Ussher v. Ussher ( 2011 )

[Cite as Ussher v. Ussher, 2011-Ohio-1440.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
MELINDA USSHER :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee : Appellate Case No. 2009-CA-49
:
v. : Trial Court Case No. 06-DR-213
:
THOMAS USSHER : (Civil Appeal from Common Pleas
: (Court, Domestic Relations)
Defendant-Appellant :
:
...........
OPINION
Rendered on the 25th day of March, 2011.
...........
MELINDA USSHER, 3102 Harper Road, Mechanicsburg, Ohio 43044
Plaintiff-Appellee, pro se
RONALD C. TOMPKINS, Atty. Reg. #0030007, 19 Pearce Place, Urbana, Ohio 43078
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant
.............
HALL, J.
{¶ 1} Thomas Ussher appeals from the trial court’s final judgment and divorce decree that
divided the parties’ property and designated appellee Melinda Ussher as the legal custodian and
residential parent of their children.
{¶ 2} Thomas advances two assignments of error on appeal.1 First, he contends the trial
1
For purposes of clarity, we will refer to the parties by their first names.
2
court erred in awarding Melinda half of the equity in the marital home. Although this award was
equal, Thomas asserts that it was not equitable. Second, he claims the trial court erred in naming
Melinda as the legal custodian and residential parent. Thomas maintains that this decision was not in
the best interest of the parties’ children.
{¶ 3} The record reflects that Thomas and Melinda married in 2000. They had two children
together, T.U. and K.U. The children were born in 2000 and 2004. The oldest child, T.U., has
special medical needs as a result of being diagnosed with cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus.
Melinda filed for divorce in October 2006. The matter proceeded to a final hearing on July 23, 2009.
After reviewing the parties’ proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, the trial court filed its
final judgment and divorce decree on December 4, 2009.
{¶ 4} Among other things, the trial court awarded the marital residence to Thomas. It
ordered him to refinance an existing mortgage of $34,159 in his own name and to pay Melinda half
of the equity based on a tax-assessed value of $58,590. Alternatively, if Thomas failed to refinance
within ninety days, the trial court ordered the home to be sold with the resulting equity to be divided
equally. The trial court also named Melinda as the legal custodian and residential parent of the
parties’ children and awarded Thomas standard visitation. This appeal followed.
{¶ 5} In his first assignment of error, Thomas challenges the trial court’s decision to award
Melinda half of the equity in their home. He contends such an award, under the facts of this case, is
unfair. In support, Thomas notes that he was ordered to pay the mortgage for thirty-four months
during the pendency of the divorce proceeding. He argues that these payments reduced the
mortgage balance from $41,296.84 when Melinda filed for divorce to $34,159 when the trial court
3
filed the final decree. Because he made the payments during this time,2 Thomas contends Melinda
should not have been awarded half of the roughly $7,000 in equity that accrued while the divorce
action was pending. In response, Melinda asserts that the marital home went through foreclosure
following the divorce decree and that she obtained nothing.
{¶ 6} Upon review, we find Thomas’ argument to be unpersuasive. The record reflects that
he remained in the marital home from October 2006, when Melinda filed her complaint for divorce,
through at least December 4, 2009, when the trial court filed the final divorce decree. Melinda left
the marital residence in October 2006. This resulted in Thomas having sole beneficial use of the
property for several years. In light of that fact, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing
Melinda to share in any equity that accrued while Thomas lived in the home.3 See, e.g., Galloway v.
Khan, Franklin App. No. 06AP-140, 2006-Ohio-6637, ¶23-25. The first assignment of error is
overruled.
{¶ 7} In his second assignment of error, Thomas contends the trial court abused its
2
It appears that Melinda actually made three of the payments, but the trial court’s divorce decree ordered Thomas to repay her for
them. (Doc. #231 at 22).
3
Parenthetically, we note that the issue Thomas raises may be moot. It is well settled that we may take judicial notice of post-appeal
matters to resolve questions of mootness. Townsend v. Antioch Univ., Greene App. No. 2008 CA 103, 2009-Ohio-2552, ¶8; see, also,
Hagerman v. City of Dayton (1947), 147 Ohio St. 313, paragraph one of the syllabus (“When it has been brought to the attention of an
appellate court that pending the appeal an event has occurred which renders moot one of the questions in the case pending before it, such
appellate court need proceed no further with that part of the case which has become moot.”). To address an issue of mootness, an appellate
court, acting sua sponte, “may take judicial notice of facts generally known within its territorial jurisdiction or facts capable of accurate and
ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy reasonably cannot be questioned.” Townsend at ¶8. In the present case, we take
judicial notice, based on property records maintained by the Champaign County Auditor’s office, that the Honda Federal Credit Union
purchased the marital residence for $23,334 at a sheriff’s sale on December 2, 2010. Given that the existing mortgage was $34,159 at the time
of the divorce decree, Melinda’s assertion that the forced sale of the residence produced no equity to divide has some credence. It may be that
there is a deficiency. We have addressed the merits of Thomas’ claim, however, because the trial court retained jurisdiction over the real estate
issue and, therefore, could enter a future order that takes into account the effect of the foreclosure.
