Todd v. Todd ( 2019 )

[Cite as Todd v. Todd, 2019-Ohio-1466.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ATHENS COUNTY
CORY TODD, : Case No. 18CA26
Plaintiff-Appellant, :
v. : DECISION AND
JUDGMENT ENTRY
DEIDRA TODD, :
Defendant-Appellee. : RELEASED 04/01/2019
______________________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
William B. Summers, Parkersburg, West Virginia, for appellant.
Joseph H. Nemec and Claire M. Ball, Jr., Ball Law Office, Athens, Ohio, for appellee.
______________________________________________________________________
Hess, J.
{¶1} Cory Todd (“father”) appeals from the trial court’s judgment in a divorce
case overruling his objections to a magistrate’s decision and adopting the magistrate’s
recommendations that he be designated the residential and custodial parent of his two
minor children but that Deidra Todd (“mother”) receive equal parenting time. Father
contends the trial court erred in awarding equal parenting time. Because father failed to
provide the trial court with a transcript of the final hearing when he filed his objections,
our review is limited to determining whether the trial court’s application of the law to the
factual findings it adopted from the magistrate’s decision constituted an abuse of
discretion. Having found no abuse of discretion, we affirm the trial court’s judgment.
I. FACTS
{¶2} The parties married in 2009 and had two children during the marriage. In
2016, father filed for divorce, and the only disputed issues pertained to the children.
Athens App. No. 18CA26 2
Father requested the designation of residential and custodial parent, permission to
relocate to Georgia, and that mother receive parenting time pursuant to local guidelines.
Mother requested a shared parenting plan with an alternating weekly schedule. The
guardian ad litem did not recommend shared parenting and opined that it was not in the
children’s best interest to relocate to Georgia. The guardian ad litem recommended that
if father moved, mother be designated residential and custodial parent and father
receive parenting time pursuant to local guidelines. If father did not move, the guardian
ad litem recommended that he be designated the residential and custodial parent and
that mother receive parenting time pursuant to local guidelines.
{¶3} After the final hearing, the magistrate issued a decision explaining that the
magistrate considered the factors in R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) and R.C. 3109.04(F)(2) and
concluded shared parenting was not in the best interest of the children “as the parties
are simply unable to communicate and engage in joint decision-making.” The
magistrate concluded it was in the best of the children to designate father as legal
custodian and residential parent on the condition that he not relocate outside of Athens
County absent agreement of the parties or a court order. However, the magistrate
found that “both parents are capable parents and that it’s in the children’s best interest
to have equal time with each parent” and established a 50/50 parenting time schedule.
Father filed objections to the magistrate’s decision asserting equal parenting time was
not in the best interest of the children based on the factors in R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) and
that he should be permitted to relocate to Georgia.
{¶4} In overruling the objections, the trial court explained that father
takes issue with the Magistrate’s application of several provisions of
Ohio’s statutory mandates for determining the best interest of the child.
Athens App. No. 18CA26 3
Specifically, [he] argues that the Magistrate failed to properly account for
the wishes of the children; the children’s interpersonal relationships; the
children’s adjustment to home, school, and family; which parent is more
likely to facilitate visitation; child support obligations; and, intent of the
parents to relocate outside of Ohio.
It further explained that “[e]ach of [his] arguments rest upon what are clearly disputed
facts,” but because father failed to provide a transcript of the final hearing, the court
adopted the magistrate’s findings of fact. The court stated: “Reviewing the Magistrate’s
legal conclusions in light of those factual findings, the Court finds no error of law. The
Decision meticulously considers each of the factors required by R.C. § 3109.04 and
arrives at fair and correct conclusions.” And after conducting an independent review of
the record, the trial court adopted the magistrate’s decision.
II. ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR
{¶5} Father assigns the following error for our review:
The Appellant believes the Magistrate and, thereafter, the Court made the
incorrect determination and abused its discretion in not following the
Guardian Ad Litem’s recommendations in this matter and awarding the
Appellant sole decision making authority and the Appellee only visitation.
Furthermore, the Magistrate and thereafter [the] Court * * * abused his
discretion ignoring evidence that the Appellant presented that
demonstrated that the Appellee was not capable of shared parenting and
should not have been given equal parenting time. See e.g. Stout v.
Bushong, 2008-Ohio-2223 (May 7, 2008)[.]
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
{¶6} Father challenges the decision to award equal parenting time. “ ‘Appellate
courts generally review “the propriety of a trial court’s determination in a domestic
relations case” under the “abuse of discretion” standard.’ ” Sarchione-Tookey v.
Tookey, 4th Dist. Athens No. 17CA41, 2018-Ohio-2716, ¶ 21, quoting Clifford v.
Skaggs, 4th Dist. Gallia No. 17CA6, 2017-Ohio-8597, ¶ 9, quoting Booth v. Booth, 44
Athens App. No. 18CA26 4
Ohio St. 3d 142, 144, 541 N.E.2d 1028 (1989) (abuse of discretion standard applies to
child support, custody, visitation, spousal support, and division of marital property).
