Benjamin M. v. Dannie Z. , 2024 IL App (4th) 231100-U ( 2024 )

NOTICE 2024 IL App (4th) 231100-UThis Order was filed under
FILED
Supreme Court Rule 23 and is NO. 4-23-1100 July 16, 2024
not precedent except in the Carla Bender
limited circumstances allowed 4 th District Appellate
under Rule 23(e)(1). IN THE APPELLATE COURT Court, IL
OF ILLINOIS
FOURTH DISTRICT
BENJAMIN M., ) Appeal from the
Petitioner-Appellant, ) Circuit Court of
v. ) McDonough County
DANNIE Z., ) No. 23OP75
Respondent-Appellee. )
) Honorable
) Raymond A. Cavanaugh,
) Judge Presiding.
JUSTICE KNECHT delivered the judgment of the court.
Justices Harris and Zenoff concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: The appellate court affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of the petition for a plenary
order of protection.
¶2 In June 2023, petitioner, Benjamin M., filed a verified petition for an order of
protection, seeking to prohibit respondent, Dannie Z., from having contact with their two minor
children, W.G.M. (five years old) and D.B.M.-Z. (seven years old). At the close of petitioner’s
evidence at the plenary hearing, respondent moved for a directed finding, which the trial court
granted. Petitioner appeals, arguing the court erred in granting the directed finding and
dismissing the petition. For the following reasons, we affirm the court’s judgment.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 A. Petition for an Order of Protection
¶5 Petitioner, Benjamin M., and respondent, Dannie Z., were previously married.
They have two children together: W.G.M. and D.B.M.-Z. Under the parenting plan, respondent
was given sole authority to decide significant medical and educational issues relating to the
children. Petitioner was provided access to the children’s medical and school records, and he
could obtain this information directly from the medical providers or school personnel. As to
parenting time, respondent had primary custody of the children, and petitioner had visitation on
three out of four weekends and two floating weekdays per month, with split holidays.
¶6 In June 2023, petitioner filed a verified petition for an order of protection in
Schuyler County on behalf of himself and the children. The petition alleged, after W.G.M.
spilled his food, respondent kicked him in the genitals and buttocks with enough force to cause
him to fall down and cry. The petition further alleged respondent bent W.G.M. over the corner of
a couch before spanking him.
¶7 Following a hearing, the trial court entered an emergency order of protection. The
court ordered respondent to have no communication with and to stay at least 1000 feet away
from petitioner and the children at all times. Thereafter, respondent filed a motion to transfer
venue to McDonough County (the county where the parties’ divorce proceedings occurred),
which the court granted.
¶8 B. Plenary Hearing
¶9 In August 2023, a plenary hearing commenced in McDonough County. The trial
court, by stipulation of the parties, entered a forensic interview of W.G.M. into evidence.
¶ 10 Petitioner testified W.G.M. and D.B.M.-Z. were at his home for a weekend visit
in June 2023. During dinner on a Friday, W.G.M. told petitioner and his current wife, Lauren M.,
about the incident with respondent. According to petitioner, W.G.M. stated respondent, in
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response to W.G.M. spilling food, kicked the child in the genitals and buttocks and bent the child
over a couch before spanking him. Petitioner noted when he and Lauren asked W.G.M. about the
incident on the following Sunday, the child told them “the exact same story.” This was the first
time the child had told petitioner about any alleged physical abuse by respondent.
¶ 11 Petitioner reported the incident to the Schuyler County police. The police then
contacted the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Approximately a
week and a half later, W.G.M. participated in a Child Advocacy Center forensic interview
regarding the incident.
¶ 12 The emergency order was amended in July 2023 to permit supervised visitation
between respondent and the children. Petitioner testified the children told him and Lauren the
visitation supervisor allowed respondent to be alone with the children, at which time respondent
told the children the incident “didn’t happen.” Petitioner also testified the children told him the
supervisor allowed them to be alone with respondent at a gas station and while playing at a park.
