S.S.D. VS. M.A.D. (FV-02-0066-20, BERGEN COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) (RECORD IMPOUNDED) ( 2021 )

RECORD IMPOUNDED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
DOCKET NO. A-0054-19
S.S.D.,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
M.A.D.,
Defendant-Appellant.
_______________________
Argued September 29, 2021 – Decided October 21, 2021
Before Judges Fuentes, Gilson, and Gummer.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
Chancery Division, Family Part, Bergen County,
Docket No. FV-02-0066-20.
Ana R. Tolentino argued the cause for appellant.
S.S.D., respondent pro se. 1
PER CURIAM
1
Plaintiff S.S.D. submitted a brief in response to defendant's appeal but did not
appear at oral argument. We use initials to protect the identity of domestic-
violence victims and to preserve the confidentiality of these proceedings. R.
1:38-3(d)(10).
Defendant appeals a final restraining order (FRO), which was entered
pursuant to the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, N.J.S.A. 2C:25-17 to -35
(PDVA), arguing, among other things, the trial judge erred in finding plaintiff
had proven the predicate act of harassment. Because Judge Nina C. Remson's
decision was supported by substantial, credible evidence, we affirm.
I.
We glean these facts from the trial conducted by the court. The parties
were a married couple who had been together for more than thirty-eight years.
When the court issued the FRO, the parties had a twelve-year-old son, a
nineteen-year-old daughter, and a twenty-one-year-old son.
On the evening of July 2, 2019, when plaintiff returned home after taking
the parties' twelve-year-old son to a local firework show, she sent their son to
his bedroom and entered the bedroom she previously had shared with defendant.
Plaintiff was sleeping on a couch and was no longer sleeping in their bedroom
because she was "afraid to close [her] eyes in the bedroom." She told defendant
she needed to talk to him about making some repairs to their home. When
defendant responded by saying, "I'm not fixing any home," plaintiff continued
to discuss the need to make the repairs. In testimony Judge Remson found
"highly credible," plaintiff stated:
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[I]t escalated fairly quickly . . . I said you have to fix it.
And he says, you know, you're bugging me and you're
provoking me and I said, I'm not provoking you, I just
really need this fixed because it's -- besides being a
biohazard it's uncomfortable for the kids, we can fix it,
and the expletives started to tumble out and I didn't
raise my voice . . . he says, no, you're provoking me and
we both know what happens when you provoke me, and
it was something about the way he said it that I just --
something in me said if I don't leave this room and say
one more [word] it's going to escalate fairly quickly . .
..
Plaintiff "felt he threatened me because I felt at that very moment that if I said
one more word that he was going to get off that bed, as he has in the past and
come at me . . . . " She believed the "inference" of a bodily-injury threat "was
clear based on our past history." According to plaintiff, their history included
prior domestic-violence incidents and a conversation about plaintiff's sister, who
had been killed by her fiancé, in which defendant said to plaintiff, "you have to
wonder what she did to bring all that on."
Plaintiff left their bedroom and relayed to their twelve-year-old son and
their daughter a code word meaning "we need to get out of the house." Plaintiff
had developed the code word as part of an exit plan she had created in an
Alternative for Domestic Violence program, which she had attended for over a
year. When their daughter and son left the house, plaintiff called the police.
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Two police officers arrived and asked her what had happened and if this
had been "the first time." When she explained that this was not the first incident,
the officers went into the house and returned, saying defendant had "basically
corroborated" what she had said. She told the officers she thought she needed
protection and went with them to the police station.
Early the next morning, a temporary restraining order (TRO) was issued.
In her complaint seeking the TRO, plaintiff alleged defendant had harassed her
"by shouting vulgarities at her," calling her "a bitch, a whore, and a cunt." She
also asserted that his statement "you're provoking me, and you know where this
goes" caused her "to become alarmed because she felt that [defendant] was
referencing instances in the past where he had been physically abusive towards"
her. She described a history of domestic violence involving "unreported shoving
and striking with opened and closed fists." A week after she filed her complaint,
plaintiff amended it to include additional allegations regarding past domestic-
violence acts.
Judge Remson conducted a two-day trial, during which each party
testified. After plaintiff testified about the events of the evening of July 2, 2019,
Judge Remson asked her how she knew she "would need to leave or it would
escalate." In response, plaintiff referenced and testified about "past incidences."
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Plaintiff described defendant's behavior as she drove him to a bus stop on
the morning of the July 2 incident, stating he used "expletives" and "put downs"
and told her "you ruined my fucking life" and "I despise you." She asserted
defendant behaved like that "probably every morning – well, at least four out of
five." Three weeks previously, while she was driving their family to their son's
scouting event, defendant had "scream[ed] in [her] ear," calling her a "bitch,"
and saying he hated her, she had "ruined" his life, and he didn't "give a fuck" if
their children heard him say those things to her because they "need[ed] to hear
it."
