recovering from an attempted
suicide. Everett informed the Scotts that he did not want Samantha present during their
visits with C. Nevertheless, the Scotts encouraged Samantha to attend. In October 2014,
Everett cancelled one of C.’s visits with the Scotts when he noticed Samantha was at their
home. Thereafter, Everett refused to permit any further contact between C. and the
Scotts. On February 18, 2015, the Scotts filed the Petition. In March 2015, Samantha
3
[Scott v. Everett], No. CN15-01718 (Del. Fam. Ct. Aug. 13, 2015) [hereinafter, “Fam. Ct. Order
at Op. Br. __”].
4
Sandy Scott is Samantha’s stepmother.
2
left the Scotts’ home. Samantha and the Scotts have been estranged since then.
(4) At the Petition hearing, the Scotts were represented by counsel, while
Everett and Samantha appeared pro se. Samantha and Everett both objected to the
Petition. The Family Court heard testimony from Matthew, Everett, Samantha, and
Samantha’s brother, James. During Everett and Samantha’s testimony, the court asked
questions concerning their objections to visitation. The court invited Everett to cross-
examine Matthew, but Everett elected not to do so. The Family Court asked if either
Everett or Samantha wanted to cross-examine Matthew after his testimony on redirect,
and Samantha elected to do so. Both Everett and Samantha cross-examined James. The
trial court also permitted Samantha to read a prepared statement during her direct
testimony.
(5) Samantha alleged that Matthew abused her as a child. She also claimed
that the Scotts disregarded instructions she and Everett had provided to them concerning
pacifier use and treats. Samantha further argued that the Scotts insisted she attend their
visits with C., even when she advised against it based on her mental state. Everett joined
Samantha’s allegations of abuse, arguing that Matthew was controlling and manipulative.
He also objected to Samantha’s presence during C.’s visits with the Scotts, but conceded
that Samantha’s estrangement from the Scotts had resolved this concern. Everett further
asserted that the Scotts kept gifts for C. at their home rather than sending them to his
home.
(6) The Family Court granted the Petition after finding that Everett and
Samantha’s objections were unreasonable, that “[t]here was no evidence” that visitation
3
would interfere with C.’s relationship with Everett, and that visitation with the Scotts—
who, according to the court, “love and adore their granddaughter”—was “clearly in [C.’s]
absolute best interest.” Specifically, the court found that the change in Samantha’s
relationship with the Scotts mooted Everett’s objection concerning Samantha’s presence
during the Scotts’ visitation. The trial court also found “no evidence to support”
Samantha’s allegations of abuse and observed that the Scotts had never mistreated C.
Finally, the Family Court determined that Everett and Samantha had “not voiced any
complaints about interference with their relationship [with C.], other than normal, but
minimal grandparent spoiling.”
(7) On appeal, Everett’s arguments can be distilled into three principal
assertions. First, he contends that the Family Court failed to adhere to Delaware’s
Judicial Guidelines for Civil Hearings Involving Self-Represented Litigants (the
“Guidelines”).5 Second, Everett asserts that the Family Court’s Order was not the
product of an orderly and logical deductive process. Third, Everett argues that the Order
is unconstitutional and contrary to Delaware law. Everett states in his Opening Brief that
none of these issues was preserved in the Family Court, but that the “interests of justice
5
Specifically, Everett claims that the Family Court deviated from the Guidelines by: (i) making
certain questions and comments to him during the hearing, which he suggests demonstrated a
lack of neutrality; (ii) failing to explain certain Guidelines to the pro se parties; (iii) taking
insufficient steps to make Samantha comfortable at the hearing; and (iv) permitting leading
questions without advising the pro se parties to object. The Guidelines are provided to the
judiciary in Appendix E to this Court’s Operating Procedures for the Delaware Judicial Branch
(the “Operating Procedures”), which instruct judges to “refer to [the Guidelines] . . . in their
efforts to balance self-represented litigants’ perception of procedural fairness while maintaining
neutrality in the courtroom, particularly when one party is self-represented and one has an
attorney.” Operating Procedures for the Delaware Judicial Branch, DEL. STATE COURTS, at ¶
VI.5, available at http://courts.delaware.gov/supreme/operating-procedures/op-full.aspx
[hereinafter, “Operating Procedures at __”].
