M.L. v. K.B. ( 2024 )

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NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE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-2751-22
M.L.,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
K.B.,
Defendant-Appellant.
_________________________
Submitted April 23, 2024 – Decided April 30, 2024
Before Judges Gooden Brown and Haas.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
Chancery Division, Family Part, Passaic County,
Docket No. FV-16-1876-23.
Lomurro, Munson, LLC, attorneys for appellant
(Joshua E. Maze, on the brief).
Respondent has not filed a brief.
PER CURIAM
Appellant K.B. 1 appeals from a March 28, 2023 final restraining order
(FRO) entered in favor of respondent M.L. pursuant to the Prevention of
Domestic Violence Act (PDVA), N.J.S.A. 2C:25-17 to -35. Because the trial
court made insufficient credibility findings and failed to properly evaluate the
proofs under the standards enunciated in Silver v. Silver, 387 N.J. Super. 112(App. Div. 2006), we vacate the FRO and remand for further proceedings.
K.B. and M.L. had been in a dating relationship, which ended in May
2022. On February 15, 2023, K.B. filed a complaint seeking the entry of a
Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against M.L. after he allegedly threw a
rock through the front window of her home. Eight days later, on February 23,
2023, M.L. filed a complaint seeking a TRO against K.B. for allegedly making
terroristic threats against him. The two matters were consolidated for trial.
On March 28, 2023, both parties appeared for trial. At that time, K.B.
asked for permission to amend her complaint to include an extensive past history
of prior acts of domestic violence that M.L. allegedly committed against her.
The trial court did not ask K.B. to provide details concerning this history
on the record. Had the court done so, it would have learned that the parties' two
complaints were inextricably linked together. K.B.'s later amended complaint
1
We use initials to identify the parties in accordance with Rule 1:38-3(d)(10).
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revealed, among other things that M.L. stabbed K.B. in the back of her neck on
June 11, 2022. Defendant later pled guilty to an assault charge and was in jail
for approximately five months. He was released shortly before the predicate
acts described in the parties' respective complaints. Indeed, in the amended
complaint, K.B. alleged that M.L. filed his complaint "as a form of retaliation
and revenge" against her for bringing charges against him.
Unlike the standard practice in these matters, the trial court did not briefly
excuse the parties to allow K.B. to include the amendments in her complaint so
that M.L. could review them that same day. At that point, the court would
discuss the matter with the parties and determine whether an adjournment was
necessary to enable defendant to marshal the evidence necessary to meet the new
allegations. If that was the case, the court would move the trial to a new date.
However, if both parties were satisfied they could proceed, the trial could
continue.
Here, the trial court did not follow this procedure. Instead, the court
immediately adjourned the trial on K.B.'s complaint and scheduled it for a new
date. Noting that M.L.'s complaint involved an incident that allegedly occurred
on "a different date," the court determined that his complaint could still be tried
as scheduled.
A-2751-22
3
The court's decision had immediate adverse ramifications for K.B.
because the court would later rule that it could not consider M.L.'s past history
of domestic violence against her because it was not listed in M.L.'s complaint.
The court asked the parties, who were not represented by attorneys, if they were
ready to proceed, and they stated they were.
A short trial followed. M.L. testified that after he was released from jail
on the assault charge, there was a "no contact order" in place against him in
K.B.'s and her daughter's favor. 2 He stated that he had been attempting to get a
restraining order against K.B. since January 28, 2023, but had been
unsuccessful. His complaint indicated that his requests for TROs had been
denied "several times" during this period. The court did not as k M.L. any
questions about his attempts to obtain TROs or why they were denied.
As for the predicate offense, the court stated that M.L.'s complaint
"allege[d] that there was an incident that took place on February 23, 2023 at
approximately 12:23 a.m." and asked him what happened at that time. M.L.
claimed that K.B. came to his house driving a silver minivan. He looked out the
second floor window of his home and saw four men in the minivan and all of
2
M.L. was originally attempting to assault K.B.'s daughter. K.B. got between
them and M.L. stabbed her in the neck.