She described a 2018 incident driving home from a movie with two of
their children when defendant "started yelling" at her, saying he didn't "like [her]
fucking shoes" and calling her "a fucking bitch." She repeated what defendant
had said to her on her last birthday: "[y]ou know I absolutely despise you but I
guess I could wish you a happy birthday, for what it's worth." He then "start[ed]
in with . . . the play list," meaning "when he's constantly berating me . . . usually
involv[ing] me being called any number of expletives." Plaintiff testified,
"whenever I'm in his presence it appears that he can't control himself and at this
point it doesn't matter whether the kids are around or not" and "what's become
scary is it requires no input from me whatsoever."
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In addition to the "litany of verbal abuse," plaintiff provided examples of
when defendant had been physically abusive. She described an earlier incident
in their bedroom when he threw clothes at her and told her to "get the fuck out"
after she had asked him to attend a bible study class with her. She testified
defendant had "shoulder check[ed]" her as she passed him fourteen times in the
past eighteen months, once every six to eight weeks. She said defendant had
engaged in "choking" behavior about ten times in 2015 and 2016, placing her
"in a headlock or . . . arm around the neck" and would "push [his] hand to [her]
face," causing her discomfort and injury to her eye.
Defendant cross-examined plaintiff and testified. He admitted saying on
the evening of July 2 "you're provoking me" but denied adding "and we both
know what happens when you provoke me" or calling her names. He did not
testify as to what he meant by "you're provoking me" or what he believed she
was provoking him to do. As for past incidents, he conceded the parties had
argued but equated their arguments to normal marital disagreements. Although
he asserted "name-calling and berating never happens," he also stated "couples
use things to get each other's attention, let them know they're serious . . . So,
yes, unfortunately, those words do come out." He otherwise denied,
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recharacterized, or did not recall the other alleged prior domestic-violence
incidences.
In a comprehensive opinion placed on the record, Judge Remson held
defendant committed an act of harassment against plaintiff during the July 2
evening incident. The judge made express credibility findings, concluding
plaintiff was more credible than defendant. Plaintiff was "straightforward" and
"consistent," and her version of events was "more plausible" than defendant's
version. Defendant "often answered that he did not recall events," and his
testimony was "disingenuous," "not always consistent, and was often
unbelievable."
Citing defendant's statements to plaintiff "[y]ou are provoking me" and
"[w]e both know what happens when you provoke me," Judge Remson found
"[i]n light of the extensive prior history of domestic abuse, including multiple
assaults, the plaintiff interpreted this statement as a threat to assault her" and
"defendant intended to threaten exactly that, and cause alarm to the plaintiff, in
violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4(a)." Having found plaintiff had proven the
predicate act of harassment, Judge Remson, pursuant to our holding in Silver v.
Silver, 387 N.J. Super. 112 (App. Div. 2006), addressed the need for entry of an
FRO and held, based on the parties' testimony about the predicate act and
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"extensive prior history," an FRO was "necessary to protect the plaintiff from
imminent harm and further acts of domestic violence." The judge issued the
FRO on July 23, 2019, and subsequently issued two amended FROs, addressing
issues regarding support and the parties' minor son.
On appeal, defendant argues the trial judge (1) erred in finding plaintiff
had proven a predicate act of harassment because, according to defendant,
plaintiff's allegations were not corroborated by credible testimony, and (2)
abused her discretion by permitting hearsay testimony about incidents unrelated
to the events of July 2, 2019. Because the judge's finding of harassment was
supported by plaintiff's testimony, which the judge found credible, and because
the judge did not err in considering testimony about prior domestic-violence
incidents between the parties, we affirm.
II.
Our review of a family judge's factual findings is limited. N.J. Div. of
Child Prot. & Permanency v. J.B., 459 N.J. Super. 442, 450 (App. Div. 2019).
We defer to a family judge's factual findings when supported by substantial,
credible evidence in the record because the judge "has the superior ability to
gauge the credibility of the witnesses who testify" and has "special expertise in
matters related to the family." N.J. Div. of Youth & Fam. Servs. v. F.M., 211
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N.J. 420, 448 (2012); see also Cesare v. Cesare, 154 N.J. 394, 413 (1998). "We
recognize that the cold record, which we review, can never adequately convey
the actual happenings in a courtroom." F.M., 211 N.J. at 448. We intervene
only when a trial judge's factual conclusions are "so wide of the mark" they are
"clearly mistaken." N.J. Div. Youth & Fam. Servs. v. G.L., 191 N.J. 596, 605
(2007). We defer to a judge's credibility determinations. Gnall v. Gnall, 222
N.J. 414, 428 (2015). We review de novo a judge's legal conclusions. J.B., 459
N.J. Super. at 451.
