Evans-Dorn v. Dorn , 2015 Ohio 5032 ( 2015 )

[Cite as Evans-Dorn v. Dorn, 2015-Ohio-5032.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
CLERMONT COUNTY
HEATHER N. EVANS-DORN, :
Plaintiff-Appellant, : CASE NO. CA2015-03-031
: OPINION
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:
MATTHEW N. DORN, :
Defendant-Appellee. :
APPEAL FROM CLERMONT COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
DOMESTIC RELATIONS DIVISION
Case No. 2013 DRA 00767
The Farrish Law Firm, Michaela M. Stagnaro, 810 Sycamore Street, 6th Floor, Cincinnati,
Ohio 45202, for plaintiff-appellant
Rollman & Handorf LLC, Jeffrey M. Rollman, 5740 Gateway Blvd., Suite 202, Mason, Ohio
45040, for defendant-appellee
HENDRICKSON, J.
{¶ 1} Plaintiff-appellant, Heather N. Evans-Dorn (Mother), appeals a decision of the
Clermont County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, determining custody
and visitation rights in a divorce case. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.
{¶ 2} Mother and defendant-appellee, Matthew N. Dorn (Father), were married on
March 5, 2011, and had one daughter together, E.D., born October 26, 2011. Mother had
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another daughter, I.E., from a previous relationship. The family initially resided in a home in
Bethel, Ohio while Father worked for Duke Energy and Mother stayed home to care for the
children. Father worked extensive overtime, and the parties decided it would be best for the
family for Father to secure a transfer within the company to North Carolina. Father and
Mother traveled to North Carolina to search for a home together, and a home in Cornelius,
North Carolina was purchased. After moving some personal effects and the family's pets into
the North Carolina home, Mother decided she did not want to move to North Carolina or
remain married to Father. Mother subsequently filed a complaint for divorce on June 18,
2013. The trial court entered a temporary order allocating parental rights and responsibilities.
Mother was named the residential parent and Father was given parenting time in Ohio on
alternating weekends.
{¶ 3} The allocation of parental rights and responsibilities was a significant point of
contention between the parties during the pendency of the proceedings. Mother requested
E.D. live primarily with her under a shared parenting plan. Father sought sole custody of
E.D. or, as an alternative, shared parenting. The court ordered a parenting investigation to
be completed to assist it in its custody determination. The court's parenting investigator filed
a report on March 18, 2014, in which the investigator discussed the difficulties the parties'
have in communicating with one another and recommended that the court consider
appointing a guardian ad litem for the child.
{¶ 4} Thereafter, Father filed a motion for the appointment of a guardian ad litem,
and the court granted the motion. Carla Leader was appointed as E.D.'s guardian ad litem.
Leader corresponded and met with Mother, Father, and their various friends and family
members. Leader filed an initial report on May 21, 2014, in which she recommended the
court implement a shared parenting plan with Mother being the primary residential parent and
Father having visitation every weekend. Months later, on October 10, 2014, Leader filed a
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supplemental report in which she continued to recommend shared parenting, but this time
she recommended that E.D. live primarily in North Carolina with Father.
{¶ 5} A final divorce hearing was held on October 23 and October 24, 2014. At the
hearing, the trial court heard testimony from Mother, Father, mother's former foster parents,
E.D.'s paternal grandmother, and Leader. Leader testified about her investigation, the
parties' difficulties in communicating with one another, and her concerns about Mother's
ability to provide stability and structure for E.D. Leader opined that E.D. needed to know both
of her parents and have time with her sister, and Leader suggested Mother, who was
unemployed, move to North Carolina to facilitate E.D.'s relationship with both parents.
{¶ 6} On February 26, 2015, the trial court issued its final decree of divorce in which it
denied shared parenting. The trial court found it was in E.D.'s best interest to name Father
the sole residential parent and legal custodian and to grant Mother parenting time for nine
consecutive days each month.