4
discretion in denying his motion for shared parenting and, instead, granting Melinda’s motion to be
the legal custodian and residential parent. He asserts that the trial court took a one-sided view of the
evidence and that the statutory “best interest” factors do not support its decision. Conversely,
Melinda argues that the trial court’s decision is consistent with the relevant statutory factors and is
not an abuse of discretion.
{¶ 8} When allocating parental rights and responsibilities, a trial court must consider the
non-exclusive factors found in R.C. 3109.04(F). They include: “(a) [t]he wishes of the child's
parents regarding the child's care; (b) [i]f the court has interviewed the child in chambers * * *
regarding the child's wishes and concerns as to the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities
concerning the child, the wishes and concerns of the child, as expressed to the court; (c) [t]he child's
interaction and interrelationship with the child's parents, siblings, and any other person who may
significantly affect the child's best interest; (d) [t]he child's adjustment to the child's home, school,
and community; (e) [t]he mental and physical health of all persons involved in the situation; (f) [t]he
parent more likely to honor and facilitate court-approved parenting time rights or visitation and
companionship rights; (g) [w]hether either parent has failed to make all child support payments,
including all arrearages, that are required of that parent pursuant to a child support order under
which that parent is an obligor; (h) [w]hether either parent or any member of the household of 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; 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 an adjudication;
whether either parent or any member of the household of either parent previously has been convicted
5
of or pleaded guilty to a violation of section 2919.25 of the Revised Code or a sexually oriented
offense involving a victim who at the time of the commission of the offense was a member of the
family or household that is the subject of the current proceeding; whether either parent or any
member of the household of either parent previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any
offense involving a victim who at the time of the commission of the offense was a member of the
family or household that is the subject of the current proceeding and caused physical harm to the
victim in the commission of the offense; 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; (I) [w]hether 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;
[and] (j) [w]hether either parent has established a residence, or is planning to establish a residence,
outside this state.” R.C. § 3109.04(F)(1).
{¶ 9} “When determining the best interest of the child or children in allocating parental
rights and responsibilities, in addition to the specific statutory factors in R.C. 3109.04(F)(1), the
court should give strong consideration to whether one of the parents was the primary caregiver for
the child or children. * * * ‘A court that fails to consider the primary care giving of a parent ignores
the benefits likely to flow to the child from maintaining day to day contact with the parent on whom
the child has depended for satisfying his basic physical and psychological needs.’” In re N.M.,
Montgomery App. No. 24110, 2010-Ohio-5048, ¶23 (citations omitted). When determining
whether to grant shared parenting, a trial court must consider the foregoing factors as well as those
found in R.C. 3109.04(F)(2). These additional factors include: “(a) [t]he ability of the parents to
cooperate and make decisions jointly, with respect to the children; (b) [t]he ability of each parent to
6
encourage the sharing of love, affection, and contact between the child and the other parent; (c)
[a]ny history of, or potential for, child abuse, spouse abuse, other domestic violence, or parental
kidnapping by either parent; (d) [t]he geographic proximity of the parents to each other, as the
proximity relates to the practical considerations of shared parenting; [and] (e) [t]he recommendation
of the guardian ad litem of the child, if the child has a guardian ad litem.”
{¶ 10} In the present case, the trial court made specific findings regarding each of the factors
set forth above. With regard to the R.C. 3109.04(F)(1) factors, the trial court determined, with one
exception, that they either did not apply or did not weigh significantly in either party’s favor. The
exception concerned factor (g), which pertains to child support. On that issue, the trial court noted
Thomas’ failure to make his court-ordered child support payments.
{¶ 11} With regard to the shared parenting factors in R.C. 3109.04(F)(2), the only significant
findings by the trial court were (1) that the parties appeared incapable of cooperating or
communicating, (2) that neither parent had encouraged shared love between the children and the
other parent, and (3) that the guardian ad litem had found Melinda best suited to provide for the
children.
{¶ 12} In addition to addressing the specific statutory factors, the trial court reached the
following conclusion:
{¶ 13} “Mother appears to have been the primary caregiver during the marriage and seems to
be best suited to care for the day-to-day needs of the children. She also seems to be better suited to
provide care for the special needs of [T.U.]. There is no doubt in the Court’s mind that both parties
love their children dearly. The Court commends both of them for the extra, work, support, and care
they exhibit in providing for [T.U.]