4
require that th[is] Court consider and determine questions not presented to the trial
[c]ourt because of the lack of knowledge and explanations from the trial [c]ourt as to the
self-represented litigant.”
(8) Under Supreme Court Rule 8, this Court may only “consider a question
[raised] for the first time on appeal ‘when the interests of justice so require.’”6 This
exception “is extremely limited and invokes a plain error standard of review.”7 “Plain
error requires the error to be ‘so clearly prejudicial to substantial rights as to jeopardize
the fairness and integrity of the trial process.’”8 Otherwise, the Family Court’s legal
conclusions are reviewed de novo, and its factual findings will not be disturbed unless
they are clearly erroneous.9 “We will not substitute our opinion for the inferences and
deductions of the trial judge if those inferences are supported by the record.”10
Accordingly, if the Family Court’s findings “are sufficiently supported by the record and
are the product of an orderly and logical deductive process, in the exercise of judicial
restraint we accept them, even though independently we might have reached opposite
conclusions.”11 We conclude that the Family Court did not err and, accordingly, affirm.
(9) Before granting the petition for third-party visitation, the Family Court had
to find that visitation was in the best interests of C. and, in light of Everett and
Samantha’s objections to visitation, that the Scotts had shown by clear and convincing
6
Clark v. Clark, 47 A.3d 513, 518 (Del. 2012) (quoting Russell v. State, 5 A.3d 622, 627 (Del.
2010)); see also Del. Supr. Ct. R. 8.
7
Clark, 47 A.3d at 518 (citation omitted).
8
Id. (quoting Russell, 5 A.3d at 627).
9
Samuels v. Jowers, 2015 WL 6941590, at *2 (Del. Nov. 10, 2015).
10
Id. (citing Wife (J.F.V.) v. Husband (O.W.V., Jr.), 402 A.2d 1202, 1204 (Del. 1979)).
11
Levitt v. Bouvier, 287 A.2d 671, 673 (Del. 1972).
5
evidence that Everett and Samantha’s objections were unreasonable.12 The Family Court
also had to conclude that the Scotts had demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence
that visitation would not substantially interfere with Everett and Samantha’s relationship
with C.13
(10) The parties agree that the Guidelines are not binding upon judges. Indeed,
trial judges have broad discretion to manage hearings.14 In the exercise of his or her
discretion, a trial judge may question witnesses.15 When a hearing involves pro se
parties, Guideline 1.1 suggests that judicial questions are a proper means of reaching the
merits of a case.16 However, the court must balance its pursuit of the merits with its
obligation to remain neutral.
(11) The Family Court did not err in managing the hearing. The record in this
case demonstrates that the court properly assumed an active role to ensure that Everett
presented both the merits of his position and his objections, which were essential to the
court’s analysis under the third party visitation statute. Through some questioning, the
Family Court clarified its understanding of Everett’s objections and encouraged Everett
to “be specific and explain.” On balance, the Family Court’s questions and comments to
Everett reflect an attitude of neutrality.
12
13 Del. C. § 2412(a)(2)(d).
13
Id.
14
See Czech v. State, 945 A.2d 1088, 1095 (Del. 2008) (“It is well-settled that a trial judge is
responsible for management of the trial and is vested with broad discretion to perform that
function.”).
15
D.R.E. 614(b) (“The court may interrogate witnesses, whether called by itself or by a party.”).
16
App’x E to Operating Procedures at ¶ 1.1 (“It is proper that Judges exercise their discretion to
assume more than a passive role in assuring that during litigation the merits of a case are
adequately presented through testimony and other evidence. While doing this, Judges shall
remain neutral in the consideration of the merits and in ruling on the matter.”).
6
(12) Everett argues that the Family Court should have explained certain
Guidelines concerning the provision of information, the parties’ opportunity to be heard,
the parties’ obligations to prepare and conduct themselves appropriately, the trial process,
and the avoidance of confusion in explaining the law to pro se litigants. The court
managed the hearing in a manner that was neutral, that ensured that the pro se parties
presented the merits of their case, and that elicited the relevant information needed to
make an informed and reasoned decision. Based upon the facts of this case, Everett’s
argument that the Family Court was required to do more is without merit.
