G.S. v. K.S. (FV-03-1530-21, BURLINGTON COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) (RECORD IMPOUNDED) ( 2022 )


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  •                                        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    NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-3390-20
    G.S.,
    Plaintiff-Respondent,
    v.
    K.S.,
    Defendant-Appellant.
    __________________________
    Argued October 13, 2022 – Decided October 20, 2022
    Before Judges Gooden Brown and Mitterhoff.
    On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
    Chancery Division, Family Part, Burlington County,
    Docket No. FV-03-1530-21.
    Michael Confusione argued the cause for appellant
    (Hegge & Confusione, LLC, attorneys; Michael
    Confusione, of counsel and on the brief).
    Jill Dell'Aquilo argued the cause for respondent
    (Weinberg, Kaplan & Smith, PA, attorneys; Michael A.
    Weinberg, of counsel and on the brief; Jill Dell'Aquilo,
    on the brief).
    PER CURIAM
    Plaintiff, G.S., commenced this action against defendant, K.S., 1 alleging
    that defendant's electronic communications with her constituted the predicate
    act of harassment, in violation of the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act
    (PDVA), N.J.S.A. 2C:25-17 to -35. At the conclusion of a final hearing at which
    both parties testified, the judge rendered detailed findings of fact and entered a
    final restraining order (FRO) in plaintiff's favor. We affirm, substantially for
    the reasons set forth by Judge John L. Call.
    On appeal, defendant raises the following argument:
    ARGUMENT
    THE APPELLATE DIVISION SHOULD VACATE
    THE FINAL RESTRAINING ORDER ENTERED BY
    THE FAMILY COURT.
    A.    The text exchanges did not show a predicate act
    of harassment with the PDVA.
    B.    Even if the family judge properly found a
    predicate act, there is insufficient evidence to
    sustain the judge's conclusion under the second
    requirement of the Act that "relief [is] necessary
    to prevent further abuse," N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29(b).
    1
    We use initials to protect the parties' privacy and the confidentiality of these
    proceedings. Rule 1:38-3(d)(9).
    A-3390-20
    2
    We find insufficient merit in defendant's contention to warrant discussion
    in a written opinion. Rule 2:11-3(e)(1)(E). We write only to add the following
    brief comments.
    Our review of a trial judge's fact-finding is limited. Cesare v. Cesare, 
    154 N.J. 394
    , 411 (1998). A judge's findings of fact are "binding on appeal when
    supported by adequate, substantial, credible evidence." 
    Id.
     at 411-12 (citing
    Rova Farms Resort, Inc. v. Invs. Ins. Co., 
    65 N.J. 474
    , 484 (1974)). Therefore,
    we will not disturb a judge's factual findings unless convinced "they are so
    manifestly unsupported by or inconsistent with the competent, relevant[,] and
    reasonably credible evidence as to offend the interests of justice[.]"       Rova
    Farms, 
    65 N.J. at 483-84
     (quoting Fagliarone v. Twp. of N. Bergen, 
    78 N.J. Super. 154
    , 155 (App. Div. 1963)).
    Specifically, we "accord substantial deference to Family Part Judges, who
    routinely hear domestic violence cases and are 'specially trained to detect the
    difference between domestic violence and more ordinary differences that arise
    between couples.'" C.C. v. J.A.H., 
    463 N.J. Super. 419
    , 428 (App. Div. 2020)
    (quoting J.D. v. M.D.F., 
    207 N.J. 458
    , 482 (2011)). However, "[w]here our
    review addresses questions of law, a trial judge's findings are not entitled to the
    same degree of deference . . . [t]he appropriate standard of review for
    A-3390-20
    3
    conclusions of law is de novo." T.M.S. v. W.C.P., 
    450 N.J. Super. 499
    , 502
    (App. Div. 2017) (citations omitted).
    When considering whether to enter an FRO under the PDVA, as here, the
    trial judge must perform a two-step analysis. Silver v. Silver, 
    387 N.J. Super. 112
    , 125 (App. Div. 2006).
    Under the first Silver prong, "the judge must determine whether the
    plaintiff has proven, by a preponderance of the credible evidence, that one or
    more of the predicate acts set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:25-19[(]a[)] has occurred."
    
    Ibid.
     A person commits the predicate act of harassment where, "with the purpose
    to harass another," he:
    a. Makes, or causes to be made, one or more
    communications anonymously or at extremely
    inconvenient hours, or in offensively coarse language,
    or any other manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm;
    b. Subjects another to striking, kicking, shoving, or
    other offensive touching, or threatens to do so; or
    c. Engages in any other course of alarming conduct or
    of repeatedly committed acts with purpose to alarm or
    seriously annoy such other person.
    [N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4.]
    "A finding of a purpose to harass may be inferred from the evidence presented,"
    and "[c]ommon sense and experience" may guide the judge in making that
    A-3390-20
    4
    determination. State v. Hoffman, 
    149 N.J. 564
    , 577 (1997). In determining
    whether conduct is likely to cause the statutorily required "annoyance" or
    "alarm" to the victim, the judge must construe any such acts in "light of the
    totality of the circumstances," including "the defendant's past conduct toward
    the victim and the relationship's history." 
    Id. at 585
    .
    "Commission of a predicate act is necessary, but alone insufficient, to
    trigger relief provided by the [PDVA]." R.G. v. R.G., 
    449 N.J. Super. 208
    , 228
    (App. Div. 2017). Under the second Silver prong, a judge must then determine
    "whether [an FRO] is necessary . . . to protect the [plaintiff] from an immediate
    danger or to prevent further abuse." Silver, 
    387 N.J. Super. at 127
    . "[T]he
    guiding standard is whether a restraining order is necessary, upon an evaluation
    of the facts set forth in N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29[(a)](1) to – 29[(a)](6), to protect the
    victim from an immediate danger or to prevent further abuse." Ibid (citation
    omitted). Those factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
    (1) The previous history of domestic violence between
    the plaintiff and defendant, including threats,
    harassment[,] and physical abuse;
    (2) The existence of immediate danger to person or
    property;
    (3) The financial circumstances of the plaintiff and
    defendant;
    A-3390-20
    5
    (4) The best interests of the victim and any child;
    (5) In determining custody and parenting time the
    protection of the victim's safety; and
    (6) The existence of a verifiable order of protection
    from another jurisdiction.
    [N.J.S.A. 2C;25-29(a).]
    This second prong further "requires [that] the conduct [be] imbued by a
    desire to abuse or control the victim." R.G., 
    449 N.J. Super. at 228
    ; see also
    Peranio v. Peranio, 
    280 N.J. Super. 47
    , 52 (App. Div. 1995) (defining domestic
    violence as "a pattern of abusive and controlling behavior injurious to its
    victims"). Whether a defendant's conduct was designed to abuse or control the
    plaintiff should be assessed in the context of the "entire relationship between the
    parties." Cesare, 
    154 N.J. at 405
    .
    The trial judge's determination that defendant committed the predicate act
    of harassment was based on consideration of the totality of the circumstances.
    He relied on the aggregate of defendant's electronic communications directed
    towards plaintiff; the existence of financial control over the plaintif f; and
    defendant's multiple violations of communicative restrictions prescribed in prior
    temporary restraining orders and consent orders to find that plaintiff established
    A-3390-20
    6
    harassment "well beyond a preponderance of the evidence."            We find no
    principled reason to second-guess this determination.
    After careful examination of the record, we are also satisfied that this same
    evidence more than amply demonstrated the judge's determination that plaintiff
    required an FRO to protect her from defendant's abusive behavior.
    Affirmed.
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    7