7
{¶ 14} “The parties must find an answer to the problem of transferring and administering
[T.U.’s] medications. This is crucial to the future relationship of the parties, but more importantly,
crucial to [T.U.’s] safety and well-being. The parties must find a way to put their differences behind
them, or, at least to the side, for the future well-being of both of their children.” (Doc. #231 at 2-6).
{¶ 15} After considering the evidence, the trial court named Melinda the legal custodian and
residential parent. It awarded Thomas standard visitation. (Id. at 9). We review this ruling for an
abuse of discretion. Francis v. McDermott, Darke App. No. 1753, 2009-Ohio-4323, ¶8. “An abuse
of discretion implies an attitude of the trial court that is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. *
* * The discretion which a trial court has in a custody matter is given 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. * * * ‘The knowledge a trial court gains through observing the witnesses and the
parties in a custody proceeding cannot be conveyed to a reviewing court by a printed record.’” Id.(citations omitted).
{¶ 16} Upon review, we see no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s decision to designate
Melinda the legal custodian and residential parent. Preliminarily, we note that the record fully
supports the trial court’s rejection of Thomas’ request for shared parenting. The trial court correctly
observed that the parties appear to be incapable of cooperating or communicating with each other.
They have called the police on each other numerous times. They have regular disputes about
visitation and T.U.’s medications. In short, the protracted length and bitterness of the divorce
proceeding demonstrate that shared parenting is not a viable option.
{¶ 17} In support of his argument that Melinda should not have been named the legal
custodian and residential parent, Thomas cites numerous issues that he contends show her lack of
8
suitability. Among other things, he asserts that she (1) failed to submit medical bills and then
accused him of not paying them, (2) purposely scheduled all of the children’s medical appointments
during his summer visitation, (3) accused him of causing trouble at T.U.’s school, (4) neglected to
provide him with necessary medications, (5) allowed T.U. to be burned and scalded while in her
care, (6) allowed K.U. to suffer from urinary tract infections, (7) withdrew money from a retirement
account without court approval, (8) fraudulently transferred a car, (9) retained his share of medical
reimbursements, and (10) cancelled his health insurance. Thomas also mentions testimony about
Melinda being “bi-polar” and testimony about concerns that her father may have molested one of the
children.
{¶ 18} The trial court heard testimony about all of the foregoing issues, most of which were
disputed or explained by Melinda. With regard to some of the more serious allegations, Melinda
explained that T.U. got burned on a heat register when she had a seizure and fell on it. She testified
that T.U. was scalded once when a water heater was set too high. Champaign County Children
Services investigated both incidents and found no neglect. The agency also investigated an
anonymous tip that one of the children had been molested and found it to be unsubstantiated. A
report from the agency indicated that Melinda was “very protective” of her children and provided for
their needs.
{¶ 19} With regard to the doctor’s appointments, Melinda testified that she made them well
before she knew Thomas was going to have three weeks of summer visitation. As for the bi-polar
issue, Melinda admitted previously having been diagnosed with that disorder. She testified,
however, that she was not suffering from any psychological disorder at the time of the hearing and
that she was not taking any medication.
9
{¶ 20} Cathy Pullins, an MRDD worker, testified that she had known T.U. and the Ussher
family from the time of the child’s infancy until about age three. Pullins also had educated the other
child, K.U., for approximately two years. Pullins described Melinda as a “wonderful parent” who
was “very responsive, kept appointments * * *, [and] followed through with activities[.]” Pullins
agreed that she always saw T.U. appropriately dressed, fed, and cleaned.
{¶ 21} We note, too, that the guardian ad litem had recommended Melinda as the legal
custodian and residential parent. Additionally, we cannot ignore the trial court’s finding, which is
supported by the record, that Melinda appears to have been the primary care giver during the
marriage and seems best suited to care for the children. At the time of the hearing, she had stable
and relatively secure full-time employment with Honda. She worked during the day when her
children were in school. Whenever she was unavailable, her mother assisted her. As for Thomas, he
admitted being “flat broke,” lacking even gas money, and having to borrow for diapers. He works as
a truck driver but conceded that “there’s not much freight out there right now.” Thomas’ schedule
required him to work second shift, resulting in him essentially seeing the children only on
weekends.
{¶ 22} Having reviewed the record and considered the evidence, we are unconvinced that
the trial court abused its discretion in designating Melinda the legal custodian and residential parent.
Accordingly, Thomas’ second assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 23} The judgment of the Champaign County Common Pleas Court, Domestic Relations
Division, is affirmed.
.............
GRADY, P.J., and FAIN, J., concur.
10
Copies mailed to:
Melinda G. Ussher
Ronald C. Tompkins
Hon. Brent A. Gilbert