(13) Everett contends that the Family Court failed to accommodate Samantha’s
“anxiety” at the hearing. He cites to no authority suggesting that such a failure
constitutes error. Nonetheless, the record demonstrates that, despite the hearsay rules, the
Family Court permitted Samantha to read her prepared statement. The court also
provided a recess after Samantha read her statement. Consequently, we reject Everett’s
claim that the Family Court “made little effort” to ease Samantha’s anxiety.
(14) Everett next argues that the Family Court permitted the Scotts’ attorney to
use leading questions without instructing Everett or Samantha to object. “Leading
questions should not be used on the direct examination of a witness except as may be
necessary to develop his testimony.”17 Further, “[t]he rule proscribing leading questions
on direct examination is grounded in the principle that the most important peculiarity of
the interrogational system is that it may be misused by suggestive questions to supply a
17
Christiana Care Health Servs., Inc. v. Crist, 956 A.2d 622, 626 (Del. 2008), as revised (Aug.
4, 2008) (quoting D.R.E. 611(c)) (emphasis in original) (internal quotation marks omitted).
7
false memory for the witness—that is, to suggest desired answers not in truth based upon
a real recollection.”18 Everett has not demonstrated that the questions suggested false
memories for any witness. Even if leading questions were not necessary, they were not
so pervasive that they undermined “the fairness and integrity of the trial process.”19
Further, advising Everett to object may have run contrary to the Family Court’s
obligation to remain impartial.
(15) Everett contends that his concern that Samantha would be present when the
Scotts had visitation was not addressed in the Family Court’s Order. As part of this
contention, he argues that the Scotts’ insistence that Samantha attend visitation
demonstrates their bad judgment. The Family Court determined, however, that this
objection had been obviated by Samantha’s estrangement from her father. Indeed,
Everett conceded as much at the hearing. As the Family Court suggested in its Order,
Everett may seek a condition of no contact prohibiting Samantha from attending the
Scotts’ visits with C. should the circumstances change.20 Further, if the Scotts refuse to
adhere to Everett’s reasonable requests, he may seek the Family Court’s assistance.
(16) Everett asserts that the Family Court mentioned the pending TPR in its
18
Id. (citation omitted) (internal quotation marks omitted) (emphasis in original).
19
Clark, 47 A.3d at 518 (quoting Russell, 5 A.3d at 627).
20
The Family Court may modify an Order granting third-party visitation at any time, if
modification would be in the best interests of the child. See Samuels, 2015 WL 6941590, at *2
n.7 (citing 13 Del. C. § 2413). We note our understanding of the strong feelings Everett had
about the Scotts’ refusal to honor his requests that Samantha not be present, especially given the
compelling evidence from all parties of the legitimate reasons for that request. That they were
not straightforward with, or respectful of, Everett is not a small thing, particularly when the
matter bore on the safety and well-being of C. Repetition of behavior of this kind by the Scotts
could lead to a different outcome.
8
Order but did not “explain or address” it.21 The Family Court referred to the TPR in its
Order as part of its recitation of the facts and ancillary to a discussion of a potential no
contact condition that would prevent Samantha from attending the Scotts’ visitation with
C.22 When Everett mentioned the TPR at the hearing, the court discussed it with Everett
and Samantha before stating the following: “So, anyway, that’s pending. Let’s leave it at
that.” The Family Court even cautioned Everett that TPR petitions are a “very serious
form” of litigation and that “most of these actions are filed by attorneys.” 23 Based upon
our review of the record, we reject Everett’s contentions regarding the failure of the
Family Court to explain or address the pending TPR.
(17) Everett urges that the Family Court’s Order was unconstitutional and
contrary to Delaware law. He cites to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in
Troxel v. Granville,24 and argues that Troxel “makes it extremely difficult for a third
party to overcome a fit parent’s opposition to third party visitation.” Under 13 Del. C. §
2412, where a parent objects to visitation, the parent’s determination of the child’s best
interests will prevail unless the nonparent seeking visitation proves that: (1) visitation is
21
Op. Br. 20 (“The [Family] Court failed to explain or address the issue of the pending [TPR]
petition, despite the maternal grandfather’s status being dependent upon [Samantha’s] parental
rights, and the parents being self-represented.”).
