Bonvillian v. Clark , 2014 Ohio 2003 ( 2014 )

[Cite as Bonvillian v. Clark, 2014-Ohio-2003.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
MERCER COUNTY
NICOLE L. BONVILLIAN,
PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 10-13-20
v.
TRACY A. CLARK, OPINION
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
Appeal from Mercer Common Pleas Court
Juvenile Division
Trial Court No. 42010045
Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: May 12, 2014
APPEARANCES:
William E. Huber for Appellant
Thomas Luth for Appellee
Case No. 10-13-20
PRESTON, J.
{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Tracy A. Clark (“Clark”), appeals the October
10, 2013 judgment entry of the Mercer County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile
Division, ordering that Clark pay child support to plaintiff-appellee, Nicole L.
Bonvillian (“Bonvillian”). For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
{¶2} Clark and Bonvillian are the parents of a child, K.C. (See Doc. No. 1).
The Mercer County Child Support Enforcement Agency ordered that Clark pay
either $459.93 or $485.44 per month in child support and processing charges,
depending on the provision of private health insurance. (Doc. Nos. 1, 2).
{¶3} On December 11, 2012, Clark filed two motions: a motion for
custody, requesting that the trial court name him K.C.’s residential parent and
legal custodian because doing so was in K.C.’s best interest; and, a motion for
temporary allocation of parental rights and responsibilities. (Doc. Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7).
Bonvillian filed a response on December 28, 2012, arguing that K.C. should
remain in her care and custody. (Doc. No. 12).
{¶4} Clark moved the trial court to appoint a guardian ad litem (“GAL”) for
K.C. (Doc. No. 14). The trial court granted that motion on January 25, 2013 and
appointed a GAL for K.C. (Doc. No. 16). The GAL filed reports on April 24 and
May 16, 2013. (Doc. Nos. 20, 22).
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{¶5} Before the final hearing scheduled for July 26, 2013, the parties
agreed to a shared parenting plan. (July 26, 2013 Tr. at 5-7). Following the
parties’ agreement to the shared parenting plan, only the issue of child support
remained unresolved. (Id. at 7). (See also Doc. No. 29).
{¶6} On July 30, 2013, Bonvillian filed her memorandum concerning child
support, arguing that the existing child-support order should remain in effect.
(Doc. No. 24). On August 2, 2013, Clark filed his memorandum concerning child
support, arguing that because his parenting time was increased under the shared
parenting plan, the trial court should grant him a deviation from the guideline
amount of child support and reduce his child-support obligation. (Doc. No. 25).
Clark offered several proposed child-support amounts based on different
calculation methods employed by Ohio courts. (See id.).
{¶7} On October 2, 2013, the trial court filed a judgment entry approving
and adopting as its order the parties’ shared parenting agreement. (Doc. No. 29).
Although the parties had already done so, the trial court also ordered that the
parties file memoranda concerning child support. (Id.).
{¶8} On October 10, 2013, the trial court filed a judgment entry ordering
that Clark pay either $420.89 or $395.52 per month in child support and
processing charges, depending on whether Clark was or was not providing private
health insurance coverage for K.C., respectively. (Doc. No. 31). The trial court
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ordered that Clark pay an additional $103.45 per month in cash medical support if
private health insurance coverage was no longer provided for K.C. (Id.). The trial
court attached to its judgment entry a child support computation summary
worksheet. (Id.).
{¶9} On October 29, 2013, Clark filed a notice of appeal of the trial court’s
October 10, 2013 judgment entry. (Doc. No. 34). He raises one assignment of
error for our review.
Assignment of Error
The trial court abused it’s [sic] discretion in failing to apply
Ohio Revised Code §3119.24 and was arbitrary in denying the
Defendant-Appellant a deviation as set forth under that statute.
{¶10} In his assignment of error, Clark states that he “believes he is entitled
to at least a consideration of the deviation as set forth in [R.C. 3119.24]
concerning granting a deviation with a shared parenting plan.” (Appellant’s Brief
at 8). He argues that while the trial court was not required to grant a deviation, the
trial court abused its discretion by not considering extraordinary circumstances
and the statutory factors, and by not explaining why it did not grant him a
deviation.