We have identified harassment as "the most frequently reported predicate
offense," L.M.F. v. J.A.F., Jr., 421 N.J. Super. 523, 533 (App. Div. 2011), in
domestic-violence cases and as "[t]he most often cited potential misuse of the
[PDVA]," A.M.C. v. P.B., 447 N.J. Super. 402, 417 (App. Div. 2016). We,
however, also have recognized, "[a]lthough a defendant might not use direct
physical violence when he or she engages in the predicate act[] of harassment, .
. . [harassment] can cause great emotional harm and psychological trauma."
Ibid.A-0054-19
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A person violates N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4(a),2 "if, with purpose to harass
another, he: . . . [m]akes, or causes to be made, a communication or
communications anonymously or at extremely inconvenient hours, or in
offensively coarse language, or any other manner likely to cause annoyance or
alarm . . . ." Subsection (a) "targets a single communication." State v. Hoffman,
149 N.J. 564, 580 (1997). To prove a predicate act of harassment pursuant to
subsection (a), a plaintiff may rely on proof of a single communication, "as long
as defendant's purpose in making it . . . was to harass and as long as it was made
in a manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm to the intended recipient." J.D.
v. M.D.F., 207 N.J. 458, 477 (2011). "[A]nnoyance" under subsection (a)
"means to disturb, irritate, or bother." Hoffman, 149 N.J. at 580. "[T]he
annoyance or alarm required by subsection (a) need not be serious," but the
communication at issue must be made with "a purpose to harass." Id. at 581-82.
A "purpose to harass may be inferred from the evidence presented," and
"[c]ommon sense and experience may inform that determination." Id. at 577;
2
We quote from N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4(a) because the predicate act found by the
trial judge was harassment pursuant to that statute. In his counseled brief,
defendant makes arguments based on N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1 (assault), 2C:12-3
(terroristic threats), and 2C:14-16 (nonconsensual sexual contact). Those
arguments are not applicable because plaintiff did not allege – and the trial judge
accordingly made no findings of – assault, terroristic threats, or nonconsensual
sexual contact.
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see also J.D., 207 N.J. at 477. "In determining whether a defendant's conduct is
likely to cause the required annoyance or alarm to the victim, that defendant's
past conduct toward the victim and the relationship's history must be taken into
account." Hoffman, 149 N.J. at 585; see also H.E.S. v. J.C.S., 175 N.J. 309, 327
(2003) (The "parties' past history, when properly presented, helps to inform the
court regarding defendant's purpose [and] motive"). A trial judge "can consider
evidence of a defendant's prior abusive acts regardless of whether those acts
have been the subject of a domestic violence adjudication." Cesare, 154 N.J. at
405.
With that legal framework in mind, we consider first defendant's second
argument about the admissibility of plaintiff's testimony concerning prior acts
of domestic violence. The express language of the PDVA defeats that argument.
As we held in R.G. v. R.G., the PDVA "permits consideration of '[t]he previous
history of domestic violence between the plaintiff and defendant, including
threats, harassment and physical abuse.'" 449 N.J. Super. 208, 220 (App. Div.
2017) (quoting N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29(a)(1)). The testimony considered by the trial
judge was limited to incidents of domestic violence between plaintiff and
defendant. Moreover, because the trial judge also limited plaintiff's prior-
incident testimony to the events alleged in her amended complaint, defendant
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was "afforded an adequate opportunity to be apprised of those allegations and
to prepare." J.D., 207 N.J. at 480. Accordingly, plaintiff's prior-incident
testimony was admissible.
Defendant's first argument is also without merit. Faulting the trial judge's
credibility determinations, defendant complains he was not given a full
opportunity to challenge plaintiff's testimony. The record reveals otherwise.
Judge Remson permitted him to cross-examine plaintiff and to testify directly.
Considering the testimony of both witnesses, Judge Remson found plaintiff to
be the more credible witness both as to the events of July 2 and as to prior
domestic-violence incidents. Her credibility findings are entitled to our
deference.
To determine, as she had to, the purpose of and motive behind defendant's
July 2 statement "you're provoking me and we both know what happens when
you provoke me," Judge Remson appropriately considered evidence of prior
domestic-violence incidents. Plaintiff's credible testimony of an "extensive
prior history of domestic abuse" supported Judge Remson's findings that
plaintiff "interpreted [defendant's] statement as a threat to assault her" and
defendant intended to "threaten exactly that, and cause alarm to plaintiff, in
violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4(a)." Judge Remson then considered the parties'
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previous history of domestic violence, see Silver, 387 N.J. Super. at 128, and
their testimony concerning the predicate act of harassment, which included
plaintiff's testimony that she believed defendant had threatened her with bodily
injury. Based on that credible evidence, Judge Remson concluded an FRO was
necessary to protect plaintiff from "imminent harm and further acts of domestic
violence." We see no basis to disturb that finding.
Affirmed.
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