Robert Corbin v. Gerri Mullins ( 2022 )

RENDERED: SEPTEMBER 23, 2022; 10:00 A.M.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
Commonwealth of Kentucky
Court of Appeals
NO. 2021-CA-1243-MR
ROBERT CORBIN APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM CLARK CIRCUIT COURT
v. HONORABLE NORA J. SHEPHERD, JUDGE
ACTION NO. 20-CI-00404
GERRI MULLINS AND TAMARA APPELLEES
CZECH
OPINION
AFFIRMING
** ** ** ** **
BEFORE: GOODWINE, MAZE, AND K. THOMPSON, JUDGES.
GOODWINE, JUDGE: Robert Corbin (“Father”) appeals the September 29, 2021
order of the Clark Circuit Court, Family Division. After careful review, we affirm.
This matter was preceded by two dependency, neglect, and abuse
(“DNA”) cases initiated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (“Cabinet”)
in June 2019. At that time, the Cabinet removed the two children, who were then
two and five years of age, from the custody of Tamara Czech (“Mother”) due to
concerns of substance abuse.1 The Cabinet placed the children in Father’s care on
June 19, 2019. Father then voluntarily placed the children in the care of their
maternal grandmother, Gerri Mullins (“Grandmother”), on July 19, 2019. In the
DNA actions, the family court granted Grandmother temporary custody on August
8, 2019.
Father was uninvolved in the DNA actions but agreed to a case plan
with the Cabinet due to concerns of domestic violence. He did not complete the
case plan but sporadically visited with the children for more than a year. He then
filed a motion in the DNA cases requesting the children be returned to his custody.
Grandmother subsequently initiated this action by filing a petition for custody.
After a hearing, the family court determined Grandmother met the requirements of
KRS2 403.270(1)(a) to be the children’s de facto custodian. The court further
concluded Father waived his superior right to custody. The court awarded
Grandmother sole custody of the children and Father received visitation every
other weekend and on holidays as agreed upon by the parties.
This appeal followed. Additional facts will be developed as needed in
our analysis below.
1
After entering her appearance, Mother did not participate in this case before the family court
and has not participated on appeal.
2
Kentucky Revised Statutes.
-2-
We may only set aside a family court’s findings of fact where they are
clearly erroneous. Moore v. Asente, 110 S.W.3d 336, 354 (Ky. 2003) (footnote
omitted). Findings are clearly erroneous where they are not supported by
substantial evidence. Id. Substantial evidence is defined as that which “a
reasonable mind would accept as adequate to support a conclusion[.]” Id. Mere
doubt by an appellate court is insufficient to disturb findings of fact which are
supported by substantial evidence. Id.On appeal, Father argues: (1) the family court’s determination that
Grandmother met the requirements of KRS 403.270(1)(a) was not supported by
substantial evidence; and (2) the family court clearly erred in finding Father
waived his superior right to custody of the children.
A de facto custodian is
[a] person who has been shown by clear and convincing
evidence to have been the primary caregiver for, and
financial supporter of, a child who within the last two (2)
years has resided with the person for an aggregate period
of six (6) months or more if the child is under three (3)
years of age and for an aggregate period of one (1) year
or more if the child is three (3) years of age or older or
has been placed by the Department for Community
Based Services. Any period of time after a legal
proceeding has been commenced by a parent seeking to
regain custody of the child shall not be included in
determining whether the child has resided with the
person for the required minimum period.
-3-
KRS 403.270(1)(a). Once a person has met the requirements of KRS
403.270(1)(a), the family court “shall give the person the same standing in custody
matters that is given to each parent[.]” KRS 403.270(1)(b).
Here, both children are at least three years of age and have resided
with Grandmother since they were placed in her care by Father on July 19, 2019.
Thereafter, on August 8, 2019, she was given temporary custody of the children in
the related DNA actions. On August 14, 2020, more than a year after the children
began residing with Grandmother, Father filed a motion for sole custody in the
DNA cases.
During the hearing, much of Father and Grandmother’s testimony
conflicted, requiring the family court to judge their credibility. “[J]udging the
credibility of witnesses and weighing evidence are tasks within the exclusive
province of the trial court.” Moore, 110 S.W.3d at 354 (footnote omitted). Here,
the court found Father’s testimony lacked credibility because “[w]hen he should
have acknowledged he did not act appropriately or could have done better, he
tended to blame others and, otherwise, always had an excuse for everything, an
excuse that usually involved someone else’s failing without acknowledging his
primary responsibility as a parent.” Record (“R.”) at 83-84. On this basis, the
court gave greater weight to Grandmother’s version of events where the two gave
-4-
conflicting testimony. We will not disturb the family court’s decision as to
credibility of the witnesses. Moore, 110 S.W.3d at 354 (footnote omitted).