{¶ 7} Mother now appeals, presenting the following assignment of error for our
review:
{¶ 8} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF LAW IN ALLOCATING
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS IT WAS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF THE CHILD.
{¶ 9} In her sole assignment of error, Mother argues the trial court erred when it
awarded Father sole custody of E.D. Mother argues it is in E.D.'s best interests for her to be
designated the residential parent and legal custodian.
{¶ 10} R.C. 3109.04 governs the award of parental rights and responsibilities. In
making this determination, the trial court's primary concern is the best interest of the child.
Rainey v. Rainey, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2010-10-083, 2011-Ohio-4343, ¶ 12. The trial
court must consider all relevant factors related to the child's best interest, including but not
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limited to those specified in R.C. 3109.04(F)(1). Bristow v. Bristow, 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2009-05-139, 2010-Ohio-3469, ¶ 8. These factors include the following: the wishes of
the parents; the child's interactions and interrelationships with parents, siblings, and other
persons who may significantly affect the child's best interest; the child's adjustment to home,
school and community; the mental and physical health of all persons involved in the situation;
the parent more likely to honor and facilitate visitation; whether one parent has denied the
other parenting time; whether either parent has failed to make all child support payments;
and whether either parent has established or is planning to establish a residence outside of
Ohio. R.C. 3109.04(F)(1)(a)-(j).
{¶ 11} With regard to whether shared parenting is in the child's best interest, the court
must consider the additional factors set forth in R.C. 3109.04(F)(2). These factors include
the ability of the parents to cooperate and make decisions jointly, the ability of each parent to
encourage the sharing of love, affection, and contact between the child and the other parent,
any history or potential for abuse, the geographic proximity of the parents to one another,
and the recommendation of the guardian ad litem. R.C. 3109.04(F)(2)(a)-(e).
{¶ 12} An appellate court will not disturb a trial court's decision with regard to the
allocation of parental rights and responsibilities absent an abuse of discretion. Rainey at ¶
15. An abuse of discretion implies that the trial court's attitude was unreasonable, arbitrary,
or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St. 3d 217, 219 (1983). When reviewing
a trial court's decision, an appellate court "may not substitute its judgment for that of the trial
court because the 'discretion which a trial court enjoys in custody matters should be accorded
the utmost respect, given the nature of the proceeding and the impact the court's
determination will have on the lives of the parties concerned.'" Renner v. Renner, 12th Dist.
Clermont No. CA2014-01-004, 2014-Ohio-2237, ¶ 16, quoting Caldwell v. Caldwell, 12th Dist.
Clermont Nos. CA2008-02-019 and CA2008-03-021, 2009-Ohio-2201, ¶ 15.
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{¶ 13} A review of the record indicates that the juvenile court engaged in a detailed
evaluation of the relevant factors set forth in R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) and (2) before determining
shared parenting was not in E.D.'s best interest and Father should be child's residential
parent and legal custodian. The trial court found E.D. has a close and loving relationship with
both parents, with her sister, and with her extended family on both sides. E.D. is attached to
mother's former foster parents, who she has dinner with nearly every evening. E.D. is also
attached to her paternal grandparents. E.D.'s paternal grandmother testified she and her
husband intend to sell their home in Ohio and move closer to Father if Father is given
custody of E.D. The paternal grandparents have another child, Father's sister, who lives in
South Carolina, approximately 35 miles away from Father's home. The paternal
grandparents and Father's sister intend to help care for E.D. while E.D. is in Father's custody.
{¶ 14} Mother testified that as of the date of the final divorce hearing, she was not
employed. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology and is looking into renewing a
substitute teaching license. If Mother obtains employment, she will continue to rely on her
former foster parents and a family friend, Shannon Wise, to provide childcare for E.D. The
court expressed concerns with Mother's choice of Wise as a caregiver, noting that Mother
had admitted Wise's significant other has anger management issues and possible drug
abuse issues. Mother also commented that Wise's son, who is autistic, has wandered out of
Wise's home on occasion and Wise has allowed Mother's biological mother to live at her
house. Mother testified she did not trust her biological mother to be alone with E.D.
