In the Matter of the Paternity of: L.M.E. Gregory A. Edwards v. Toni Kelly (mem. dec.) ( 2016 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
FILED
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), Jun 30 2016, 7:03 am
this Memorandum Decision shall not be CLERK
regarded as precedent or cited before any Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
court except for the purpose of establishing and Tax Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT
Nancy L. Green
Camden & Meridew, P.C.
Fishers, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Matter of the Paternity of: June 30, 2016
L.M.E. Court of Appeals Case No.
49A02-1512-JP-2075
Gregory A. Edwards, Appeal from the Marion Circuit
Appellant-Respondent, Court Paternity Division
The Honorable Sheryl Lynch,
v. Judge
Toni Kelly, Trial Court Cause No.
49C01-0709-JP-39810
Appellee-Petitioner.
Bailey, Judge.
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Case Summary
[1] Gregory Edwards (“Father”) and Toni Kelly (“Mother”) appeared at a
parenting time hearing and the trial court issued an order regarding parenting
time and child support, but declined to address Father’s oral motion regarding
custody modification. Father appeals, presenting a single re-stated issue of
whether the trial court abused its discretion by deferring consideration of
custody and directing Father to file a petition for modification. We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] On September 12, 2014, Mother filed a petition to modify Father’s parenting
time. After an initial hearing, the parents mediated their dispute. They
appeared at a final hearing on November 5, 2015. Mother advised the trial
court that she was agreeable with the mediator’s recommendation, specifically,
that Father should have parenting time consistent with the Indiana Parenting
Time Guidelines (“Guidelines”).
[3] Father, by counsel, responded that he was not in agreement with that
recommendation. Counsel stated that Father now sought joint custody. The
trial court, noting the lack of a custody modification petition, advised the
parties that a petition was needed “for us to be prepared to talk about that …
everyone has to be on notice for what everyone is requesting.” (Tr. at 5-6.)
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[4] The trial court issued an order that Father have parenting time consistent with
the Guidelines. This appeal ensued.1
Discussion and Decision
[5] Father asserts that the trial court was not restricted to hearing evidence on
parenting time, and should have allowed him to proceed with his evidence in
support of custody modification. A trial court has wide latitude in determining
what is in the best interests of the child or children involved. Akiwumi v.
Akiwumi, 23 N.E.3d 734, 739 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014). We review its decisions in
family law matters for an abuse of discretion. Daisy v. Sharp, 901 N.E.2d 627,
629 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision is
against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before the court or is
contrary to the law. Id.[6] Father observes that the best interests of the child is always paramount, and he
directs our attention to two cases in which the trial court ordered relief arguably
broader than that contemplated by the pleadings.
[7] In re the Paternity of Snyder, 26 N.E.3d 996 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015), was an appeal
from an order maintaining the status quo of therapeutic visitation for one hour
1
Mother has not filed an appellee’s brief. Thus, we review for prima facie error, that is, error “at first sight,
on first appearance, or on the face of it.” Hamiter v. Torrence, 717 N.E.2d 1249, 1252. Still, we are obligated
to correctly apply the law to the facts in the record in order to determine whether reversal is required. Mikel v.
Johnson, 907 N.E.2d 547, 550 n.3 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009).
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weekly, allowing the father communication via Skype, and denying the father’s
requests to change therapists and tell the child he is her biological parent. The
order was affirmed in part and reversed in part on appeal. Id. at 997. Legal
proceedings involving the parents had commenced when the mother obtained a
protective order against the father. See id. One year later, the father sought to
establish his paternity and the trial court ultimately ruled on several matters,
including child support, a request for a name change, tax exemptions, parenting
time, therapy, and parenting time restrictions.
[8] Farrell v. Littell, 790 N.E.2d 612 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003), involved a case where the
father had asked the trial court to find the mother in contempt for withholding
child visitation. After a hearing, at which the mother defended the contempt
allegation by alleging the father had sexually abused their child, the juvenile
court suspended visitation pending a parental evaluation. Id. at 615. A panel of
this Court reversed the order for lack of a specific finding to support a parenting
time restriction. Id. at 618.
[9] It is unclear how these decisions support Father’s contention that the trial court
erred here. We agree with Father that the child’s interests are paramount and
that a trial court addressing a family law matter may be asked to consider
evidence not directly implicated by notice pleading.2 Undoubtedly, at times a
2
Under notice pleading, consistent with Indiana Trial Rule 8(A), a plaintiff essentially need only plead the
operative facts involved in the litigation. Grzan v. Charter Hosp. of N.W. Ind., 702 N.E.2d 786, 794 (Ind. Ct.
App. 1998). Whether a complaint sufficiently pleads a certain claim turns on whether the opposing party has
been sufficiently notified so as to be prepared to meet the claim. Id.Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A02-1512-JP-2075 | June 30, 2016 Page 4 of 5
trial court will find that expansion of the issues identified in pleadings or
motions is appropriate to immediately address the best interests of a child.
However, the trial court should not, as a matter of course, conduct the
proceedings in a manner that deprives a parent of notice and opportunity to
respond. As we observed in reversing a trial court’s sua sponte modification of
physical custody in Bailey v. Bailey, 7 N.E.3d 340, 345 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014):
The parties never discussed or argued whether there had been a
change of circumstances related to any of the statutory factors
warranting a custody modification or whether there was a change
in the children’s best interests. Mother had no warning that she
had to make an argument that such circumstances were lacking
or that a change was not in the children’s best interests or that
she had to present evidence on those issues.
[10] Here, the trial court did not deprive Father of the opportunity to seek custody
modification. Rather, the trial court directed Father to file a petition, such that
Mother would be afforded notice and an opportunity to prepare her evidence.
Indeed, it would have been much more efficient for Father to simply file a
modification petition than to perfect an appeal. He has demonstrated no abuse
of discretion by the trial court.
[11] Affirmed.
Bradford, J., and Altice, J., concur.
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