22
Fam. Ct. Order at Op. Br. 30 (suggesting that a no contact condition could be placed on the
Scotts’ visitation, “which would comply with the . . . visitation Order and a possible termination
of the parental rights of Samantha”).
23
The Family Court determined the status of the TPR by asking several questions of Everett and
Samantha, including whether a social investigation and report had been completed. See A18
(Family Court: “And, and there is a, a social investigation and report required. Has that been
completed?” Everett: “That’s the last thing that needs to be completed. Currently--” Family
Court: “Well, actually, it’s the first thing that needs to be completed.” Everett: “Oh. Well, I
wasn’t aware at the time when I originally filed.”).
24
530 U.S. 57 (2000).
9
in the child’s best interests; (2) the parent’s objections are unreasonable by clear and
convincing evidence; and (3) visitation will not substantially interfere with the parent-
child relationship by a preponderance of the evidence.25 Our review of the record reveals
that the Family Court was sensitive to the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Troxel
that, “if a fit parent’s decision . . . becomes subject to judicial review, the court must
accord at least some special weight to the parent’s own determination.”26 For example,
during the August 7, 2015 proceedings, the Family Court expressly referred to the Troxel
decision and observed that “parents have the constitutional right to raise, parent, [and]
control the welfare of their children . . . .”
(18) The Family Court applied Section 2412 to the facts presented at the hearing
and found Everett and Samantha’s objections to be unreasonable. The court concluded
that Everett’s concern that Samantha would be present during the Scotts’ visitation with
C. was obviated due to Samantha’s estrangement from Matthew. The Family Court
stated that any future problems related to this concern could be resolved by imposing a
condition of no contact on the Scotts’ visitation. Further, the court addressed Everett and
Samantha’s objections regarding Matthew’s alleged abusive behavior, and concluded that
Everett’s objection was “totally unreasonable” due to the lack of evidence supporting
Samantha’s allegations. The Family Court rejected Samantha’s objection, but only after
considering the lack of evidence supporting her allegations of abuse, in combination with
her failure to object to Matthew’s visitation with C. until five years into C.’s life. Thus,
25
13 Del. C. § 2412(a).
26
Troxel, 530 U.S. at 70.
10
we are satisfied that the Family Court gave Everett and Samantha’s determination of C.’s
best interests the “special weight” required by Troxel.27
(19) Everett’s statutory argument also lacks merit. In his Reply Brief, Everett
argues for the first time that the Family Court’s Order did not comply with Section 2412
because the court did not state that Everett and Samantha’s objections were unreasonable
by clear and convincing evidence.28 The trial court’s failure to include the phrase “clear
and convincing evidence” in its Order is not reversible error, provided that it is apparent
from the Opinion in its totality that the court made its findings under the clear and
convincing evidence standard.29
(20) Here, the Family Court quoted Section 2412(a)(2)(d) in its Order, including
the clear and convincing evidence standard.30 The court then held: “The first question
raised by subsection (d) is whether the parent’s objections are reasonable. In this case,
the [Family] Court finds the objections of both [Everett] and Samantha . . . to be
unreasonable.” The court explained its basis for rejecting these objections by relying on
the facts presented at trial and by making credibility determinations. We are satisfied that
the Family Court made its findings under the clear and convincing evidence standard.
Everett’s argument that the Order does not comply with Section 2412 is, therefore,
without merit.
27
Id.28
13 Del. C. § 2412(a)(2)(d).
29
See Powell v. Dep’t of Servs. for Children, Youth & Their Families, 963 A.2d 724, 738 (Del.
2008), as corrected (Dec. 23, 2008) (“Although this particular paragraph in the opinion does not
include the phrase ‘clear and convincing evidence,’ it is apparent from the opinion in its totality
that the court made its findings . . . under the clear and convincing evidence standard.”).
30
Fam. Ct. Order at Op. Br. 29 n.2.
11
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the Family Court is
AFFIRMED.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ Karen L. Valihura
Justice
12