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them had guns. M.L. said K.B. and the men "kept calling his name out the
window, talking about we know you up there, this and that, come outside." He
also stated they told him to "[c]ome outside so they could F [him] up."
Although he told the court that this incident began after midnight, he also
stated, "I don't remember the time. It was in the afternoon - - I mean the
afternoon - - evening." Later, M.L. testified during K.B.'s cross-examination
that "[t]his was around like 5:00 - - between 5:00 and 6:00 when - - I'm not sure
like what's the exact time." He was also unclear how long the incident lasted.
He told K.B. on cross-examination that it was "[l]ike a couple of minutes - - like
seven minutes - - five minutes."
M.L. stated he called the police and filed a report. Other than his TRO
complaint, however, M.L. did not introduce a copy of the report at the trial and
the court did not ask him if the police conducted an investigation of the alleged
incident. M.L. also did not use his phone to photograph or record K.B. or the
four armed men he claimed were at his home.
M.L. testified that K.B. was a gang member. When K.B. asked him why
he said this, M.L. explained that he knew K.B. was in a gang because she lived
on a particular street. Although M.L. admitted he did not know any of the men
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who allegedly accompanied K.B. to his home, he also asserted they were gang
members.
M.L. admitted that K.B. did not own a silver minivan. He did not obtain
the license number of the vehicle he allegedly saw that night.
During her testimony, K.B. denied any involvement in the incident. She
said she did not see M.L. at any time on February 23, 2023. K.B. also told the
court that she "wish[ed] [she] could pursue with my domestic violence case so
you could see my history of domestic violence[.]" The court did not respond to
this request.
M.L. wrote in his complaint that "both parties have previous domestic
violence history." The trial court asked M.L. to explain this entry.
In response, M.L. did not assert that K.B. had ever committed an act of
domestic violence against him. Instead, he stated that the parties' history
consisted solely of the incident where he "went away for aggravated assault - -
for bodily injuries that was false." M.L. explained that the charges were "false"
because it was actually K.B.'s daughter who "cut her." M.L. stated that K.B.
wanted to protect her daughter, so she told the police that he assaulted her. M.L.
alleged that he "took a plea" on that charge so he could "get home" from jail.
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K.B. attempted to ask M.L. about the domestic violence he committed
against her that would later appear in her amended complaint. However, the
trial court did not allow her to do so after M.L. claimed there were no other
incidents.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court rendered a very brief oral
opinion. After providing a short summary of each party's testimony, the court
found that M.L. "met his burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence."
The court based this conclusion on the following findings:
[M.L.] testified clearly and credibly that an incident
. . . that involved terroristic threats by [K.B.] against
him did, in fact, take place on February 23, 2023.
He described the minivan, the location of where it was
parked and the four gentlemen that were with [K.B.]
The court made no credibility findings concerning M.B.'s testimony.
Turning to the second prong of the Silver test, the trial court stated:
Based on [M.L.'s] testimony , . . . the [c]ourt does find
that there is an immediate danger to [M.L.] if a [FRO]
is not entered and, therefore, there will be a [FRO]
entered in this matter against [K.B.]
This appeal followed. 3
3
On June 26, 2023, we granted K.B.'s motion to supplement the record with
information concerning the outcome of her complaint against M.L. On April
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On appeal, K.B. contends the trial court "made incorrect assumptions
about the impact of bifurcating the proceedings" and that its "finding of the
predicate act of terroristic threats was unsupported by substantial, credible
evidence."
Our scope of review in these matters is well-established. "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)). "[D]eference is especially appropriate 'when
the evidence is largely testimonial and involves questions of credibility.'"
MacKinnon v. MacKinnon, 191 N.J. 240, 254 (2007) (quoting Cesare v. Cesare,
154 N.J. 394, 412 (1998)).
25, 2023, a different judge conducted a trial on K.B.'s complaint against M.L.
M.L. did not appear. The judge expressed concern about why the two cases had
not been heard together, but took testimony from K.B., who testified that M.L.
had broken her window and a mirror when he threw rocks at her home. K.B.
also provided the judge with the history of domestic violence that she was barred
from presenting in the trial on M.L.'s complaint. In addition to the aggravated
assault we have already discussed, K.B. testified that on other occasions, M.L.
kicked in her door, "busted out" her car windows, and entered her home without
permission. At the end of the trial, the judge concluded that K.B. was "entirely
credible" and granted her request for a FRO against M.L. The judge also added
K.B.'s daughter as a protected party under the FRO.