{¶ 15} The court also considered the mental and physical health of Mother and Father
and the type of stability and structure each parent could provide for E.D. Father was reported
to be in good health. He has worked for the same company for over 15 years, and has
stable housing in North Carolina. Father established his home in Cornelius, North Carolina
prior to the parties' filing of divorce, believing Mother, E.D., and I.E. would be living in that
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home as well. Father looked into daycares, schools, and pediatricians in the area. Father's
job in North Carolina allows him a more structured work schedule, as he is no longer required
to work up to 20 hours of overtime a week. Leader opined that "[E.D.] would have more
structure, routine, and probably better care if she were in the custody of Father [as] Father
has more of a focus on bedtime routines, education and structure, and seems to have more
of a support network in his family."
{¶ 16} Leader expressed concern about the type of structure and routine E.D. would
receive while in Mother's care. Mother is unemployed and takes prescription medication for
depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Mother has struggled to provide stable housing for E.D.
After separating from Father, Mother moved with the children from apartment to apartment.
From May 2014 through October 2014, the time-frame between the guardian ad litem's two
reports, Mother moved three times. Mother did not inform Leader of her moves and did not
disclose that at least one of these moves occurred after eviction proceedings had been
initiated against her.
{¶ 17} The court also heard testimony that Mother has struggled with keeping a set
routine or schedule for E.D. and her sister. E.D.'s older sister was discharged from her
preschool because she attended school less than 75 percent of the time. Mother was
dismissed from a prior psychiatrist's practice for failing to keep appointments. Mother also
failed to appear for her first appointment with the court's parenting investigator.
{¶ 18} Evidence was also introduced demonstrating that Mother allowed the children
to stay awake late into the night and sleep late into the next day. Father testified Mother,
E.D., and I.E. often stayed up late into the night playing together or watching television.
When Leader met Mother for a scheduled visit at Mother's home around 1:00 p.m., E.D. was
dressed in nothing but a diaper, Mother appeared to have recently awoken, and Mother was
making breakfast foods for the children to eat.
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{¶ 19} Additionally, the court heard testimony raising concerns about whether Mother
routinely took E.D. to her doctor's appointments. Although Mother presented evidence that
E.D. was in good health and was current on all her shots and well checkups, Father testified
he had been contacted by E.D.'s pediatric office because E.D. and I.E. had missed so many
appointments that the office was considering dropping them as patients. E.D. also had poor
dental hygiene, with eight or more teeth experiencing dental decay. Mother blamed the
dental decay on "bad genetics" and, according to Leader's May 2014 report, did not appear
receptive to E.D.'s dentist's suggestions on ways to change E.D.'s diet and oral hygiene so
as to control and prevent the dental decay.
{¶ 20} The trial court also heard testimony regarding the parties' geographical
proximity to one another, their ability to communicate with one another, and the likelihood
that each parent would honor and facilitate visitation. The court noted the parties lived about
430 miles apart and that Father's move to North Carolina occurred with Mother's approval
and encouragement. According to both Mother and Father's testimony, Father took a job
transfer to North Carolina in an effort to reduce his work hours so that he would have more
time with Mother, E.D., and I.E. Mother initially intended to live with Father in North Carolina,
but later changed her mind after moving some of her belongings and the family's pets into the
North Carolina home. Father testified he would not have left Ohio if he knew Mother and the
girls were not going to follow. According to Father, he is unable to transfer back to his
previous work position in Ohio at this time.
{¶ 21} Evidence was presented at the divorce hearing demonstrating that Mother and
Father have a contentious relationship and have difficulty communicating with one another.