However, petitioner did not report the alleged violations to the trial court or a supervisor.
Petitioner indicated he raised the alleged violations with the DCFS caseworker.
¶ 13 Petitioner testified Lauren made a report against respondent to DCFS in March
2023, alleging medical neglect, environmental neglect, and burns by neglect for both children,
but the report was later determined to be unfounded. From January to February 2020, petitioner
raised concerns of neglect to a doctor, who reported respondent to DCFS. None of the reports
resulted in any investigation.
¶ 14 After the filing of the petition, petitioner enrolled the children in a different school
and took them to dental and medical examinations. He also scheduled an appointment with a
pediatric urologist for W.G.M. to address ongoing pain issues.
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¶ 15 Dr. Jackson Canter, a dentist at Beardstown Family Dental, testified he treated
D.B.M.-Z. in June 2023. At the appointment, Dr. Canter took X-rays and performed a dental
cleaning and tooth extraction. Dr. Canter removed D.B.M.-Z.’s primary molar (i.e., a baby
tooth), due to the child experiencing pain, a bad smell, and a cavity underneath the existing
filling. However, Dr. Canter did not observe any abscesses in the child’s mouth. He also did not
see any indication of abuse or neglect. Dr. Canter did not know petitioner did not have medical
decision-making authority over D.B.M.-Z.
¶ 16 Angie Westlake, a DCFS investigator, testified on respondent’s behalf. She
conducted two DCFS investigations into allegations against respondent—the March 2023
investigation and the present investigation. Westlake stated all reports were unfounded and both
investigations were closed. As to the March 2023 investigation, Westlake found the children’s
burns were due to accidents. Westlake also spoke with D.B.M.-Z.’s school, who confirmed the
child received dental care through a school program. Respondent was aware the child had an
abscessed tooth at the time and was on a waiting list to see a dentist.
¶ 17 Westlake noted she knew respondent prior to the investigation, as she hired
respondent through text message on one occasion to clean her home. She raised this with her
supervisor, who determined it was not a conflict of interest which would preclude Westlake from
investigating respondent.
¶ 18 At the close of petitioner’s evidence, respondent moved for a directed verdict. The
trial court granted the motion and dismissed the petition.
¶ 19 This appeal followed.
¶ 20 II. ANALYSIS
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¶ 21 On appeal, petitioner contends the trial court erred by granting respondent’s
motion for a directed finding and dismissing the petition for a plenary order of protection.
¶ 22 As a preliminary matter, we note respondent has not filed an appellee’s brief. “A
reviewing court is not compelled to serve as an advocate for the appellee and is not required to
search the record for the purpose of sustaining the trial court’s judgment.” Benjamin v.
McKinnon, 379 Ill. App. 3d 1013, 1019 (2008). However, “if the record is simple and the
claimed errors are such that the court can easily decide them without the aid of an appellee’s
brief, the court of review should decide the merits of the appeal.” First Capitol Mortgage Corp.
v. Talandis Construction Corp., 63 Ill. 2d 128, 133 (1976). Because the primary issue in this
appeal is whether the court erred in dismissing the petition for an order of protection, we
conclude we can determine the merits of this appeal without an appellee’s brief.
¶ 23 A. Standard of Review
¶ 24 At the close of petitioner’s evidence, the trial court purported to grant
respondent’s motion for a “directed verdict.” However, a directed verdict is not possible where
the trier of fact is a judge rather than a jury. Barnes v. Michalski, 399 Ill. App. 3d 254, 262
(2010). Respondent was actually moving for a directed finding, pursuant to section 2-1110 of the
Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-1110 (West 2022)). Barnes, 399 Ill. App. 3d at 262.We
note this distinction, as a motion for a directed verdict, versus a motion for a directed finding,
raises “different questions and require[s] different analyses.” Id.¶ 25 The trial court performs a two-step analysis when determining whether to grant a
respondent’s motion for a directed finding. In re Estate of Etherton, 284 Ill. App. 3d 64, 67
(1996). In the first step, the court determines whether the petitioner has established a prima facie
case. Id. “In other words, the court determines, as a matter of law, whether the [petitioner] has
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presented at least some evidence on every element of the cause of action.” Barnes, 399 Ill. App.