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Generally, "findings by a trial court are binding on appeal when supported
by adequate, substantial, credible evidence." Gnall v. Gnall, 222 N.J. 414, 428
(2015). Thus, we will not disturb a trial court's factual findings unless "'they are
so manifestly unsupported by or inconsistent with the competent, relevant and
reasonably credible evidence as to offend the interests of justice.'" Cesare, 154
N.J. at 412 (quoting Rova Farms Resort, Inc. v. Invs. Ins. Co. of Am., 65 N.J.
474, 484 (1974)). However, we do not accord such deference to the trial court's
purely legal conclusions, which we review de novo. Thieme v. Aucoin-Thieme,
227 N.J. 269, 283 (2016).
The entry of an FRO under the PDVA requires the trial court to make
certain findings pursuant to a two-step analysis delineated in Silver, 387 N.J.
Super. at 125-27. First, the court "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." Id. at 125 (citing
N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29(a)).
Terroristic threats are among the predicate acts that constitute domestic
violence. N.J.S.A. 2C:25-19(a)(3). The crime of terroristic threats occurs when
a person "threatens to commit any crime of violence with the purpose to terrorize
another" or "threatens to kill another with the purpose to put him in immediate
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fear of death under circumstances reasonably causing the victim to believe the
immediacy of the threat and the likelihood that it will be carried out." N.J.S.A.
2C:12-3(a) and (b). "The pertinent requirements are whether: (1) the defendant
in fact threatened the plaintiff; (2) the defendant intended to threaten the
plaintiff; and (3) a reasonable person would have believed the threat." Cesare,
154 N.J. at 402.
Under the second Silver prong, if the court finds that the defendant
committed a predicate act of domestic violence, the court must then determine
whether it "should enter a restraining order that provides protection for the
victim." Silver, 387 N.J. Super. at 126. In those cases where "the risk of harm
is . . . great," J.D. 207 N.J. at 488, the second inquiry "is . . . often perfunctory
and self-evident," Silver, 387 N.J. Super. at 127. See A.M.C. v. P.B., 447 N.J.
Super. 402, 417 (App. Div. 2016) ("When the predicate act is an offense that
inherently involves the use of physical force and violence, the decision to issue
an FRO 'is most often perfunctory and self-evident.'" (quoting Silver, 387 N.J.
Super. at 127)). However, in all cases, "the guiding standard is whether a
restraining order is necessary, upon an evaluation of the factors 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." Silver, 387 N.J. Super. at 127.
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Under N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29(a),
[t]he court shall consider but not be limited to the
following factors:
(1) [t]he previous history of domestic violence between
the plaintiff and defendant, including threats,
harassment and physical abuse;
(2) [t]he existence of immediate danger to person or
property;
(3) [t]he financial circumstances of the plaintiff and
defendant;
(4) [t]he best interests of the victim and any child;
(5) [i]n determining custody and parenting time the
protection of the victim's safety; and
(6) [t]he existence of a verifiable order of protection
from another jurisdiction.
In rendering a decision, the trial court is required to make specific findings
of fact and state its conclusions of law. R. 1:7-4(a); see also Elrom v. Elrom,
439 N.J. Super. 424, 443 (App. Div. 2015) (requiring an adequate explanation
for the basis of a court's action). "Failure to make explicit findings and clear
statements of reasoning 'constitutes a disservice to the litigants, the attorneys,
and the appellate court.'" Gnall, 222 N.J. at 428 (quoting Curtis v. Finneran, 83
N.J. 563, 569-70 (1980)).