{¶11} “An appellate court reviews child support issues under
an abuse of discretion standard.” Borer v. Borer, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-06-38,
2007-Ohio-3341, ¶ 8, citing Fox v. Fox, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-03-42, 2004-
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Ohio-3344, ¶ 11. See also Pauly v. Pauly, 80 Ohio St.3d 386, 390 (1997). “An
abuse of discretion implies that the trial court’s attitude was unreasonable,
arbitrary, or unconscionable.” Borer at ¶ 8, citing Fox at ¶ 11 and Blakemore v.
Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219 (1983).
{¶12} R.C. 3119.24, which governs an award of child support when a trial
court issues a shared parenting order, provides, in part:
(A)
(1) A court that issues a shared parenting order in accordance
with section 3109.04 of the Revised Code shall order an amount of
child support to be paid under the child support order that is
calculated in accordance with the schedule and with the worksheet
set forth in section 3119.022 of the Revised Code, through the line
establishing the actual annual obligation, except that, if that amount
would be unjust or inappropriate to the children or either parent and
would not be in the best interest of the child because of the
extraordinary circumstances of the parents or because of any other
factors or criteria set forth in section 3119.23 of the Revised Code,
the court may deviate from that amount.
(2) The court shall consider extraordinary circumstances and
other factors or criteria if it deviates from the amount described in
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division (A)(1) of this section and shall enter in the journal the
amount described in division (A)(1) of this section its determination
that the amount would be unjust or inappropriate and would not be
in the best interest of the child, and findings of fact supporting its
determination.
R.C. 3119.24(A). See also Borer v. Borer, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-09-24, 2009-
Ohio-6522, ¶ 22. The next division of the statute—R.C. 3119.24(B)—defines
“extraordinary circumstances of the parents.” See Kovach v. Lewis, 5th Dist.
Ashland No. 11-COA-018, 2012-Ohio-1512, ¶ 40.
{¶13} The amount of child support calculated under R.C. 3119.24 and in
accordance with the worksheet set forth in R.C. 3119.022 is rebuttably presumed
to be the correct amount of child support. Borer, 2007-Ohio-3341, at ¶ 7,
citing R.C. 3119.03 and Hurte v. Hurte, 164 Ohio App.3d 446, 2005-Ohio-5967, ¶
25 (4th Dist.). Deviating from the amount of child support calculated using the
R.C. 3119.022 worksheet is not mandatory. Borer, 2009-Ohio-6522, at ¶ 24,
citing Womack v. Womack, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-2000-24, 2001 WL 122022,
*2 (Feb. 12, 2001). A parent is not automatically entitled to a downward deviation
merely because a R.C. 3119.23 factor is present, nor does a shared parenting plan
automatically entitle a party to a set-off or credit for time spent with the children
under the plan. Green v. Tarkington, 3d Dist. Mercer No. 10-10-02, 2010-Ohio-
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2165, ¶ 19, citing Womack at *2, Lopez v. Coleson, 3d Dist. Putnam No. 12-05-24,
2006-Ohio-5389, ¶ 9, and Pauly at 388-390; Borer, 2009-Ohio-6522, at ¶ 24,
citing Hills v. Patton, 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-07-71, 2008-Ohio-1343, ¶ 33, Lopez at
¶ 9, Ayers v. Haas, 3d Dist. Van Wert No. 15-07-13, 2008-Ohio-2405, ¶ 21, and
Pauly at 388-390.
{¶14} Here, the trial court acted within its discretion when it decided not to
deviate from the guideline amount of child support calculated using the
R.C. 3119.022 worksheet. Clark incorrectly argues that the trial court was
required by R.C. 3119.24 to consider extraordinary circumstances and the factors
set forth in R.C. 3119.23. Rather, the trial court was required to “consider
extraordinary circumstances and other factors or criteria if it deviate[d] from the
amount described in [R.C. 3119.24(A)(1)] * * *.” (Emphasis added.) R.C.
3119.24(A)(2). See also Hackett v. Hackett, 5th Dist. Delaware No.