“Under this highly deferential standard, we must affirm the decision of the trial court
unless it is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable.” Id. at ¶ 21, citing State v.
Beasley, 152 Ohio St. 3d 470, 2018-Ohio-16, 97 N.E.3d 474, ¶ 12.
{¶7} The entry father contests is the trial court’s judgment overruling his
objections to the magistrate’s decision and adopting it, but he did not provide the trial
court with a transcript of the hearing before the magistrate. On August 2, 2018, the trial
court issued its judgment, and on August 27, 2018, father filed his notice of appeal and
a request for a transcript of the final hearing. Although the court reporter filed the
transcript on October 2, 2018, in O’Rourke v. O’Rourke, Athens App. No. 17CA37,
2018-Ohio-4031, we stated:
It is well-established that appellate courts will not consider evidence that a
party did not submit to the trial court. Babcock v. Welcome, 4th Dist. Ross
No. 11CA3273, 2012-Ohio-5284, ¶ 16. “A reviewing court cannot add
matter to the record before it, which was not a part of the trial court’s
proceedings, and then decide the appeal on the basis of the new matter.”
State v. Ishmail, 54 Ohio St. 2d 402, 377 N.E.2d 500 (1978), paragraph
one of the syllabus. In other words, an appellate court is “precluded from
considering anything that was not before the trial court when it overruled
appellant’s objection to the magistrate's decision.” Ragins v. Dains, 10th
Dist. Franklin No. 12AP-124, 2012-Ohio-5089, ¶ 9. When a party
objecting to a magistrate’s decision does not provide the trial court with a
transcript of the magistrate’s proceedings, appellate review “is limited to
whether the trial court abused its discretion in adopting the [magistrate]'s
report.” State ex rel. Duncan v. Chippewa Twp. Trustees, 73 Ohio St. 3d
728, 730, 654 N.E.2d 1254 (1995). “In other words, an appeal under
these circumstances can be reviewed by the appellate court to determine
whether the trial court’s application of the law to its factual findings
constituted an abuse of discretion.” Id. Accord Liming v. Damos, 4th Dist.
Athens No. 08CA34, 2009-Ohio-6490, ¶ 17.
(Alteration in original.) Id. at ¶ 31.
Athens App. No. 18CA26 5
IV. Law and Analysis
{¶8} Father maintains that the trial court erred in adopting the magistrate’s
decision and awarding equal parenting time. He argues that considering the best
interest factors in R.C. 3109.04(F)(1), “[a]ll of the equities of what was in the best
interest of the children seemed to fall on the side of [him] to get the majority of the
parenting time – not 50/50 parenting time.” Father complains that the magistrate
“ignor[ed] much of the testimony at the final hearing” about mother and her “erratic
behavior and parenting abilities [and] choices.” He notes that equal parenting time is
contrary to the recommendation of the guardian ad litem and claims the trial court “did
nothing to demonstrate why it did not follow” that recommendation.
{¶9} In a divorce proceeding, R.C. 3109.04 governs the allocation of parental
rights and responsibilities and decision to approve a shared parenting plan; however,
R.C. 3109.051 governs the decision to grant parenting time to the nonresidential parent
if the court has not issued a shared parenting decree.
{¶10} R.C. 3109.051(A) states:
If a divorce * * * proceeding involves a child and if the court has not issued
a shared parenting decree, the court * * * shall make a just and
reasonable order or decree permitting each parent who is not the
residential parent to have parenting time with the child at the time and
under the conditions that the court directs, unless the court determines
that it would not be in the best interest of the child to permit that parent to
have parenting time with the child and includes in the journal its findings of
fact and conclusions of law. Whenever possible, the order or decree
permitting the parenting time shall ensure the opportunity for both parents
to have frequent and continuing contact with the child, unless frequent and
continuing contact by either parent with the child would not be in the best
interest of the child. The court shall include in its final decree a specific
schedule of parenting time for that parent.
Athens App. No. 18CA26 6
{¶11} Pursuant to R.C. 3109.051(F)(2), “each court of common pleas, by rule,
shall adopt standard parenting time guidelines,” but courts “shall have discretion to
deviate” from these guidelines based on the factors in R.C. 3109.051(D).