According to Leader, Mother and Father are "extremely incompatible." Both Mother and
Father described various arguments and fights they engaged in during their marriage and
after their separation. Father testified he had concerns that if Mother were named residential
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parent of E.D., Mother would deny him parenting time, would refuse to allow E.D. to visit with
her paternal family, and would refuse to share information about E.D.'s medical and dental
appointments. Father claimed Mother had not abided by the court's temporary parenting
time order and had made it difficult for him to exercise his parenting time with E.D. According
to Father, Mother refused him his parenting time one weekend when E.D. was sick, although
Father was capable of caring for an ill E.D. On another occasion, Mother refused Father
parenting time because E.D. was breastfeeding, although E.D. was eating solid foods at the
time as well. Mother often ignored Father's calls and texts when Father was trying to arrange
parenting time, and she once hid her car in the parking lot of a closed business to avoid
Father. These incidents led the court to believe that "Mother has not been supportive of
Father's involvement in their daughter's life," and the court expressed concerns that "Mother
will continue to deny Father parenting time and will do nothing to support and encourage the
relationship between Father and their daughter." With these considerations in mind, the trial
court ultimately concluded that it was not in E.D.'s best interest to grant shared parenting or
to name Mother the residential parent and legal custodian.
{¶ 22} On appeal, Mother argues the court's concerns that she will not honor or
facilitate Father's visitation or relationship with E.D. are not supported by evidence. She
contends that the court's concerns "can be easily remedied with clear and detailed provisions
in the court order as suggested by the parenting investigator. * * * The trial court could
specify how Father was to be provided information and under what circumstances so both
parents could understand their respective responsibilities."
{¶ 23} We find no merit to Mother's argument. The trial court heard testimony from
Father and Father's mother that Mother interfered with Father's visitation. The court was also
advised by the guardian ad litem that Mother uses E.D. to try and control Father. According
to Leader, Mother "likes to play games with Father and without the pending litigation, she
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very easily could withhold access to [E.D.]" Given the evidence before the court, we find that
the court did not abuse its discretion when it determined it was not in E.D.'s best interest for
Mother to be named residential parent and legal custodian.
{¶ 24} We also find no merit to Mother's arguments that the trial court ignored
evidence demonstrating that Father is unable to care for E.D. Mother claims the trial court
awarded Father custody of E.D. without considering that Father has never been E.D.'s
primary caregiver and he has had help from his family when caring for E.D. since the child's
birth. Mother argues putting E.D. in Father's custody will result in E.D. being placed in
dangerous situations as Father owns guns that are not properly secured and he abuses
alcohol on a daily basis. In support of her claim that Father abuses alcohol, Mother relies, at
least in part, on evidence relating to Father's behavior while he was in high school and
Father's two DUI convictions from 2004 and 2008.
{¶ 25} During the final divorce hearing, Father admitted to owning guns. Father
testified he had purchased breach locks and trigger locks to secure the firearms. He also
testified he removed the guns from his home in North Carolina. Father admitted he had two
DUIs and occasionally drank alcohol. He denied, however, that he abused alcohol or drank
daily. The court found Father's testimony credible, concluding that "[t]here is no credible
evidence that Father abuses alcohol." The trial court was entitled to believe Father's
testimony and evidence over Mother's on this matter. See Ruble v. Ruble, 12th Dist.
Madison No. CA2010-09-019, 2011-Ohio-3350, ¶ 15; In re A.B., 12th Dist. Butler No.
CA2009-10-257, 2010-Ohio-2823, ¶ 21 ("[a] reviewing court must keep in mind that the trial
court is better equipped to examine and weight evidence, determine the credibility, attitude
and demeanor of witnesses, and make decisions concerning custody"). The court was also
entitled to find Father's testimony that he had secured and removed the guns for E.D.'s
safety credible.
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{¶ 26} Accordingly, having thoroughly reviewed the record before us, we conclude that
the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying shared parenting and awarding Father
sole custody of E.D. The trial court considered the relevant factors set forth in R.C.
3109.04(F) in making its determination, and the court's decision is supported by competent,
credible evidence. Mother's sole assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
{¶ 27} Judgment affirmed.
PIPER, P.J., and M. POWELL, J., concur.
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