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Moreover, "[m]eaningful appellate review is inhibited unless the [court]
sets forth the reasons for [its] opinion." N.J. Div. of Child Prot. & Permanency
v. T.S., 463 N.J. Super. 142, 168 (App. Div. 2020) (quoting Salch v. Salch, 240
N.J. Super. 441, 443 (App. Div. 1990)). Thus, although our standard of review
is generally limited in this area, where inadequate fact findings are made or
where issues are not addressed, we are constrained to remand for further
proceedings. See Gormley v. Gormley, 462 N.J. Super. 433, 449 (App. Div.
2019) ("'The omission of critical factual findings . . . requires a remand limited
to this issue.'" (quoting Elrom, 439 N.J. Super. at 443)).
Applying these principles, we conclude the trial court failed to make
specific credibility findings in accordance with Rule 1:7-4 to properly conduct
the requisite Silver analysis. See Pressler & Verniero, Current N.J. Court Rules,
cmt. 1 on R. 1:7-4 (2024) (noting Rule 1:7-4(a) "requires specific findings of
fact and conclusions of law"). Although the court stated that M.L. "testified
clearly and credibly," it did not explain the basis for this finding other than
stating that M.L. "described the minivan, the location of where it was parked
and the four gentleman that were with" K.B. The court did not even mention
M.L.'s demeanor and behavior on the witness stand. The mere fact that a witness
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was able to describe a vehicle, its location, and claim there were four men in it
is insufficient support for a credibility finding.
The court also did not consider the many inconsistent statements M.L.
made at trial. For example, he was not sure when the alleged incident occurred,
and variously stated that it happened in the afternoon, between 5:00 p.m. and
6:00 p.m., or after midnight. He could not say how long K.B. was outside his
home with the four men. He claimed K.B. and the men, who he could not
identify, were gang members solely because K.B. lived on a particular street.
M.L. claimed he had previously sought to obtain TROs against K.B. after
his release from jail, but had been unsuccessful. The court did not ask him why
he sought those orders or why the judges denied them.
Perhaps most significantly, M.L. claimed he lied under oath during his
plea hearing when he pled guilty to the aggravated assault charge that led to his
jail sentence. The court did not explain how M.L.'s claim that he previously
violated his duty to tell the truth in a court proceeding factored into its
determination that he was credible in this case. The court also failed to make
any specific credibility findings concerning K.B.'s testimony.
Nor did the court explain why it did not consider the parties' full prior
history in analyzing the case. See N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29(a)(1) (requiring the court
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to consider "[t]he previous history of domestic violence between the plaintiff
and defendant"). As noted above, the parties' two complaints should have been
considered together during a single trial. In that fashion, the court would have
obtained a complete picture of their interactions. At the very least, once M.L.
claimed that the aggravated assault he committed against K.B. was the only past
instance of domestic violence during their relationship, the court should have
granted K.B.'s request to bring in the other past history to rebut M.L.'s claim.
Based upon these obvious deficiencies in the court's analysis, the FRO cannot
stand under the first prong of Silver.
The trial court was also required to make specific findings as to whether
restraints were necessary to "protect the victim from an immediate danger or to
prevent further abuse." Silver, 387 N.J. Super. at 126-27. On this point, we
agree with K.B. that the trial court's findings concerning the second Silver prong
were insufficient.
The court made only a conclusory finding "that there is an immediate
danger to [M.L.] if a [FRO] is not entered . . . ." The court did not provide
detailed findings concerning M.L.'s testimony or the lack of any past history of
domestic violence on K.B.'s part against M.L. Indeed, the only testimony the
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court permitted on the issue of past history concerned the aggravated assault
M.L. committed against K.B.
Because our review is hampered by the trial court's failure to make
sufficient credibility findings as required by Rule 1:7-4 as well as the court's
incomplete evaluation of the second step of the Silver analysis, we are
constrained to vacate the FRO, reinstate the complaint and the TRO, and remand
the matter for a new trial. Because the judge who conducted the March 28, 2023
trial may have a commitment to the limited findings in the record, the new trial
should be conducted by a different judge. See N.J. Div. of Youth & Fam. Servs.
v. A.W., 103 N.J. 591, 617 (1986) ("Because the trial judge has heard this
evidence and may have a commitment to its findings, we believe it is best that
the case be reconsidered by a new fact-finder.");
Vacated and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this
opinion. We do not retain jurisdiction.
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