13CAF010002, 2013-Ohio-4684, ¶ 17-18 (“The language in R.C. 3119.24(A)(2),
which grants a trial court authority to deviate from the calculated child support
order is discretionary. If, and only if, a trial court chooses to deviate from the
worksheet is the trial court required to consider the factors.”). Because the trial
court did not order a deviation in this case, it did not abuse its discretion by not
considering extraordinary circumstances or the R.C. 3119.23 factors.
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{¶15} In support of his argument that a trial court “should consider the
extra ordinary [sic] circumstances that come about because of a shared parenting
plan,” Clark cites Drzal v. Drzal, 7th Dist. Columbiana No. 05 CO 31, 2006-Ohio-
5230. However, in that case, the parties agreed to a deviation, and the trial court’s
“sole issue was to what extent it would deviate from the standard support
obligations.” Id. at ¶ 21. As we stated above, a shared parenting plan does not
automatically entitle a party to a deviation. Green at ¶ 19.
{¶16} We likewise reject Clark’s argument that the trial court abused its
discretion by not explaining why it did not grant Clark the deviation he requested.
If a trial court does not grant a deviation, R.C. 3119.24 requires only that the trial
court “order an amount of child support to be paid under the child support order
that is calculated in accordance with the schedule and with the worksheet set forth
in [R.C. 3119.022], through the line establishing the actual annual obligation * *
*.” R.C. 3119.24(A)(1). R.C. 3119.24 does not require that a trial court explain
its reasons for not ordering a deviation. See R.C. 3119.24. See also Warner v.
Warner, 3d Dist. Union No. 14-03-10, 2003-Ohio-5132, ¶ 17 (interpreting the
similarly worded R.C. 3119.22, governing child-support deviations, and stating
that “‘[u]nless the trial court deviates from [the guideline] amount,
the statute does not require the court to justify its decision’”), quoting Coleman v.
Campbell, 11th Dist. Geauga No. 2001-G-2401, 2002-Ohio-3841, ¶ 16.
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{¶17} Moreover, even if extraordinary circumstances and R.C. 3119.23
factors are present, the trial court is not required to grant a deviation. See R.C.
3119.24(A)(1) (stating that “the court may deviate from” the guideline amount of
child support “if that amount would be unjust or inappropriate to the children or
either parent and would not be in the best interest of the child because of the
extraordinary circumstances of the parents or because of any other factors or
criteria set forth in [R.C. 3119.23]” (emphasis added)); Lopez, 2006-Ohio-5389, at
¶ 9.
{¶18} For these reasons, we overrule Clark’s assignment of error.
{¶19} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the
particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Judgment Affirmed
ROGERS, J., concurs.
/jlr
WILLAMOWSKI, P.J., Concurring Separately.
{¶20} I agree with the position taken by the majority that the trial court did
not abuse its discretion in denying the request for deviation as to the child support.
I am writing separately because I believe there is a better way of handling the
question of child support for shared parenting. The money should follow the
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child. For example, if the child spends 75% of the time with the mother, then she
should receive 75% of the allocated support with the father receiving the
remainder. For further example, suppose the child support worksheet were to
show an obligation of $1,000 dollars per month, with $700 coming from the father
and $300 coming from the mother. This assumes for this example that father has
70% and mother has 30% of the combined parental income. The mother would be
entitled to receive $750 of the $1,000 per month (75%) allotment for support, and
father would be entitled to the remaining $250 per month (25%). Since both
parents combined were expected to contribute an aggregate of $1,000 for the
support per month, the net result in the example would be that the father would be
obliged to pay the mother $450 per month for support of the parties’ minor child.
This would mean in this example that the mother would have $750 per month of
the total support and the father would have $250 per month of the total support.
This would reflect the percentage of time each parent had the child respectively.
The amount of time with each parent is easily determined by the trial court based
upon the visitation order. This method would reach a more equitable result since
the support follows the child for whom it is paid. This method would also prevent
one parent from getting the majority of the support due to inequity of income
while the other is bearing the actual burden of support for the time the child is with
him or her. The end result would be that the daily per diem would be in the same
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home in which the child was residing. Nonetheless, the method used by the trial
court is not incorrect and complies with the statute, which is why I concur with the
judgment.
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