3d at 263. If the petitioner fails to do so, the court should grant the respondent’s motion. Id. But,
if the petitioner has made out a prima facie case, the court should proceed to the second step. Id.
at 263-64.
¶ 26 In the second step, the trial court weighs the evidence and assesses the credibility
of the witnesses under the applicable burden of proof. Id. at 264. If the court finds “the
[petitioner]’s evidence is unconvincing as it stands, even without the presentation of any
evidence by the [respondent], the court should grant the [respondent]’s motion for judgment.” Id.However, “if the weighing process does not negate any element of the prima facie case, the court
should deny the [respondent]’s motion and continue with the trial.” Id.¶ 27 Our standard of review depends on which of the two stages the trial court reached
when it granted respondent’s motion for a directed finding. Id. If the court granted respondent’s
motion during the first step of its analysis, our standard of review is de novo. Id. If the court
granted respondent’s motion during the second step, “we ask whether the ruling was against the
manifest weight of the evidence.” Id. A ruling is against the manifest weight of the evidence
where the opposite conclusion is clearly evident or if the ruling is unreasonable, arbitrary, or not
based on any evidence in the record. Id. at 264-65.
¶ 28 Here, in granting respondent’s motion, the trial court remarked, “[I]n the light
most favorable to the petitioner, there’s not a basis to issue a plenary order of protection and to
go further and to shift the burden.” Thereafter, the court articulated its consideration of the
evidence presented, including the medical and dental evidence, the prior DCFS reports, and
W.G.M.’s forensic interview. From these statements, we infer the court granted respondent’s
motion based on its weighing of the evidence, and not based on a failure of petitioner to present
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evidence on one or more of the elements required for a prima facie case. Therefore, we will
determine whether the court’s ruling was against the manifest weight of the evidence.
¶ 29 B. Order of Protection
¶ 30 In a proceeding to obtain an order of protection, the trial court’s “central inquiry
is whether the petitioner [or the minor child] has been abused.” Best v. Best, 223 Ill. 2d 342, 348
(2006). The Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 (750 ILCS 60/103(1) (West 2022)) defines
abuse as “physical abuse, harassment, intimidation of a dependent, interference with personal
liberty or willful deprivation but does not include reasonable direction of a minor child by a
parent or person in loco parentis.” A petition for an order of protection may be filed “by any
person on behalf of a minor child.” Id. § 201(b)(i). Whether a petitioner or a minor child has
been abused is a question of fact the petitioner must prove by a preponderance of the evidence.
Best, 223 Ill. 2d at 348. This court will not substitute our “judgment for that of the trial court
regarding the credibility of witnesses, the weight to be given to the evidence, or the inferences to
be drawn.” Id. at 350-51.
¶ 31 Here, the trial court’s determination was not against the manifest weight of the
evidence. Although W.G.M. recounted the alleged incident with respondent during his forensic
interview, the court, after hearing the evidence and observing the witnesses, found there was no
evidence corroborating the child’s statements. In particular, the court noted DCFS determined
the related neglect report against respondent was unfounded. This was also not the first time an
allegation against respondent was not substantiated. In March 2023, petitioner’s current wife
made a neglect report against respondent to DCFS, which was also determined to be unfounded.
Based on this record, we cannot say the opposite conclusion is clearly evident, nor that the
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court’s decision was unreasonable, arbitrary, or not based on any evidence. Stapp v. Jansen,
2013 IL App (4th) 120513, ¶ 16.
¶ 32 Accordingly, the trial court’s decision was not against the manifest weight of the
evidence.
¶ 33 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 34 For the reasons stated, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
¶ 35 Affirmed.
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