Clear and convincing evidence supports the family court’s finding that
Grandmother was the primary caregiver and financial supporter of the children
during the relevant period. Grandmother provides the majority of the children’s
day-to-day care. She ensures they receive medical and dental care and attends to
their educational needs. Grandmother potty-trained both children. She enrolled
the youngest child in kindergarten and, when the oldest child’s school was shut
down during the COVID-19 pandemic, Grandmother managed the child’s virtual
learning.
Father began visiting with the children in February 2020. According
to Grandmother’s testimony, he visited the children sporadically from February
until August 2020. During some visits, he demanded Grandmother pick the
children up early. Grandmother had to provide Father with clothing and other
necessities for the children during some visits. He began consistently seeing the
children when he was granted visitation on every other weekend in September
2020, after this case was initiated.
Although he visits with the children, Father has been largely
uninvolved with their education and medical care.3 He could not identify the
3
Father attended one school event with the children.
-5-
children’s doctors, dentist, school, daycare, or teachers. He could not name the
children’s medication. He did not know the sizes of the children’s clothing.
Although both Father and Grandmother are employed, Father justified his lack of
involvement by claiming he often had to work when the children had appointments
or other obligations. Father did not complete his case plan for the Cabinet.
Grandmother has been the primary financial supporter for the children
since they entered her care. The family court was largely unconvinced by Father’s
claims that he provided financial support. Father purchased some wipes and
diapers, and once gave Grandmother twenty dollars. He also purchased the
children Christmas gifts in 2019. Grandmother had to provide Father with car
seats when he began exercising visitation. Father did not reimburse Grandmother
and she was forced to purchase new car seats for herself. Although Father has
beds for the children and provides food for them during his visits, Grandmother
provides clothing for the children at Father’s request.
Father’s lack of support has left Grandmother to purchase most of the
children’s clothing, hygiene items, and other necessities. Grandmother has
maintained stable housing for the children. She applied for the children’s social
security numbers. She has maintained their medical cards, daycare assistance, and
WIC and KTAP benefits.
-6-
The family court’s findings of fact are clearly supported by substantial
evidence. Grandmother met her burden under KRS 403.270(1)(a) to be named the
children’s de facto custodian.
Substantial evidence also supports the family court’s conclusion that
Father waived his superior right to custody of the children.4 “Parents of a child
have a fundamental, basic, and constitutional right to raise, care for, and control
their own children.” Mullins v. Picklesimer, 317 S.W.3d 569, 578 (Ky. 2010)
(citation omitted). However, a nonparent may seek custody by proving an
exception to the parent’s superior right. Moore, 110 S.W.3d at 359. The
nonparent must prove by clear and convincing evidence that either (1) the parent is
unfit or (2) the parent waived his or her superior right to custody. Id. (footnote
omitted).
To prove waiver, the nonparent must prove the parent acted
knowingly, voluntarily, and intentionally in waiving his or her superior right to
custody. Penticuff v. Miller, 503 S.W.3d 198, 205 (Ky. App. 2016) (citation
omitted). “Because this is a right with both constitutional and statutory
underpinnings, . . . while no formal or written waiver is required, statements and
supporting circumstances must be equivalent to an express waiver to meet the
4
The family court was not required to find Father waived his superior right to custody because
its findings under KRS 403.270(1)(a) are sufficient for the court to award Grandmother custody
of the children.
-7-
burden of proof.” Mullins, 317 S.W.3d at 578 (citation omitted). Some factors a
court should consider include: (1) time the child has been away from the parent,
(2) circumstances of separation, (3) age of the child when care was assumed by the
nonparent, (4) time elapsed before the parent sought to claim the child, and (5)
frequency and nature of contact, if any, between the parent and the child during the
nonparent’s custody. Vinson v. Sorrell, 136 S.W.3d 465, 470 (Ky. 2004) (footnote
omitted).
Here, the children were two and five when they were placed in
Grandmother’s care, ages the family court found to be “critical stage[s] of their
development.” R. at 91. Although the children have only been in Grandmother’s
primary care for approximately a year, Father had irregular contact with the
children for more than a year prior to Grandmother’s receiving custody.
Grandmother cared for them for long periods of time prior to receiving temporary
custody. The children were separated from Father by his own intentional and
voluntary action. He then had very little contact with the children for
approximately seven months before initiating sporadic visitation. He did not seek
return of the children for more than a year. He also provided minimal financial or
material support for the children for more than a year. Ultimately, Father
knowingly, voluntarily, and intentionally left the children in Grandmother’s care
waiving his superior right to custody.
-8-
Based on the foregoing, we affirm the order of the Clark Circuit
Court, Family Division.
ALL CONCUR.
BRIEFS FOR APPELLANT: BRIEF FOR APPELLEE:
James O’Toole Nanci M. House
Lexington, Kentucky Winchester, Kentucky
-9-