{¶12} R.C. 3109.051(D) provides that “[i]n determining whether to grant
parenting time to a parent pursuant to this section” and “in establishing a specific
parenting time” schedule, the court “shall consider” the following factors:
(1) The prior interaction and interrelationships of the child with the child’s
parents, siblings, and other persons related by consanguinity or affinity * *
*;
(2) The geographical location of the residence of each parent and the
distance between those residences * * *;
(3) The child’s and parents’ available time, including, but not limited to,
each parent’s employment schedule, the child’s school schedule, and the
child’s and the parents’ holiday and vacation schedule;
(4) The age of the child;
(5) The child’s adjustment to home, school, and community;
(6) If the court has interviewed the child in chambers, pursuant to division
(C) of this section, regarding the wishes and concerns of the child as to
parenting time by the parent who is not the residential parent * * *, as to a
specific parenting time * * * schedule, or as to other parenting time * * *
matters, the wishes and concerns of the child, as expressed to the court;
(7) The health and safety of the child;
(8) The amount of time that will be available for the child to spend with
siblings;
(9) The mental and physical health of all parties;
(10) Each parent’s willingness to reschedule missed parenting time and to
facilitate the other parent’s parenting time rights * * *;
(11) In relation to parenting time, whether either parent previously has
been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any criminal offense involving any
act that resulted in a child being an abused child or a neglected child;
Athens App. No. 18CA26 7
whether either parent, in a case in which a child has been adjudicated an
abused child or a neglected child, previously has been determined to be
the perpetrator of the abusive or neglectful act that is the basis of the
adjudication; and whether there is reason to believe that either parent has
acted in a manner resulting in a child being an abused child or a neglected
child;
***
(13) Whether the residential parent or one of the parents subject to a
shared parenting decree has continuously and willfully denied the other
parent’s right to parenting time in accordance with an order of the court;
(14) Whether either parent has established a residence or is planning to
establish a residence outside this state;
***
(16) Any other factor in the best interest of the child.1
R.C. 3109.051(D).
{¶13} “A trial court need not make explicit reference to these factors provided
that it is apparent from the record that the court considered these factors.” Sarchione-
Tookey, 2018-Ohio-2716, at ¶ 32. Although the magistrate and the trial court did not
specifically reference R.C. 3109.051(D) in their decisions, father does not raise this
issue on appeal. Rather, he encouraged the trial court and this court to consider R.C.
3109.04(F)(1) in evaluating his challenge to the parenting time award and did not
address R.C. 3109.051(D).
{¶14} Moreover, the record indicates the trial court considered the R.C.
3109.051(D) factors when analyzing the best interest of the children pursuant to R.C.
3109.04(F)(1) and (F)(2). See Robinette v. Bryant, 4th Dist. No. 12CA20, 2013-Ohio-
2889, ¶ 40 (rejecting challenge to court’s deviation from local parenting time guidelines
1 The omitted factors only apply when the court is determining whether to grant companionship or
visitation rights to a person other than a parent.
Athens App. No. 18CA26 8
even though magistrate did not explicitly reference R.C. 3109.051(D) factors in her
recommendations where the appellant did not raise the issue and it was “clear that the
court considered essentially the same factors when analyzing the best interests of the
child under R.C. 3109.04(F)(1)”).
{¶15} Specifically, the magistrate’s decision considers the interaction and
interrelationship of the children with their parents, siblings, and others and finds the
children are “closely bonded with both parents” and are bonded with the maternal
family, including their oldest maternal half-sibling. See R.C. 3109.051(D)(1). It notes
the parties reside 11 miles apart. See R.C. 3109.051(D)(2). It also discusses the fact
that the children are in school, that mother is a stay-at-home mom, and that father
works 40 hours per week, which is relevant to the available time of the children and
parents. See R.C. 3109.051(D)(3). The decision notes the children’s birthdays. See
R.C. 3109.051(D)(4). It finds they are “well-adjusted to home and school and are doing
well academically and socially.” See R.C. 3109.051(D)(5). The decision states no in
camera interviews of the children were requested or conducted. See R.C.
3109.051(D)(6). The decision notes that the guardian ad litem found the residence of
each parent to be “safe and appropriate for the children” and that there is no indication
the parents or children suffer from any mental or physical health problems. See R.C.
3109.051(D)(7); R.C. 3109.051(D)(9). It also considers the fact that the children attend
the same school as their oldest half-sibling who lives with mother full-time. See R.C.
3109.051(D)(8). The decision finds that both parents are “equally likely to honor and
facilitate court-approved parenting time rights” and that there was no testimony about
the denial of the right to parenting time in accordance with a court order. See R.C.
Athens App. No. 18CA26 9
3109.051(D)(10); R.C. 3109.051(D)(13). Additionally, the decision indicates the parties
did not raise an issue of either parent being involved in child abuse or neglect and
considers father’s desire to relocate to Georgia. See R.C. 3109.051(D)(11); R.C.
3109.051(D)(14).
{¶16} The trial court’s application of the law to the factual findings it adopted
from the magistrate’s decision did not constitute an abuse of discretion. The magistrate
found that “[b]oth parties are fully capable of parenting the children” and that “the
children are closely bonded with both parents.” Considering these facts and the
magistrate’s other findings, we cannot conclude the decision to award equal parenting
time was unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable.
{¶17} Accordingly, we overrule the sole assignment of error and affirm the
judgment of the trial court.
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
Athens App. No. 18CA26 10
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT IS AFFIRMED and that Appellant shall pay the
costs.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing the Athens
County Common Pleas Court to carry this judgment into execution.
Any stay previously granted by this Court is hereby terminated as of the date of
this entry.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
McFarland, J. & Smith, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court
BY: ________________________________
Michael D. Hess, Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final judgment
entry and the time period for further appeal commences from the date of filing
with the clerk.